Documented or Titled?

[Ward Person]

Yep, that's was what was said. Don't miss it.

After 30 days $5, after 60 big money. Very annoying if you are not sitting by the mail box. Forwarding mail can take 30 to 60 days.

Maybe I might be actually be on the water.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by cburger

So once again, whats the value of a doccumented vessel??

Roll into Sierra Leone with registration from Missouri.

[Idylles15.5]

They had agents walking the docks at marinas in NY on Long Island a couple years ago and I'm sure they are still around. If you had a delaware reg or anything out of state you got a fine and if they new you lived in NY you had to register the boat or move it. It's such ******** all they want is the money. I'm in the boat repair business/ General contractor and they raised the license fee from 200 to 400 bucks a couple years ago. No test no nothing and your building something people live in. They just want the money. What a disgrace.

[matauwhi]

G'day, mates. Should a U.S. citizen wish to formally end their domicile in the U.S., while maintaining citizenship, USCG documenation becomes the only alternative to prove ownership to clear customs in most countries.

FYI, we had an allegeded California registered yacht enter New Zealand. When proof could not be verified, the yacht was abandoned and later sold by Customs. Here in New Zealand, you do not have to register a boat (with the exception of personal watercraft) unless you are clearing Customs to head offshore. Cheers.

[msponer]

Originally Posted by matauwhi

G'day, mates. Should a U.S. citizen wish to formally end their domicile in the U.S., while maintaining citizenship, USCG documenation becomes the only alternative to prove ownership to clear customs in most countries.

I don't understand-- are you saying New Zealand stole the boat because it had state registration? It seems like a story straight out of Seized: A Sea Captain's Adventures Battling Scoundrels and Pirates While Recovering Stolen Ships in the World's Most Troubled Waters (which seemed centered around third world ports)

[matauwhi]

G'day, mate. I should clarify, I do not know for a fact that the boat was sold by Customs, but it was sold and now has been permanently moored in Opua. Sorry for the "slip". Cheers.

[CarinaPDX]

For those out cruising, document renewal is pretty easy these days, as long as you keep in mind when the document expires. The renewal form is available on the USCG web site. Download the form, print it out, sign it, then either scan it and email or fax it to the USCG. Both have worked for me (formerly fax but email these days).

The only thing to keep in mind is to send it in at the beginning of the last month of the document, then forward your mail towards the end of the month. If sent in the month before you might find that they issue it then, expiring a month earlier the following year. The document can be renewed months early if that is more convenient for you; it will always be for 12 months.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by matauwhi

G'day, mates. Should a U.S. citizen wish to formally end their domicile in the U.S., while maintaining citizenship, USCG documenation becomes the only alternative to prove ownership to clear customs in most countries.

FYI, we had an allegeded California registered yacht enter New Zealand. When proof could not be verified, the yacht was abandoned and later sold by Customs. Here in New Zealand, you do not have to register a boat (with the exception of personal watercraft) unless you are clearing Customs to head offshore. Cheers.

Sorry mate, but that does not agree with our experience. Our boats have been state registered in Illinois since we left SF in 1986, and they have been our official domicile for all that time. We've cleared in and out of 13 different countries (including New Zealand) multiple times with this state rego, and NO ONE has ever blinked an eye.

We keep reporting this here on CF, and yet the story that state rego will not be accepted keeps circulating.

I have no idea what transpired in the instance that you report, but I'm quite sure that there were other factors beside the state rego involved if their boat was seized.

Cheers,

Jim

[cburger]

Originally Posted by markpierce

There is no fee for timely renewal. Late renewal costs $5.

USCG National Vessel Documentation Center, Fee Page

How often are you required to renew?

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by cburger

How often are you required to renew?

Coast Guard documentation requires renewal every year. It's a form you fill out and mail/fax/email in. There is no charge.

[silversailor]

Originally Posted by Robin3

Documented means you don't have to have ugly registration numbers on the hull, only on the tender maybe. Ours was documented from new and we chose to keep it so, even though because I'm a Brit it had to be in my American wife's name. I don't think it will affect Bahamas trips at all either way but it might be better for some of the Caribbean islands. It might also help when you come to sell if the new owners wanted finance?

Not necessarily true. Depends on the state. Some states require state registration in addition to documentation. Some then require either state #s or state sticker, or both. Check with your Sect of State's office or DMV.

[silversailor]

Originally Posted by msponer

There's a very important difference in the way liens are recorded.

Documented vessels do not have liens. They have "Claims of Lien." Since these are only "Claims", they are very easy to file and do not require any proof or review by someone with a pulse. The USCG simply takes anyone who sends in the form at their word and duly records the claim. They will not remove even a patently fake claim without a court order. So a naer-do-well (disgruntled crew) could place a claim on your vessel and then extort you for it's removal. Removing the claim requires going to court, which takes months and thousands of dollars if the person who placed it fights you.

Titled vessels have liens, which require a court order to be recorded, and thus there is a burden of proof on anyone who would file it. So the hypothetical disgruntled crew would have to at least make a believable fake invoice to justify the lien, serve you notice, and you'd have an opportunity to defend yourself before the lien is recorded.

Only partially true. State titled vessels can also have liens filed against them. No court order is required. In either case, the filing is a claim, not proof of the lien. In either case, the lien is difficult to discharge or remove without court action.

[Kettlewell]

Some then require either state #s or state sticker, or both. Check with your Sect of State's office or DMV

I don't know of any state that requires state numbers on the bow if the boat is also documented. Can you name one and supply a reference? Yes, they do sometimes require state stickers. I believe it is federal law that no state can require numbers on the bow of a documented vessel.

This quote is from the USCG website:

IS A DOCUMENTED VESSEL EXEMPT FROM STATE JURISDICTION?
No, all documented vessels must comply with the laws of the state in which they are operated. The vessel's document must be shown to state law enforcement personnel upon their demand. States may require documented vessels to be registered (but not numbered) and to display state decals showing that they have complied with state requirements.

[cburger]

Originally Posted by silversailor

Not necessarily true. Depends on the state. Some states require state registration in addition to documentation. Some then require either state #s or state sticker, or both. Check with your Sect of State's office or DMV.

In NY I am doccuented as well as registered. How do you determine if the doccumentaion need a renewal?

[Kettlewell]

The Coast Document expires every year. There is an expiration date on the front of your document. They will send you a renewal form every year about a month or two before your document expires. You have to sign and return it if nothing has changed. You can correct your address for no charge, but most other changes require you to file new forms and pay a fee. All the information is here.