Form CG 1258 for Beginners

There’s a lot of responsibility in owning a boat for either leisure or commercial purposes. Anyone with experience in the world of vessel ownership will be ready to tell you that half of the background admin is all about the various documentation and paperwork that needs to be filed in order for your boat to be deemed legal and seaworthy. 

Among the document names that you will come across over the course of your boat-owning experience, the CG 1258 will almost certainly be one of them. To help you get a head start on what to expect, here is some essential information about the CG 1258 form that will help boating beginners!

When To Use The CG 1258?

If you purchase a new vessel, you are going to need to have the correct documentation. Essentially, the CG 1258 is a transfer of vessel ownership form that needs to be completed in order to legitimize and finalize the change in ownership of the boat in question from the seller to the buyer.

What Does The Form Comprise?

The CG 1258 features four pages that need to be filled out with the relevant and correct information. You will need to take some time to fill out the form to the best of your knowledge and ability because if any errors are discovered in the processing stage, the application will be denied and you will have to start again from the beginning.

Who Fills The Form Out?

The CG 1258 form is used by the vessel owner when applying for the initial issue, exchange or replacement of a Certificate of Documentation. It is completed by the owner of the boat that wishes to be recorded or re-documented.

The Purpose Of The CG 1258 Form

Put simply, this form is used to establish the citizenship of the owner of the vessel. It is important to note that only US citizens are eligible to have documentation with the United States Coast Guard. For other types of citizenship, there are different supporting forms.

CG 1258

What Information Is Required?

Various information is required in order to be able to successfully complete a CG 1258 form. This includes the name of the vessel in question, the official serial numbers associated with it, the hailing port and the name and contact information of the new owner. There will also be additional admin information that needs to be included like physical mailing address, the purpose for the application and any endorsements attached to it.

If you would like some online assistance with the processing of your own CG 1258 form, then don’t hesitate to take advantage of the services that are offered at the Vessel Registrar Center. Head over to the website to find out everything that you need to know about what we offer in terms of admin assistance for vessel owners. We very much look forward to hearing from you and being able to help.