First Things First

[Dmarina]

In what order should you do the following just before you go into a Marina?
DMV- Register and get Hull numbers for new boat
Survey
Insurance
And or anything else that need be done
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Our boat (hull & deck) was purchased in 1976. We have been building it ever since. It is very near been finished. What year do we use for the boat - 1976 or present?

[Ocean Girl]

Register her, get survey, then insurance, once the insurance is active you are able to get her in a marina. My 2 cents.
Good luck and enjoy your boat
Erika

[DRS]

1- insure it now. Heaven forbid something catastrophic should happen to the effort so far.
2- survey may be required for the insurance so it might be moved to the #1 spot
3- register

[osirissail]

Ocean Girl has the straight scoop - you have to "finish" the boat and then get a State "Title" as "homebuilt" or whatever term the State uses. Once you have a State Title and Registration then any insurance company will want to see a "Survey" before issuing you a policy. It will be a bit tricky as the boat is not a "manufactured" vessel by a "name" brand company. But like home built automobiles (kit cars) it can be done.
- - It is highly unlikely any insurance company will insure the "vessel" before "it is" a vessel, which means finished and surveyed. However, if it is built in your "back yard" your home owners insurance will normally cover "hobby material" or whatever name is appropriate for all the stuff you are putting into building the boat.

[TabbyCat]

Our boat (hull & deck) was purchased in 1976.

You can get what is called "Builder's Risk" insurance . It covers the boat while it is on the hard. The underwriter will require you to get a survey before launching the boat. If you purchased the hull, then possibly it has a hull ID already stamped on the starboard side of the transom? That would be your first clue as to what year it is. When you apply for the insurance, you just need to explain the history.

[SabreKai]

If you are going to try to have it insured under home insurance as hobby material then make sure you give them a heads up on what it is you are doing and the estimated value of materials and hardware on site. Otherwise, being the money grubbing pencil pushers we all know and love, they will limit any loss to some minor amount as noted in your policy. My dad had his gun collection stolen, and because he didn't send them an itemized list they paid him next to zilch. This was for a collection of very rare Lugers. Something like $125k was paid off in $5k and there was nothing he could do about it.

You will end up paying them a higher premium but it may be worth it.

Sabre

[osirissail]

That is very true, when I had homes and home insurance there was always a special page for listing "exceptional" items such as diamond rings, other expensive jewelry, electronics, and other high price items.