Whenever you buy or sell a boat, you will need to submit documentation to the USCG. Filing the right report to the Coast Guard will mean that you are now the owner of the boat, or have transferred ownership to another person. This can be especially important to ensure that the Coast Guard is speaking…
You have been perusing the for-sale listings of recreational boats for a while hoping that one will jump out at you that has a description that entices you to get more information. If you have never looked at yachts or luxury boats for sale before, you may see a lot of jargon and abbreviations that…
Have you been trying to find somewhere online you trust with your vessel documentation? Does each US Coast Guard documentation center seem less trustworthy than the last? When it comes to your vessel, your money, and your information, you can’t be too careful. Just as you would be cautious when putting gasoline into your vessel…
National Vessel Documentation Center Have you been looking for a “one stop shop” for vessel documentation? Does it feel like when you go to a so-called “National Vessel Documentation Center” they only have a few of the forms that you would associate with a “center?” A site that says it has “documentation” should, well, have…
Does acquiring USCG vessel documentation seem complicated, or at least more complicated than it should be? Even though you know you have to get your vessel documented, have you found yourself putting it off? That’s perfectly understandable. As busy as we all are, it’s not always easy to carve out space in the day to…
Foreign-flagged boats and other types of recreational vessels that come from different countries need to apply for a cruising permit. This Boat Documentation must have mutual arrangements with the US. Upon issuance of this permit, the captain of the vessel gets exempted from having to: File manifestos, acquire permits or accomplish any related entry or…
There’s nothing like boating in summer. Sure, when you go out on your boat in the winter, with the crisp wind in your hair, the leafless trees on the shore, white as far as the eye can see, that’s special. But it’s not summer. It’s not the warm sun, the cool air, swimsuits, suntans, and…
Just as is the case when you own a car, there are rules and regulations that you have to follow when you own a boat. The rules go beyond what safety steps you must follow on the ship or when you are on the water. Like you need to have a license plate on your…
Before you head out on the water, do you go through an entire safety check? If you’re like so many other vessels, you check your gasoline, your flares, your lights, your personal flotation devices, your phones, your radio, and much, much more. You probably let someone on land know where you’re going and when you…
Do you want to secure financing for your vessel? Does the idea of getting a mortgage on a boat appeal to you, but you aren’t sure what all that entails? Financing can make owning a vessel that much easier. Whether you’re using the vessel for recreation or commercially, not having to pay for the entire…