Certificate of Documentation

[ess105]

Simple question for full time cruisers. Where do you keep your Certificate of Documentation? On or off the boat? (No need to give precise location like "under the dog")

[opsailor]

My understanding is that federal statutes REQUIRE that the original Cert be on the boat at all times. See reverse side of your certificate for confirmation.

[ess105]

That's what I understood for US waters. What about further afield?

[opsailor]

As a documented US vessell, all the time wherever in the world you are.....

[Cheechako]

Outside USA it should be on the boat. If your boat is Documented, the USCG can board ANYWHERE in the world. If you are concerned about losing the original, go to a color copier and get the same color and heavy weight paper and make copies. non US officials will never know the difference. I did it and it worked throughout the Carribean anyway. Probably a good idea to do ....period.

[Chantyabc]

Since the certificate of documentation serves as or replaces a title and a title to me is like a birth certificate (in which i dont keep in my wallet) i would say keep it in a safe place off the boat. As long as you have your registrationon for the boat you should be fine..

Thanks
Chanty

[Chuck Baier]

You are required to keep the document on the boat to offer as proof of ownership to any Authority that requires it. So it won't do you much good at home or in a safe deposit box.

[ess105]

Very helpful answers - thanks

[speciald@ocens.]

The oriinal must be on the boat. I've used a copy when clearing in in the Caribbean.

[Cheechako]

I believe the new doc's are no longer embossed, Not sure how anyone (especially an 19 yr old seasick guardsman) would know the difference!

[Chuck Baier]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I believe the new doc's are no longer embossed, Not sure how anyone (especially an 19 yr old seasick guardsman) would know the difference!

So you are willing to take personal responsibility and pay any fines for anyone that gets a non seasick, older, more experienced "guardsman"?

[Cheechako]

Sorry Chuck, I didnt know it was illegal to copy your document. Do you?

[Chuck Baier]

Did not say it was illegal. But suggestion that some one try and pass off a copy as an original document is not appropriate in my opinion. But that is just my opinion.

[JiffyLube]

I kept my original on land with a copy on the boat, but I changed that to the original on the boat and the copy on land. There was another discussion on this subject once before, and the argument that changed my mind was, the documentation is akin to the registration we keep in our cars (not copies)...at least in California.

[Cheechako]

I'm not really suggesting it either. I'm assuming the average cruiser would use his original anytime he's dealing with the USCG....why not? It is nice having the backup though. In Martinique, they tried to keep my document when I checked in, and of course the language was an issue. It was just one of those things they/he decided to do that day I guess! In the end I got it back by giving them one of my copies! Didnt happen on my way back through the next time... At the time the French were showing their "bravado" by randomly refusing entry for some reason. Approaching freshly anchored yachts at high speed and telling them to leave the harbor. Go figure. I checked the Fed Regs and could not find any mention regarding not copying the document. However it says "the original must be presented when requested", which kind of implies that copies can occur....