Although it is not compulsory, there is a slight chance you might want to get your USCG Boat Documentation. If your vessel measures over 5 tons (the minimum required to register your ship) there are some benefits you can take advantage of, by only submitting a form to the United States Coast Guard. Read on if you want to find out what are the pros of registering your boat, and some of the cons that may come to detriment.
Advantages from Registering your Boat
Chances are that, on some occasions and even if you don’t want to, you have to get the boat documentation from the USCG done. When you get a loan from the bank to pay for your vessel, for instance, many banks require you to register your boat at a federal level. That way, you will have access to a preferred ship mortgage. Other than that, there are a few more advantages to documenting your boat:
The main benefit, and reason for which boaters decide to document their vessels, is for navigating internationally: when your boat is registered, the clearances into foreign ports are made easier, as opposed to when you are licensed at a state level. The certificate of documentation is treated as a form of registration, so entering and leaving customs is faster.
Everyone likes keeping his boat nice and tidy. Having your boat registered allows you not to display the state registration numbers, and show the vessel’s name and hailing port instead. Doesn’t it sound neat?
Finally, one more pro of having your boat registered is the cost of the ship: if you intend to sell it the value of the boat will be higher, as the buyer will have peace of mind knowing that the boat has been well maintained and a clear history of the vessel.
Disadvantages from Registering your Boat
There are not really a lot of disadvantages when it comes to Boat Documentation. The only con is financial because documenting comes with fees. The initial documentation comes with a fee plus renewing it every five years if your boat is recreational, or yearly if it is commercial. Furthermore, if you need to transfer or replace it, it will involve a cost as well. Finally, it is not possible to have your vessel both titled and documented. A boat cannot be titled by a state.
You can Get Your Documentation Online With Our Help
If you want to register your boat federally, you can do so at the US Coast Guard website. To get a license at a state level, it is going to be up to the state where you live. Anyhow, on Vessel Documentation Online you can get all the help you need. Furthermore, we have created a platform that will allow you to submit your forms fully online while keeping it secure. Just contact us through the correspondent form and let us do the rest!
