Offshoreonly.com - Boat registration problem

I bought my boat from a Formula dealer in Alabama (thanks again Magicfloat!). Since I financed part of the boat, the finance company is using a title company to file the paperwork for the title and registration with Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). I guess they need to make sure that the secured interest is noted on the title, which is fine. The problem is that this process is taking too long; I want to go boating!

It is my understanding that in Maryland only a MD licensed boat dealer may issue a MD temporary registration. The lender is not a dealer nor is the title company. The lender has not yet cashed the $190 check I gave them to pay the title processing fee. So I hope the paperwork is not pending on somebody's desk!

I called DNR today and the application for title/registration is not yet in the system. I contacted the lender to get the contact for the title company...but no response yet. Perhaps because the loan closed it's not their problem?

Anyway I'm wondering if the great minds of OSO have any ideas. My wife and I are head to the beach next week and after that I have a week off which I hope to go boating. If the registration sticker doesn't arrive in the mail while we are at the beach I'll be steamed.

I wonder what the fine is for boating without a current registration? A buddy of mine used to say "you don't need a driver's license until you get pulled over."