USCG registration question

[sepharad]

I am currently filling out the USCG Application for initial, exchange, or replacement of certificate of documentation; redocumentation. OMB No. 1625-0027.


My boat was built in the UK in 1981 and registered in the UK. The previous owner de-registered it after the sale. I am trying to register it in the USA.


Section M, question 4 asks:


The vessel is
_ Not titled under a state or
_ Titled under the laws of_______

Would I check, titled under the laws of the United Kingdom, even though it is de-registered? My bill of sale and all vessel documents are UK. By "titled under" do they mean it's original registration and sales documents?


Thanks

[goboatingnow]

No it is deflagged . Hence it isn’t titled

[sepharad]

There is no, the boat is untitled option, do I then leave both boxes blank? or check not titled under a state

[goboatingnow]

It’s “ not titled under a state “

[sepharad]

Thank you so much.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

It’s “ not titled under a state “

These questions are classically from legislations that expect either registration or full titled boats to exist.

They tend to have conniptions when they realise some of us don’t have to do anything with boats!!

[sepharad]

I have been utterly overwhelmed by attempting to register this boat. I live in one country, am trying to register it in a second country and the boat itself is in a third country. I ALMOST succeeded in registering in the UK and Covid hit. I was stopped dead by needing a tonnage survey and was unable to find a local surveyor.



Registering with the USCG is my latest effort. Someone in the chain-of-pain lost my first application and check.


I appreciate your kindness and responsiveness. I don't want to be told "go back to the starting line again, because I checked the wrong box.

[Discovery 15797]

Vessel registration and vessel titling are completely different.

A title proves ownership.

Registration proves nationality.

In order for your boat to be USCG documented you must prove you are the owner (or have claim if a bank has a lean).

Various states have different requirements for titling a vessel. You should contact the Department of Motor Vehicles or Dept. of Licensing to understand requirements for your state.

Alternately, there are titling companies that specialize in marine titling and registration/documentation.

[goboatingnow]

Where is the boat based

[goboatingnow]

Just be clear , title and registration are US terms. In most countries a bill of sale is the only “ title “ document

In the US” title “ is more akin to national registration in other countries

A similarity would be boat registration is the U.K. SSR whereas “ title “ is part 1 registration

Also while many brokers might for example use one particular form of bill of sale Ie the MCA ( U.K. ) bill of sale is commonly used , others prefer national bills of sale ( in my recent purchase I have 4 bills of sale , two MCA , two national )

“Title” in most countries is not a formal process per se

Registration ( to full national registration ) is both a Title and a registration . The whole point of most countries registration is to prove ownership.

In your case the boat as far as the US is concerned is neither titled nor registered.

[goboatingnow]

Since your boat is deflagged , it is not titled in the way the U.K. part 1 register would understand

As is typical the form does not reflect the gamut of international practice

[Dsanduril]

Unfortunately, you have to be able to discern the intent of the question. USCG documentation is both title (proof of ownership) and registration (telling the state who controls the boat). There can only ever be one valid title for a craft. Since the USCG will be issuing a title they want to ensure that no other title exists or that it has been properly transferred and canceled.

You say the boat was UK registered, unfortunately that’s not enough information. UK SSR Part III is a non-title registration (and in this case there is probably no title, it’s not a requirement) but SSR Part 1 is a title registration. If the owner ever had a mortgage on the boat then it is likely Part 1, in which case you will need to show “titled under the laws of the UK” and provide proof of the transfer of title.

That’s an internet opinion based on my personal experience, take it for what it’s worth.

[goboatingnow]

Note also that in states like PA you can register for registration and title in one go ( that’s a state I’m familiar with as I lived there )

Given your circumstances a little bit more info would be useful.

Ie where you intend to use the boat , where are u resident etc

It would be unusual to attempt U.K. part 1 and then switch to US registration

[Discovery 15797]

Just to be more clear...

The OP is asking about USCG documentation, thus USCG documentation rules apply.

USCG documentation rules state:
If the vessel has never been Documented by the U.S. Coast Guard, ownership may be established for used vessels by submission of a copy of the State Registration or Title. For new vessels, please include the Builder’s Certification (Form CG-1261), naming the applicant for Documentation as the person for whom the vessel was built or to whom the vessel was first transferred. Also acceptable are a transfer on a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, or foreign registration showing that the applicant owns the vessel.

For initial applications of vessels that have never been Documented, you will need to submit supporting documents for calculated tonnage if you do not have the CG-1261 Builder’s Certification.

See...https://unitedstatesvessel.us/initial-documentation/

[goboatingnow]

The issue is the options to the question

The OPs boat is not titled nor registered in a manner the US would understand

What you can do is typically submit a “ closed transcript “ showing the vessel is deflagged and a bill of sale ( usually notorised ) as proof of title

When executing a sale of a nationally registered boat you always need to think carefully about the deflagging sequence. Some national registrations are best performed by transfer of another national registration which means rather then the seller deflagging , you execute a change of ownership while retaining the registration (not always possible ) and then Reregister using that as proof of title and then you as the owner deflag it.

Too often the seller deflags before you get to evaluate your options


By the way OP. From memory USCG flagging requires a tonnage cert but I believe this can be self certified