We always want all of our boaters to stay safe out there. That’s true at any time of the year, but especially during a global pandemic. The weather’s getting nicer, some states and countries are beginning to open up, so we’re all itching to get back out on our boats. That can be very safe,…
Sometimes, being out on the water when the waves are high is good. That’s true if you’re surfing or if you’re out with friends and family while dragging some kind of fun inflatable behind your boat. However, often rough seas are just that: rough. They can make it difficult to hold your course, even presenting…
Every journey has a beginning. When you go out on your vessel, you could say the trip begins when you make that walk down the pier, when you get on the boat, or when you cast off from the dock itself. When it comes to vessel documentation, for many vessel owners, the journey begins with…
As of this writing, it’s a good time to buy a boat. The weather’s getting nicer, summer is almost here, and there are plenty of great boats on the market. However, with so many deals around, there are some pretty bad ones too. The last thing anyone wants is to go through the entire process…
Think of all of the safety precautions you go through to make sure your vessel is safe and secure. You dock it correctly, making sure that everything is tied up (and locked up) tight. Checking the engine, the lines, the hull, and so much else is just a part of your daily maintenance, before and…
You’ve tracked down the vessel you’ve been searching for. It’s been a long journey to find just the right boat for your coastwise passenger transfer business, but you finally did it. You got everything together, only to discover that… the vessel was built outside of the United States. This might seem like the kind of…
We have all heard nightmare stories from family, friends, and co-workers whenever someone has to deal with a government agency. Whether it is a federal department, a state one, or part of your local government, you are, invariably, going to end up waiting in line, going back and forth several times, making mistakes, and getting…
There are many times in vessel ownership that you might feel like you’ve truly accomplished something. The time you close the deal for your vessel is definitely one. When you first take it on the water is another. Perhaps when you finish renovating it to your liking is yet one more. Depending on the use,…
For many vessels, it’s a legal necessity to get onto the Coast Guard boat registration database. However, in the past, it has been difficult. Before the internet, vessel owners had to fill everything out by hand, then mail it in and hope for the best. Once online access was granted, vessel owners still found themselves…
Here at the Vessel Documentation Center, we’re always glad to talk to fellow vessel owners. Perhaps the most common, most asked question that we receive is “do I have to register my vessel?” If you’ve never owned a boat before, the registrations, licenses, and everything that you have to get become confusing at best. We…