Buying a boat is a big deal for you as the prospective owner, but it also a big deal for the institution that is helping you finance the purchase. When you are buying a boat that is larger than twenty-six feet, a pleasure vessel this large is a significant purchase. It is only natural that…
Are you researching your next vessel purchase? Does it feel like the information you’re finding is almost “too good to be true?” Do you harbor concerns that you won’t know the whole truth about a vessel before you buy it, thus having a great chance that you’ll buy a “lemon?” Those are entirely human worries,…
If you are wondering how the boat documentation law can be violated, this article is right for you. The legislation governing vessels’ documentation is an essential component of the marine rules. When rules are broken, there is the potential for severe repercussions, including seizing one’s vessel. It is essential to have a good understanding of…
Understanding Coast Guard Registration versus Documentation Do you want to make sure that your vessel is fully protected in the water? You may be uncertain whether registration or documentation is the best way to go forward, and depending upon the type of ship that you have, you may not know which the right option to…
It can seem like vessel documentation is specifically made just to be confusing. Some of the terms can be hard to parse at best. One we get quite a few questions about is “MARAD Waiver” This isn’t a form of documentation that every single vessel owner will have to be concerned with. However, if you…
Owning a business that uses a smaller boat as a piece of the operations has been something you have wanted to do for a while. You finally have your business plan in place, have the financing you need, and even have a vessel in mind that would be ideal for you to use for your…
As of this writing, it’s August. Yes, that means that in many places, summer is still in full swing. The days are warm, the sun high in the sky, and it may seem like summer lasts forever. However, one look at the foliage will tell you that’s not the case. Autumn is almost here, and…
Owning a vessel requires a lot of form filling and paperwork, and if you happen to sell your boat, or want to transfer it to another person, then you will need to apply for a transfer of ownership certificate. This type of documentation will show the Coast Guard that you have completed a transfer, and…
Before purchasing a boat out of state, make sure you’re familiar with workings of such a purchase. Let us say you placed a down payment on a vessel that’s currently in Florida, but you reside near San Diego. Let’s further assume that the boat you want to buy is a Four Winns v305 model, a…
Are you wondering exactly how to renew your vessel documentation? Does it feel as if your vessel’s documentation should be renewed soon, but you aren’t sure? Vessel documentation is valid for one year. That said, it can be all too easy to lose track of exactly when your vessel was documented. As such, having your…