USCG documentation questions

[Sailuke]

Hello, I recently bought a boat that was documented with the USCG, we re documented it in our name and got i believe the same documentation number back, and had a few questions. Is the old call sign that was for the old documentation, WCJ3**, still apply to the new documentation, under a different name, for the same boat? Do i still have to register the boat to the town and paint the numbers on the front and add the sticker (Portland, Maine)? How often do I have to renew the documentation? Do i have to keep the certificate of documentation on board if i have the wooden plaqu glued to the hull? Thanks a ton.

[CSY Man]

Documentation will be renewed automatically, the CG send you a new document annually.
As for Station License and call sign, you need to start over. About $215 for an online application. FCC
Most states does not require you to display State Registration, the CG needs to see name and hailing port. Name 4" tall and Hailing Port 3" if memory serves right.

[Dauntlessny]

Yes, have aboard. Keep copy other places.

Are you confusing your VHF reg with Doc number?

Check your state requirements.

[Dsanduril]

Maine does not require state registration of documented vessels (ignore the motorboat references):

You must have a Maine registration and validation stickers
to operate your motorboat legally on public waters in
Maine. The only exceptions are:
• Motorboats owned by the United States government
• Motorboats documented with the U.S. Coast Guard
• Motorboats used exclusively for racing purposes and
displaying a boat number from a racing association

But, you will have to pay the annual excise tax:

Annual Excise Tax
■ Owners of any vessels located in Maine, including documented
vessels, must pay their annual excise tax.
• Maine residents pay the tax to the town where they reside.
• Nonresidents or corporations pay the tax to the Maine
town where the vessel is principally moored, docked, or located.

If you operate in freshwater you'll also need environmental sticker.

[markpierce]

Federal regulations forbid displaying state registration numbers if the boat is USCG documented. If your state requires registration even for a documented boat, you'll probably have to display the registration sticker.

The current original documentation certificate must be carried aboard.

[CaptTom]

What Mark said.

And, Maine actually has a different "excise tax" sticker in lieu of the registration sticker.

[doug1957]

And I have never seen the Maine excise tax sticker displayed on a boat. We keep ours on the boat with the document and the excise tax receipt.

[Moody46CC]

You do keep the same USCG documentation number. That should be permanently affixed somewhere on the inside of the hull or on a bulkhead so it cannot be erased or altered. USCG wants you to epoxy over it so if it is tampered with, there will be visible signs. You need to know where yours is--the USCG will ask to see it when doing safety checks. Need to keep original copy of USCG documentation certificate aboard.

You cannot keep the old call sign or MMSI. FCC will issue you new ones for a lot of money, albeit for a ten year period. I believe if you only operate your boat in US waters you can get away without a radio telephone operator license and you can get a free MMSI from BoatUS. You won't have a call sign, but most people use the boat's name when hailing on Channel 16. But if you go into international waters, you need both a FCC radiotelephone operator license (free and for life; no test), a ship station permit which comes from the FCC and costs and gives you a call sign, and you need a FCC issued MMSI. That comes with the ship station license. The BoatUS MMSI is not valid for international waters.