How Long to Get Certificate of Documentation

[dweller]

I bought a boat May 1 and immediately sent in the transfer of ownership/documentation papers. I got a letter of "temporary" certification of documentation.

But I'm wondering how long I might expect to wait before I get the permanent certificate. It's now been 5 months. I tried calling but gave up after 30 minutes on hold.

Thanks,

[witzgall]

You can see which week of received applications they are working on, on the uscg doc website.


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[CrustyChief]

If I am reading it right they are on 5/19/15

[JTHAW]

I sent mine in to change name and ownership about 2 weeks ago, early sept.....somehow I got the impression I would get papers back in 6-8 weeks?....after reading above.... is 4 months about right then????

[bratzcpa]

Yes, great info here in these answers - all accurate.

First - yes it takes a long time.
Second - yes, you can/should go to their website and put in your information. That will then confirm that they actually GOT it and have it logged in. It will also give you a date range that they're currently working on. In other words, you can see where you are in the queue.
Finally - if you have a pending trip and NEED the USCG documentation sooner, there is an expedite process. Again, go to their website and follow the directions EXACTLY. We did this (because of a legitimate real "soon" departure" date) and had the actual/real certificate of documentation (not a temporary one) in our mail box in 4 days (from faxing the expedite request to them).

Kind of a chunky cumbersome process, but we found them to be very helpful and good!

[Kerryo]

The USCG office in Panama City FL. expedited mine from about 4 months to a week. Very helpful and pleasant to work with. My FL tag was expiring and I would have been required to register my boat and put numbers on my bow... not happening!

[BHI_Guy]

I sent my application in about April 25, and I've received temp doc, but not the permanent yet. I don't need it until next year, so no biggee.

[skipmac]

What great information. I sent my application in exactly one month ago. Went to the USCG documentation web site and it confirmed my application was received 24 Aug. Now I guess I have to settle back and wait. No temp papers yet but I'm still on the hard so guess it doesn't matter for now.

[coolboat30]

I am told there is a form to request that the transaction be expedited which will result in a two month turn around. Otherwise it takes a year? Can anyone confirm?

[bratzcpa]

Originally Posted by coolboat30

I am told there is a form to request that the transaction be expedited which will result in a two month turn around. Otherwise it takes a year? Can anyone confirm?

Nope, the expedite process resulted in getting the documentation in exactly 4 days. Honest!!!

[sck5]

I too am waiting for my doc submitted the paperwork around mid-May. I was told the expedite process works well but you should only do it if you actually need to leave the country. Then they expect you to actually leave (though I have no idea how they would know)

[jeepbluetj]

Am I the only 'merican that thinks a 6+ month turnaround on something that is perfectly analogous to what I could do at a AAA office in 10 min is somewhat less than optimal? Scan it, check the notarization, and press the "send new one to new owner" button on the computer. Renewal is paper only. Renewal costs $$$. And it's annual.

On the positive side, it's part of Senator Byrd's legacy that the Coast Guard documentation office is far inland in WV.

On Topic, Mine took 8 months when I bought my boat.

[Cuttyhunk]

It takes far too long, but it is not analogous to a car or state boat registration...a more apt analogy would be to a car title, which in my state takes a month or so.

We bought our boat in April, 2013. They were so far behind they started issuing the temporary documentations in June and we received that in July. We got the official one in August. I did find the website's listing of processing progress to be very helpful in calming me down. My state requires a state registration (no numbers, just the sticker) and I did not want to go to them with the temporary document.


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[Cocaptains]

Sent for Documentation end of April, Just received it last week

[yardie]

Sent documents in September '14. Received rejection letter in February. Sent corrected information right away. Received rejection letter in April. Same for May. Finally received documents in June.

Turns out because I was filling forms on the PC, printing to PDF to save trees. The documentation center was receiving corrupted files through email. It shouldn't have taken this long and getting it sorted cut into our sailing season.


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