Anyone do Coast Guard registration?

FREEDOM!!!

FREEDOM!!!

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Mar 30, 2023
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Age
55
Model
Freedom 235
I'm looking at a 285 Freedom and the dealerships wants to register it with the Coast Guard. It is worth doing? I'm never taking this into international waters, so I'm not sure what the benefit is other than it might be required for the loan, and you don't have to put any numbers on the bow. But you do need to display a number plaque that is quite sizeable. Just curious if anyone does this and if it's really beneficial. Thanks.
 
Assume you mean documented. It will probably be required with a boat that size if you get financing for it. My boat is documented but there is no real advantage other then not having to put registration numbers or stickers on it. However you will still need to pay tax on it depending on your state.
 
drbatts said:
Assume you mean documented. It will probably be required with a boat that size if you get financing for it. My boat is documented but there is no real advantage other then not having to put registration numbers or stickers on it. However you will still need to pay tax on it depending on your state.
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Yes. From what I have read the number placard goes somewhere on the inside. Is that correct? Also, how do the police know that the boat is CG documented and not just unregistered? I guess I have a concern about being "pulled over" because there aren't any registration numbers on the bow like most boats.
 
24 years ago I bought a boat that was documented so I just transferred the documentation to me. i was concerned about police pulling us over bc of no registration, howeverin24 years I have not been stopped for a registration check. The CG is also very efficient at processing renewals and you have the option of single year or multiple year renewals.
 
Don’t you have to display the boats name and hailing port?
(In lieu of state registration)
 
There needs to be a placard permanently mounted somewhere in the boat with the Doc. number. Mine is on a bulkhead. You need the vessel name and hailing port on the transom. I believe that commercial vessels also need the name on either side of the bow. I have never been stopped for not having reg. numbers on the bow. My boat is also state registered and I keep that reg. and documentation paperwork on the boat.
 
Hi,

Don't let the dealer make you do it. When I bought my bought, the lender wanted it, but I was able to get them to skip that. I would much rather deal with state BS than Federal BS.
 
Coastboater said:
Don’t you have to display the boats name and hailing port?
(In lieu of state registration)
Click to expand...
Yes, but I have done that on all of my boats anyway....just to be fancy. I'm surprised they don't give you a window decal or something so that LE can see that it's not unregistered when they notice the naked bow. Maybe it's not a concern at all.
 
drbatts said:
There needs to be a placard permanently mounted somewhere in the boat with the Doc. number. Mine is on a bulkhead. You need the vessel name and hailing port on the transom. I believe that commercial vessels also need the name on either side of the bow. I have never been stopped for not having reg. numbers on the bow. My boat is also state registered and I keep that reg. and documentation paperwork on the boat.
Click to expand...
I was watching a video and the placard they had was massive! Are they all that big?

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Not necessary unless you are not in international waters (like Bahamas). May not be needed even then. Fed numbers are etched inside boat and not displayed. State registration/tax required to be paid.

Bahamas trip was easy back in the 90's but not so anymore. Highly regulated/taxed/fee'ed now. Still an awesome destination - Do it if you can!
 
I have a Sailfish and honestly never thought about it. We've done the Great Loop, and so have travelled through many states with several CG safety checks and it has never come up. We took a side trip into Canada and I thought I had studied all the requirements and even met those I didn't have to, i.e. FCC ship station license for operating a VHF radio, additional safety equipment, etc. The Canadian 'Mounties' were more interested in a friendly chat than they were in looking over the boat. Just guessing here, but I thought maybe they were more well trained in detecting lies and less interested in counting flares.
 
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