Found out the hard way...

[Marksman]

Well,after loosing two close friends and a relative, got distracted and didn't get my federal documentation sent in in time. The fee for reinstatement, $450 usd. The fee for removal from documentation is $125 usd. I'm never crossing an ocean with my boat so I guess I will take the lesser of two weevils and pay to get out. This time, the purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others.

[Paul L]

Where are you getting the $450 info? The USCG website says:

2) EXPIRED CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION: If the Certificate of Documentation has expired, owners may return the vessel to an active status. Complete Form CG-1258 Application for Initial, Exchange or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; Redocumentation, and submit form with fee of $84.00, PLUS additional applicable fees for any trade endorsement(s) other than Recreation and/or Registry.
Endorsement fees are: Coastwise.............$29.00
Fishery ..............$12.00
NOTE: When more than one endorsement is requested, only the single highest endorsement rate applies - $29.00 MAXIMUM.

[dfelsent]

Those are not the USCG fees.
You can probably do the paperwork yourself.

https://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/nvdcfee.asp

[Marksman]

Thanks for the reply Paul. I went to the documentation website and they stated if you go 30 days past expiration you must reinstate your documentation and when you follow all directions, at the end they ask for $450 usd. I will revisit and try to find where you are quoting.

[Marksman]

Yup.... I went back and looked. With a cursory check I couldn't locate the verbiage you quoted but in multiple places they state that I must reinstate my documentation in bold red print and then give the link to the form I previously filled out ending in the financial carnage.

[Celestialsailor]

Maybe if you pleaded your case to them, they might waiver. Maybe a try.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Marksman

Thanks for the reply Paul. I went to the documentation website and they stated if you go 30 days past expiration you must reinstate your documentation and when you follow all directions, at the end they ask for $450 usd. I will revisit and try to find where you are quoting.

https://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/nvdcforms.asp

[Marksman]

Yes, I have sent an email and am waiting for a call back from a representative. Have my fingers crossed, but am ready for the worst. Had no idea this would be so expensive but I suspect documentation has it's origins in the commercial world where $450 is not such a great relative sum.

[Marksman]

Paul, I did find the page you indicated, and when you go to the form they remind you that after 30 days you cannot renew without reinstating and... you know what comes after that.

[Paul L]

And the Reinstatement PDF says:

REPLACEMENT AND REINSTATEMENT OF
CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION
1) LOST OR MUTILATED CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION: Lost or mutilated Certificates of Documentation can be replaced. Owner(s) should complete Form CG-1258 Application for Initial, Exchange or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; Redocumentation, and submit form with $50.00 fee.
IMPORTANT: Information on your Application for Replacement can
affect NO CHANGES on your Certificate of Documentation other than
the address of the managing owner. If there are any changes (other than
address), additional submissions and/or fees may be necessary.
2) EXPIRED CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION: If the Certificate of Documentation has expired, owners may return the vessel to an active status. Complete Form CG-1258 Application for Initial, Exchange or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; Redocumentation, and submit form with fee of $84.00, PLUS additional applicable fees for any trade endorsement(s) other than Recreation and/or Registry.
Endorsement fees are: Coastwise.............$29.00
Fishery ..............$12.00
NOTE: When more than one endorsement is requested, only the single highest endorsement rate applies - $29.00 MAXIMUM.
Instructions:
1) Fillable forms can be found on our website at: USCG National Vessel Documentation Center, Home Page
2) Copies made on anything other than plain paper will be rejected.
3) Checks and money orders payable to U.S. Coast Guard, or credit card payments with accompanying CG-7042 Authorization for Credit Card Transactions are also accepted and must accompany application. Fees are non-refundable as per 46 CFR 67.500(e).
4) Documents may be mailed or faxed to the NVDC using the information above, or sent via e-mail to: NVDC.PDF.FILING@uscg.mil
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________

Where do you see the $450 fee stated?

[belizesailor]

Contact the NVDC and ask them to confirm. Very helpful folks.

[Marksman]

Paul, you have to actually go to the reinstatement form, and after filling out 3 screens worth of information, some redundant, they hit you with the fee. It's not advertised anywhere else. Same with removal from documentation, but that's a single screen form and you can see your fate right away. In any case, don't let this happen to you!

[maine50]

Are you absolutely sure you were on the "official" site and not some commercial site made to look like the US Doc Ctr? Just saying....

[Marksman]

Positive, for expired cod there is a link to a renewal form, go to that link, there is a statement in red print explaining that if you are past 30 days expired you cannot renew and must reinstate your cod and give you a link to that form. That's where the suckage begins. But don't take my word for it, follow my steps and fill out the form yourself (you don't need to finalize) and you will see just how seriously they don't want to deal with tardy submissions. It is the USCG / HOMELAND SECURITY website.

[Paul L]

What is the link you are using for the first page of the form? Does it end in .gov, or is it a commercial one that ends in .us?