Coast Guard Documentation
 

Hi Guys,

Looking for a Coast Guard documentation service, preferably in Michigan. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Do it yourself it's not that difficult

+1 All it takes is filling out a few forms and services will charge like $500 for this. It's very easy.

http://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/nvdcforms.asp

The form is simple and they are very happy to answer questions for you.

Cant go wrong to Doc. the boat.------Very easy ! Years ago when they still had district offices I had a local kojack hassel me and stopped my boat for having no numbers on it..Told -him th boat was documented and he told me B.S. --- Until I pulled the papers out .....Later in the week I was in Cleveland on business and stopped at the Coast Guard 9th District offices and talked to the documentation officer about what happened and he called the local police Chief and read the Riot act to him about me being jerked around........Jim

Unrelated but well deserved- Congrats on the new ride!

I used The Boat Doc-U-Mentor.... they r in new Baltimore mi. Number is 586-725-3825.

Apologies for my low awareness factor and being late to the party.

If you're boat is USCG documented you do not have to display numbers?

Correct, Just a name and hailing port.

The doc # has to be displayed on the in side of the boat. Mine is a plate under the bench seat

And in ohio you still have to get an ohio sticker but you can put it where u want i have mine on side window by seats and you dont have to have state #'s on the side of the bow.

I just received my official documentation on my 357. It was previously documented so I only had to pay for the transfer process and new application. I think my total cost was around $145. If a vessel has not been documented previously and it does not already have a USCG number permanently attached somewhere then the application and initial documentation is a different form to fill out. As was said before, they are great with help and answering questions. I called them twice for clarification filling out my forms. Their web site has q&a and specific descriptions for form completion so be sure to check out their site, download the forms and send them in. http://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/

The documentation is a valid ownership document in every state. Some states are title states and some, like Georgia, are not. A documented vessel with USCG paper satisfies all states in the title or ownership regard.
Registration is another ball of wax. The "use" laws of what ever state you boat in will still require a registration for the purpose of taxes on use but also as said the state numbers are not required when a vessel is USCG documented because the vessel markings of the USCG are federal and prevailing. Tax is not a matter of documentation. Tax is left to each governing body of water or state region. State marine use tax is brutal in some areas.
Hint: RI does not tax marine use and the hailing port of documentation does NOT have to be your residence. The hailing port is primarily for U.S. location verification such as a "Zip Code" but not required as the residence. The Mojave Dessert can literally be an hailing port since it also does not require a dock or water for that entry. Cool eh, lol. Your residence is part of documentation as the operating manager but the hailing port simply needs to be a place where a U.S. zip code proves it is a U.S. vessel. Since documentation is a federal process intended for waters anywhere both domestic and international the hailing port is kind of liquid if you follow me.
It is true that many domestic water pigs are clueless about USCG documentation because they are trained regarding the state registration of their own territory and to know how to honor registrations of other states but mostly clueless about federal documentation. That said, state registration will still be required by the waters the boat will be in the most, or at least ;);) a state registration.
This is how I understand it all now and what I have learned getting my boat done.
Good luck with your documentation.

P.S. The USCG is adamant about their BOS. Make sure you use their form for the bill of sale because it is almost impossible to satisfy their requirements outside of their own BOS form. That was a snag I ran into.

Question, if you own a boat that is USCG in Ohio and move to Florida, when you register it do you have to pay the 6% sale tax.

http://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/nvdcforms.asp

I'd do it myself. I paid $600 for the service years ago, but it's not difficult and they are very easy to work with. Once processed, you can have documents overnighted if you pay said fees.

When a boat is registered that registration is also reported to the governing dept of taxation. Then the tax dept for marine use will send a tax declaration notice for the tax bill. If you are moving only seasonally the states have a "docking clause" which gives a time limit for a visiting vessel before a use tax may be excised. Because this is money states are getting more attentive to what vessels are at the docks for tax purposes. If you are moving permanently then the docking clause would count down to tax time eventually but that only happens if your registration gets on the radar screen either through marina reports or state agents who comb the docks for opportunities or you specifically register with the state. Once a boat is on the radar it is not so easy to get off but it is easier to stay off the radar other ways.;);)
Does this answer your question?

^^^ the states and coasties do communicate. It doesn't take a third party (marina) to help so keep that in mind. Ask me how I know.

I was reading about how the USCG published all documentations and states are combing through the lists for hits at home. There has been a lot of discussion about reasons the USCG should not list documentations but it is public and open.

I just bought a 353 and am trying to document it. They said it would take about 3-4 months to go through my ? is why do I need it.Boat is for rec. only and in US .Cant I just reg. it in my state and be done with it

You don't need to. Actually, your life might be a little simpler if you don't. I did it because the bank required it.

yes

FYI. Most states are requiring you to also register your boat in your state even if it is documented. They just want more of your money. Also documentation used to be a way around purchase taxes. Now they are closing that loop hole as well.

