Heavy weather can be a dangerous condition while you’re out on the water. Even if you’re careful enough, the dangerous combination of weather and water can still surprise you. During the boating season, heat waves can bring storms unexpectedly. They’re worse than getting seasick. The good thing is that you can take steps to ensure…
Fortunately, the process for checking your Coast Guard documentation status is fairly easy and doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to figure out. Once you’ve submitted the initial documentation, you can also check back on the application process to see where you’re at in getting it completed. You can also check to see…
One of the responsibilities you have as a ship owner, whether it is commercial or recreational, is to make sure your ship complies with current rules and regulations. For recreational vessels, often this simply means registering your vessel in the state you live in. However, depending on the size of your vessel, you may want…
If you don’t know the difference between port vs. stern, this article is for you. Understanding basic boating terminology makes it easier to comprehend documents and converse with other boat owners, especially if you are new to boating and the boating community. When you deal with boating paperwork, it also pays to know what terms…
Are you thinking about a USCG-documented vessel? If you do so, you will help ensure that you have all the required protections in place, protecting your boat and the crew members on board. However, it might be challenging to know where to begin when it comes to obtaining a vessel documented by the USCG. For…
Owning a yacht, large pleasure boat or commercial vessel is a big step for you. Boats like this can bring you great pleasure and can be a fine way to develop a business or career. When you own a boat of a larger size like this, you need to explore your options regarding documentation and…
Becoming a vessel owner is a long-term commitment. Regardless of whether you are using it for recreational purposes or commercial ventures, there is a great deal of maintenance and research that can go into caring for your vessel. Before you even purchase it, however, you want to make sure that you have thoroughly researched a…
If you have been in the boating industry for a while, at this point you are probably familiar with what the Coast Guard Boat Registration is. If you are not, however, this article will tell you everything you need to know about the subject. As a yacht owner you are probably well aware of the…
Did your vessel certificate of documentation recently expire and you aren’t sure what to do? Now that your certificate has expired, does it seem like you’re out of options? While it may feel that way, it is not the case. There is still a way to get your documentation valid again so that you can…
The maritime world isn’t a cheap one and, as a boat owner, it’s a good idea to do what you can to protect your investment. This is true if you are buying a boat, but also goes for lenders who help finance the purchase of a vessel. So how does a USCG document lookup come…