I’m looking to purchase a boat in the near future. When I have purchased real estate in the past we always had a title search to make certain no contractor Liens existed and all owners were giving consent for the sale. How are these issues satisfied when purchasing a boat.
Boat title searches?
- Thread starter Woody5
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Delta Riverat
Guru
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2022
- Messages
- 1,628
- Location
- Stockton
- Vessel Name
- Dream Catcher
- Vessel Make
- 1979 Island Gypsy 44 Flush Aft Deck
With a title co of course.
If you go through a broker, they have these guys at the ready. If you go alone, get one yourself.
If you go through a broker, they have these guys at the ready. If you go alone, get one yourself.
twistedtree
Guru
Assuming the boat is USCG documented, you request an Abstract of Title from the CG. You should be certain and purchase agreement requires that the seller deliver a boat free and clear of all liens, but request the abstract yourself to verify. Check lead time as it can take a while.
An abstract of title from the CG is fine for a documented boat. That is about as good as it gets since US documentation trumps all state titles.
If it is only state titled the state can tell you about any liens. When I did this for my last boat I had the title company also check the surrounding states for liens. It would be tough to check all 50 states.
But it is possible with some shenanigans to have two different titles with different liens for the same boat in two states.
David
If it is only state titled the state can tell you about any liens. When I did this for my last boat I had the title company also check the surrounding states for liens. It would be tough to check all 50 states.
But it is possible with some shenanigans to have two different titles with different liens for the same boat in two states.
David
Comodave
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2015
- Messages
- 23,419
- Location
- Au Gres, MI
- Vessel Name
- Black Dog
- Vessel Make
- Formula 41PC
And not all states title boats last time I checked.
psneeld
Guru
It is my understanding filing a lein with the USCG is optional and therefore an abstract of title is not guaranteed to be clear of leins.
https://www.thelog.com/news-departm...what-are-the-steps-to-put-a-lien-on-a-vessel/
"A Notice of Claim of Lien may be recorded against a vessel’s title by filing the appropriate paperwork with the US Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (“NVDC”). But the recording of a lien against a boat is optional. Recording has no effect on the validity of the lien or the underlying claim, and recording is not necessary prior to taking steps to enforce the lien."
https://www.thelog.com/news-departm...what-are-the-steps-to-put-a-lien-on-a-vessel/
"A Notice of Claim of Lien may be recorded against a vessel’s title by filing the appropriate paperwork with the US Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (“NVDC”). But the recording of a lien against a boat is optional. Recording has no effect on the validity of the lien or the underlying claim, and recording is not necessary prior to taking steps to enforce the lien."
Last edited:
