UNITED STATES COAST GUARD DOCUMENTATION

Do you need to get your boat documented? If you are not sure, complete the form below.

USCG Documentation Form

First Name:
Last Name:
Email:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Cell Phone:
Description of Vessel
Year:
Make:
Length overall (LOA):
If vessel is currently documented and/or state titled, please provide numbers:
U.S.C.G. No:
State Title Registration No:
 

What is a Documented Vessel?

A document vessel is one that is registered by Federal Government through the U.S. Coast Guard, rather than titled and numbered by a state. Pleasure vessels of 5 net tons and over (usually 26 feet and up) may be documented and commercial vessels of 5 net tons and over (usually 26 feet and up) may be documented and commercial vessels 5 net tons and over must be documented.

What are the Benefits of Documentation?

Some benefits of Federal documentation are:

  • Title Assurance. You have better assurance of title because the Coast Guard has more stringent chain of title requirements than most states. Once a vessel is documented, the complete history of the vessel is available on the Abstract of Title.
  • Foreign Vessel. If you sail in foreign water, your certificate of Documentation facilitates clearance with foreign governments and gives you the status and protection of a U.S. flag vessel.
  • Financing. Most lenders require documentation so that their interest may be secured by a Preferred Ship's Mortgage recorded by the Coast Guard.
  • Other Reasons. Many boat owners like the prestige of having their boats documented. Others object to state registration because they do not want to display the numbers on the hull. A major advantage becomes evident when you sell your boat, as ownership and encumbrances are easy to check.

What are the Citizenship Requirements?

1. All individual owners must be U.S. Citizens.

2. In order for a corporation to qualify as a "citizen of the United States", it must be incorporated in the U.S.; the president or other chief executive officer must be a U.S. citizen, and there may be no more alien directors than minority of the number required for a quorum. There are requirements pertaining to stock ownership, according to the use of the vessel.

3. There are specific requirements for partnerships and other types of ownership, which we will be glad to discuss.

What are the marking regulations?

Every documented vessel is issued an official number. The official number must be marked in a visible place on her main beam. The official number remains with the vessel permanently. When the vessel is sold, the license must be turned in to the United States Coast Guard and the new owner must redocument the vessel.

The hailing port and the name of the vessel must appear on some conspicuous place on the hull of the vessel.

For pleasure boats, the name and hailing port must be marked together in clearly legible letters, including script lettering. Name boards are acceptable, if they are attached to the hull in a permanent manner. The letter used shall not be less than 4 inches in height.