TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

[HASASEXYGF]

Hi all-ok this is my problem.I'm to pick up a boat and trailer tomorrow but,the trailer is not registered to me yet and has no plate.Would it be ok to transfer the boat from one house to another-roughly 45 miles away?This boat used to be my uncles till he passed away and my cousin has the title for the boat and thats all.I still owe him $600 on the boat and he wont give me the title till then.So I would be moving a boat with no title or papers at all for the boat?What should I do?Should we make a bill of sale showing the balance of the boat?(for boat title purposes)...would that work........if so what about the trailer?

 

[JRJ]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

The trailer has no plate. You owe $600 on the combination boat/trailer? You better have something in writing from the legal owner. Maybe get cousin to drag rig over to your house and have a BBQ? Good luck and enjoy the boat

 

[magster65]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

If you were stopped by the cops, which you will be if they don't see a plate on the trailer. It'll look like you stole it. Have your cousin go for the ride with the papers in his pocket. Your insurance broker can help too, they want your business so phone them and ask what you need to bring in. They have ways to come up with new documents (serial number search) for the trailer or if it doesn't have numbers it can likely be registered as a home-built. Avoid the fine, get that plate on the trailer!

 

[magster65]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

and by the way, how sexy is she?

 

[HASASEXYGF]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Lets just say she damn near could be a twin of Jennifer Anniston!Yeh I think I'll sontact the secretary of state for what they have to say on the matter or if you guys have any other ideas -let me know.

 

[Rick-Mi]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Yes, in Michigan a bill of sale allows transportaion from the point of purchase to your residence. <br /><br />A bigger issue may be who is actually on the title of the boat and who's name is on the registration of the trailer. If it is your deceased uncle, there are other potential problems. BTW, if the boat is under 20 ft (based on the the dollar discussion it sounds like it is) there is no title issued by the State of Michigan. Ownernership is transfered by signing off on the back of the watercraft registration slip.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Are you sure you need a plate? Here all trailers under around 2000lbs don't require one...

 

[Rick-Mi]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Originally posted by HASASEXYGF:<br /> Yeh I think I'll sontact the secretary of state for what they have to say on the matter or if you guys have any other ideas -let me know.

IMHO it's a bad idea going to the secretary of state on this issue. That is unless you like difficult problems to solve. If they find out that trailer is still in your deceased uncle's name they might require probate papers for transfer. In that case you are screwed because the estate was probably closed long ago.<br /><br />A much better bet is to beg, borrow or steal the $600 to complete the transaction and then have your seller sign off on the back of the boat registration and give a separate genaric reciept for the trailer. With a bill of sale on a low dollar transaction like this the Secretary of State will just register the trailer in your name along with the boat and issue you a plate.

 

[Straightup]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Yeah, no plate required in WI either. For Wisconsin boats 15 feet and under have no title and are transfered just the way Rick says.<br /><br />Guess I don't worry much 'cause I haven't been pulled over in 10 years, but you sound kind of paranoid to me. 10 years ago I got pulled over and the cop said that they were really after the guy in front of me, but you were here so I pulled you over. People were complaining about fast travelers on that street so I got a warning. Sheeeesh. <br /><br />Anyway, if I were you I would be tempted to just take the boat home and explain later. You're not doing anything unlawful so why are you so worried?

 

[Rick-Mi]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

He needs a trailer plate alright. Unfortunately, there are no freebies in Michigan <br /><br />The state's last brilliant idea to squeeze some more blood from their "subjects" was to stop selling low cost yearly tabs in favor of a high dollar permanent trailer plate. For those of us with a lot of toys that can get expensive. However, a couple wingnuts goes a long way toward solving the problem.....

 

[HASASEXYGF]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Thnx guys-you've been super helpful.I think I'll go with what rick said...get boat registration signed and get title and make a separate receipt for trailer sale.I talked to my cousin(jerk-off)just a bit ago-and told him I needed the title and registration to get this done and he agreed to give it to me.Then I should be able just to transfer title and get a separate receipt for the trailer.(so then I can have that registered in my name too-since i think the trailer isn't registered cause he has no papers for it).I think then I should be ok,right?<br /><br />I think he decided to give me the title because I think he just took ownership of the boat after my uncle passed away and never went through probate-he just swithed the title in his name.As for the trailer,I dont think he changed anything.He told me not to mention that at secretary of state prob. because he never went through probate to have anything transferred.Also(just like rick said-dealing with secretary of state will probally equal problems )As for the boat its a larson citation dc-175-over 16' less than 20'-w/h a 120 hp inbrd/outbrd mercruiser(one hell of a deal for 1200 ya think?)

 

[Straightup]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Originally posted by HASASEXYGF:<br /> larson citation dc-175-over 16' less than 20'-w/h a 120 hp inbrd/outbrd mercruiser(one hell of a deal for 1200 ya think?)

Depends on the year of the boat and the condition? Has it sat outside? When was the last time it was on the lake? There's many variables. If the floor and interior are solid and it is mechanically sound than you didn't do too bad. <br /><br />Repairs on that engine are really expensive, I have a bud with a similar engine on a Regal. Keep it tuned up well and always running cool.

 

[HASASEXYGF]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

From the research i did about an 87-as for storage it has been outside but was covered.Yes the floor and interior and engine are solid.Made sure to check that out when I first looked into buying it.As for last time it was used -prob a few yrs agtherwise she's pretty clean and sound.But definately will give her another few looks over before taking her out.

 

[HASASEXYGF]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Thnx for the info guys-Ill let ya know how it all works out.As for the boat -here's a few pics. <br /> Boat #1 <br /> Boat #2

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Nice lookn boat. <br /><br />

 

[magster65]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Yep. Looks good

 

[djvan]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

In michigan you do get a title for a boat under 20' if it has an I/O or and inboard, just thought you'd like to know. Also I heard the brilliant idea of permanent trailer plates has the state scratching their heads and realizing that after the initial boost in dollars the first year it was put in place, they are down on money due to no more yearly income from trailer plates. Even heard rumor of going back to the way it was. Don't see how they can now since a lot of people (me included) have sunk a good chunk of change into permanent plates.<br /><br />DougV>

 

[rwidman]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

I just moved to South Carolina where license tags are not required for trailers. Since I had to tow my boat (and trailer) from Maryland (the Maryland tags had expired), this created a problem. I ended up having to purchase a "permanent" SC trailer tag for $87.00. Towing through the other states without a trailer tag on the way here may or may not have resulted in a ticket. I thought I would have been able to purchase a one year or temporary tag but no such luck.

 

[BUBBLES II]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Hey, you Michigan Guys, are your permanent plates transferable? If you sell trailer, is your plate still good for new one? Does buyer have to go through the whole thing again and re-register same trailer "permanently"? How does it work?

 

[djvan]

Re: TRAILER and BOAT LEGALITY ISSUES?

Non transferrable.<br /><br />75.00 for boat trailers (goes by weight) I think 75.00 up to 1500 lbs(trailer only). 200 for campers and any trailer over 1501 lbs. There is another weight category but I don't know it or the price of it.<br /><br />DougV>