A vessel must be a minimum of 10,000 lbs to document. Documenting is a security measure for financial institutions and some require it for financing. It is also security for an owner in any theft etc situation because then it has federal protection and that extend internationally too.
The initialization process is when a vessel is first documented and that takes longer but it does not hinder operation of the boat. The paperwork takes time and my documentation only came to me in Dec of this year and I filed back in April or May. I had a letter of verification that was considered good until the final document came and the letter was considered valid for vessel operation.
If you are under 10,000 lbs then the boat would not qualify. If you are at that then it is another layer of protection for yourself, for a sale and in a state that is not a title state.

Yes you can just reg and be done if there are no requirements on you.

I wasn't aware of the 10k lbs requirement. What's the 357 weigh?

It is about 10,500 dry so with fuel etc it comes well into qualifying weight.

The USCG lists the requirement as tons and the min is 5 tons so 10,000 lbs.

my boat is documented .now also has a reg with bow numbers ..its cool not to have numbers on the bow but not worth the hassel when they pull you over to check if you are legal ..they never know if you documented or not ..plus if you have had a few beers.. not worth it to me to have no numbers

Thanks for all your advice guys. I'm documenting because my lender is requiring it. It will also be registered in Michigan.

NOT TRUE. NET TONNAGE IS NOT THE SAME AS WEIGHT!!!!!!!

Net tonnage is a measure of a vessel's volume. It should not be confused with the vessel's weight, which may also be expressed in tons. Most vessels more than 25 feet in length will measure five net tons or more. For information about how tonnage is determined, including a web-based interactive form that calculates tonnages, visit the U.S. Coast Guard Marine website. It is straight forward. A 25 outlaw can be documented!

net tonnage not the same.... Its displacement

+1 has nothing to do w/ the weight!!

^^^^^ like others said, my fountain is CGD and only scales around 7200lbs.

True. My 26' boat is documented.

Cigrocket is correct ------------- has nothing to do with weight it is figured by volume So do not worry that your boat does not weigh 10000 lbs.


Jim

You might be able to skirt sales tax but in most cases your state will come after you for use tax. California is really bad about that. The Coast Guard lets what ever state your domicile is know that you documented a vessel with them. With California they automatically send a bill to you for sales tax or use tax even if you never brought the boat into the state. They just assume that you did and you have to prove that you didn't. They make every threat under the sun till you either pay up or show proof and documentation that the boat isn't in the state and hasn't been for a year. Other states have similar laws on the books but most don't enforce them. California has been hard up for cash for several years so they're pinching everyone.

^^^ yes

Im under 10k and am documented and I also got hit with use taxs in ohio. They will get there money one way or another

I was lucky in Indiana I didn't have to pay sales tax when I bought (7%). Still had to register but that wasn't bad.

When I moved to FL they get you for a "impact fee" on everything including motorcycle. Then just the register fees.

Well then that leaves me terribly confused about net tons, weight, displacement, volume because some of this is the same. The displacement of a boat is it's weight, as I understand it and I don't understand how this relates to volume and weight if they are different. Yes I just made the connection of tons to weight but if volume and displacement are factors then I'll have to see their concept or math on this method.

That is extremely common. It is called a "First Preferred Ship Mortgage" a bank likes it for the paper work lien process. ie: free and clear deed/title terminology. And oddly enough "A documented vessel may not be titled by a State.... per USC % 12106(a) and the Doc# shown on the Certificate of Documentation must be permanently affixed to a structural part of the hull". etc, etc, etc. This # is- assigned and is unique to the vessel, like its HIN . there is more to it too. example: "State and local officials have the right to board documented vessels for law enforcement purposes. Many states require registration of documented vessels for tax purposes. You may be required to place a decal on your vessel showing that you have complied with state requirements". Contact state authorities for further information. USCG cover letter May (2012)


I for one do not understand the Title vs Doc.reasoning, I have both because my State is a Title state. From what I understand all "new" boats have HIN#'s and Cert. of origin anyways. Any comments welcome.


Mark, best of luck to you, with your new to you - OL those colors r-FAB


And as far as the weight, mine is stated twice:

Gross Tonnage = 10 GRT

Net Tonnage = 8 NRT

I believe the tonnage is calculated based on the volume displaced x the weight of water (64#/cubic ft)

Remember, we're dealing with the gov't, so common sense doesn't necessarily apply.

Weight isn't displacement, but probably is a factor in displacement (I'm guessing) so tonnage could be a factor of the weight of the boat + the volume of water it displaces when floating.

Also - a boat has "weight", but also displaces a certain measurement of water, and if tonnage is measured similar to GVW of a vehicle there is also the weight it can carry (payload) which has to be factored in as it will displace more water when loaded.

I'm curious & when I run out of things to do will look up the definition of "tonnage" but I'm guessing it's vessel weight + payload with possibly volume of water displaced added to the equation.

I know captains are licensed based on tonnage they are qualified to be in control of and there is a big difference between an empty freighter and one that's loaded.

But I'm just thinking' out loud here