Coast Guard Documentation
- Thread starter jfurry
- Start date
journey on
New member
Yes, by the virtue of the overall length being >25 ft.
I documented our (ex-) sailboat about 10 years ago. It was pretty simple to do by yourself. I don't know if the procedure has changed, however there's a company in San Diego that does it for ~$400. I did talk to them about documenting Journey On.
On the other hand, I was never sure what benefit it gave us.
Boris
I documented our (ex-) sailboat about 10 years ago. It was pretty simple to do by yourself. I don't know if the procedure has changed, however there's a company in San Diego that does it for ~$400. I did talk to them about documenting Journey On.
On the other hand, I was never sure what benefit it gave us.
Boris
May I trouble you for an brief education on what exactly Coast Guard Documentation is and is supposed to do for you? Sounds like it is optional for private guys, but this is the first I have ever heard it mentioned on here. Just curious more than anything.
Thanks.
Thanks.
I'll throw some links on here later, I don't think you can get it done as the vessel has to be at least 5 net tons. With a documented vessel you can thumb your nose at the state as your vessel is now a resident of the US.
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/faq.htm
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/msc/T3/cg5397/cg5397.form.htm
gotta go before somebody blows themself up in the lab
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/faq.htm
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/msc/T3/cg5397/cg5397.form.htm
gotta go before somebody blows themself up in the lab
Alyssa Jean
New member
Using the formula from BCs post the 25 comes in at 1 ton.
It's based on volume, not displacement. There is a formula for it, but I don't recall it right off hand.
Documentation does NOT exclude you from following the registration rules of all states. Some people have tried to use that as a basis for not paying state sales tax... one day, the tax man will come calling (depending on your state)
What documentation DOES do is give your boat a "standardized" registration (since all states are different for their boat registration). If you are financing a large vessel, is is almost a certainty that the lending institution will require that the boat be documented (as their way of recovering it in a repossession situation). Some foreign Ports of Entry don't know what to do with a state registration, so documentation can make entry less hassle.
You do not have to put state registration #s on if the vessel is documented, but there are requirements for where the name (and size) must be, including your home port. You also have to have the documentation # permanently affixed to the boat (so it would leave evidence if it were to be removed); no requirement where that has to go.
Our bigger sailboat is documented. I had to learn some of this while getting a USCG Captain's License years ago.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
James TX/SD
Documentation does NOT exclude you from following the registration rules of all states. Some people have tried to use that as a basis for not paying state sales tax... one day, the tax man will come calling (depending on your state)
What documentation DOES do is give your boat a "standardized" registration (since all states are different for their boat registration). If you are financing a large vessel, is is almost a certainty that the lending institution will require that the boat be documented (as their way of recovering it in a repossession situation). Some foreign Ports of Entry don't know what to do with a state registration, so documentation can make entry less hassle.
You do not have to put state registration #s on if the vessel is documented, but there are requirements for where the name (and size) must be, including your home port. You also have to have the documentation # permanently affixed to the boat (so it would leave evidence if it were to be removed); no requirement where that has to go.
Our bigger sailboat is documented. I had to learn some of this while getting a USCG Captain's License years ago.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
James TX/SD
Documented vessels must be at least 5 net tons. If over that weight, and used exclusively for pleasure, it may be documented by the Coast Guard, or registered in the state in shich it resides, at the owners option.
The document identifies the vessel by it's home port, port of documentation, official number, net & gross tonnage, and owner's name and address. The original Certificate of Documentation must be carried on board at all times. The vessel must have the official number marked by any permanent method on some clearly visible interior structural part of the vessel.
They must display the name and hailing port, including city & state in letters at least 4 inhes high on some clearly visible, exterior part of the vessel.
The document identifies the vessel by it's home port, port of documentation, official number, net & gross tonnage, and owner's name and address. The original Certificate of Documentation must be carried on board at all times. The vessel must have the official number marked by any permanent method on some clearly visible interior structural part of the vessel.
They must display the name and hailing port, including city & state in letters at least 4 inhes high on some clearly visible, exterior part of the vessel.
Our sailboat, a San Juan 28 (another Seatlle boat) was documented. Still had to register the boat with Ohio state authorities every 3 or 4 years and display the state sticker, but no OH-NUMBE-RS were required as the vessel was documented. Name and Home Port on the stern.
There used to be some simplified customs procedures as I recall. Also it used to be the "rule" you couldn't fly the Yacht Ensign unless you were documented. Like Joe Sixpack paid attention to this!
Documentation is also the title, so if you move around you don't need a state title -- but you'll probably need registration.
As noted the Net Tonnage is an "admeasurement," not a weight.
There's a link to the USGC "simplified" measurement interactive page above. Someone with LOTS of time on their hands could certainly figure this out. Good for one. Good for all.
-- Chuck
There used to be some simplified customs procedures as I recall. Also it used to be the "rule" you couldn't fly the Yacht Ensign unless you were documented. Like Joe Sixpack paid attention to this!
Documentation is also the title, so if you move around you don't need a state title -- but you'll probably need registration.
As noted the Net Tonnage is an "admeasurement," not a weight.
There's a link to the USGC "simplified" measurement interactive page above. Someone with LOTS of time on their hands could certainly figure this out. Good for one. Good for all.
-- Chuck
B~C
Using your links above, I found the following formula.
