Registration in Maryland - you have to be kidding me....

It's not like delays with documentation aren't a known issue. Why go through the effort to document it?
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who wants those icky numbers plastered on the side?:smt018
 
If all else fails try a marine titling service. They can be found through most marine finance companies . Good Luck
 
Gunn said:
.....I'm getting run in circles from the State of Maryland too. We've been trying since November to obtain a permit to build a pier on our property. .......
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That would be "Dock-u-mentation". No registration, port-o-call or numbers on the side of the hull required.


Bill:
Can you help 'ol Gunn out with this also?
 
wkearney99 said:
Not in Maryland. Probably not in other states that have actual boat registration systems, as some states do not. When traveling internationally there's certainly merit to having USCG documentation but for coastal and inland cruising? Doesn't seem to be worth the time, effort and expense.
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Welcome to CSR, please put the information to your boat in your signature so you can help us help you.:thumbsup:
 
ImpulseIII said:
The state has nothing what so ever to do with the documentation process. The requirement is not a state requirement but rather one of the lending institutions depending on their particular rules and underwriting guidelines. If you have a loan on a boat, and it is of a certain size, their is a better than average chance that you will be required to document your boat, regardless of where the boat is birthed.
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Hmm, well, when shopping for our current note (and several past ones) none of the lenders (6, iirc) made any mention whatsoever about requiring USCG documentation. Perhaps because of it being a title registered vessel. If you have evidence otherwise I'm sure it'd be interesting. I'm simply going by past experience, in Maryland, as documentation not being a requirement at all.

So if it's not required and you're not traveling internationally, why bother with the hassles and cost? Just the vanity of not having the numbers on the side? Good a reason as any other I suppose, barring the time crunch presented in this particular case.

As for building a dock, good luck, I've heard it's quite the bureaucratic challenge.
 
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I think Mr. Kearny's experience base is from small boats. When you buy a small boat that can be trailered and the local credit union finances it, they are not going to make you document it (actually... you can't). He is extrapolating that small boat experience to larger vessels and hence his usual 3 degrees off.
 
the seller of my boat (who was the 2nd owner) had a loan on the boat. that is the only reason the boat was documented. the dealer was able to corral all the necessary paperwork, including the certification of satisfaction of the lien and i was able to file the paperwork to get the documentation transferred to me for $94. i do NOT have a loan on the boat, but since there was no hassle involved and the boat never had reg numbers plastered on the side, i maintained uscg documentation. btw, the dealer offered to have the whole thing switched over for me for the nice price of $400. no thanx. the forms and instructions on the website are quite clear and they are reachable via telephone for specific questions.

the following is from the FAQs section of the website. the 5 net ton requirement would likely eliminate most boats 28' and under...


WHAT IS VESSEL DOCUMENTATION?

Vessel documentation is a national form of registration. It is one of the oldest functions of Government, dating back to the 11th Act of the First Congress. Documentation provides conclusive evidence of nationality for international purposes, provides for unhindered commerce between the states, and admits vessels to certain restricted trades, such as coastwise trade and the fisheries. Since 1920, vessel financing has been enhanced through the availability of preferred mortgages on documented vessels.
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WHAT VESSELS MAY BE DOCUMENTED?

A vessel must measure at least five net tons and, with the exception of certain oil spill response vessels, must be wholly owned by a citizen of the U.S.
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MUST MY VESSEL BE DOCUMENTED?

Vessels of five net tons or more used in fishing activities on navigable waters of the U.S. or in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), or used in coastwise trade must be documented unless the vessel is exempt from documentation. Coastwise trade is generally defined as the transportation of merchandise or passengers between points in the U.S. or the EEZ. In addition, towboats operating between points in the U.S. or the EEZ or between the EEZ and points in the U.S. and dredges operating in the U.S. or the EEZ must be documented.
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I'll bet none of those stipulations apply in Maryland......Maryland is different, just ask some of our more informed board members. We were told so, so it must be true.
 
OK, posts #32, 33 & 34 just went WHOOSH right over my head. either i'm slow or it's a maryland inside joke...

forrest.jpg
 
Well, I never imagined such an animated discussion over something as thrilling as paperwork, but I appreciate all the input.

The requirements for and advantages of registration versus documentation are well described in the web publications, and I read a good bit of it before this started.

The documentation was not a Maryland requirement but a lender requirement. No choice.

I did use a maritime titling company that was affiliated with the financing broker - eboatloans.com - any I would not recommend them to anybody. They messed every piece of paperwork up and i have had to do most of the work myself. It also took 4 - yes, 4 - separate trips to Annapolis and to Baltimore to straighten it out, plus tracking down the seller and doing the Bill of Sale over. Basically, everyone requires originals signed in blue ink, so all certified and notarized copies - as provided by eboatloans.com - were rejected.

Now I am down to the last piece of paper and I have been assured that the 5th time is a charm and they will give me full registration when I take that in next week. So in the end it will be document AND registered. And it will have only taken 23 calls and emails to eboatloans.com and the maritime titling company, plus 5 trips (each one over 100 miles round trip from my home) and I will have made it. When I asked the registration official if this was one of the most messed up registrations she had seen she told me with a smile that it was pretty much average and that some are far worse.

Word to the wise: ALWAYS make sure the paperwork is done right from the start. Flaky, irresponsible, sloppy and unprofessional processing will only cause a lot of wasted time and grief. Check the forms for the local/state registration, make sure they are all done properly including title search and bill of sale - don't assume they have them right - and have everything done in duplicate from the beginning. If they baulk at that, go find another loan processor. Lesson learned.
 
WOW! that is unbelievable. and they admit that your predicament is par for the course??? i hope they waived (or at least adjusted) the fee. not sure if mine went off without a hitch b/c i didnt have a loan OR i did it myself. anway, i hope it all gets ironed out ASAP for you. good luck!
 
What a hassle. I used Chesapeake Financial in Annapolis and they were great. I called them up and said, "I'm buying a boat. The seller's name is Fred. We agreed on $120 as the price, and I'm giving him $40 in cash.". They called Fred, sent him the paperwork, then called me to tell they had everything. Next thing I knew, I had the the boat keys and Maryland registration in hand. Took just over a week, probably 7 working days. Done. They even went the extra mile to get the check from the bank late on a Friday evening so that I could pick up the boat on my birthday, which was also the start of a 2 week vacation.

It was a pleasant and easy process. I think there were 3 or 4 phone calls in all. I highly recommend them.

Michael
 
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I spent 3 wonderful glorious days in the DMV trying to get my boat registered. Two days to register my dinghy (6.5'). Just think of how great it will be when the Gov will run health care.
 
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