Unable to Register my Boat

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shade788

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Messages
124
Hello all,<br /><br />I have a bit of a dilemma. I bought a bare hull last summer and over the course of the year reconstructed the entire thing. From the floor to steering and an engine.<br /><br />I did most of the work after I got my temps in April of this year thinking everything was going smoothly with the registration.<br /><br />According the state I live in. The boat was not owned by the person I bought it from and I would have to get the registration card from the real owner. The state can not tell me the previous owner due to legal reasons, so I am up the creek without a paddle.<br /><br />To make a long story short I can no longer get in touch with the person I bought it from. (Phone and E-Mail don't work) :mad: <br /><br />I was wondering what would be the easiest way to dispose of the fiberglass hull? I own everything else that is attached to it so I will remove all of that. <br /><br />Will a junk yard take it?<br /><br />In total I only put about $300 into the physical hull at this point, so its not a big loss. On the other hand the countless hours of work have me aggrivated.<br /><br />I did get to use it for the time that I have my temporary stickers so I guess that is a good thing.<br /><br />Any help would be greatly appreciated!<br /><br />Thank you,<br /> :)
 
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Mikevn1500

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2002
Messages
75
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

I had a boat with the same problem, The PF&BC sent me a form which I filled out and sent them they sent me a title in my name. Now that was 3 boats ago and i dont remember the form number, but to get it I just called my local WCO and they sent it. Now the trailer a hole differant story, you would have thought in was a brand new Corvette. It wasn't worth the hassel I just used other methods to transport the boat, as I have many trailers. ;)
 
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chunkytrout

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 9, 2003
Messages
39
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

Have you run the hull ID number to check if it is even on their roster? They don't have to tell you who it is.
 
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shade788

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Messages
124
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

I have gone through a friend of my Uncle's that works from the Boat Commission she can't even tell me the name. She told me their is nothing they can do unless I get a signed document from the original owner. Notorized Bill of Sale or Old Registration Card. That is impossible at this point.<br /><br />I have fought with the Boat Commission about this for an entire year and I think for the amount of money I spent I will just let it go.<br /><br />I may have a nice tri-hull lined up with a good registration that is the hull only, but I will have to call and see.<br /><br />Anyone know of a good way to dispose of a boat?
 
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93bronco

Ensign
Joined
Nov 11, 2001
Messages
962
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

you mite want to try sending him a certified letter signatured reguired- to the old address. when it comes back take it to them.<br />i know here in SC it is almost next to impossible to get a boat registered with out all the paperwork. its usually about the tax money.<br />-<br />heres what happened to me- i bought a 1988 bliner cobra from a guy who never had the title transfered in his name. i got a bill of sale. i then sold the boat to a friend with another bill of sale <nothing noterized>. he was told by DNR, he had to send a letter to the original owner to get the title straight- but if it got sent back undelivered to bring it in & he would have to pay the back taxes.<br />it took 45 days but he had a title. <br />-<br />it was all done on the basis that the boat was abandoned in his yard.
 
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shade788

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Messages
124
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

The PA fish and boat commission will not budge on this matter. My Uncle's friend told me there is nothing she can do. I have to provide them with a registration card or notarized bill of sale.<br /><br />I am fed up and wish to get rid of this hull and just rebuild a new one since I own everything else.<br /><br />What is the proper way to dispose of a boat? Say if it had a completely rotten transom or a hole in the side? <br /><br />Another reason why I want to get rid of it is that the transom is getting soft. It has a deep transom well so it be almost impossible for me to replace the ply-wood inside the fiber glass from the inside.<br /><br />Thanks again,
 
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shade788

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Messages
124
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

I just canceled my PA Boat Registration Paper work and they told me that I can dispose of it with a local trash disposal company.<br /><br />If anyone can think of another way, say donating it or something along those lines. Please let me know.<br /><br />Thanks again,
 
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Kenbo

Seaman
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Messages
71
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

There is a company in Alabama that may be able to help you out. Check out Broadwaytitle.com<br />I have used them myself and it may help you out of your situation. Good Luck :)
 
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shade788

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Messages
124
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

I can't get in contact with the seller so I am just going to go ahead and get rid of the hull. <br /><br />With that website it seems like I need to have to be in contact with the original owner and have him sign the necessary forms.<br /><br />I can find another hull with a good registration from PA and go to the notary with the owner and fill out all the necessary paperwork and have no problems.
 
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Kenbo

Seaman
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Messages
71
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

Shade, The way it works is, you sell the boat to them and they sell it back to you with a registration form that you can use to register in your state, call them and they can explain it to you. Do you know when the boat was last registered??
 
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Kenbo

Seaman
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Messages
71
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

If the boat is something you want to keep, it's worth a toll-free call, there is a 800 number to call. they can advise you better than I, but it worked for me. Good Luck :)
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,294
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

Title it as "Home-Made"....
 
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shade788

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Messages
124
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

Titling it as Home-Made is a thought...<br /><br />I have all of the receipts for all of the major components and almost everything else down to the extra nuts and bolts I got from Lowe's Hardware Store.<br /><br />The only thing is I couldn't say I built the hull itself.<br /><br />Kenbo: I e-mail Broadwaytitle.com, I will let ya know what they say. Their fees are higher than what the hull itself is actually worth to me, but I will wait and see what they say.<br /><br />The thing has caused me so many problems with the registration. I just want to get rid of it and move on. I should be able to find a nice hull that I can redo again with a good registration and an owner that is really the owner.<br /><br />Thanks again,
 
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paulgp6022

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 27, 2002
Messages
288
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

Here's what you do...<br /><br />Write up a bill of sale using a fake name, and have someone with different hand writing than yours sign that fake name on the bill of sale. You now have a bill of sale for the boat,signed by the "original owner" and I gurarantee that the Motor vehicle dept won't hire the FBI to verify it! This isn't the most honest way, but at least you got your boat to use after all that work.Good luck!
 
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andy h

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 1, 2003
Messages
44
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

Just cut the friggen thing in half with a chainsaw and bring it to the town dump. Get a new hull and start over. If your transform is rotting out I wouldn't even waste my time finding out how to get it registered.
 
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one more cast

Captain
Joined
May 6, 2002
Messages
3,143
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

I put all of my unwanted junk I mean stuff out by the road with a FREE sign on it and almost every goes in a couple days.
 
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Kilgore Trout

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 9, 2003
Messages
126
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

I would go with SS Minnows suggestion.<br /><br />the stupidity, laziness and slowness of government workers is something you can always count on.<br /><br />Sometimes it works against you, some times you can make it work for you.
 
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shade788

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Messages
124
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

Hey,<br /><br />Thanks for all of the replies!<br /><br />SS Minnow: The PA Fish and Boat Commission knows the name of the original owner. They can't tell for legal reasons. I gave the F&B Commission the bill of sale I got from the seller, but he wasn't the registered owner.<br /><br />I'm just gonna go Friday the 13th on the hull next week after the temps are up.<br /><br />If anyone knows of a inexpensive 15' - 17' fiberglass hull please let me know. It can be in bad shape, but it must have a sound hull and transom.<br /><br />I can repair everything else, plus I am going to use all or as much of the hardware from this boat as I can.<br /><br />Thanks again,
 
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Crabapple Cove

Recruit
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
3
Re: Unable to Register my Boat

Hi, may have boat for you,Chrysler with new floor and good transit, need to know HP you want to use. Also have HD single axle trailer for same. Crabapple Cove
 
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