Documentation Renewal Letters (SCAM)

[rebuckley]

Once again, the Documentation letters are appearing. I got mine this year from a group named "Marine Documentation Center". Unfortunately it is not illegal for them to do this as they are "providing a service" for renewal.
They are NOT the Coast Guard - and typically charge 3x the $26 dollar fee the USCG charges for renewal.

Any letter that takes you to a site that is NOT "DCO.CoastGuard.MIL" - avoid using them as they will cost you too much $.

They put many cute USCG links on their site - but they must (by law) add a disclaimer on the bottom, saying they are a 3rd party and not the USCG - - so always scroll all the way down!!!

[DesertAlbin736]

Great advice! Seems like we're living in a golden age of scammers, hackers, con men, & flimflam artists. Caveat Emptor is the word of the day.

[DesertAlbin736]

Just noticed your RI home port. We did a cross country RV trip last summer that included spending the week of September 8th with a group of friends at a beach house on Meadow Ave in the Weekapaug neighborhood. Is WYC the one down by Spray Rock Rd & Sand Trail & the pond where all the Beetle Cats are moored?

[rebuckley]

nope - that is Weekapaug Yacht Club - I don't think my draft would let me in there. Mine is Westerly Yacht Club (off the Pawcatuck River) up river from Watch Hill, RI