Questionable boats for sale

[Wyattsdad13]

That poor fella having his boat stolen has had me thinkin and was wondering if this idea might help. How about whenever you see or hear about a boat being sold without title, post the info. on this board or any board for that matter.  They could be legit, but in our area getting a copy from DNR is no big deal so it raises a flag with me to not have one. They say when a child is kidnapped, with every hour they can be taken 50 miles away on average, I am sure the same is true for stolen property.  Maybe the advertizing places should require the serial number be posted.

I saw this on craigslist for hagerstown Maryland today.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/boa/835520973.html

Reply to: sale-835520973@craigslist.org [?]

Date: 2008-09-10, 3:12PM EDT

No title. Pick up only.  

 

Location: Hagerstown, MD

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 835520973

[ben2go]

I bought my boat new without a title.Now I am fighting DNR to get a HID because mine has faded into nothing.Should have gotten a title when I bought it,but I was 15 and didn't know.I used it in farm ponds and now I wanna use it on small lakes.What a pain.I'll never buy another boat without a title in hand.

[George Welcome]

ben2go,

Somewhere on that boat is a second HIN that is hidden. If your boat is an 84 or later this is a legal requirement of the manufacturer. Even if it is older it more than likely had two. Contact the manufacture for the location of the second number. If the boat has a rub rail it is under the rub rail, and usually on the forward starboad side.

[ben2go]

ben2go,

Somewhere on that boat is a second HIN that is hidden. If your boat is an 84 or later this is a legal requirement of the manufacturer. Even if it is older it more than likely had two. Contact the manufacture for the location of the second number. If the boat has a rub rail it is under the rub rail, and usually on the forward starboad side.

The boat was bought new in 92 or 93.We checked for a second HID.There was none.Just the faded out transom plate.This is just a little 9'11" Jon.Nothing special.It may have had a decal at one time.I don't remember.The boat was in storage since 94,so it could have came off.I included a pic.

[ben2go]

Here's another pic to show how small the boat is.It's only 27 inches wide across the bottom.

[George Welcome]

Look under that rolled rail or under the corner plates. Unless someone made that boat in the basement there is a stamped HIN somewhere.

"Boats manufactured or imported on or after August 1, 1984, also have a duplicate secondary HIN affixed somewhere on an unexposed location inside the boat or beneath a fitting or item of hardware. The purpose is to help authorities identify your boat if a thief or vandals remove or damage the primary HIN on the transom. It is illegal for anyone (manufacturer, dealer, distributor, or owner) to alter or remove a HIN without the express written authorization of the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard.

The regulations prescribe the format of the HIN. The first three characters are a MIC (Manufacturer Identification Code) assigned by the Coast Guard to the manufacturer or the person importing the boat; characters four through eight are a serial number assigned by the manufacturer; the last four characters indicate the month and year the boat was built, and the model year. Prior to August 1, 1984, the manufacturer had the option of expressing this in the form of a model year designation.

The Coast Guard maintains a searchable database of MICs if you want to check yours out - click here.

Individuals building boats for their own use and not for the purposes of sale are what are referred to as "backyard boat builders". They must obtain a 12 character HIN from their State boating agency. The Manufacturer Identification Code at the beginning of the HIN for a "home built" boat is an abbreviation for the State followed by a "Z" which indicates that it is a State identification."

[ben2go]

I looked and found no numbers.Could they have corroded away with the corner that is missing?I left the boat outside and upside down while I was working on a farm(3 years) in high school.When I got out of high school,and quit, the owners of the farm stored my boat in the rafters in the back of their barn.Some where along the way one of the front corners and one of the rear lift handles got broken off.I didn't get to take the boat out much, so it nearly rotted away.This boat is nearly identical to the aluminum jons that use to be sold at Sears.I bought mine at Marine One in Spartanburg,SC, which has been out of business since 1998.I talk to DNR late this afternoon and they reviewed my request for a HID.They finally said I would be getting a HID, but it would be 3 weeks before I would receive it.I have had such a hard time with this that I will not buy a boat without noterized paper work.I guess the dealer intentional didn't tell me I needed a title to skip the paper work.The farm closed recently and called me to come get the boat.Honestly, the aggravation wasn't worth the 2 hour round trip to pick it up.I could have bought a new Alumacraft 1032 for $525 down the street at Holdens Marine in Boiling Springs,SC.Live and learn,I guess.  :-/

[bassboy1]

I too have heard that the second HIN should be on the starboard somewhere, but I have pulled apart many boats from the factory configuration, down to the absolute bare hull, and have yet to see a second HIN - there are no panels or consoles left to put it behind, unless they put it on the inside of one of the ribs along the bottom. ;D

[ben2go]

My boat is a bare minimum jon boat.There's no place to really hid a second HIN.Under the top rails or behind the wood transom.I'm not taking the old wood transom out yet.It has the faded out original HID on it.I tried the pencil trick on it,but the numbers weren't engraved or embossed.When I get all the paper work finished,I will start modifying it.

