Re: just bought 2005 Sea Ray 220 Select - seller removed registration #s from the hul
Am I missing something here? You purchased the boat from a Missouri dealer, but the boat had IL registration numbers?
As to why they were removed - probably perceived liability. Many companies are scared to leave anything that can easily be traced back to them, just in case you get in an accident during the "buyer's remorse" period and there's some disagreement about who was legally liable when the accident occurred. It's a somewhat complicated (but also silly) legal issue, and the easy way around it is to not give a trigger happy plaintiff's lawyer any more bright ideas than he already has...even though that information could all be pieced together with about two seconds of research.
UncleWillie is spot on with the temporary operation aspect of the registration application. If you look at the IL
registration form, you'll see that filling out the form gives you 120 days of temporary operation. If you haven't already submitted it, be sure the date that you fill in corresponds with when you actually put the form in the mail - you don't want to start burning your 120 days while the form sits on your desk over the weekend and halfway through next week. This hassle can likely be avoided by just doing it online, which should then give you the equivalent confirmation that you can use for your temporary operation. If you want to be triple dog sure about this, it might be best to give the IL-DNR a ring. Their contact info is on the last page of the registration form I linked, above.
Lastly, I'd think real hard about putting the completed application in a bag and taping it to your windshield. You might want to make a photocopy of the completed form, black out any sensitive information (on the photocopy), and place that photocopy in a bag taped to your glass somewhere. I guess that depends on how often you leave your boat unattended and where, and how particular you are about your personal information.
