In the process of possibly buying a new boat. The boat is currently registered with the Coast Guard and the broker wants to charge me $188 to remove the registration. Does this sound right? Is this something the buyer normally pays for? I assume that I need to remove it to register the boat with my local county?

Thanks in advance.

You can call the Coast Guard at 800/799-8362 and ask . I think I remember paying only a few bucks for a release from them in the past . They are running about 2 months behind to process requests last time I checked .

do it yourself for about $25 . the wife did both of our fountains us the coast guard web site , download the forms . easy .

keep it Coast Guard Doc

Keep it Coast Guard documented. It costs nothing per year to maintain it.

Is it worth it for me with an older boat

you tend to get stoped more when you don't have numbers on the side of your boat . pay and register localy .

In our area I think you see the opposite.

The CG Doc boats tend to get pulled a lot less. Been several instances lately where I have flown right by CG/Marine Police with nothing but a wave, while they aggressively stopped all the other boats.

In our area most of why they pull you are to check for up to date registration, and your safety equipment. If you are Documented the former really is a non-issue so that simply leaves the safety equipment.

Personally, I think with me they probably assume that if I have $1,000 worth of fuel on board that I probably sprung the $8 bucks for flares.

I do think it is different though in other areas.

For a buyer, a documented vessel is a safer buy in terms of hidden claims against the vessel. It does protect both the buyer and the seller in certain instances.

Since it is already doc'd, it is free. Once a year they send you a piece of paper, you sign it, and send it back. That's it.

Keep the doc current, and if you want or are required to, register with your state as well

Keeping it is a good idea but in my area no numbers on the side of the boat will get you stopped by the local guys. Just don't seem to know better and have not been on the job long enough. Just a fact of life.
Hell, even having the wrong color numbers (contrast which is a judgment call) on the side of the boat will get you stopped around here.