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…
All boats registered with the federal government must choose a “hailing port.” The vessel owner must specify a hailing port on the boat when applying for a Certificate of Documentation. Once selected, the chosen port may no longer be modified and must be permanently attached to the ship if you require help. A hailing port…
Many prospective vessel buyers want to know the answer to, “do boats have VIN numbers?” It’s a great question and shows that you want to be a responsible boat owner. When you register your boat, much like when you register your vehicle, it is assigned a unique number that is used to identify it. This…
Unlike a road vehicle, a boat won’t necessarily depreciate in value as soon as it gets out on the water. Within 5 years, a boat’s value will decrease between 25 percent and 35 percent, as compared to a car, truck or SUV, which depreciates approximately 60 percent in that time frame. If you plan to…
When you operate a boat that is registered with the United States Coast Guard, you are issued a unique number that identifies the vessel. That number must be visible on your boat, but you might be asking “where must a vessel’s registration number be displayed”. If that’s the case, you are in the right place.…
Are they seeking a shield from potential legal action? You may be a vessel owner. In such a case, you could be curious about the value of records such as vessel documentation. Because of their mobility, boats are subject to a different set of regulations than automobiles. When boat owners go into seas they aren’t…
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…
Are you looking to get your next vessel but want to make sure that you have as much information as possible? Have you been doing your research yet you are uncertain if you can trust the information you’ve found? This is a problem for all prospective vessel owners. One of the best steps you can…
Have you been doing your fair share of research on a vessel you are interested in, but are still uncertain if you can trust all of the information you have come across? Is a boat you’ve been checking on “too good to be true”? Those two questions are the most common ones our customers tell…
The MARAD waiver deals with commercial boats operating in the United States. It falls under the Jones Act and requires that boats used in commerce be built in the United States, though there are a few exceptions that allow for foreign-made vessels. The Passenger Vessel Services Act is another part of the Jones Act and…