Can it get any worse?

[ErikDC]

Just when everything was smelling like roses. My buddy and I went down to the Division of Watercraft today to do a title search and here's what the DNR guy came up with: The boat and engine are titled to two different people in Cleveland. We're having a hard time finding their phone numbers but in our search we've found some interesting information about the guy who has the boat title. My buddy's wife had the brilliant idea of searching Cuyahoga County court documents. This guy has been sued nearly a dozen times for a total of well over a million bucks and he also has an extensive criminal past, mostly with fraud and tampering with a felony assault thrown in. Oh yeah, he also has a current lawsuit pending. Sound like someone you want to deal with? If we don't get the title then the state confiscates the boat and puts it up for auction and we'll have to end up buying it twice if nobody outbids us. AAAAAAAHHHH!!!! So, anyone have any advice?

 

[tengals123]

Re: Can it get any worse?

i feel for you mate. mmmm...what to do????<br /><br /><br />cheers

 

[JB]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Remember this the next time you buy a boat or engine without a clear title in your hand.<br /><br />Like most people, hindsight is usually 20/20.

 

[ErikDC]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Yeah, all we thought when we saw the boat was "enormous potential and $150 for the boat." We had no idea anything like this would happen. We're gonna try to contact the guy and hopefully he isn't so much of a scumbag that he'll demand an exorbitant amount of money for the title. Sigh. If worse comes to worse we're thinking of trashing the boat before the state confiscates it so nobody will want to bid on it, then we can fix everything when we are the legal owners. I don't know.

 

[ErikDC]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Oh, here's the URL for a picture.<br /><br /> http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/ErikDC/Picture1.jpg <br /><br />It's a 1959 Squall King 18' cuddy cruiser with a 1964 Evinrude SportFour 60 HP. We've done quite a bit of research and all we've come up with is that Squall King was a custom boat builder based out of Hileah, Florida from the mid 50's to early 60's and there's not many of them around. The hull and transom are wood/glass and rock solid. The forward cabin is also in great shape. My buddy restores classic Mustangs and I grew up around boats and we have big plans for this. We REALLY want to keep it. Really.<br /><br />EDIT: Sorry, I was pretty heated when I made these posts. The state obviously won't confiscate the boat but to legally own the boat, those are the hoops that we have to jump through.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Your link is bad.. all I see is a blue and white spacecraft when I click on it.. <br /><br />I believe you need to send your corespondance to the previous owner registered mail or certified mail or something, so that you get it back unopened if refused or recipient is unfound. Take this unopened letter to the title agency and apply for a new title for an abandoned boat. I had to do that for my little fishing boat a couple of years ago.<br /><br />That is a really neat looking boat BTW, but don't let it break your heart until it is really yours.

 

[bigbad4cyl]

Re: Can it get any worse?

you could do a miscilanius statement of fact as to how you got the boat ,,,then simply send a leter to the gentlemans last known address wich the dnr will give you /has to,,,,,then have it signiture verified delivery and if the guy dosent live there anymore or wont/dosent sign ,,,you have proof of attempting to contact him and the dnr can work with that ..

 

[ErikDC]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Great info guys, thanks. Something I forgot to add, the DNR guy informed us that the guy who sold us the boat without a title committed a 5th degree felony and suggested that we give him the DNR guy's name and number so he could set him straight. The dude who sold us the boat didn't know any better. Sheez, we buy an old boat for $150 off of some guys lawn and a week and a half later we're calling a lawyer. This sucks.

 

[ErikDC]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Thanks, Calico and BigBad. I'll let ya know.

 

[Pickels]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Let a smile be your umbrella as the hailstones smash out your teeth <br /><br />Looks like a very nice boat -- and sounds like the efforts to gain a clear title will be well worth it.

 

[BillP]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Squall Kings were made a about 150 miles from me and I remember seeing them around. I almost bought one a few years ago to restore. They look the same as SpaceCrafts.<br /><br />I hope you can salvage the sale. That's a sweet boat. The good part is IF it goes to auction there won't be many people bidding on old glass boats like this. $150 was a steal...$500 is a steal if you are into restoring old boats.<br /><br />Here's another Florida built cuddy...1965 Cobia. Doesn't the hull look familiar?<br /><br />

 

[tengals123]

Re: Can it get any worse?

i knew i i'd seen that boat somewhere. billp you did a supre job on that one.<br /><br />cheers

 

[ErikDC]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Originally posted by Ahrmles:<br /> Let a smile be your umbrella as the hailstones smash out your teeth

Thanks, I needed a laugh! Billp, that looks VERY familiar. We left a message with the crook's attorney so at least the ball is rolling.

 

[DJ]

Re: Can it get any worse?

If we don't get the title then the state confiscates the boat and puts it up for auction and we'll have to end up buying it twice if nobody outbids us

Common sense and government should NEVER appear in the same sentence.

 

[ErikDC]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Ain't that the truth. The guy at the Division of Watercraft was extremely helpful to us yesterday and basically told us that the procedures they use are a bunch of bullplop. It looks like we may have to go that way because my buddy just called and said that he talked to the crook's attorney's receptionist and said that she was extremely rude and had better things to do than deal with us. I was afraid of that. Crooks usually have crooked attorneys. Anybody have any idea what the opening bid would be on that boat in a state auction?

 

[ErikDC]

Re: Can it get any worse?

SUCCESS!!!!! My buddy just called and said he contacted the titleholder! We're making the 2 1/2 hour trip up to Cleveland to meet the criminal himself. We're offering him $100 for his "time and effort" which I'm sure sweetened the deal. My buddy is going to be armed which is probably a good idea although I'm uncomfortable around guns. I don't really want to get into a gunfight over a freakin' boat title, if you know what I mean. Anywho, all is good so far but I won't be completely happy until I'm holding the title in my hands.

 

[tengals123]

Re: Can it get any worse?

good luck with the trip, hope it all works out for you. Given the circumstances, i wouldnt hand him the money first <br /><br />cheers

 

[ErikDC]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Everything will go fine, I was being facetious about the gunplay. I'm only bringing enough money for the title, tho. Dang, that $100 would get us a decent VHF radio, too.

 

[bigbad4cyl]

Re: Can it get any worse?

why pay him 100$ ,,,if i was him i id be woried about the fact he diddnt complete a bill of sale corectly when he sold the boat ,,,and he being the tittle holder is still responsible say it flew off a trailer while on the free way and smashed somthing and the perps took off ....or someone used the boat in a robbery or somthin ,,,,,,,,,im sayin if it were me id be glad to have a loose end like that floating around fixed..........100$ is to much ....

 

[JohnRuff]

Re: Can it get any worse?

Being an old salt - I suggest the following plan of action. Always choose the path that is in your best interest. And if throwing $100 more at a problem makes the problem go away - that is money well spent.