As a boat owner, there are several processes that you may need to do to document your boat properly with the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has a division dedicated to vessel documentation called the National Vessel Documentation Center, or NVDC for short. The NVDC handles all the paperwork involved in documentation of…
Understanding the U.S. Coast Guard requirements and staying familiar with them is an important part of owning a boat. If you happen to get stopped while out on the water, which is usually a routine check, you will be required to produce documentation for your vessel, much like you do when pulled over on the…
Do you want to sell your boat trailer? A bill of sale is an important document that goes along with the transaction, so understanding it, as well as the process for completing the forms is important. A lot of vital information is contained on the bill of sale, so making sure it’s accurate is also…
Do you own a boat that you’re considering registering with the U.S. Coast Guard for the first time? If you’re new to filing for documentation with the National Vessel Documentation Center, it may seem like an intimidating process. The truth is, however, though there is some paperwork involved, the overall rewards of registering your boat…
Understanding all that goes into boat ownership takes time, and you may want to look at all the regulations and nuances involved before you finalize a sale and become a boat owner yourself. Things may seem confusing as you start looking into things like registering your boat versus getting documentation. Depending on your state of…
Has it come time for one of the members of your vessel ownership team to move on from co-owning the vessel? Are you in the process of joining a vessel owning partnership with others? Getting a new vessel, even partially, can be the thrill of a lifetime. That said, selling a vessel or your stake…
Many people are perplexed about how they will conduct USCG vessel documentation during a pandemic. The Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) anticipates that situations may exist that prevent a state, tribe, or territory from documenting, renewing, or canceling specific health-related papers, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses. One situation that is…
As a boat owner, you are probably familiar with all the requirements you have to comply with before navigating your vessel. The US Coast Guard is the institution that administers all of the needed documentation with the help of the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). Our goal, at the US Vessel Documentation Center (UVDC), is…
The Midwest states offer several freshwater lakes where you can go to have fun on a boat. These lakes are perfect for water skiing, fishing or just cruising around. The NVDC recommends several lakes to go for boating in the Midwest. One of the lakes to consider is the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. It…
Every car owner or homeowner knows to check the history of the vehicle or building before making a financial commitment. This isn’t a good rule of thumb that’s exclusive to buying a car or home though, it applies to your vessel too! If you’re in the market for a vessel, whether it’s for commercial or…