So you want to sell your boat? Perhaps you don’t use it anymore, need the money, or are preparing to buy a different vessel. No matter the reason you’re selling, you will need a vessel bill of sale to legally sell your watercraft to a new owner. This is a legal contract that includes important…
Owning a ship and sailing away is a dream of a lot of people. Some are lucky to have their dreams come true. Unfortunately, many boat owners do not know that there are requirements that they have to meet before they can legally sail. If your boat is more than 5 net tons, it has…
Is it true that the Coast Guard provides a free vessel lookup service? Owners and watercraft fans may use this site to learn more about nearby USCG-licensed vessels. If you’re interested in learning more about the past of a particular boat or want to check if everything is up to date, this USCG vessel lookup…
Many commercial vessels are required to have US Coast Guard boat documentation. Typically, these are vessels measuring over 5 tons that deal in commerce or trade on the US coasts, the Great Lakes, US Fisheries, or other American or Exclusive Economic Zone navigable waters. However, plenty of other commercial, recreational, and pleasure vessels qualify but…
If you want to operate a large vessel, you might be interested in USCG documentation. The United States Coast Guard is the governmental body that regulates maritime commerce and safety, and it’s responsible for inspecting and certifying vessels. The USCG has strict regulations about what makes a boat eligible for certification, including size, weight, horsepower,…
The winter months in the United States can be difficult for boaters. You may want to go out on your vessel as you did in the summer only for it to be too cold to do. Or, maybe you do go out on your vessel but you have to put on so many layers of…
It might not be the most common aspect of boat ownership, but at some point in your time out on the water, it just might be the case that your vessel needs to be boarded by the relevant authorities. When everything is legal and above board, you never have to worry about an experience like…
Are you a boat owner with the US Coast Guard? If this is the case, you will want to educate yourself on the many advantages of the USCG registry. If you register your boat with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), you will be eligible for several excellent benefits that will make it much simpler…
The form CG 719s or plainly the application for a merchant mariner credential is a credential issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in accordance with guidelines of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers to United States seafarers in order to show evidence of a mariner’s qualifications. In…
Boat ownership is something that is very special, and it provides you with the unique opportunity to travel in a way that many people may only dream about. Imagine sailing yourself to wonderful islands and countries that you never had the chance to visit before, or taking the time to travel up and down the…
Because buying a boat is such a large purchase for you, you naturally want to take your time, examine all your options, and get as much information as possible before you sign any bill of sale. More people today look to the secondary market to buy boats because they can find a better deal from…
Changing the name of a boat is something that a lot of boat owners do. There are many reasons why someone might want to change the name of their boat. It could be to honor a loved one, show that the boat has a new owner, or just start over. But changing a boat’s name…
Using the USCG vessel search, boaters may determine who owns their vessel. Using the USCG Vessel Lookup, you may find the vessel’s registration number and the contact information for the owner(s). The USCG vessel lookup makes it easy to track down the owner of a boat. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the boat’s…
Buying a second hand boat can be the start of fulfilling a dream of sailing the ocean or expanding your business by shipping to nearby countries. Buying a vessel is usually uncomplicated, and the documents change hands with very little problem. However, if you want to reassure yourself that you are not wasting your money…
Are you gearing up for the upcoming boat season? Whether you’re thinking about purchasing a new vessel or you’re a seasoned boat owner, conducting a Coast Guard vessel registration search is as vital as checking the weather before heading out to sea. Being well-informed is crucial to navigating potential deals with the used boat market…