WA State Documented Vessel-gctid804172

[Corvus]

I purchased a 3288 in WA in May 2016. I filled out pages of paperwork and the PO forwarded them to the office in Anacortes. (I guess it's the CG) In August I called and spoke to a gentleman who was terse and abrupt informing me to speak to "Diane". I was told to leave a message and she would return my call. Receiving no response from "Diane" I called again in October, the same gentleman answered and said they were just now working on May applications. Now it is April 2017 and nada................ My impression of the Anacortes office is that they are overworked and unfriendly. Should I pursue this again or let it ride? Do I have potential problems on the horizon or should I be satisfied that my boat is registered and licensed with the State of WA?

Your advice/experience is welcome. Thanks.........Dave

[CptCrunchie]

If you are just wanting to register it, any WA county office can do that. If you want it documented, that's a different animal and I don't recall how it is done. However, any boat broker will have someone they use.

[boatworkfl]

Documenting a vessel is done through the US Coast Guard, not the state.

Is this a transfer of documentation or a new documentation?

Either requires that you go through the USCG, unless you are financing the vessel. then it is usually the financing facility that prepares the documentation forms.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwifzq2mia_TAhXE4IMKHZP0BL0QFgg2MAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uscg.mil%2Fnvdc%2F&usg=AFQjCNEOQWbL6na0L9P2xMtDeehJYO_q3Q

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwifzq2mia_TAhXE4IMKHZP0BL0QFghAMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uscg.mil%2Fnvdc%2Fnvdcforms.asp&usg=AFQjCNHEnZeHPnh7wkwbH3-cgV1NRzGxFg

[Norton_Rider]

"Corvus" post=804172 wrote:
I purchased a 3288 in WA in May 2016. I filled out pages of paperwork and the PO forwarded them to the office in Anacortes. (I guess it's the CG) In August I called and spoke to a gentleman who was terse and abrupt informing me to speak to "Diane". I was told to leave a message and she would return my call. Receiving no response from "Diane" I called again in October, the same gentleman answered and said they were just now working on May applications. Now it is April 2017 and nada................ My impression of the Anacortes office is that they are overworked and unfriendly. Should I pursue this again or let it ride? Do I have potential problems on the horizon or should I be satisfied that my boat is registered and licensed with the State of WA?

Your advice/experience is welcome. Thanks.........Dave

To my knowledge the Coast Guard documentation center is in West Virginia. Are you sure that you aren't dealing with a marine title company instead? Having said that, the Coast Guard was behind on new documentations and transfers a few years ago. When I bought my existing boat I got a letter from the USCG stating that they were 3-6 months behind and that that letter acknowledging my application was sufficient until I got the documentation paperwork.

[CptCrunchie]

Corvus, contact the DOL in Anacortes. If the PO sent the info in, they will have you on file.

[Pcpete]

Something is rotten in the city of Anacortes. It sounds like someone has pocketed the taxes and fees and is giving you the run around. Document everything you have done and all of the paperwork you have.

I bought my boat last August and it took until the end of February before I got my USCG documents. The po had not continued the documentation which then required a complete do over. If he would have kep the boat in documentation it would have been about six weeks. I transferred the the title myself and wrote the check at the dmv. As soon as I have the name on the transom I will retitle the boat to reflect the document number and drop the state numbers.

[green650]

Something definitely does not sound right. If you are registering your boat in the state, you get your stickers and paperwork right then and there. Pay tax in the sales price, reg fees etc., and you're done. For reference, I just got the renewal for my 32XX and I believe it's 60 bucks for a year.

[Norton_Rider]

The buyer is responsible for registering with the state and/or documenting with the Coast Guard. If a marine title company was used for the transaction, they may do this on behalf of the buyer. My guess is that the information the seller took down was not to register or document the vessel. Rather, it was to remove his or her name from the title.

[boatworkfl]

The USCG told me it costs $120.00 to remove my name from documentation on a boat I sold in the late 90's, it was never re-documented, and is on the beach now.

If he did not remove his name from documentation, that documentation will still be in his name, or unless you document it your name.

