FD Sea Dog
Member
This will not apply to all States, North Carolina is simple to register Craft and Trailer.
Using the HID Number or declaring the Vessel "Hand Made" should work in most cases.
With the Trailer, take it to a Truck Scale (Certified Scale) and weigh it alone, get the Certified receipt - should be enough. It's all about the Clerk Calculating Taxes so that the Tags can be issued.
I repatriated a Canadian FD to Florida. It was purchased in the Fall of 2020,
The St. Johns County FL. Clerk laid it out quite clearly what that they would require.
Title to Boat and Trailer, Bill of Sale, Copy of Payment Check (Proof of Payment).
The Title (in this case we were able to locate the Original Title (U.S.) which was transferred to the Canadian). He did not register the Boat, and the Original Boat's Title's 'Transfer of Ownership' area was filled out (assigned to him) signed and Dated. Had it not, we could have filled it out with My info and that would be that.
Being so, He had to register the Boat with his Provence's Authority [BC Can.], He also could of Ordered a Title but since he had already gotten a Bill of Sale executed and my Bank Cashiers Check as Proof of Payment, the Canadian Clerk allowed him to Cancel the Registration at the same time.
That's a bit confusing but basically, He Registered the Boat (Paid the Canadian Taxes) and then then Registration was Canceled to show that He no longer owned the Boat and it was Sold to Me. Thus we had a 'Paper Trail' that was need for the Florida Clerk and U.S. Customs (About $350 CAN).
There were two more issues that need to be address.
The Lindsay FD was manufactured without a HID (Hull Identification Number), Remember that these Boats were Olympic Racing Boats handmade by Mark Lindsay/Larry Tuttle and didn't need to put HID placards on. (if he did they would be on the right corner of the Stern - If you do find one, I would appreciated a photo), Not a big Problem if you explain to the Clerk that these Boats are "Racing Boats" like a NASCAR Racing Car, there are no Production VINs and each and are "Hand Made". But having the Original Title that proved that this was an American Made Boat and showed that the Manufacture and First Buyer indeed registered and transfer Ownership correctly was bennifical.
The Trailer was in a similar situation, In my case this Trailer was a "Hand Made" (modified to fit the Boat), there was no Manufactures Tag - Serial Number. The Florida Clerk required that the Trailer be weighed (Alone) on a Certified Scale. This is so they can figure the Road Tax and Issue a Tag/Plate.
I understand that some Trailers are registered in North Carolina because they don't require a Manufactures Serial Tag, so they can get a Title (Check out the State Rules around you).
Taxes and Paper Trail takes some Foot Work, if you have a Cooperative Seller and Buyer this can be done with time.
In my case, the Covid Embargo stalled the picking up the Boat and bringing it back home for 1.5 years - It's was worth it.
As far as the Boat on Craigslist - I emailed him but did not receive a reply. They probably want to do a Canadian-to-Canadian Sale.
IMHO: Not to be Mean, but If you love your Class and it is so limited in number (such as the American FD Class), please consider the trouble it creates when selling these Boats out of the Country, because if it a hassle getting them Repatriated.
Again, no offense to the Canadians, it's just how it is these Days - Isn't It.
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