www.iFourWinns.com

What dictates when/if you need to register your vessel (name etc) and hailing port with the coast guard or wherever? Is it something you do online, in person or ? Cost associated?

Just wondering

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I am CG documented.

My bank required it for a boat the size of the 318. You can do it yourself for less than 100 bucks, but I used an 'escrow' company for the purchase of the boat and they handled it all.

It's just some forms... and then you get a certificate. It's a way for big brother to track you.

As for when you should do it... I would think of it in a couple ways:
1) Your bank may require it for a given size
2) If you have twin engines and you boat in saltwater, you probably should do it.
3) Generally, 30 foot plus


Reasons for not doing it: It's one more thing to renew. If you are landlocked on a lake, it serves very little value.

For me - it's nice that when I cruise up to Canada or radio the CG, I refer to myself as "Hey, this is All night long out of Seattle Washington calling in". As opposed to " This is WN8747656RW out of Washington state calling in"

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

+1 on what Cougar said boating in salt what or even the great lakes it allows easier communication and also big brother tracks boats by recorded name should it every be stolen or if you travel outside of US waters "ie" Canada or the Bahama's.

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2008 318 Vista "Ka-wai-ola"
350 MPI/BravoIII DTS Seacore
2006 1500 Key West -70 Yamaha
Previous Boats
Key West 2300CC
Pacemaker 270 Sport Fish
290 Sea Ray

It's also required if you are to refi. I just bought mine and haven't documented it yet. It's on my to do list but the bank isn't on me about it.... yet. Also be advised that its public info and you can easily find somebody by looking up the boat name online.

The boat I bought in March is documented with the CG, but my bank is requiring I register with the state. We are in this long process on having the coast guard undocument it, before I can get my TX numbers.

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

TXVista,

My boat is also registered in Washington State. They want their yearly taxes and revenue for licensing. I have a washington boater registration, but I don't put them on my boat. I only go by the name/hailing port.

I am still required to have a washington registration if I keep the boat in washington state...

You should be registered in texas, but you shouldn't need to un-document the boat. You just have 2 registrations.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Thanks for that info. I was only going on what the dealer who brokered the deal was telling me. I will ask him about it this week.

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

The actual MSO for the boat should be kept with the Coast guard. Then, when you register with the state, you fill out a CG Documentation form and the state uses the CG documentation in order to issue a registration. So - Title is coast guard. Registration is state, but reference the coast guard.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA