Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

[Tattooduck101]

Hello fello boaters, ive purchased a used boat from a salvage yard with a bill of sale. the guy who sold it to me didnt transfer info to him so state is saying i cannot buy it from him. Allready did! I feel like an idiot, thought it was going to be easier than this. The guy owns a commercial truck yard and has put me on the back burner about finding the name of previous owner. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Once again, folks tend to pooh-pooh the "lost or no registration issue" whether it is a car, trailer or a boat.. Unfortunately you are now among those folks who get burned by this. So for anyone else who reads this post and the many others like it -- TAKE HEED. Titles are just that. They prove ownership. Without it you don't have a leg to stand on legally so you should understand where the State stands on this issue. Can the issue be overcome? Yes -- but!!! It takes a great deal of leg work, phone calls, frustrating meetings with the seller, etc. Some states are worse than others in resolving this issue. Buying anything out of salvage means as a minimum you should demand a "Salvage Title". If buying from a private party check the title carefully to ensure the seller actually owns the property. If not, you have no proof that the property was not stolen. And NEVER, EVER, take a sellers word that I have the title but I think it's in my lock box or it's around the house somewhere and I'll send it to you. Response: When you find it, call me and I'll pay you and take the boat.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

You may well be screwed, at least in the short run. I have learned the hard way all about titled vehicles. These days, I've learned to tell the prospective seller over the phone that I'll need a legitimate title for both the boat and the trailer (my state titles trailers) and that both need to be made out in the name of the person who is to receive my money. If they can't do that, there's no need for me to even see the property.

That doesn't help you though... the cow has already left the barn. So what you're going to have to do is become a pain this man's ***... to the point where it's easier to do what's right than it is to ignore you. Do you have any pressure you can apply legally? Small claims court? Threaten to send the sheriff out there to investigate his fraud? Call so often he gets sick of you? You'll need to think of some way to get him to do what you want.

I have been in similar shoes twice (I'm a slow learner). I will tell you this: it's a lot easier to motivate people when you're nice but needy than when you're nasty. Think about what would make you want to help another? That is what you want to try first. You can always wield the big stick later if you must (with the cops).

Whatever you do, consider how you would react if somebody did it to you. Would it raise your hackles and make you want to resist? If so, probably not a good idea for you to do that.

What this transaction boils down to is: he's got something you want. But you have something he should want also: his reputation and peace of mind knowing you're not going to bring unpleasantness on him. Good luck with this.

FWIW, I went through some nerve wracking times but I ended up winning both times.

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

I had the same problem when i purchased my boat 2 years ago. The boat was from michigan, the seller moved to missouri (my state) but never registered the boat here and had expired registration in Michigan. Michigan also does not title boats or trailers or outboards (i believe, if i remember right). However, because the seller lived in missouri longer than 6 months, the boat was a Missouri boat, without a title. (Dont ask me how, missouri is the most ignorant titling states. We have to title boats, trailers, outboards, we even have to title Trolling motors!! really?) Anyways... rant over. Long story short, i had to be a pain in the guys butt for about a month before he did anything. I called daily. Finally, i drove back to the sellers apartment ( a few hours away) and handed him a small claims court summons. That evening, he drove back to michigan and reregistered the boat in michigan so i had current registration and could title boat, motor, and trailer in Missouri.

 

[Tattooduck101]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Thanks for the advise. Ill try not to be too big a pain to the guy

 

[Tattooduck101]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Thanks, your words bode well. Ill take this as a learning expierence

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

You have to be as big of a pain as you can. I dont know what state you live in and the laws and whatnot. Anyways, if he sold a boat that he had not registered, titled, or anything.. here in Missouri it would be an Illegal sale.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

We need to know what state you're in. For example, in PA, this would not be a big deal.

 

[sasto]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

We need to know what state you're in. For example, in PA, this would not be a big deal.

.....or Florida.

 

[Tattooduck101]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Im in Delaware

 

[Tattooduck101]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Delaware

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

So from a salvage yard you can't apply for a salvage title? He can't do the paperwork? Not that you want a salvage title, but it is what you bought and should be legal for registration.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

In PA, the fish and boat commission just sends a letter to the last registered owner. If they receive not reply after so many days, it's your. And you even get a temp reg in the meantime.

 

[Tattooduck101]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Dockwrecker, ill see if delaware offers a salvage title. Hard to say- only the trailer in delaware has a title. Boats have a blue registration card.

Ezmobee, if only I lived in PA. If only delaware took a lesson from your state also.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Tattoduck: What size is the boat you bought?
If you are totally screwed in DE, then what you need to do is buy another junker of appropriate size with papers for 50-100 bucks and your boat becomes that brand. De and Pa both have a LOT of junkers, some for free--you didn't hear this from me-- See my private message

 

[a1akeywest]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Here In ontario we do have options. I once purchased a boat from an auction a family had after someone had died. I bought a 2000 seadoo... which here in ontario has the same title papers as a boat..... long story short i got this seadoo without any paper work. it sat in my garage all winter and come spring i decided to go get the title for it..

and this is what I had to do. first i had to get a report from local police saying that the HULL number was not reported stolen. this was very easy to get,,, just walk into a police station and ask them to search if the boat was registered as stolen. Then the boat registration office actually had an application form that was titled something like "registering a vessel without previous ownership" somthing along those lines.

basically it gives you a section to fill out the information on the boat... make, model Hull number,, lenth, engine specs etc..

then there is a section to explaing why you do not have the ownership papers... and in this area i just explained that I had purchased it at a private auction,, the previous owner had died and there was no way to locate the proper papers...

once this was done.. you had to bring the application to a notarary public.... usually a lawyer ,, or some accountants etc... they read it over,, give it there notarary stamp.... pay the 50 bucks......

then i brought this to the vessel registration and they gave me title in my name......


Thats how i DID IT,... im not sure if you have that option in your area


Mike,,,, ps. sorry for the poor puncuation.. im on a i phone.... and i have fat fingers..

 

[N3UP]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

If you haven't already done so, check out this link
http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Boating/Pages/Delaware_Boating_Registration.aspx

For Delaware, if the seller hasn't registered the boat in his name, you'll need to establish a documented chain of ownership back to the last registered owner with bills of sale.

If the boat was registered in Delaware, you may be able to find the last registered owner from the DL number if the boat still has one on it.
If it was registered in another state, you still maybe able to to that as well.

I have an old MFG Gypsy 15 that I haven't had in the water for almost 12 years. My daughter's boyfriend is fixing it up, so I started looking into re-registering it. I found out that I need the registration card to do that and it's MY boat!
Long story short, I went down to Eastern Marine and asked what I needed to do, and explained that I couldn't find the card.
The lady pulled up the DL number on the computer and filled my out a new card (with the 2000 expiration date), so all I need to do is take it down when he's ready to dunk her in the spring.

For Delaware, if it's from a title state, you'll need a title. If it's from a non-title state, you need to establish a documented chain of ownership to the last registered owner.

 

[Tattooduck101]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

N3UP, I'm currently trying to get name of previous owner from guy I bought it from.

Frank, I hope I replied to your pvt message correctly. My e-mail is EDIT

 

[Stachi]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Tattoduck: What size is the boat you bought?
If you are totally screwed in DE, then what you need to do is buy another junker of appropriate size with papers for 50-100 bucks and your boat becomes that brand. De and Pa both have a LOT of junkers, some for free--you didn't hear this from me-- See my private message

I'm in Pa as well...I needed a title for my trailer...bought one for $25.00 , and I had to cut up and remove the trailer that belonged to the title (it was not road worthy to tow away)...just sayin....

 

[sasto]

Re: Dead before even at ramp, help me!!

Or do what we do......replace the HIN with one of your own...Home built....check local laws and

Good Luck!