If you own a yacht in the United States, you know the need to maintain a boat documentation renewal. However, renewal might be a pain, mainly if you are unsure how to get started. Because of this, we have compiled this helpful guide that will provide you with information on renewing the paperwork for your boat. Continue reading for advice on what steps to take and when to take them, as well as information on costs and documents. It won’t be difficult to renew your papers if you follow our guidelines. The following advice will assist in making the procedure as simple and uncomplicated as possible.
Make Sure You Have All the Necessary Paperwork On Hand
Make sure you have the required paperwork handy. The original bill of sale, copies of any manufacturer’s warranties, service records, and maintenance logs you’ve preserved over the years will be required. If your boat’s registration has lapsed for more than a few months, these will assist in establishing its history and prove that it has always been in your name. Maintain these records so you can easily retrieve them when required, but also in an orderly fashion that prevents water damage.
Get everything gathered in a folder or binder now so you don’t have to look for it when it’s time to do a boat documentation renewal on your membership. When completing the necessary paperwork, we can assist you most by guiding you quickly and easily through the maze of different government agency websites; not all are made equal, but we will help you discover what you need as efficiently as possible. To ensure no surprises along the road, we suggest creating a checklist of everything that needs to be done.
Submit All Materials Electronically Whenever Possible
USCG now prefers electronic submission of all hull documentation search materials from boat owners. Your application, vessel description, declaration of ownership and citizenship, registration, out-of-water inspection request, etc. This has been happening for some time, so it’s reasonable to assume that many individuals automatically do it when they need to submit documents. Just consider these benefits of electronic submissions:
- You save time
- You save money on postage and printing costs (if you do it yourself)
- You reduce the chance that something will be lost in the mail or get damaged in transit
You don’t want to waste time filling out paperwork only to have them get lost in the mail or misfiled because you sent them instead of emailed them. It might take considerably longer if they are damaged in transit and need to be resent or replaced.
Do Your Boat Documentation Renewal Early?
The paperwork associated with your boat must be renewed annually. Late boat documentation renewal increases the likelihood that you may be denied service. In addition, with specific payment systems, you may only renew your boat’s paperwork if you pay for it a month in advance. If you renew your registration close to the day it expires, you will have more time to resolve any emerging issues. Let’s assume you choose to renew online in the final week of August, the same week that your yearly safety inspection is due.
Suppose there is a problem with your vessel’s documentation. In that case, repairing it in time for inspection may be challenging, and you may have to postpone inspection and registration renewal until after the first of the year. Problems may also arise during mandatory government inspections. Inspectors have the authority to prevent you from leaving the port or force you to return if your registration has lapsed.
Be Prepared For Potential Delays
You need to prepare yourself for the possibility of delays. This is of the utmost importance whether you are awaiting a tax refund to pay for it or if you are doing it straight after you have returned from an enjoyable boating season. Near the expiry time, the Coast Guard is often inundated with requests for boat documentation renewal, so you should factor in some additional processing time. If this is the case, you should plan to take several days off of work, contact the appropriate individuals in the appropriate sequence, compile your credit card information, and ensure that the weather will be on your side. If all of these things fall into place at the same time, you should go ahead and submit your application. In such a case, you risk having to wait many weeks longer than anticipated.
The Maritime Documentation Center is the authority for boat documentation renewal. Renewal is a necessary process that you don’t want to miss out on, as it’s required by law, and if paperwork isn’t filed in time, you will be subject to hefty fines. The Centers provides a wide variety of documentation services, and they’re ready to assist you with any documentation needs. To learn more about their service, call them at (800)-535-8570.