Abandoned Boat Help

[ezmobee]

Re: Abandoned Boat Help

It would be awesome if a bunch of people with no knowledge of how things work in PA would comment here (and then argue about it).

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Abandoned Boat Help

I've told you exactly what to do. Deal with PA Fish & Game. Your notary will likely be guessing.

I completely agree. And for what it's worth, I'd run screaming from the room if somebody offered me something like that without a title. I've seen many a Craigslist ad where somebody acknowledges they don't have the title "but it is easily obtained". Well, if it were that easy, why didn't they get it themselves? There are so many advantages to having the proper paperwork and so many disadvantages to not having it.

The other side of the coin:

I have twice in my life stupidly accepted ownership of a vehicle where an owner signed over the title but then the buyer didn't bother to fill in his own name but then several months later sold it to me instead. Both times it was a nightmare as invariably there was something wrong with the paperwork requiring the "seller" to redo something. Of course the person the state thought was the seller was long gone from the scene; I was left with the seller who had possession of the boat but not a title in their own name, hence the nightmare. Just because they were too cheap to do things correctly, I got penalized by the state for not being timely... even though I actually was being very timely. Be smarter than I was. I finally learned but it took two tries. If you ever try to buy a boat, car, motorcycle, trailer, whatever that requires a title, don't ever accept one unless you can get the seller to accompany you to the DMV and settle all questions on the spot. If he can't deliver a new title in your name, you shouldn't deliver any money to him.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Abandoned Boat Help

Even better if some people would profess to know the law, decry the giving and taking of legal advice on the internet, and then give legal advice on the internet. Oh wait, and I quote, "Can't speak to Pa." That makes it ok.

I need more boat time.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Abandoned Boat Help

OMG people, YOU DON'T NEED A TITLE IN PA!!!!!!!!! This boat likely doesn't have one and never has!!!! The OP can easily sell this boat as-is with little issue since it has PA numbers on it. However, as I said before, I recommend he get it registered in his name anyway before selling because it will make things smoother and he can put in his ad that the paperwork is in order. The trailer is a different story.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Abandoned Boat Help

Goodness.....:facepalm:

Let me google that for you


Leads you to this.....

 

[roscoe]

Re: Abandoned Boat Help

Some people would just sell it.
Whole or parts.
Get what you can and hope for the best.
Tell the buyer its his problem when he can't figure out how to register it.
It happens all the time. Right or wrong.

I don't think the following is going to get done any time soon.
Appears it will be 60-70 days, plus processing time.

In order to be considered for registration and/or title using the following steps, the boat must be abandoned on the applicant’s private property and the property must be located in Pennsylvania. The boat must also be non-titled.
Step 1. Customer:

Complete form PFBC-R2, Notice of Intent to Register Boats Abandoned on Private Property. Make a copy for your records (you will need it in Step 5) and mail the original form to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Step 2. Commission:

Upon receipt of PFBC-R2, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (Commission) will notify the last registered owner on record. The registered owner, if any, will have thirty (30) days to remove the abandoned boat from the property.
Step 3. Customer:

You must confirm with the Commission that the boat in question qualifies as an abandoned boat on private property. This step MUST be completed prior to completing Step 4.
Step 4. Customer:

Place a notice in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the boat is located for three (3) consecutive days. The notice must describe the boat, its location, the date it was abandoned and any identifying numbers. You must also state in the notice that if the boat is not claimed and removed within thirty (30) days after publication in the newspaper, you will apply for registration and/or title of the boat in your name.
Step 5. Customer:

After the notice described in Step 4 has expired, but no earlier than sixty (60) days after you first notified the Commission, you may apply to the Commission for registration and/or title of the boat in your name(s) by submitting the following items to the address provided in Step 1:

(a) A statement made under penalty of law that the boat has been abandoned for at least three (3) months on your property. Form PFBC-R5, Statement of Abandoned Boat, is available for this purpose;

(b) Proof that you provided notice to the Commission of your intent to register the boat (a copy of Form PFBC-R2, submitted in Step 1, satisfies this requirement);

(c) Proof that a notice was published in a newspaper as required by Step 4 (a copy of the paid ad and a copy of the header from the front page of the newspaper); and

(d) A completed form REV-336, Application for Pennsylvania Boat Registration and/or Title, with the appropriate fees.
Step 6. Commission:

Upon receipt of the required materials and payment of fees, the Commission will register and/or title the boat in your name(s) and will send you a validation decal and a registration card.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Abandoned Boat Help

finally, an informed and complete response in the correct state (although another Pa poster gave the basics, too, at the beginning).