The day has come where you are getting the boat you purchased delivered to your local marina. You proudly go down to watch them as they place it in the water for you, and you walk around on the deck, thinking about all the good times you are going to have using this new purchase…
Are you looking to sell your boat and aren’t sure which forms you’ll need? Or, alternatively, are you in the process of buying a boat, and want everything to be on the “up and up,” so to speak? This is where a boat bill of sale form can come in very handy. The good news…
Do you ever ask yourself “why do I need to take care of my ship documentation?” Doesn’t it feel like vessel documentation is something onerous that doesn’t really help you? The truth is that vessel documentation goes back a long way. This isn’t something that the government just came up with to punish vessel owners…
It’s natural to feel like you’re alone when it comes to your vessel documentation. After all, there’s not really a “tech support” for Coast Guard forms. It’s not like you can call someone up and be like: “hey, I’m struggling to figure out exactly which form is for me. Can you help?” Sure, you can…
If you own a USCG vessel, you should have a copy of the abstract of title on hand at all times. Nevertheless, did you know that the USCG can take a while to process one? An abstract of title for your USCG vessel can be obtained for various reasons. An abstract of title is required,…
The easiest way to ensure you have all the information you need about your boat is to get an abstract of title from the United States Coast Guard. This document contains a comprehensive history of your vessel, including any liens or other information that may have an impact on its own, as well as other…
When you are about to sell a boat, it is important that you know exactly what you have to do when it comes to completing the paperwork. This is vital if you have a certificate of documentation, which comes from a federal body and needs to be exchanged so that it satisfies every legal requirement.…
Have you reached the point where you have to print out reams of documentation every time you want to work on your yacht? Do you wish there was a more streamlined approach to get all of the information you want, one that did not require you to hunt it out across many websites? The Online…
With everything that is listed for sale today, the opportunities seem endless when you want to make purchases like buying a car, a house, or a large boat. There are plenty of companies that sell these things brand-new, but there are just as many listed on the secondary market where you can make a purchase…
A “ticking clock” can cause anyone to be nervous. When there’s a deadline, when something has to be done at a certain time, it can make everyone a bit on edge, causing them to not react as well as they might have. Your vessel documentation has to be renewed annually (except for certain exceptions, which…
Every industry, every hobby has its own jargon. In boating, the jargon might actually be more dense and esoteric than in other industries. While there may be several reasons that this is true, a significant one is that people have been boating for literally thousands of years. That’s plenty of time for terms to be…
The US Vessel Registry, among other things, keeps track of USCG vessel documentation. If this may sound new to you, it very much isn’t new. In fact, this is one of the first agreed-upon functions of the United States government. The 11th act of the very First Congress was setting up vessel documentation. The reasons…
Do you have your eye on a boat but aren’t sure if it’s the right vessel for you? Are you in the process of doing your research and need an unimpeachable source that you can trust? That’s something we specialize in here at the USCG Vessel Documentation Center. We have multiple forms that can help…
Registering your boat with the government can be accomplished in two ways: boat documentation or state registration. There are two methods to register your boat with the government: boat documentation vs. state registration. Consider boat documentation if you’re looking for a more recent alternative to state registration. Boat paperwork is a newer alternative with certain…
Did you recently come into possession of a foreign-built vessel and aren’t sure what you can and can’t do with it? Does it seem like you’re very limited in terms of how you can use it to make a profit? Coast Guard registration (vessel registration), in America, dates back to the 11th act of the…