[TimeLess32]

The documentation process sucks. I have been waiting almost a year now for my paperwork to go through the Coast Guard. At the end of 6 months, when it was supposed to be done, I got a letter from the Coast Guard. They didn't like the way my wife's name was placed on the transfer paperwork and made me re do it. They then advised me that I was being placed BACK AT THE END OF THE LINE!!!!!! what a bunch of crap. I'll never keep a boat documented again. I'll pay the $120 and get the damn thing registered with hull numbers.

Frank

[tlwhiton]

I have to speak up in defense of the documentation process we have gone through in Anacortes at Marine Documentation Service with the purchase of two boats. We dealt with a woman by the name of Sylvia (if my memory serves me correctly) and she was absolutely wonderful. We did go through a boat brokerage agency, so maybe that is the reason it went so smoothly. She kept us up to date on the process and we had our documentation within 60 days of purchase.

Just my 2 cents worth...

[Norton_Rider]

"tlwhiton" post=804445 wrote:
I have to speak up in defense of the documentation process we have gone through in Anacortes at Marine Documentation Service with the purchase of two boats. We dealt with a woman by the name of Sylvia (if my memory serves me correctly) and she was absolutely wonderful. We did go through a boat brokerage agency, so maybe that is the reason it went so smoothly. She kept us up to date on the process and we had our documentation within 60 days of purchase.

Just my 2 cents worth...

Private documentation companies like Anacortes at Marine Documentation Service deal with the Coast Guard process on a daily basis and know what they are doing. This is different from private individuals dealing directly with the Coast Guard.

Back to the originally scheduled program: We are going around in circles, yet the OP has not provided enough details:

1- Is he trying to register the boat in WA, document it with the Coast Guard, or both?

2- Is the place that he called a private Coast Guard documentation service, the Coast Guard, the WA DOL, or a private WA licensing agency?

3- Why is the seller taking care of the documentation or registration? This is a buyer responsibility.

[boatworkfl]

"TimeLess32" post=804434 wrote:
The documentation process sucks. I have been waiting almost a year now for my paperwork to go through the Coast Guard. At the end of 6 months, when it was supposed to be done, I got a letter from the Coast Guard. They didn't like the way my wife's name was placed on the transfer paperwork and made me re do it. They then advised me that I was being placed BACK AT THE END OF THE LINE!!!!!! what a bunch of crap. I'll never keep a boat documented again. I'll pay the $120 and get the damn thing registered with hull numbers.

Frank

If it is still documented in another persons name do not worry about it, it is the former owners that has to pay to remove his name if you choose not to document it in your name.

Just register it with the state, if they ask just show the bill of sale.

[Corvus]

Thanks to all for the comments and discussion. We are from the midwest and have owned several boats but this "documentation" business is entirely new to me. Most of what I thought I knew about the WA purchase I learned from the PO. I find that between my ignorance and the PO's rush to close the deal, I did not have all of the information that I needed. (my fault)

The day that I purchased the boat in FH, I went to the state office building, paid the sales tax, registration and licensing fees. (just like we do in the midwest.) The topic of it being a documented vessel was pointed out and I went back to the PO for clarification. I was told that he taken care of it for me, wait for 60-90 days and if I had questions to call an Anacortes phone number.

Okay.......UPDATE. I spoke to a wonderful lady named Sonya yesterday at Marine Doc service in Anacortes. We are exchanging information and I have contracted them to take care of the documentation process. The PO had stiffed them for their service last year and the paperwork was never processed!

Now I have a choice, do I re-document OR do I de-document the boat? I have gotten opposing opinions on the docks about the matter so I will pose that question on this forum on another thread. Thank you again. Dave

[Corvus]

I purchased a 3288 in WA and I'm in the process of getting the papers brought up to date. This is my first documented boat and now understand that I have a choice of re-documenting or de-documenting it. The fees for either are about equal. While asking around on the docks have gotten various opinions about the value of owning a documented vessel. The boat is currently registered and licensed in WA state.

Thanks for your opinions and experience. Dave