Question About Buying A New Boat In California

[JonBailey]

At any California boat dealer, should the VESSEL REGISTRATION NUMBER (VRN) appear on any

paperwork that the customer signs at the time of sale?

 

The paperwork could be a sales/purchase agreement or contract. 

 

The CA vessel registration number is the 8 digit number that appears on either side the hull in this form: CF XXXX XX

 

New boats don't have these displayed on the hull until the boat is sold. 

 

I just emailed a certain CA boat dealer and told him I wanted the numeral "5" to appear

in the VRN but that I did NOT want three consecutive numeral 6's to appear in this number should I ever buy a new

boat from him. 

 

He replied to me saying getting the number as I wanted it would not be a problem for him.

 

I figure that if I were to see the VESSEL REGISTRATION NUMBER firsthand in writing on the sales documents before

signing the deal, I could simply refuse to sign and walk out on the deal if such number printed on the contact

were not to my specifications. I will not sign the contact if the printed VRN number on the papers is something like

"CF 1267 HG" or "CF 5666 TP" for example. 

 

What is to guarantee that I will get my VRN according to my wishes based upon a dealer's word alone? 

 

I need something that will hold up in court. 

[MikeinFresno]

I dont think you can do that with a hull number. Its not like it is a specialty plate for a car where you can go to DMV and order it up and pay extra to do it. BUT, I could be wrong.

[JonBailey]

I dont think you can do that with a hull number. Its not like it is a specialty plate for a car where you can go to DMV and order it up and pay extra to do it. BUT, I could be wrong.

It depends on the dealer. Apparently this particular dealer can as follows: 

 

Brothers Boats, Folsom, California

 

I believe they have a pool of registration numbers the DMV allots them to use for new boat sales.

[MikeinFresno]

Ok, so then like at DMV where they reach in the drawer and pull out a plate and hand it to you right then?

[JonBailey]

Ok, so then like at DMV where they reach in the drawer and pull out a plate and hand it to you right then?

Something like that. But boats don't have plates. 

 

The DMV evidently sends a list of vacant (unregistered/untaken) boat numbers to marine dealerships. 

 

Each dealership, of course, gets a range of numbers that no other dealership has. 

 

There are about 6.7 million possible combinations for CA boat reg. numbers. When

those become exhausted they will probably make the reg. numbers longer than 8 digits. 

 

With computers this should be no sweat these days. 

[S Hovanec]

In PA, you get what you get.....no choices. The Fish and Boat Commission issues them. If you buy used, the registration numbers are typically on it and they stay with the boat for its entire life. If you buy new, you won't know your numbers for a month or so, until the state processes the registration and issues the numbers. The dealers have nothing to do with that here.

[jbsoonerfan]

Plan on going to court over some stupid numbers. I bet you are a load of fun to be around.

[WIGuide]

Am I the only one hoping this guy gets stuck with three consecutive 6's and no fives?

[ww2farmer]

I have been biting my tounge on this.... I am glad some other like minded people spoke up.

[S Hovanec]

Am I the only one hoping this guy gets stuck with three consecutive 6's and no fives?

Not the only one thinking it....just the only one with the balls to say it!