Proper way to ID boat..

[Guest Ray Frechette the 2nd]

Well here in Maine Chummy the propa way to ID a boat is to stand at the dock in your oilskins lookin at the boat and say "Yessir, that there is a right propa Boat, Some cunnin.

I went round and round with local tax authorities on sales tax for boat. I just refused to declare any value. I said your not going to tax me on my labor on the boat, and I already done paid the sales tax on the supplies for the boat. I kept my documentation in a folder whenever I went to city hall and asked about how to registering it. When I finally found someone too frazzled to argue with me about it I handed them the papers and said Good now register her.

Yessir, she's a right propa boat and some cunnin too Jake.

[T. Nelson Surbrook]

It sounds like the subject is covered pretty well all I can add is here in Washington, registering the boat is simple and as far as the capicity plate is concerned if it is a home built boat none is required. They don't expect a home builder to do the testing required to produce a c.plate. I think 1000 dollars is a little low for a value. I used 3475 dollars and the new registration was 124 dollars. You don't pay tax in Washington on a home built boat if you have the receipts for the materials.

[PAR]

Each state will handle "home built" registration differently, though most are very similar. Getting your HIN assigned can be a walk in the park for most folks, but some states make you suffer a little. Once assigned your "Z"  number, it's placed in the locations already mentioned, though the second location is recommend to be on a sound, not easily removable structural member, such as a keel, heavy deck beam, stem, stern post, etc. This one shouldn't be "hidden" just out of plain sight, but accessible if someone really wants to find it.

Some states will insist on receipts, pictures of the build, etc. others don't care, so long as you pay tax on what they feel is the value of your freshly built boat.

The state registration numbers should be placed on the boat, in the forward 1/3 (usually on hull at the bow). They should be at least 3" tall and what is usually described as "block" lettering, which is any, each to read sans serif font, like Helvetica, Arial, Avant Garde, etc. (I've seen serf fonts, like Times Roman, but technically, these are not permitted) and in a contrasting color to the hull. Also the spacing of the letters is important if you would like to get certain certificates (Power Squadron inspections/participation, USCGA activities, etc.). Spacing should NOT include kerning and the state prefix letters require a full letter width gap, before the registration number. I've given inspections for perfectly compliant boats, but had to fail them because the registration numbers didn't have a big enough gap. I always thought it was a pissy rule until I went on my first on the water USCGA inspection run. With the big gap you can read the number from twice the distance, but with the letters too close you can't read the first few numbers. If a skipper has to change course to read your numbers, you can pretty much bet you're about to receive the "full monty".

The USCG capacity and maximum HP recommendation formulas, permit ridiculous amounts of people and especially HP aboard your boat. For the most part if you want a capacity plate, contact a professional builder and one can be worked out for you. I've never seen a home built powerboat require one in any of the states I've built. It may have been mandated, but never enforced. Of course each state is different so contact other builders in your area or better yet a professional builder and you can get the easy way to get things done.

[Hirilonde]

Some states will insist on receipts, pictures of the build, etc. others don't care, so long as you pay tax on what they feel is the value of your freshly built boat.

This practice is really unfortunate.  Most of us paid taxes on the materials to build our boats and now the states want to charge sales tax on the whole boat as well?  I am glad I live in RI where there is no sales tax on boats.  Registration cost a fee based on the value of the boat, but it is quite reasonable.

[PAR]

Actually, when you look at any purchase, you pay taxes on the materials and completed item several times before it's in your hands, even if you live in Delaware.

[Frank Hagan]

[quote author=Hirilond

[ChrisObee]

In Ohio the state only provides a HIN if you can prove that you did not purchase a kit (in that case the manufacturer is supposed to supply HIN) and that the boat is not stolen or constructed from a previous boat with a HIN.  I showed the inspecting officer the boat, photos of the boat at various stages of completion and the plans.  When I go for the title they may get into the tax bit but I think all I need to do is show that I did not buy the boat whole but rather built it.  I have most my reciepts but I don't like to look at them in the fear that I might tally them up.  I will probably go for my title and registration shortly as the boat is approching the splash date.