New Project..................

[SBWIII]

Hey all !!
I am new to the site and wanted to give a big hello and also a word of warning. I will have a LOT of questions !!!
I am picking up my "land yacht" tomorrow to begin it's transformation. It is free to a good home and I am in need of a large project that will keep me occupied for a year. I am a jack of all trades and am knowledgeable on just about everything construction related. I was a construction worker for many a year before I landed an awesome office job.
I am not sure what she is nor how old. I was going to build one from scratch that is her size and hull shape until I found this one. I will be rebuilding the the entire thing and turning it into a center console. The total length is 18 1/2' long and the beam is 7'. I have NO clue what she is though......... The lady I am getting it from has had it sitting in her yard for three years since her and her Ex-boyfriend broke up. He left it and also some other parts and supplies. The steering controls still function as does the engine controls. I have a TON of work ahead of me but I am not scared of getting into a large job.
Last night I built a cradle to set her on and tonight I am leveling it out, reinforcing the joints and putting concrete into the post holes.
Here's my first question.
What is it ?!?!?!?! Any clues ? ? ? ? ? ?

FREE BOAT

Thanks in advance for all the answers that I will be looking for !!
Sam

 

[calvinator]

Re: New Project..................

Before you get too far, check into your state's ownership/transfer/registration so it gets transferred to you. Otherwise ---- that lady's ex-boyfriend still owns it.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: New Project..................

Without a tittle, I wouldn't spend a penny.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New Project..................

it doesn't look like a wooden hull and therefore I'd say it's not worth rebuilding, except that the lapstrake design is kinda cool. But no title is no deal, although since everything has to be redone you might honestly call it homemade. But get that squared away first.

Hate to squelch your enthusiasm, and what a welcome to iboats, but that's the reality.

 

[joelybob]

Re: New Project..................

I don't think that boat is new enough to have a title. And I wouldn't worry about old owner even if you did get ahold of him he will be a jerk about it. register it as homemade and put new registration numbers on the sides. Cool looking boat. go for it:joyous:

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: New Project..................

I guess my question would be: Can the lady who is "giving" the boat to you legally do so? Does she have proof that she owns it? If the ex boyfriend suddenly pops up and claims that you stole his boat, what is your defense? You at least need to get something from the person giving the boat to you affirming that they have the legal right to dispose of the boat.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: New Project..................

I don't think that boat is new enough to have a title. And I wouldn't worry about old owner even if you did get ahold of him he will be a jerk about it. register it as homemade and put new registration numbers on the sides....

BAD advice. First off all states have different laws concerning boat titles and registrations. However, it is very likely that the previous owner still has rights to the boat until the title or registration is signed over. With that being the case, doing as you suggest and attempting to register it as homebuilt could get you in a legal bind.

 

[SBWIII]

Re: New Project..................

My buddy referred me to here and he has rebuilt a few old boats. From him and what I was just told by the FWC and an Attorney her at work..... All I have to do is save my receipts and file fora homemade boat reregistration.
The only thing I am saving is the hull. The rest of it will be new so for all intensive purposes be a homemade boat.
So I have that issue taken care of.
Thanks all for the warm welcome !!!!

 

[SBWIII]

Re: New Project..................

I guess my question would be: Can the lady who is "giving" the boat to you legally do so? Does she have proof that she owns it? If the ex boyfriend suddenly pops up and claims that you stole his boat, what is your defense? You at least need to get something from the person giving the boat to you affirming that they have the legal right to dispose of the boat.

Great idea and I will have her write something up for me in the morning.

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: New Project..................

I don't think that boat is new enough to have a title.

Do what? How new does a boat need to be in Florida in order to have a title? That boat has Florida registration numbers on it my guess is that the state of Florida has a record somewhere of the name of the last previous owner. IOW someone has, at some time, registered that boat with the state of Florida as belonging to him (or her).

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: New Project..................

My buddy referred me to here and he has rebuilt a few old boats. From him and what I was just told by the FWC and an Attorney her at work..... All I have to do is save my receipts and file fora homemade boat reregistration.
The only thing I am saving is the hull. The rest of it will be new so for all intensive purposes be a homemade boat.
So I have that issue taken care of.

As far as I know, the hull is what the title is issued on. So, if you are using the same hull why wouldn't you need to have the title transferred from the previous owner (or by court order) to you? Ask the attorney at work to state in writing and to put his signature on the statement what you claim he told you about saving receipts and filing for a home made registration. My bet is that he won't do it.

 

[SBWIII]

Re: New Project..................

Just talked to the FWC and a member of the Coast Guard. With the amount of work I am doing to this boat I am good. Just save the receipts and register it as homemade and I am golden.
So I have that settled.

 

[SBWIII]

Re: New Project..................

But does anyone have a clue what it may be !?!?!?!

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: New Project..................

But does anyone have a clue what it may be !?!?!?!

The boat has Florida registration numbers on it. Can't you check with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and get the relevant information, including the legal owner's name and last known address?

Here's the URL for their website: Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

and the URL for their boat registration FAQ page: http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/faqboat.html#1
I wasn't aware that the Coast Guard had any involvement in issuing boat titles or registering them. Now I know.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: New Project..................

Just talked to the FWC and a member of the Coast Guard. With the amount of work I am doing to this boat I am good.....

Well dang, I guess my '79 Checkmate is really a 2012 model now.

 

[bret632]

Re: New Project..................

But does anyone have a clue what it may be !?!?!?!

First off, welcome to the boards, they are very helpful i have just took on a few projects this year and they have been amazing.
And to answer your question its a boat... or it will be when your done with it i hope. she has a ton of potential so i wish you the best of luck

 

[joelybob]

Re: New Project..................

Do what? How new does a boat need to be in Florida in order to have a title? That boat has Florida registration numbers on it my guess is that the state of Florida has a record somewhere of the name of the last previous owner. IOW someone has, at some time, registered that boat with the state of Florida as belonging to him (or her).

well here in my state they started titling boats only a few years ago. And usually after a few years of not registering something there is no paper trail.

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: New Project..................

Don't get me wrong. I think that's a neat boat and I would love to do what you are planning to do with it. BUT as the owner of five residential rental properties I am well familiar with the problems that can come when you are dealing with so called abandoned property, especially cars, boats, and trailers. Just because someone left something on my property and hasn't made any effort to retrieve it does not give me the right to sell it or give it away without going through very definite (and often expensive) legal procedures. I was lucky. It only cost me a thousand dollars to learn that lesson many years ago and I was able to avoid having criminal charges filed against me for disposing of someone else's property without a court order legally transferring the property to me.

If I understand your attitude correctly, you believe it will be legal to take a boat that may belong to someone else, remove it to your own premises, rebuild and modify it, remove any identifying numbers, all without permission from the legal owner of record or going through any court procedures and obtain legal title to it by claiming it is home made. Good luck with that one if you get caught. Since the boat doesn't belong to the person giving it to you I wonder if you could be charged with receiving stolen property?

 

[joelybob]

Re: New Project..................

 

[SBWIII]

Re: New Project..................

I've got a buddy who works in at the Florida DMV and he is going to run the numbers on it for me on Monday when he gets to the office.