How to check a boat is not stolen/has liens....

jsoderbe · 11-06-2012, 06:13 PM

Hi,

Does anyone here know how to check a boats history?

The story is that I got a boat for free. A guy living 10 minutes from my vacation home in Pompano Beach had some bad luck, and his boat sank at his dock behind the house. He had an old WTS ad that I called on, and spoke to his wife. They had just decided they wouldnt spend a dime more on it, and offered it to me for free if I removed it. The boat was refloated, it has salvageable parts on it and is probably worth some money as-is.

I dont know them but they seem to be nice people.

The problem is that I only got a Bill of Sale signed by is wife on his behalf, and a copy of the title together with their BoS from two years ago. The guy is traveling but I got his concent over email. They cant seem to find the original title, and have honestly said they gave it away as a parts boat and dont want to spend more time or money on getting me a new title.

So, since I am not too much into the laws in the US, I was hoping that someone here could tell me if I could get any problems from this deal? Before I pick it up?

Only other thing I checked is that I pulled a report from boathistoryreport.com, I guess it is a boat version of carfax, and it turned up clean.

Any help would be very appreciated!

Regards,

Johan

tevake · 11-06-2012, 06:18 PM

Here we register boats at the Harbor masters office, and they have access to the records of boats that are registered in the state. You could call them and ask their suggestion.

Cheers Richard

stomachmonkey · 11-06-2012, 06:18 PM

What do you intend to do with it?

If you are going to part it out I'd not worry too much about it.

If there were a lien from a bank on it then it's highly likely the boat was insured and insurance paid off the note.

jsoderbe · 11-06-2012, 07:07 PM

Thanks guys,

Well I wont register it, at least not within a foreseable future, but it would be nice to have that option open....

Regards,

Johan

id10t · 11-07-2012, 04:19 AM

If you have the registration number on it (and ti should be there if it is a Fla boat) the local county tax office can look it up and request a copy of the title.

nota · 11-07-2012, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

If you have the registration number on it (and ti should be there if it is a Fla boat) the local county tax office can look it up and request a copy of the title.

the registered owner ONLY can do that
he can also do that by mail

it was $10 but sick bot went nuts on fees recently
so likely more now under his nut-con no tax plan

Rednine11 · 11-07-2012, 04:56 AM

Here in WV if you misplace a title you can go to the DMV and as long as you can prove ownership, registration they will provide you a duplicate title. This is not the same as a LOST title.
So the owner should be able to get a duplicate then sign it for you

onewhippedpuppy · 11-07-2012, 05:26 AM

Worth noting, some states don't do titles for boats. I purchased my boat in OK and received a title, then registered it in KS where boat titles aren't recognized. When I sell my boat it will be on a bill of sale only.

Schumi · 11-07-2012, 08:17 AM

This reminds me of a story-

About six years ago I was looking to buy an old motorcycle to fix up for a winter project. I found one for sale in a newspaper ad, an old Kawasaki 500 twin. Looked OK, owner said it ran rough and had some bad scratches and broken turn signals and wanted $300. Sounded good to me.

I drove 2 hours away from where I lived at the time to pick it up, got there late at night, guy was cool, had a lot of other cool bikes. He only had an old, out of state title for it in someone else's name. No current title. No bill of sale. I totally believed the guy's story about how he got it from a buddy who lived in IL- guy definitely wasn't a thief, but I wasn't so sure about the guy *before him*.

So I took the VIN and quick called the highway patrol. Got an operator and said "I'm looking to buy a motorcycle but it has a shady history and I want to make sure it hasn't been reported stolen in the past." The officer on the phone said "We can't give you that information sir." ...

I was like.. "You can't tell me a 'YES' or 'NO' on whether or not it has been reported stolen?" and they said "Only the owner can get that info" ... "I think the owner would know if it was stolen, I'm about to buy this thing and I want to make sure it's not a crime, how is that a problem?" "It is not information we can give out, sir..." on and on ..

So I got cold feet and didn't buy it. I regret it, cause it would have been a fun project even if I never registered it.

Schumi · 11-07-2012, 08:18 AM

Sorry I realize my story has really nothing to help you and your boat situation. I just felt like reminiscing on that one.

95avblm3 · 11-07-2012, 08:25 AM

Johan,

Go to: https://services.flhsmv.gov/MVCheckWeb/

If you have the title or VIN number, you can input it there and check it. There is also a form you can fill out to obtain title history in FL but it is not free... The form can also be found at flhsmv.gov... recently did this with my 911 and my boat.

Good luck.

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

I'd say first walk into a Sec. of State office with the seller and all documents. It might save some future aggravation.

Thru the years I've had two really weird situations regarding boat documents. Both case's were such a waste of government resources.

The first one was a purchase of a used Formula of which I had a clean title, owned and enjoyed it for a a few years. I then later re-sold it without any issues. So...... EIGHT years go by and one morning I get a knock on the door from two suited guys in a black car who wanted to ask some questions! Taken by surprise and I asked for I.D.'s.... they were FBI. No kidding here.

They mentioned I was hard to find -LOL- and left me wondering whatever that meant, but anyhow they wanted to know about that particular boat and about the individual I purchased it from. My memory was fuzzy but enough to recall a description of the seller and lucky enough, I still had copies of the boat's records, title and transaction, receipt, etc.. They appreciated the records and then proceeded to pull a photo out of the guy I purchased the boat from which matched my description. Turn's out that seller had another boat - apparently stolen and tried to pawn it off. They told me the scumbag fabricated a story of me trading that particular boat towards the legite Formula! They knew he was liar, the guy had some similar prior's and were making a case against him. Really a weird ordeal to me and as a word of advice, it's a good idea to keep copies of transactions.

Another ordeal was a boat I purchased out of another state, all legite including that state issue title. When I wanted to transfer the title ownership to myself and showing a sales receipt, my state would not accept it and claimed the serial number was incorrect?! I countered and verified both in writing and phone, so they sent me another form. Filled it out and they returned it as non-legite vin! But I did have my temporary applied from the license service company to use the boat for 30 days until the full document's / new title arrived. But by now, I was losing some boating season because the area I use the boat in REQUIRES actual proof of ownership to get the sticker permit for that water usage. I was screwed as it took five months for the state to confirm it was in fact the correct serial and title!! Nobody from the Sec. of State would bonafide the serial number! So I resorted to taking a blank piece of paper and rubbing a lead pencil over the entire manufacture plate including the serial number showing the imprint and sent the paperwork in. (Photo's were not accepted!). Only then was I finally issued a title. Ridiculous.

jsoderbe · 11-09-2012, 06:22 PM

Thanks guys! Excellent info. Especially the link to the VIN check!

It came out totally clean in every way I checked, so I have decided to take the boat and try to restore it. It actually wasnt too bad, it sunk aft down, so the engines are shot but the electrical seems ok.

I do appreciate your help with these questions, since they are very hard to figure out when you dont live in the US.

Regards,

Johan

95avblm3 · 11-10-2012, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsoderbe

Thanks guys! Excellent info. Especially the link to the VIN check!

It came out totally clean in every way I checked, so I have decided to take the boat and try to restore it. It actually wasnt too bad, it sunk aft down, so the engines are shot but the electrical seems ok.

I do appreciate your help with these questions, since they are very hard to figure out when you dont live in the US.

Regards,

Johan

Glad to share the knowledge... I spend way to much time at the FL DMV between cars and a boat these days