[fishfordollars]

I am sorry to hear of all the problems getting a title to this or any other boat that has none. Everyone needs to take a break when they come across these great deals W/O titles. Every legit boat will either have a title or the paperwork will be available to aquire one without all these issues. When is everyone gonna learn?

[JShrock07]

Getting a new HIN should not be a problem at all. I had to go through this about 3 years ago and it took me about 1 month to get the paperwork complete and the HIN on my boat. Maybe you contact DGIF and see what they can do to help you get it started. I emailed DGIF and they e-mailed me about 45 mins later and it didn't take long after that.

Good luck getting the ball rollin'

[cart7t]

I am sorry to hear of all the problems getting a title to this or any other boat that has none. Everyone needs to take a break when they come across these great deals W/O titles. Every legit boat will either have a title or the paperwork will be available to aquire one without all these issues. When is everyone gonna learn?

Not necessarily.  Many states don't require the titling of boats or trailers.  In the case of many of these older aluminum boats, the thing has passed hands several times.  Many times, the boat is used on a private lake where state registering isn't even necessary.  

I bought a titleless boat.  I'm about owner #3 or 4 in it's 30 + year history.  The trailer is homemade and the boat, still with perfectly legible model and ser. number hasn't been numbered in 20 years since it was only used on private lakes.  Somewhere along the road the title was lost by one of the owners.  I found out to get a title the owner I purchased from would have to apply and pay any back PP taxes on it.  That wasn't going to happen.

If you're going to buy a smaller boat for public waters insist on a title.  If you'll primarily be fishing private water, it's less of an issu3e.

[senile1]

Hello, Cart.   8-)

[fishfordollars]

I am sorry to hear of all the problems getting a title to this or any other boat that has none. Everyone needs to take a break when they come across these great deals W/O titles. Every legit boat will either have a title or the paperwork will be available to aquire one without all these issues. When is everyone gonna learn?

I stand corrected. Why would anyone purchase anything without the required documents reguardless of each state's requirments though? Just too much hassel as far as I am concerned.

Not necessarily. Many states don't require the titling of boats or trailers. In the case of many of these older aluminum boats, the thing has passed hands several times. Many times, the boat is used on a private lake where state registering isn't even necessary.

I bought a titleless boat. I'm about owner #3 or 4 in it's 30 + year history. The trailer is homemade and the boat, still with perfectly legible model and ser. number hasn't been numbered in 20 years since it was only used on private lakes. Somewhere along the road the title was lost by one of the owners. I found out to get a title the owner I purchased from would have to apply and pay any back PP taxes on it. That wasn't going to happen.

If you're going to buy a smaller boat for public waters insist on a title. If you'll primarily be fishing private water, it's less of an issu3e.

[ben2go]

I am sorry to hear of all the problems getting a title to this or any other boat that has none. Everyone needs to take a break when they come across these great deals W/O titles. Every legit boat will either have a title or the paperwork will be available to aquire one without all these issues. When is everyone gonna learn?

I bought that boat new from a dealer.I was just young and didn't know I needed a title for the boat.I only used it on a farm pond while I was in high school.After high school the boat went to storage.I have recently had to pick up the boat,and now I wanna use it on some small lakes.I can't without having the boat titled and registered. :'(

[done]

Well to be honest, you are schooling me here. If you have not had anyone tell you and did not grow up around boats to know, your own ignorance can hurt you.

Incidentally I did find my second HIN on my job boat in the starboard aft corner under a piece of the hull they had folder over. I "found" it when  I drilled through it to run an electrical line. LOL.

[ben2go]

I grew up without a father,he died when I was very little.I had no one around to teach me these things.The owners of the farm I was working on didn't talk much.They just gave out orders.So I have had to learn these things on my own.I'm 31 years old and know less about the world than most 10 year olds.  :-[

[done]

Well, you knew as much about the second HIN as I did. Like I said, had I not accidentally drilled through it, I would have not known there was one.

