Approximately 70 percent of accidents involving fatalities occur on boats where the operator had no formal instruction on how to operate the vessel. That’s why it’s so important to have training no matter how experienced the boater is. As a result of some operator’s negligence, more than half of all states have enacted legislation mandating…

Registration Methods For U.S. Recreational Vessels
There are basically two methods to register Recreational Vessels in the USA: Vessel Registration, which is a Certificate of Number issued by a specific state Vessel Documentation, issued by the U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Vessels Registration All those vessels equipped with propulsion machinery must be registered in their state of principal use with a Certificate…

What Goes into a USCG Boat Bill of Sale
Are you looking for a USCG boat bill of sale document? Have you started to put your own together, only to find that you aren’t 100% sure what goes into one? At our vessel documentation service, we get many questions from potential customers. One of them is: “where can I find an official bill of…

Changing Your NVDC Registered Vessel’s Name and Ship Documentation
Do you have a need to put your own stamp on things? Are you considering changing the name of your NVDC documented vessel? If this is something you’re thinking about, there are a few things you may want to take into account. If you take a moment to learn exactly what goes into the process…

An Alternative to The NVDC To Process Vessel Documentation
If you own a boat, you need to ensure it is adequately documented. Your boat may be declared abandoned because of ancient documents and lack of US Coast Guard registration according to

The NVDC and Staying Safe on the Water
Having access to an NVDC is important, of course. By having the right documentation all at your fingertips, you’ll be in compliance whenever you go out on the water. That said, it’s important to be safe when you go out on the water, too. During the late fall and early winter, boat rides are incredible,…

The Process of Performing a USCG Documentation Search
Buying a new boat can be very exciting, but there’s a lot of pressure on your part to get the best deal possible on your vessel. In this day and age, a boat is no minor investment, and the used market has really expanded, with a broad range of dealers and private sellers available to…

National Vessel Documentation Center: to Document or Not to Document
Did you just get the vessel of your dreams, and aren’t sure whether or not you have to get it documented? Does it feel like documentation might be the right course of action for your vessel, but you don’t want to just “jump into it?” Documenting your vessel is a decision that many vessel owners…

How You Can Minimize Pollution with Your USCG Documented Boat
If you own a boat, you understand the vast importance of maintaining the health of our waterways. Sometimes, however, no matter how hard you try, your USCG documented boat can release pollution while at sea. By staying up-to-date on the latest federal pollution regulations, as well as knowing some simple best practices, you can greatly…

Our Vessel Documentation Portal and How to Use It
You know that our vessel documentation portal is used for initial documentation, renewing it, all that kind of thing. But, have you ever looked at our site and wondered: “what are some of those other forms for?” It might not seem like a pressing need right now, but as a vessel owner, you know that…