What are the advantages of documenting my boat with the Coast Guard?
The difference between Documentation and State registration is that Documentation is a form of Federal Registration for larger boats (5 net tons or more). It has two basic advantages: • Documentation makes it easier to get bank financing. A bank will often stipulate that boat must be documented. • Documentation makes it easier to establish the identity of the vessel when cruising foreign waters (the Coast Guard Documentation serves as a “passport” for the vessel). Recreational boats of 5 net tons or more (approximately 35 feet in length and over) are eligible (but not required) to be documented by the Coast Guard. Documenting a boat is generally more expensive than registering it with the State, but it may have advantages if the boat is used for international travel. Some States will require registration of a boat even if it is documented. If a pleasure craft owner wishes to have a vessel documented as a yacht, it can be done if: • The vessel is 5 net tons or more. • The owner is a cit