GRT=(Hull Volume+ Deckhouse Volume)/100
Using the line drawing for the 22CD, it appears to me that even the 19 Angler could be documented. Since they both use outboards, the Gross and Net tonnage formulations would be the same. Both CDs would meet the 5 ton minimum requirement the way I figured it.
dave
Using your links above, I found the following formula.
GRT=(Hull Volume+ Deckhouse Volume)/100
Using the line drawing for the 22CD, it appears to me that even the 19 Angler could be documented. Since they both use outboards, the Gross and Net tonnage formulations would be the same. Both CDs would meet the 5 ton minimum requirement the way I figured it.
dave
dogon dory
New member
Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author
My recommendation:
Don't document unless required by a lending institution. I've done it both ways many times, and a documented vessel can (rarely of course) cause grief big time. BTDT. Selling a documented vessel out of country can create a mountain of paper. And trying to reposses one out of country an even higher paper stack. My unbelievable experience trying to bring my repo documented vessel back into the US is a sea story worthy of the SBS. Seized and sealed by the USCG dockside with a 6-figure bill. :shock: :shock: :shock:
There were advantages, of course, to documentation, but I suspect most of the perks have gone away...
Merry Christmas!
Dusty
Don't document unless required by a lending institution. I've done it both ways many times, and a documented vessel can (rarely of course) cause grief big time. BTDT. Selling a documented vessel out of country can create a mountain of paper. And trying to reposses one out of country an even higher paper stack. My unbelievable experience trying to bring my repo documented vessel back into the US is a sea story worthy of the SBS. Seized and sealed by the USCG dockside with a 6-figure bill. :shock: :shock: :shock:
There were advantages, of course, to documentation, but I suspect most of the perks have gone away...
Merry Christmas!
Dusty
mikeporterinmd
New member
JamesTXSD":3u1xpsfx said:
In Maryland, when registering a boat, you pay a tax and if you are using
Maryland waters for a long enough time period with a documented boat, you must
pay a use fee. Both fees are the same (5% of purchase or fair market value).
If your boat is documented, you get to remove your state numbers from the bow.
Some lenders insist on documentation if the boat is large enough.
Mike
Wow, a topic I have experience with! I am a first time boat buyer and started out right with a C-Dory 22' Cruiser I bought thru a contact from this site. I lucked out and met Bob and Marie. He had it documented so I thought I'd keep up the "tradition". I thought it was easy to do and I liked being a bit different anyhow with no numbers on the side and such....
I went to the Coast Guard web site for the instructions and paperwork; filled them out with the help of the Coast Guard phone number in WV (number at web site) and mailed them in.
*Btw, know that all fee's are non-refundable.*
The only down part I experienced was the wait time. I do not recall off the top of my head as I am at work, but it took nearly two months to get the required paperwork back. Without it, you are technically not "legal" to operate it the Coast Guard told me, but then again, one lady at the CG told me to keep a copy of all the paperwork I submitted and that she doubted they would ticket me.... And I did go without it and was never stopped nor questioned.
Write me if I can help in any other way.
Also!!!! you need not list your actual town you live in for your home port. You can list any town in your state. It worked for me to cut down to Topaz, CA instead of Apple Valley, CA for asthetic reasons (number of actual letters; regs say they must be 4" high), as you must list the hailing port on the stern or on each side (I had to put it on the sides).
It is a conversation starter often also.
Must run as a previous writer mentioned before they blow up my science lab too!!!!
Cheers,
Jeff
I went to the Coast Guard web site for the instructions and paperwork; filled them out with the help of the Coast Guard phone number in WV (number at web site) and mailed them in.
*Btw, know that all fee's are non-refundable.*
The only down part I experienced was the wait time. I do not recall off the top of my head as I am at work, but it took nearly two months to get the required paperwork back. Without it, you are technically not "legal" to operate it the Coast Guard told me, but then again, one lady at the CG told me to keep a copy of all the paperwork I submitted and that she doubted they would ticket me.... And I did go without it and was never stopped nor questioned.
Write me if I can help in any other way.
Also!!!! you need not list your actual town you live in for your home port. You can list any town in your state. It worked for me to cut down to Topaz, CA instead of Apple Valley, CA for asthetic reasons (number of actual letters; regs say they must be 4" high), as you must list the hailing port on the stern or on each side (I had to put it on the sides).
It is a conversation starter often also.
Must run as a previous writer mentioned before they blow up my science lab too!!!!
Cheers,
Jeff
If your state titles boats most banks are satisfied with the title. Today almost all states require you to pay a sales/use tax if you keep the boat in that state or even use it on their waters. The extra cost of documentation is not worth the hassel.
Pat and Fred Messerly
Red Lion, Pa.
Pat and Fred Messerly
Red Lion, Pa.
I purchased a documented vessel once, and as I recall, there was a small fee to maintain that, with virtually no benefit. I guess if you owned and financed a megayacht the banks or financial institutions might require documentation because of the likelihood of it being taken out of the country periodically. Easier to bring it back to the states if it is foreclosed or part of an estate or something. I guess there actually used to be some advantages 40 or 50 years ago, like mariners insurance and things. But no more. I had to hire a specialist in seattle to get it undocumented. Cost a couple hundred dollars. And took some inordinate amount of time.