The CG has reportedly a BIG TIME backup. Doesn't their documentation website have a phone #?

Later this month at the Seattle Boat Show several USCG departments will probably have booths staffed to answer questions. That might be a resource for you.

Quick web search turned up this from their official site:

National Vessel Documentation Center

USCG/National Vessel Documentation Center
792 T J Jackson Drive
Falling Waters, WV 25419

Phone Numbers:
Toll Free: (800) 799-8362
Main: (304) 271-2400
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Phone Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m
(Eastern Standard Time)

Fax Numbers:
Main: (304) 271-2405
Credit Card: (304) 271-2415

Hey Paul

It took a full 4 months last year to get my documentation processed. There was a small problem with mine a the 4 month mark, the broker I bought the boat thru had it cleared up in a day or two and I had the documentation issued within a week.

Funny thing, I just did the renewal a couple of weeks ago via fax and email/PDF and literally had the new document within days.

Patience my friend.

Documentation is an expensive and time consuming process with little benefit unless the boat is financed (then the bank wants a tighter grip on its asset), or unless voyaging to the 'third world' is anticipated. Crossing the border between the US and Canada is no problem at all for state registered vessels. Anyway, even IF the boat is documented it still must be registered in the state of domicile.

I hate to make others feel bad about their registration costs, but just this week I renewed the Oregon state registration on our C36 MkII *and* our dink...for a total of $151. And that's for TWO years. It's gotta be the best value in boating. Of course when I go to Washington state I have to limit my days in their waters, obtain proper extension permits from WA Dept of Licensing if necessary. But then I get a nice ocean passage coming back home. Also, what grows on the hull in the Columbia River gets killed off in the sea, and what grows on it in the ocean gets killed off in the river, thus bottom paint every three or more years instead of annually as when the boat was based in WA.

[QUOTE=LCBrandt;21023]Anyway, even IF the boat is documented it still must be registered in the state of domicile.[/QUOTE]

Larry, each State is different.

California does not require documented vessels to be State registered:

[url]http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Abc/Registration.pdf[/url](link is external)

Florida requires [U]even documented vessels[/U] to register with the State after 90 days within Florida, and this requirement has many east coast cruisers really po'ed. [url]www.cruisersforum.com[/url](link is external) has many discussions about this. It's similar, IIRC, to what you mentioned about Washington.

Caprice is Documented with the Government and Registered with the State of Florida. She dose not need to be documented, just registered in Florida. It was documented when I bought her so I documented her to make it easier for the next owner to get financing if they found it necessary.

There is no property tax on boats in Florida. With the documentation and registration it is still much cheaper then when I lived in Connecticut and had to pay property tax. We do pay a 6% State sales tax when buying a boat in Florida. If a boat is purchased in another State and brought to Florida the owner has to pay the difference between the tax he paid in the other state and Florida's 6% unless it was keep in the other state for more than six months.

Someone said there is no sales tax on boats in R.I. So If I bought an expensive new boat in R.I. and lived there on it for six months and a day then sailed it down to Florida I believe I would not have to pay any sales tax.

[QUOTE=caprice 1050;21025]

Someone said there is no sales tax on boats in R.I. So If I bought an expensive new boat in R.I. and lived there on it for six months and a day then sailed it down to Florida I believe I would not have to pay any sales tax.[/QUOTE]

Just ask John Kerry!!!:eek:

I sent my registration in August 14th and recieved my paperwork mid-December. You probably have another two months.

You can check this site for the current status:

[url]http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/nvdcprocessdate.asp[/url](link is external)

Ralph

Sent from my iPad using [URL=http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1]Tapatalk[/URL](link is external)

I submitted my paperwork and then became nervous about the amount of time it was taking. I called them on the phone. They picked up right away and were very helpful. The documentation office is located in Eastern Time. The earlier you call, the better.