vessel documentation?

[Pedro]

So my little Albin 28 is my first large boat, I had no clue regarding "Documentation" this never came up during my Survey,Purchase or State Regustration, I even searched my boats name and couldn't find it listed on the Coast Guards site.Consequently I'm rummaging thru my forward storage and there is a number glassed into the hull,! so I do have a documentation hull number,I'm guessing previous owners never renewed?Can anyone explain why I would want to document my boat?im not going to cruise internationaly anytime soon,Pete

[BobHaze]

If you're not going international there's really no reason why you should document your boat, and even if you go to Canada state numbers are no problem. My 28TE is documented, but primarily because it already was when I bought it. I think with a recreational vessel that's going to stay close to home, it's strictly a matter of choice.

[catalina_mike]

We document because California charges a bunch for registration. Just bugs me.. The documentation number stays with the vessel for life. So if you document it they will more than likely use the same number as was the case with my 28. Also in California if you are CF numbered they try and get more money for the Zebra Mussel program. Boats used in salt water only are exempt from the program but you have to fill out a affidavit and most are confused by it.

My lake boat is CF'ed and my ocean boats have been all documented. Some states require a state decal as well and if that were the case I would stick with state registration. One stop shopping clean and easy.

[Chuckatuck Ray]

I was told that having documentation makes it easier to prove that the boat belongs to you when you go to sell her. Sounded reasonable to me so I went for it.
Ray

[Pedro]

Pretty sure CT, would require state reg also, they never miss a trick,,,,

[recppd]

I just bought a Documented Albin 28 and am in the process of Re-Documenting it under my name. $490 for a Doc Service Company to do. Vessel Documentation number doesn't change. And in most instances, there's no sales tax being collected...

[RobS]

I just bought a Documented Albin 28 and am in the process of Re-Documenting it under my name. $490 for a Doc Service Company to do. Vessel Documentation number doesn't change. And in most instances, there's no sales tax being collected...

A service is not required, you can do the documentation yourself, it's actually surprisingly straight-forward for something "government"

[jleonard]

Pretty sure CT, would require state reg also, they never miss a trick,,,,

Yes Ct state registration is required whether documented or not.

And they do walk the marinas to check. A few owners in ours got caught once. They paid big time.

[DougSea]

Pretty sure CT, would require state reg also, they never miss a trick,,,,

Yes Ct state registration is required whether documented or not.

And they do walk the marinas to check. A few owners in ours got caught once. They paid big time.

The funny thing is the owners who seem to think "I've got a big boat so I'm documented." But they often aren't.

In CT you must have EITHER a "Certificate of documentation" and the appropriate colored sticker OR a "Certificate of registration" and the different colored sticker AND the numbers on your hull sides. I see registration stickers without numbers all the time. Pretty sure you'd be looking at a ticket as you are not displaying the proper numbers per the regs.

The main reason many boats are documented? - it allows for a "Ships Mortgage". So many lenders will require it.

[marko]

Ditto on the lender requiring it. I was told that they get first shot at repossessing the boat if the owner declares bankruptcy. Also, a few years back, NC changed and required documented vessels to be also registered in the state (more money). But...they specifically do not want you to display the numbers! Only the stickers, which used to be just on one side, but also changed to both sides, forward and.. they raised the registration fees for all boats.

[jleonard]

[quote="DougSea
In CT you must have EITHER a "Certificate of documentation" and the appropriate colored sticker OR a "Certificate of registration" and the different colored sticker AND the numbers on your hull sides. I see registration stickers without numbers all the time. Pretty sure you'd be looking at a ticket as you are not displaying the proper numbers per the regs.

The main reason many boats are documented? - it allows for a "Ships Mortgage". So many lenders will require it.[/quote]

No requirement to display numbers on the hull I Ct if documented as far as I know. Just the decal and the color is different than the "normal" registration.
Also because of Ct's "great new computer system", it could not handle documentation numbers in the registration process, so every documented boat was assigned a false registration number for admin purposes.

[Pedro]

So, I did it right? By paying CT sales and tax and getting CT reg numbers?I was pretty sure there is no legal way to avoid CT sales tax, since we are the epicenter of taxation,,

[RobS]

So, I did it right? By paying CT sales and tax and getting CT reg numbers?I was pretty sure there is no legal way to avoid CT sales tax, since we are the epicenter of taxation,,

So are you re-documenting her or not ? If you do it yourself (just a few forms) its ~$100 and then the annual renewal fee is $26..

[DougSea]

In CT you must have EITHER a "Certificate of documentation" and the appropriate colored sticker OR a "Certificate of registration" and the different colored sticker AND the numbers on your hull sides. I see registration stickers without numbers all the time. Pretty sure you'd be looking at a ticket as you are not displaying the proper numbers per the regs.

The main reason many boats are documented? - it allows for a "Ships Mortgage". So many lenders will require it.

No requirement to display numbers on the hull I Ct if documented as far as I know. Just the decal and the color is different than the "normal" registration.
Also because of Ct's "great new computer system", it could not handle documentation numbers in the registration process, so every documented boat was assigned a false registration number for admin purposes.

I didn't state that very well. What I see are boats with a "Registration" sticker and no state numbers. That's not proper. If you're registered you need to display the registration numbers. Having a documented boat you would have a "Certificate of decal" sticker and you do not display any numbers. Just the stickers forward and Name and Home/Hailing Port on the stern.

[jleonard]

I didn't state that very well. What I see are boats with a "Registration" sticker and no state numbers. That's not proper. If you're registered you need to display the registration numbers. Having a documented boat you would have a "Certificate of decal" sticker and you do not display any numbers. Just the stickers forward and Name and Home/Hailing Port on the stern.

Yes agreed.