The United States Coast Guard has a program called Vessel documentation Reinstatement that enables boat owners to maintain their current documentation even if they do not use their vessel annually. It could be challenging to keep the active status of your documents if you own a vessel you do not use regularly. To maintain your…
When you are purchasing a ship from a private seller, you might want to know its details as complete as they can be. Our website provides direct access to the United States Coast Guard list of documented vessels for you to find the one you are looking for. Looking up a boat’s history can reveal…
As a boat owner, it is important that you have access to information that is necessary to you as the owner of a recreational or commercial vessel. While you may not think you ever have a need to contact the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for anything, the truth is the information provided by the…
Are you planning on taking your beloved out on the water this Valentine’s Day? Maybe there’s an unseasonably warm and pleasant day in your neck of the woods, and you want to get out on your vessel while it lasts? If you have a boat, you want to be out on it. That’s true whether…
Are you looking for a quicker way and stress-free way to file your vessel documentation? Do you find it challenging to take care of all the forms that you need for your vessel? Well, this is where the USCG documentation service comes in. We aim to create a portal to help you and other boat…
As August turns to September and summer becomes fall, have you been trying to get out on your vessel for one last summer party with family and friends? Do you want to have a good time on the water before the leaves fall and the air grows cold? Now is the time of year when…
If you’re like most boat owners, you undoubtedly use your tablet or smartphone to take pictures and videos of your vessel. There are many options for how to document a boat in this digital era. Utilizing your tablet or smartphone allows you to take photos, make videos, and keep track of your maintenance data. One…
Finding the capital to fund your purchase of a yacht or vessel will often mean taking out a loan from your bank or credit agencies. Finding this type of financing often means making use of a preferred ship mortgage. This type of mortgage is unique to maritime lenders, and the lien which is placed on…
Does it feel like it’s time to renew your vessel’s registration but you aren’t sure? Have you felt a nagging in the back of your mind that it’s due yet you really don’t know? We designed the Maritime Documentation Center, in part, to alleviate those kinds of concerns. Really, we don’t believe that boat registration…
Are you unsure which USCG forms are right for your vessel? Does it feel like every year or so there’s another form of documentation you have to get for your boat and you aren’t sure what it is? That’s not just you. The truth is that vessel documentation can seem confusing and opaque even to…
The USCG has certain size standards that must be met before a vessel may acquire USCG documentation. Vessels must be at least 25 feet in length and 7 feet broad to be registered by the US Coast Guard. There are, however, certain exceptions to this. For example, single-engine powerboats with a length of little more…
When you are preparing to purchase a boat from an owner or a broker you want to ensure that you do all that you can to have a smooth transaction. This means having all the information on hand that you’ll need regarding the vessel to make sure you are buying a good, working boat. Buying…
Do you know how you want to use your vessel but aren’t sure about the corresponding form of ship documentation? Are you filling your initial documentation application and have made it to Section J that asks for “Endorsements for Which Application is Made?” When you get your vessel documented, you have to pick an endorsement.…
Does it feel like it’s time to file Coast Guard renewal documentation, but you aren’t sure? Have you felt like it sneaks up on you, and you’re worried that one of these years, you’re going to miss the deadline? Firstly, even if you miss the renewal deadline, all is not lost. That said, it’s far…
Safe boating is fun boating. When you do everything you can to make your trip as safe as possible for everyone on board, it’s easy to relax. You can have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re prepared for every eventuality, which means you can kick back and just take it all in.…