Compared to a Florida state title that does not expire and thus does not need renewal that is hardly an advantage. The answer to the question of what is a documented vessel is easy to understand.
When a vessel becomes Federally Documented the State Registration Numbers and Letters must be removed.
Documented vessel vs state registration. State sales use and property taxes will apply regardless of how the boat is registered. In fact a number of states require yearly registrations on documented vessels just for the primary purpose of revenue tracking. The registration fee itself will not apply of course in those states which do not register documented vessels.
It appears MA never requires registration of a documented vessel but does require a registration fee after 60 consecutive days if you are registered out of state. Florida does require state registration of USCG documented vessels after 89 consecutive days in the state. Other states have different rules.
So the answer depends on where you will. There are two methods of boat registration in the United States. State-issued Certificate of Number for Vessel Registration and US.
Coast Guard Vessel Documentation. The federal governments Code of Federal Regulations known as CFR contains the guidelines for both vessel registration State and vessel documentation USCG. You are also supplied with a registration number for your vessel when you register.
Some people do find the registration process convoluted and difficult depending on the state they reside in. Documentation is Different Than Registration. Unlike US vessel registration documentation is quite different.
When you document your vessel it is on a federal level with. Documented vessels are given unique official numbers similar to state registration numbers. However documented vessels do not display their official numbers on the outside of the hull.
They are identified by the name and hailing port. The official number is placed inside. In most states documented vessels are not required to register with the state or display state numbers but must still display a state use sticker and pay state taxes if the vessel is used in a state for a certain amount of time.
Theres a lot of confusion over whether - and when - a Coast Guard Documented vessel needs to be registered with the state. The short answer is that UCSG Documented boats never need to be titled with the state but may need to be registered with the state depending on how long the boat is on the states waters. Compared to a Florida state title that does not expire and thus does not need renewal that is hardly an advantage.
Whether titled or documented you must register it anyway. A noted documented vessels dont have to have numbers on the hull but at least here they must display the registration sticker. In addition documented vessels are not required to display state registration numbers on the vessels exterior.
There are many reasons for titling a vessel either on the state level or with the federal government. However in some cases it may simply come down to a matter of personal preference. Each state has a different type of registration form so it is important that you choose the form which is right for your particular state.
This registration is simply a formal document letting the state know that you have a vessel and if you intend to occupy waters of another state for more than 60 days for example if you are sailing on an extended holiday then. If you get documentation you are not required to obtain registration from your state. The COD you receive from the federal government is all that you will need to have.
Learning about a Documented Vessel. The answer to the question of what is a documented vessel is easy to understand. A documented vessel is one listed in the Coast Guard database and part of the.
Documented vessels are given unique official numbers similar to state registration numbers. However documented vessels dont display their official numbers on the outside of the hull like a state registration but instead are identified by the name and hailing port. Vessels may ONLY be identified as either a State Registered Vessel or a Federally Documented Vessel - BUT NOT BOTH.
When a vessel becomes Federally Documented the State Registration Numbers and Letters must be removed. However the State Validation Sticker showing proof of paying sales tax may still be displayed on the vessel in accordance with. So for most boats over 25 feet the owner has the choice of either documenting the vessel with the Coast Guard at the federal level or titling it with the local state agency.
The local state agency is often the same one that registers cars like the DMV or the MVA but sometimes it is a separate agency like the Department of Natural Resources. Eliminates State Numbers on Hull Buyers Prefer Documented Boats Required by Most Marine Lenders I read this to benefit lenders more than boat owners. One of my previous boats was documented but it was 38 so reasonable.
It was a pain. A 7 year old 27 Woolridge shouldnt need documentation. First aidcpr FCC licensedrill conductor course and sat phone or SSB are required for a documented vessel and not a state registered boat.
A state registered boat can go out 100 miles with less gear than a documented boat that can only be out to 20 miles. And yes the raft is one of the biggest costs. Vessels may only be identified as either a Federally Documented Vessel or a State Registered Vessel.
When a vessel becomes federally Documented the State Registration letters and numbers must be removed. The State Validation Sticker showing proof of paying sales tax may still be displayed on the vessel with the individual states regulations. The registration depends on the requirements of the state where the owner primarily keeps the vessel and where the taxes have been paid.
Some states require vessels to maintain registration along with the Documentation. Others do not issue a registration at all if a vessel will be Documented. Read on to learn more about the difference between coast guard documentation and state registration and the importance of boat registration lookup.
The amount of documentation require for your boat can often seem confusing however knowing their function is crucial to have the best possible experience with your vessel. State registration systems do not provide a way to report the title history of a vessel whereas the history is available from the Coast Guard and reported on its Abstract of Title form. With all of this in mind its clear that our reader has little choice since his lender is requiring him to document the boat.