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??

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

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.

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.

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

Holy chit Pete, Anchorage!?!

Is it cold there now?

I bet you have cold beer there PETE

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.

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

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?