Documentation Question
 

I don't post alot but my boat that I purchased last Winter is Documented. I knew that I was supposed to receive a renewal letter in the mail but I figured it would be from the US Government or? I received a renewal form from Specialized Yacht Services tonight for my March renewal and wanted to make sure it was not a scam. Is this the company that handles the renewal? The renewal fee is $75.00. Thanks in advance for your help on this!

Mine comes from the USCG. Simple sign and mail back. I don't think it costs anything. Sounds like a scam to me.

Ok thanks....how long before the due date does it usually arrive?

A month or 2 before it is due!!!

There is a possibility that when you bought your boat the lending agency used a Documentation Service and they have a service where they charge you each year for renewing.

Of course you should save the money no matter what the cost since it literally involves you signing your name and mailing back in.

may want to check with Specialized Yacht Services on the paperwork , all my boats have been handled thru Lake Ozark Documentation Services and they send us the new paperwork every year ..good luck :drink:

Annual renew is free if done before expiration.
Here is the info from the USCG site http://uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/nvdcinstr.asp :

Director
National Vessel Documentation Center
792 T. J. Jackson Drive
Falling Waters, WV 25419
Staff Symbol:
Phone: (304) 271-2400
FAX: (304) 271-2405



RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION

A Certificate of Documentation must be renewed on a yearly basis. The Coast Guard facilitates the renewal process by sending a notice of renewal (CG-1280) to the managing owner approximately 45 days prior to the expiration of the document. If there is no response to the Notice of Renewal a warning notice indicating that the document has expired is sent to the owner approximately 10 days after expiration. Operation of the vessel with an expired certificate may result in a penalty of up to $500.00 per day. There is no fee for the renewal of the certificate if it is accomplished prior to the expiration date. Though the Coast Guard sends notices regarding the renewal of the document, the ultimate responsibility of renewing a Certificate of Documentation rests with the owner. It is important to keep the National Vessel Documentation Center informed of any change of address to insure timely receipt of these renewal notices. Changes of address may be made by FAX (304) 271-2405 or by e-mail to: [email protected]

If the Certificate of Documentation is not renewed within the time frames stated on the notices of renewal it must be re-issued which requires an Application for Documentation (CG-1258) and an $84.00 fee plus applicable endorsement fees, $29.00 for a coastwise or $12.00 for fishery. Applications, instructions and a complete fee schedule are available at this web site.

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/Coas...selByName.html

Check to see when your documentation expires or is due and that all your info is correct.

There are services that do the renewal for you for a fee. One such service in CA is Mary Conlin Co. I have used them in the past for two different boats. They charge $100.00 for 3 years of automatic renewal. It just makes it so you don't have to think about it. Personal preference.

It's a no brainer. Just call the Doc Center, make sure they have the right address and like clockwork they will send you a letter about 6 weeks to 1 month before renewal, sign the letter mail it back and in about a week you've got your renewal. Done and it's free minus 5 minutes of your time an your stamp costs of course. :drink:

X2

USCG is the way to go.

Had all of mine done this way..

X1000. There is absolutely no reason to pay a service to do this for you. Get your address set up with the coast guard and they automatically send you the form each year. It is SIMPLE!!!!

Just to pile on here, I also received one of those letter trying to charge me to renew. I called the USCG and they were really friendly and helpful. Just this week I received my renewal from the USCG and just as everyone has said, just mail or fax it back in. On the website they indicated that they prefer fax, so that is what I did.

(Thought it was funny that the US GOV does not prefer US Mail but rather fax, not that I blame them)

X1,000,000 on the mail in renewal. WHY would you pay someone to do this. It automatically comes to the address on the documentation. Sign, put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail. 44 cents is all it will cost you and a minute of your time.

With a stamp price of $0.44 that means they are making $98.68 bucks on you over that 3 years - don't give those crooks the satisfaction.

Thanks for the feedback everyone....I will followup with the USCG and make sure that I am in the system with the correct address. :drink:

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/Coas...selByName.html

Use this link. Type in the vessel name, find your boat and check your info. If your boat isn't listed, you've got a problem.

There is absolutely no reason why your renewal should not come directly to you from USCG. It is 100% free for renewal, unless you mail it in late and then it is $5.00