Is boat documentation renewal necessary? Boat owners approaching the end of their documentation periods may consider asking this question. It’s possible that many individuals are curious about the advantages of updating boat paperwork and whether or not it’s worth it. Maintaining a current level of paperwork renewals is essential for anybody who owns a boat in the United States. The United States Coast Guard mandates that all vessels that have been documented must periodically update or renew their documentation.
The renewal procedure is a method for guaranteeing that the owners of vessels still have ownership of their boats and that the information listed on the paperwork is accurate at the time of boat documentation renewal. Even if you don’t intend to use your boat for the foreseeable future, you should update its paperwork since doing so is necessary for several reasons. Some of them are as follows:
To Keep the Vessel Registered with The Coast Guard
Unlike boats registered in other countries, U.S. vessels need to be documented. If so, it is likely registered with your state’s marine registration. The state is responsible for registering boats and issuing paperwork to be utilized on public waterways. The Certificate of Documentation (COD) must be renewed periodically to provide proof of U.S. Coast Guard registration, as most boat owners know. When that moment comes, a lot of folks question whether they need one at all.
What is the purpose of this paper, though? Although the COD is often known as “boat registration,” this term is only partially correct since the COD is used to register the owner of a boat, not the boat itself. In the same way, drivers and car owners must provide proof of ownership to operate a vehicle; boat owners must show that their craft complies with maritime law before it may be used.
To Maintain Your Liability Insurance Coverage
There is usually a requirement that you provide evidence of liability insurance when renting a boat or other watercraft. Before receiving the keys, most boat rental firms will have you sign a waiver and insurance policy agreement; before doing so, read the fine print. There is no assurance that the rental business would not report an uninsured watercraft accident to their insurance if you attempt to accept the rental without these documents. Proof of liability insurance coverage is often required when acquiring a boat or accepting a full-time marine law enforcement or maritime security position.
Even if you’re merely traveling through a state or province that asks for it, you can protect yourself financially if someone is hurt or property is damaged while using your boat, thanks to liability insurance. A legal requirement for operating a vessel is proof that it is properly recorded and insured against liability for harm to other individuals or their property.
Boat Documentation Renewal Helps Boaters Comply with State and Local Laws
The paperwork for a boat is the official certification that the boat satisfies the requirements for lawful operation. The usage of a boat on public waterways requires this in every state. If you don’t have the proper paperwork for your boat, other boaters may worry that you aren’t ready for anything that could happen on the water. Suppose the speed restriction in a small town is ten mph, and you’re traveling 20 mph. In that case, a police officer may pull you over and charge you with reckless operation of a vessel, regardless of whether or not the other boats in the area also exceeded the speed limit.
Because boat paperwork isn’t strictly necessary until the time for boat documentation renewal, some individuals prefer not to acquire one. They’re taking a gamble that they can avoid trouble until they encounter someone who questions their decision not to have one. The safety of the operator and anybody else in the water is at stake when a boat is operated without a valid license.
To Prove Ownership of the Vessel
Some individuals are used to autos, and some even possess a valid driver’s license; however, not everyone has ever bought or registered a boat. Did you realize that if you buy a boat, you are essentially transforming your automobile into a boat? You are still taking it on highways, and you are now also bringing it onto the water. This is concerning. You will need to purchase emissions and safety inspection if your state mandates that you have one and then register the boat with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to comply with the laws of both worlds (in many states). When it comes down to it, everything is very straightforward: if you own a boat, you must maintain legal compliance whether you use it on the road or the water.
The Maritime Documentation Center is the place to go for all your Boat Documentation needs. We provide professional boat documentation renewal services to get you the necessary certificate of documentation. We are ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have regarding our service, so give us a call today at 800-535-8570. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.