I can't believe though that the state does not have any way to compensate for that. I mean what if you rebuilt a boat from an old hull you found somewhere? There has to be a way to certify it....

[ben2go]

Well, you knew as much about the second HIN as I did. Like I said, had I not accidentally drilled through it, I would have not known there was one.

I can't believe though that the state does not have any way to compensate for that. I mean what if you rebuilt a boat from an old hull you found somewhere? There has to be a way to certify it....

I filed for a new hull ID.Had to send pics of the boat to DNR and be open to an inspection,which isn't a problem.After I recieve my hull id plate,i can send off for my title and registration.This will take until x mas to finalize.It's been a real pain in the A.

[done]

Yeah...that sounds like a PITA. I imagine you are really itching to get it out there on the water too. Well, it will give you plenty of time to do some mods if you want to.

[ben2go]

I won't drop any money in the boat until I have all paper work in hand.Then i will redo the boat.The bench seats have split under the swivel seats from corrosion.So it needs werk bad.

[retiredbosn]

Having conducted numerous boardings in the Coast Guard, the secondary HIN is typically on themain beam in larger commercial vessels, I.E. tawlers, etc.  On small boats they may as well not be there at all, because the secondary HIN will be in the bilge area of bass boats, on the main stringer (typically) or on the starboard one.  I have never seen a secondary HIN on a jon boat.  Many states do not require a title or registration on jon boats or trailers, even if they have trolling motors.  Here in WV if the boat is less than 16 foot and doesn't use a trolling motor there is no registration or title required.  My jon boat has old SC hull numbers, so I run a trolling motor and can get by with it as the boat has to meet the requirements of it's home state and not the one you are in at the time, SC no longer requires titles, on boats or trailers at least according to my uncle who I got the boat from.  Good luck

[ben2go]

Having conducted numerous boardings in the Coast Guard, the secondary HIN is typically on themain beam in larger commercial vessels, I.E. tawlers, etc. On small boats they may as well not be there at all, because the secondary HIN will be in the bilge area of bass boats, on the main stringer (typically) or on the starboard one. I have never seen a secondary HIN on a jon boat. Many states do not require a title or registration on jon boats or trailers, even if they have trolling motors. Here in WV if the boat is less than 16 foot and doesn't use a trolling motor there is no registration or title required. My jon boat has old SC hull numbers, so I run a trolling motor and can get by with it as the boat has to meet the requirements of it's home state and not the one you are in at the time, SC no longer requires titles, on boats or trailers at least according to my uncle who I got the boat from. Good luck

The lakes I fish require the boat to be registered if it has any means of propulsion,excluding human power.Then you still have to register with the lake and get there sticker.I have already checked DNR and it's on their website.All boats and motors must be titled and registered to be used in SC.Trailers don't have to be title,registered and tagged,unless the trailer will be traveling outside of it's home state.This is what I have recently dealt with and have been learning the laws due to my ignorance.It's not fun and it's costing me time and money.

[done]

    I hear ya. I was very familiar with the regs in NY state when I lived there. However, in NC, where I reside now. I knew nothing of the regulations. I had a tough time finding anything for my Jon boat as it was on the line at first because of the propulsion. I met a nice DNR dude when i was trout fishing in a streeam in the mountains who I needled for info when he asked to see my fishing license. Thankfully, he was more than willing to take time and answer my questions. He cleared it all up for me. I had the most frustrating time though really getting answers before I chatted with him.

[bowtech_182]

Having conducted numerous boardings in the Coast Guard, the secondary HIN is typically on themain beam in larger commercial vessels, I.E. tawlers, etc. On small boats they may as well not be there at all, because the secondary HIN will be in the bilge area of bass boats, on the main stringer (typically) or on the starboard one. I have never seen a secondary HIN on a jon boat. Many states do not require a title or registration on jon boats or trailers, even if they have trolling motors. Here in WV if the boat is less than 16 foot and doesn't use a trolling motor there is no registration or title required. My jon boat has old SC hull numbers, so I run a trolling motor and can get by with it as the boat has to meet the requirements of it's home state and not the one you are in at the time, SC no longer requires titles, on boats or trailers at least according to my uncle who I got the boat from. Good luck

Any boat that is used on public waters with any sort of motor or trolling motor in SC Must have a current title/registration. boat trailers are not titled/registered