What is Documentation, and how does it differ from state registration?
Warning: US-centric section ahead. For Europe and the UK, see below. I’m sure you’ve noticed the ugly registration letters that you see on the bow of most boats under a certain size. Those are state registration letters, and they indicate that the vessel has been registered with a state, in the same way cars are. If your boat is over five tons (approximately 25 feet), there is an appealing alternative: Documentation. This is a procedure by which your vessel gets registered with the Federal Government, not the states. Your yacht is identified by a unique combination of name and hailing port, which must be painted on the stern. To document your boat, it must be specially measured, and complex bureaucratic procedures must be followed. However, renewal registration is free, which is certainly a major reason to keep your little ship documented instead of registered. Best of all, you don’t have to disfigure your bow with those ugly letters! Virtually all large yachts are documented. Most imp
