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BoatUS: Be Vigilant When Renewing Your Boat’s US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation

Official-looking vessel documentation renewal notices can lead to confusion and higher costs

.@BoatUS warns boaters to be wary of letters arriving offering renewal of @USCG documentation. Here’s what you need to know to avoid unnecessary fees https://bit.ly/3HnnOJc

4 comments

Comments (4)

Tim Gressett

Jan 20, 2024

Good advice! I got suckered and didn't even realize it until I misplaced the document. When I emailed the Coast Guard asking for a replacement I was told that I had to go back to the private company that who facilitated the renewal. They wanted a jacked up fee for a copy. I refused. The tell to their scam is an offer to renew for more than a year.

Charles Fowler

Apr 06

I don't know exactly what I was told about the Bob gulino boat... I bought it thru boatus he lived in FL and the boat name is "MORNING STAR" ...about 5 or 6 yrs ago....when we bought it something was said about the US coastguard registration.... and he couldn't get one...I didn't really understand all that... and it is still in our boat shed on the trl we had built in fl awaiting my wife's retirement ... and planning on maybe after that we were thinking about hanging out innthe gulf... and maybe around fl... and afterwards just getting a slip in the lake few miles from the house and just useing it for every weekend get aways... ..

Edited

James Frens

Apr 08

USCG allows you to renew a Certificate of Documentation for one year, or up to five years.

Charles Fowler

Apr 09

Thx.... I really don't know the issue was... it was something I think ...... that the boat at one time wasn't completely paid for.... but I couldn't see how... I don't remember exactly...I will look back into... but I bought it through USBOATS... the first night on the first trip to look at it.... 1000 miles... we slept on it while it was docked... I knew it needed work but at a great price and I can do most it... already did the major issues... the engines and genset... and the floor in the bathroom/shower... and forgot to lower the VFH radio antenna... so when we got home had to buy another.. and was told by my buddy that is a marine mechanic that the radar is worth more than we got it for.... even if it wasn't I would have still bought it.... the name is "MORNING STAR" we can't wait to be able to put it back in the water....