Change from State Registration to CG Documented

[catalinajack]

All I know is the one time I was stopped by a LEO, the USCG in my case, the Coasties wanted to see my certificate.

[lipets]

Originally Posted by fgarriso

This is the people I use and they make it painless.
Just give Connie Crews a call and it can be handled over the phone

https://allyachtdocumentation.com/services

What did they charge?

[Derek]

We used Connie crews @ All Yachts Documentation. 386-462-1144. She is an expert and took care of everything. Cost was around 700 I think. She knows the ins and outs of each states tax ru,es and can guide you.

[lipets]

I emailed several that processed the paperwork, $350-$900.

I called the CG filled out form 1258 with bill of sale really simple, cost $84

[Chuck34]

Originally Posted by merman64

I just had my secretary do it online for USCG renewal and renewed for 5 years. Address change and initial should do it if you have the original reg and bill of sale.

Yes, you just spent around $800 or so. If your secretary had dealt directly with the Coast guard Documentation office, it would have been less than $250. They charge about $100 for initial documentation and $26 per year renewal. You probably paid around $4-500 for documentation and $75 per year renewal.

[lipets]

I think the bottom line is the doc services are over charging for a simple task.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by lipets

I think the bottom line is the doc services are over charging for a simple task.

They ARE charging for their service... OVER or UNDER charging is up to the user.
If everyone thought they were over charging they wouldn't exist.

Many do their own taxes because they feel the services over charge for what they get. Others don't want to be bothered figuring it all out... just pay the fee and let someone else do the work.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by kthoennes

I'm still not sure what the benefits are though. Do you know how or why it's better?

There are two purposes for US citizens to document a vessel in the US.

1) It 'flags' the vessel officially as a US vessel. This isn't really needed for travel to Mexico, Canada, or the Bahamas. Those neighbors give us to leeway, mostly due to proximity. However, it becomes an issue when you travel to foreign countries beyond our neighbors. Australia doesn't care are about Florida registration. You're vessel needs an officially flagged. To a degree, it acts like a passport for your vessel.

2) It titles the vessel. While many states title vessels, 16 states don't. A bank needs to be lien holder on the title when there is a loan. Most banks don't want to have a process for 34 states, then another process for 16 states. It's just easier to have all the titles via USCG documentation.

[Chuck34]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

They ARE charging for their service... OVER or UNDER charging is up to the user.
If everyone thought they were over charging they wouldn't exist.

Many do their own taxes because they feel the services over charge for what they get. Others don't want to be bothered figuring it all out... just pay the fee and let someone else do the work.

I don’t disagree with what you said. However, a lot of people use services just because they don’t know they can go direct to the Coast Guard Doc office to get everything done for a lot less money.
This is especially true about all the people who got scammed into using a service for a simple renewal paying $75 when the CG office charges $26.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by Chuck34

I don’t disagree with what you said. However, a lot of people use services just because they don’t know they can go direct to the Coast Guard Doc office to get everything done for a lot less money.
This is especially true about all the people who got scammed into using a service for a simple renewal paying $75 when the CG office charges $26.

Please stop with the 'scam' angle. The fact that people don't do their due diligence doesn't make it a scam. As stated... it's a service. They are entitled to charge what they want for the service. You are entitled to do your own research.

Lack of due diligence doesn't make the service a scam. Please stop the insanity.

[lipets]

Agree perhaps not a scam bout RIP OFF, $900?????

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by catalinajack

All I know is the one time I was stopped by a LEO, the USCG in my case, the Coasties wanted to see my certificate.

If you are USCG documented, then you would not post state registration numbers on your vessel. This is the case even if you are state registered as well. A documented vessel with a state reg. would post the state(s) registration stickers only.

I suspect you have no reg numbers on your bow, therefore they assumed you were USCG documented, at which point the USCG would typically want to see the documentation that they issued to you.

If you had reg. numbers, then they would have asked for your registration, though they typically simply ask me "Can I see your paperwork"?

[Chuck34]

Originally Posted by Shrew

Please stop with the 'scam' angle. The fact that people don't do their due diligence doesn't make it a scam. As stated... it's a service. They are entitled to charge what they want for the service. You are entitled to do your own research.

Lack of due diligence doesn't make the service a scam. Please stop the insanity.

No, it is a scam when they send out letters that look like they came from the real CG office. And they give you a website address that looks like it is the CG office website. I can't tell you how many boating forum posts I have read in the past 6-7 years from people pissed they fell for the scam thinking they were dealing with the REAL CG....me included.

As far as the "Service" aspect...just what service are you getting when you pay $75 to a service company and it takes you 3-4 minutes to fill out the online form vs paying $26 to the CG office and taking 3-4 minutes to fill out the online form.

[Comodave]

Usually when you finance a boat they will require the use of a documentation company because they want to make sure it is done correctly and their mortgage on the boat is properly recorded.

As to the cost of their services, it is what it is. If you are able to do it yourself then do it. If the mortgage company requires the use of a service then you have to pay the cost. But to complain about the fees is sorta useless.

[catalinajack]

Originally Posted by lipets

Agree perhaps not a scam bout RIP OFF, $900?????

To some, yes, to others, no.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by Chuck34

I don’t disagree with what you said. However, a lot of people use services just because they don’t know they can go direct to the Coast Guard Doc office to get everything done for a lot less money.
This is especially true about all the people who got scammed into using a service for a simple renewal paying $75 when the CG office charges $26.

I'm sorry you got scammed. Hopefully you've learned to be more diligent with whom you send money too.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Chuck34

No, it is a scam when they send out letters that look like they came from the real CG office. And they give you a website address that looks like it is the CG office website. I can't tell you how many boating forum posts I have read in the past 6-7 years from people pissed they fell for the scam thinking they were dealing with the REAL CG....me included.

As far as the "Service" aspect...just what service are you getting when you pay $75 to a service company and it takes you 3-4 minutes to fill out the online form vs paying $26 to the CG office and taking 3-4 minutes to fill out the online form.

Misleading... absolutely but scam absolutely not or it would be illegal.

It's a prime example of misleading marketing / advertising and those uneducated fall for it. Anyone can educate themselves re the USCG NVDC Fees and steer clear of anything with a premium attached.

Doordash and other food delivery services charge more that you can purchase the same meal yourself but they are not scams.
For that matter you can sell your boat yourself vs paying brokerage fees but that doesn't make that a scam.
Uneducated folks are always looking to blame someone else for THEIR mistakes. if you are not familiar with something do your due diligence and educate yourself.