Should I Document the Boat

[TritonSailor]

Good day Everyone,

I will be cruising outside the US and checking into foreign ports, should I document my Triton or just stick with a state registration? I searched around but only found something about an expired cruising permit. I never heard of something like that, is that required also?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Bash]

most of us only document our boats because the banks won't give a mortgage without it. otherwise, I'm hard pressed to see where it's worth the expense.

[Rhosyn Mor]

Jeff,
for foreign cruising in a US vessel. you should get it documented, its free from the USCG vessel documentation centre. most foreign countries will require a natioanlly documented vessel and will possibly not accept state registration. tHe cruising permit is for foreign flagged vessels cruising the USA, and is also free. ( Rhosyn Mor is currently in the USA on such a permit)

[Finditsurfit]

Some port officials will give you a look of "are you kidding" with a state reg. It doesn't mean anything to them if you don't have that doc #

[barnakiel]

Hi,

Yes, you need proper documents for the boat. They are different for each country, in my case this is a little booklet with nice seals and stamps that states that my boat is registered in (Sweden), that I am the owner and which gives the basics of the boat (LOA,beam, engine, etc). In some countries you will be also asked for your boat's insurance, even before they ask you for your registration papers.

Accidentally, I have the ("state" or "small" - in my case it is a yacht club registration) registration papers too, but it is not accepted outside Scandinavia. The same may apply to US State registration, UK SSR, Australian State and similar devices. They are often OK just across the border by reciprocal agreements (say US vs. Canada) but further out you need the proper thing.

It does not mean you cannot go without, but it is simply not worth it.

b.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Rhosyn Mor

for foreign cruising in a US vessel. you should get it documented, its free from the USCG vessel documentation centre.

Free? Not quite. Current cost is $133 for initial documentation. Renewal is then free each year.

Details here... USCG National Vessel Documentation Center, Home Page

[cantxsailor]

I am finding that I can't get my boat documented because its to small. I have not yet found a work around for. If I can't get documented do I have to stay home? The boat has already been all over the western pacific, how did the past owner do it without documentation?...........m

[Rhosyn Mor]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Free? Not quite. Current cost is $133 for initial documentation. Renewal is then free each year.

Details here... USCG National Vessel Documentation Center, Home Page

I stand corrected.

by the by the UK SSR is accepted everywhere in the world. Rhosyn Mor is SSR numbered and we have never had a problem. THe SSR was developed because there is no requirement that UK boats need be registered.

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by cantxsailor

I am finding that I can't get my boat documented because its to small. I have not yet found a work around for. If I can't get documented do I have to stay home? The boat has already been all over the western pacific, how did the past owner do it without documentation?...........m

If your boat's too small to be documented (less than 5 gross tons, as I recall), you should at least sail with your state registration papers and a valid state issued title. A Bill of Sale wouldn't hurt, either. The customs people want to know for sure that you're the owner, so anything you can do to convince them of that fact is in your favor.

[TritonSailor]

Originally Posted by cantxsailor

I am finding that I can't get my boat documented because its to small. I have not yet found a work around for. If I can't get documented do I have to stay home? The boat has already been all over the western pacific, how did the past owner do it without documentation?...........m

I found this on the USCG web page:

Net tonnage is a measure of a vessel's volume. It should not be confused with the vessel's weight, which may also be expressed in tons. Most vessels more than 25 feet in length will measure five net tons or more. For information about how tonnage is determined, including a web-based interactive form that calculates tonnages, visit the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center's web site at the Marine Safety Center's Tonnage Page.

So Cantxsailor, what they're saying is that vessels under 25ft are more than likely under 5 tons.

Jeff

[cantxsailor]

Mine is, by the calculations they use, under 5 net tons. I have tried various stretching methods but can't seem to get there.

I also don't want to take the chance of loosing my boat because I can't prove to some over zealous local cop that just because he doesn't understand the concept of a title as opposed to a documented boat that it really is mine.............m

[TritonSailor]

I found this as well for you, unless you found it first.


(a) Gross tonnage. (1) Except as in paragraphs (a)(2) through (a)(5) of this section, the gross tonnage of a vessel designed for sailing is one-half of the product of its overall length, overall breadth, and overall depth (LBD) divided by one hundred (i.e., 0.50 LBD/100), and the gross tonnage of a vessel not designed for sailing is 0.67 LBD/100.

Jeff

[Paul L]

Triton,
If your boat has never been documented, then it is difficult to document a boat as old as yours. It requires tracing the ownership history from new through each owner.

Paul L

[TritonSailor]

Really, I was told by the marina I would need a couple bills of sale. That seems kind of wrong, because that saying then that most older boats can't go to foriegn countries. They must have some kind of waiver.

Jeff

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by TritonSailor

Really, I was told by the marina I would need a couple bills of sale. That seems kind of wrong, because that saying then that most older boats can't go to foriegn countries. They must have some kind of waiver.

Jeff

I checked the documentation site, it looks like they have actually changed that requirement for smaller boats. So it looks like you can document without the full chain. This makes it a lot easier:

*Simplified Method. Ownership may be established from state title or state or foreign registration. A copy of the title or registration must be provided WITH the bill(s) of sale from the registered owner to applicant. If the foreign registry is similar to U.S. documentation, provide a copy of the registry and evidence of removal from foreign registry in addition to the bill of sale.

*Simplified method does not apply to Coastwise vessels of over 200 ITC gross tons. In addition to U.S. build evidence, submit the complete chain of title and proof of U.S. citizenship for all past owners. Form MA-899 can be used to establish citizenship and will be provided upon request.

Paul L