Undocumented boat: input on penalties
 

"K Pilson" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I am trying to avoid a costly mistake for someone. The Coast Guard failed
to notify them months ago of problems with documentation and now it looks
like it will take 2-3 months for the Coast Guard to get the papers to
them.
So...they of course want to sail!
What are the fines/penalties for having an undocumented boat in
Massachusetts waters?
I assume this would have insurance implications too. Does anybody know?
Thanks,
Karin

I bought a boat in Puerto Rico in 2000 and all you need to do is keep copies
on board of the forms you sent to the Coast Guard to get your vessel
documented. Unless they've changed the rules in the last 4 years, it's all
that's required. Check the FAQ on their website.

Undocumented boat: input on penalties
 

Keith, I heard the same thing at the beginning of the year but 2 months ago
I walked into the TPWS HQ in Austin and nobody knew anything about it. !!


"Keith" wrote in message
...
FYI, Texas now require federally registered boats to be registered with
the
state. They realized they could pick up on a lot of unpaid sales/use
taxes.

Also, the normal time to get ANYTHING from the NVDC is 5-6 months now,
regardless of what they tell you. Privitazation, you know. The only way to
speed things up is to send them a letter saying you're going cruising soon
out of the country. Because of this, I can't see anyone successfully
levying
penalties on you... with that type of turnaround time, some folks could
spend their entire boating life waiting on a certificate of documentation,
especially if they change addresses often.

--


Keith
__
Remember, there's always free cheese in a rat trap!
"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:3vozc.1072$3W3.148@lakeread04...
Mass. is one of those rare states like Texas that exempts documented
boats from having to be registered with the state. They just want their
property tax. It would cost $80 to $100 depending on LOA (and maybe a
day standing in line at the DMV) to get legal until the documentation
comes through. OTOH, if you just spent a wad on a new boat, a few more
bucks might not be all that bad to get to use the boat for the summer.

What I wonder about is why it would take 3 months to get papers? Only
thing I can think of is a cloud on the title that has to be cleared up.

Dave wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 17:50:35 GMT, said:


What are the fines/penalties for having an undocumented boat in
Massachusetts waters?


When I needed proof of registration in CT, and the change in
documentation
wouldn't come through quickly enough to get the state decal, I simply
registered the boat in CT while applying for new documentation. Then
when
the documentation came in it cost about $3 to switch the state
registration
to a certificate of decal.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Undocumented boat: input on penalties
 

I just visited the TPWD (not TPWS) website and saw that they now have
UPDATED info on this! Ha.

"J.Slater" wrote in message
...
Keith, I heard the same thing at the beginning of the year but 2 months
ago
I walked into the TPWS HQ in Austin and nobody knew anything about it. !!


"Keith" wrote in message
...
FYI, Texas now require federally registered boats to be registered with
the
state. They realized they could pick up on a lot of unpaid sales/use
taxes.

Also, the normal time to get ANYTHING from the NVDC is 5-6 months now,
regardless of what they tell you. Privitazation, you know. The only way
to
speed things up is to send them a letter saying you're going cruising
soon
out of the country. Because of this, I can't see anyone successfully
levying
penalties on you... with that type of turnaround time, some folks could
spend their entire boating life waiting on a certificate of
documentation,
especially if they change addresses often.

--


Keith
__
Remember, there's always free cheese in a rat trap!
"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:3vozc.1072$3W3.148@lakeread04...
Mass. is one of those rare states like Texas that exempts documented
boats from having to be registered with the state. They just want
their
property tax. It would cost $80 to $100 depending on LOA (and maybe a
day standing in line at the DMV) to get legal until the documentation
comes through. OTOH, if you just spent a wad on a new boat, a few
more
bucks might not be all that bad to get to use the boat for the summer.

What I wonder about is why it would take 3 months to get papers? Only
thing I can think of is a cloud on the title that has to be cleared
up.

Dave wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 17:50:35 GMT,
said:


What are the fines/penalties for having an undocumented boat in
Massachusetts waters?


When I needed proof of registration in CT, and the change in
documentation
wouldn't come through quickly enough to get the state decal, I
simply
registered the boat in CT while applying for new documentation. Then
when
the documentation came in it cost about $3 to switch the state
registration
to a certificate of decal.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or
lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

First get the documentation turned in and a receipt. For USCG purposes
that's good because they know they are behind on paperwork. Beyond that
depends on the state. Nevada for example refuses to register a documented
vessel. Washington State doesn't care if it's documented or not they still
register but they call it something else to get around the federal ruling
barring state licensing/registration of federally documented boats. I think
they call it a use permit for state waters or somesuch. However if you have
both do not display the state numbers as the USCG can fine you for that.
I'ts illegal to do so for documented vessels. Check around the rules on
each state's website and ask local people. Do not directly ask the state
especially those like Mass and Cal who are infamous for grubbing money
anyway they can. The local people will know how to handle it the best way.

M.


"Armond Perretta" wrote in message
...
K Pilson wrote:

What are the fines/penalties for having an undocumented boat in
Massachusetts waters?
I assume this would have insurance implications too. Does anybody
know? Thanks,

There are very likely no penalties. Documentation for pleasure boats is
optional and if MA is like other states your friends will already have a
state registration. That aside if the folks at Gettysburg (i.e., the
Documentation Office) are the culprits, or even if this is NOT the case,
it
is unlikely that a penalty will be imposed. The $ megabucks/day penalties
relate to large vessels. This is what happens when the same sets of rules
that are applicable to the Exxon Valdez are later applied to 27 foot
sailboats.

Hey, if the morons in Washington are rounding up innocents on the West
Coast
for having "almost the right fingerprints" or for enjoying a Mojito in
Havana, I guess anything is possible.


--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/