Registering a homebuilt weekender in California

[RobertButler]

I am towing a homebuilt weekender sailboat from British Columbia to a buyer in California. It's never been registered in Canada since it has been sailed on inland lakes and there's no legal requirement to register here. DMV in California, however, says that out-of-State vehicles and boats need to have a title or registration from the other State before they can be registered in CA.

Does anyone have experience with registering home-built crafts in California, and if so, what is the process? I'm hoping I don't need to go through a bunch of red tape to get it registered in Canada first. Perhaps we can say it was home built in California. Any help would be appreciated.

[Barry Pyeatt]

This is the California requirement per (Frank Hagan).

Since the boat was built in Canada, you may need to have some form of proof of purchase of the materials as well as some proof that the boat is actually yours to transfer.

This from the (Weekender) FAQ site here.

California's Department of Boating and Waterways has a web site with the legal mumbo jumbo on it, but they don't really clarify how to register a home-built boat. I'll explain how you register a home-built boat to be in compliance with the Legal Mumbo-Jumbo.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) handles the boat registration. The only thing they require is that you fill out form Boat 101, available at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/boat/boat101.htm (thanks to John Wright in the rec.boats.building newsgroup for pointing out the correct form for me!) On form Boat 101, you declare the value of the boat, which is the cost of the materials. In California, you have to pay sales tax on any new vehicle purchases, so you have to show that you paid sales tax on the materials to build your boat. I have over 100 receipts, but they were happy with seeing just 10 of the largest ones (for lumber, plywood, sails, etc.) that showed I paid state sales tax when I purchased the materials. Those 10 receipts were about 1/2 the declared cost of the boat.

Once they get the form and your receipts, they issue a state registration number, and two license tags that have to go on the boat. They don't inspect the boat, they don't need to see a picture, they simply collect your money and give you the number. For a sailboat 16' long with a small outboard, with a declared value of $2490, the California DMV assessed a registration fee of $9. No kidding. Your local county is responsible for assessing the personal property tax portion of the bill (in my county, the county tax assessor sends a letter out asking for the value of the boat, and a picture, and they promise to send you a tax bill with your property tax bill. So far ... 3 years now ... I haven't seen the tax bill.)

If I hadn't kept the receipts, I would have had to pay sales tax on that $2490, which would have been many times the regular registration fee.

You also receive a HIN (Hull Identification Number) which must be placed on the starboard side of the transom, 2" from the deck, and either engraved, burned (yikes!), embossed or otherwise placed so that alteration or removal will be obvious. Office Depot and other stationery stores sell brass nameplates that will work for this. I routed a recess in the transom, placed the plate in it, and covered it with a few thin coats of epoxy (and three coats of a clear varnish to protect the epoxy.)

[Tim Diebert]

Hi Robert.

Are you the guy that moved from the Lower Mainland to Alberni or thereabouts?

I can help a little with this perhaps.

I live 4 minutes from the US/Can border and cross every other day for business.

I once asked the US Border people what they would need from me to be able to bring my boat across to do some sailing down in WA state.

It had to be first registered in Canada. That's as far as I got. I was not going to go to that hassle just to sail across the line.

BUT...as soon as I finish my coffee and finish typing this, I am going down to pickup some freight. I will ask the folks at the US side and confirm what exactly is required.

[RobertButler]

No, I'm not the same guy. I live in Prince George and have built 3 weekenders, featured at http://www.stevproj.com/MNorel.html

The one I'm taking to California is the open deck version which I built in fiberglass. At one point my enthusiasm overwhelmed my rationality and I thought perhaps there could be a market so I had a mold built from the hull of my second boat. It still sits in my backyard, unused, if anyone is interested.

Thanks for your help in this matter. I contacted Canada Customs today and they faxed me a form which I will take down to them tomorrow, with the hope that I can get something that looks like documentation. I actually never considered that they might be sticky at the border.

[Tim Diebert]

OK, here is what I found out.

Turns out it does not need to be registered in Canucklia. (a good thing)

You will need documentation proving it is yours though. Then you will need an invoice. If the selling price is over $2000US, it is considered commercial then you will need to go through a broker...plus, you will HAVE to cross at the Pacific Hwy truck crossing during regular working hours monday to friday.

If it is under $2000US, then you can to the work yourself. I suggest it be under $2000.

If it is over and the invoice says so, then I will give you the name and number for my broker. It will cost you extra if using a broker...guessing, $150US or so.

Molds, for a Weekender? Wow.

[Frank Hagan]

Hi Robert,

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will handle the registration. The buyer will be required to pay the state sales taxes on the purchase price, so be prepared to show an bill of sale from you to him with the agreed upon price.

There are instructions at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/formsboat.htm for the DMV's requirement. You will need to fill out Form 101, the application for registration so the owner can get his "CF" registration number to put on the bow of the boat. The form is there on the website.

Any boat that is powered, regardless of size, and any boat over 16' regardless of power, needs to be registered ... the Weekender is 15' 9".

It will be easier to get it registered with you there, so he should do it now.

Their main concern is that it, and the trailer, are not stolen.

For a home built boat and trailer, they will want an affidavit that you are the owner. If you have receipts for materials, showing you built the boat, that will help.

I once bought a home made boat trailer from a dead guy, and getting that signed affidavit was impossible, so the first DMV office turned me away. I talked to my neighbor, and he told me my city's DMV was full of jerks, and that the one in Santa Paula had more helpful people. They helped me fill out an affidavit that I bought the trailer from a dead guy, and didn't steal it, and registered the trailer. So have your buyer ask around and see if he can find a DMV with nice, friendly people. The one in Thousand Oaks, CA is also very nice (that's where I registered my Weekender). The DMV makes appointments, so he should make one now. They are often "full up" for 2 - 6 weeks. You can also choose to try your luck standing in line without an appointment. The DMV site has the "current line wait" status.

[Bill Paxton]

Hi, Bob. Your open-deck Weekender was the inspiration for my own boat, Surprise. I printed the pictures of your boat from the Stevenson website and used them to help me think through the design. Of course it also helped that you responded to my emails with very helpful tips.

We launched her on June 4, 2001, and have enjoyed every minute of sailing her.

Thanks for showing the way.

Pictures of Surprise are at

http://www.stevproj.com/WkndrBBB11.html which includes a link to even more photos.