Documented Vessel Info request

[Desertboater]

I have purchased a '71 Albin 25 as a retirement project and would like to know if any of you have your boat documented through the US Coast Guard. Since our home port would be Las Vegas, Nevada, there is no property tax or even sales tax on purchase of a boat from a private party. Therefore there is no tax consequence to either state registration or USCG. Given that, is there any overall advantage to USCG documented registration?

In addition, there is a good chance that we will be in the Pacific Northwest or in the Carolina's due to the presence of friends & family. Given the great saltwater cruising in those areas we will probably have the boat when we visit. Is there an advantage to USCG documented vessel registration in these areas?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[carolmarie]

Given your circumstances , I can't think of a single advantage of documenting the boat except for the fact that you would not be required to place numbers in both sides of the bow. Besides, documenting would cost more than a few bucks.
carolmarie, 2001, 28TE, 6LP-STE

[joe.baar]

Documentation is supposed to confer immunity against the oddities of local laws, rules and sheriffs and I'm told it will make crossing the international border much easier than otherwise.

[Desertboater]

Thanks for the information. I'll look into the costs.

One thing I have heard is that on inland waters where few USCG documented vessels are seen, the lack of numbers on the boat will attract attention from local law enforcement such as Fish & Game.

[Dudley]

In Florida state registration is mandatory. If you arrive with only documentation you must get Florida state registration at once. If you have a state registration from any state other than Florida you have a 90 day grace period. If the boat is documented I think you are required to fly an American flag on the stern. Federal Documentation is simple and inexpensive.

[don123]

Federal Documentation is simple and inexpensive.

I've personally documented 2 used boats which had never been documented previously and I've found it to be a bit tedious - Getting the required USCG admeasurement completed took me awhile . . . . you would have thought nobody had ever documented an Albin 27 Aft Cabin cruiser before. As for 'inexpensive' I guess it's a matter of personal definition. The official fee is $133 and I spent a bit more on the paperwork

Don

[Tahoma]

As a NW cruiser in a documented sailboat, I haven't found that crossing the US/Canada border is any quicker than it would be without documentation. Washington state requires that documented vessel register with the state and pay the fee. We are issued a WA number but are not required to display it. We are required to display the registration sticker.

We documented our sailboat when we first built her for ease of travel in Mexico. I believe the documentation helped south of the border but, again, doesn't seem to make any difference north of the border.

We also have an Albin 27 on the east coast (doing the loop) which is registered in Washington state and carries WA numbers. This past summer we crossed back into the US at Drummond Island (MI) with no problems. It was quick and easy.

I'd think the documentation would not be an advantage for you.

P.S. Our Albin 27 is also in Illinois for the winter....

[Desertboater]

Thanks very much to all for the info. Still have not made up my mind on the need/utility of USCG documentation, but these inputs provide good insights.

[tbnolin]

Hey Desertboater!
We documented our 40' because, I believe, the length required us to. As mentioned, documenting does not require you to put reg numbers on the side of your boat. We traveled the Hudson many times passing Coast Guard vessels, traveled the East coast on the ICW from the upper Hudson down to Florida, traveled with and docked next to the Coast Guard without incident. Passed many local and state officials without a problem. You are required to have your Doc numbers on the inside of your vessel fastened in a permanent way. I don't remember the fee for the Documentation, but it was a one time fee. You do have to re register each year. They send you a notice well in advance, sign it and mail or fax it to them and they mail a new document to you. DON'T let an independent do it for you!!! We learned the hard way (they charged us 75.00). Do it yourself...VERY simple!
Now, I don't believe we were bothered because of our length. Your length without reg numbers on port and starboard might draw attention. Hard saying.
Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!
Tom