Coast Guard Documentation question
 

I have a friend who lives in Wisconsin. He is buying a used boat that was previously documented. He is going to redocument the boat. He is wondering if he can document it in another state--say Florida--even though he is not a resident there. My answer to him is that you must live in the state where it is documented to. What is the correct answer??

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

documentation is federal, not state, it is documented with the coast guard

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Not true. You can document a boat in any state you wish as long as you have an address there. That is where the new documentation will go to.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

You can find answers to most documentation questions at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/nvdc.htm

Check the FAQ's, it talks about re-documenting the boat and also about homeports.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Not true. If it really is documented, it is federally documented. One may document anywhere in the US. it need not be a saltwater port. The forms are available on the coast guard's website. I forget the address, but if you google "national vessel documentation center" it will get it to you.

Peter Costello
Marine Surveyor/Marine Claims Adjuster
Anchorage,AK

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Holy chit Pete, Anchorage!?! :eek:

Is it cold there now? :eek: :D :D :D

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

I bet you have cold beer there PETE :drink:

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

your port of call can be anywhere in the united states, your state registration as long as you boat there can be any state as well, and the state where they send the documentation can be a third state.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

I hope you have better luck than me, 1 year and still no paperwork. I have been issued the numbers though.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Numbers? I thought Documentation was on the name, not numbers???

Also, if the boat is documented, do you still need state registration numbers?

Why document? What's the benifit?

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

My boat was documented when I bought it. The documentation #'s stayed the same. My home port is Hammond, Indiana and I had to include that on the transom. I live in Illinois and that's where everything gets mailed to.

They wouldn't let me buy an Indiana sticker until I had the official documentation papers. I was never stopped and asked why I didn't have #'s or a sticker on the boat. You do not have to put registration #'s on the boat but can if you want to. I like the clean look.

It took about four months to get the official documentation papers.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

1. Can be documented anywhere.

2. Must have #'s permanently embedded in boat 3-4 inches high (inside bilge is normal).

3. Papers are mailed every year to the address the unit is documented.

4. If you are traveling in different waters you are supposively responsibl for notifying the coast guard you are there.

5. You still have to get state registraton (sticker). They want your money!

6. Name and port of call must be on trnsom 4 inches high in a contrasting color(s).

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

The banks like the boats documented.A documented boat can be seized/arrested anywhere in the world.A titled boat without doc gives the bank very little rights if you decide to not repay the the loan and leave the country with the boat.And yes,all states I know of still require the boat to be registered.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

My documentation address is in Vermont and you can put ANY home port as long as it's a valid town and state.

I put this, cause we like the place! and it's out of state.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Virginia does not require state registration if the boat is documented.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Neither does Vermont unless the boat stay 90 days consecutively in VT water.


Also I would like to add that I have been stop a couple times and the only documentation i have ever produced has been my CG documentation certificate and I have never been asked anything else.

I do not have any state reg numbers on my boat just the name & homeport at the back from the CG documents

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Neither does KY. OHIO REQUIRES sticker.

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Lets see the reason to Doc. here in VA, well its allot cheaper than going throughthe state if you catch my drift. :rolleyes:

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Yup

Re: Coast Guard Documentation question
 

Both Mass. and NH require registrations.One is a sales tax state and the other is not.Mass even goes as far as sending one of their officers down to Coast Guard headquarters to review documentation lists and follow up on boat owners not paying the 5% sales tax.They also drive around to marinas and check out every boat.The marina office has to comply with detailed lists.Overall,it is pretty disgusting,but I guess its the law.