What to do with this boat???

[TheGerm]

I recently was given a 1959 16' Crownline Runabout with a 35hp Johnson from my brother. unfortunatley all I knew was that the boat was supposedly so old it did not have a title. My brother was storing this boat for a friend and after a year went by he asked the friend to come and get it, the friend did not. Well after 6 years of trying to call and send the guy letters my brother came to relize that he was stuck with it. The friend had moved and no one knew where he had gone to. So my brother gave me the boat telling me that it was told old to title anyways and that I could go to the water craft Division and get a serial number plate put on it. So I went out to the water craft division and had them look the boat over and measure it. They also side that they would run the OH number on the bow and let me know some info on the boat. Well 2 weeks later I called to find out where the plate was and they told me that the boat had a title to it and that I could not get a plate. The only way I could get a plate for it was to have the title transfered to me. So now I'm in a pickle. I can either call the authorities and tell them that the boat was abandon or I can some how try to get ahold of the guy and have him transfer the title to me . But If I do get ahold of this guy I'll bet that he won't want to give the title up for free. I have put some money into the motor and into the wiring on the boat (100.00). What if the guy wants the boat back? What should I do. Does anyone else know some of the laws that go with abandoning a boat?? Thanks,<br />Jeremy

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: What to do with this boat???

your brother needs to put a lien on the boat for storage charges just in case he comes back from the dead. you can title it as a "home-made" hull<br />in the meantime (I think). does anyone have firsthand experience with this? won't most states assign a new hull number pretty easily?<br />I would have the lien in place first of course and ask the local district attys. office too.<br />just cover your behind!

 

[Stanp]

Re: What to do with this boat???

You know, i'd call the DMV in your state and give them the story you gave us on this forum. I think, as long as the vehicle isn't reported stolen, they can re title the boat in your name. The process is fairly easy in NJ and PA. I don't know about your state.

 

[blifsey]

Re: What to do with this boat???

Your brother may need to submit something reporting it as abonded since he was in pocession of it for so long. Just a wild guess.<br /><br />BL...

 

[TheGerm]

Re: What to do with this boat???

I tried the homemade hull thing that didn't work. They said that if the boat is over 14' I have to have a title and of course they realized the boat was not homemade. I'll have to call the DMV and find out. Thanks<br /><br />Jeremy

 

[Lark40]

Re: What to do with this boat???

You need to find out the precise precedure to get a title for an abandoned vessel. In my state (VA), I had to go to library's law section and look up and copy the exact statutes that applied. <br /><br />Then, double-check with the state's Department of Natural Resources (they issue the boat titles in my state) about their procedures.<br /><br />In my case, I had to get the previous titleholder's name and address, send him a certified letter and show the "bounce" receipt. Then run a legal notice in a local paper saying that I was planning to acquire his boat.<br /><br />Finally, fill out all the forms, and then submit to that dept with a cover letter and photos of the neglected, worthless boat, asking them to use common sense. <br /><br />Worked for me. Good Luck.

 

[Allen Henry]

Re: What to do with this boat???

Jeremy,<br /><br />I just had an old starcraft aluminum boat registered as a "homemade boat" because the previous owner did not have a title and the boat registration file had been purged from the system. When I was researching the process here in Oklahoma, one of the options was to go to the court house and have a Judge give me a court order which gave me possession of the boat. I did not go that route but it might be an avenue for you to pursue, if they do that process in your state.<br /><br />Trp251

 

[Boatsrule]

Re: What to do with this boat???

Jeremy,<br />First off the biggest problem you will have is with the DMV; especially the helpless people in Toledo. I and everybody I know who moved to that state has a problem one way or another with getting ANYTHING registered in Ohio from out of state. I can’t even begin to explain the trouble people have had with these idiots.<br /> My folks had a problem getting their trailer registered for their boat. At the time they moved to Ohio I was living in Indiana. I drove to the DMV in my town and asked for a new registration for this trailer, OK…. it was so simple. After I moved to Michigan the registration was due again on their trailer and had more crap with the DMV in Ohio. I took the registration to the local DMV here and walked out the door in 10 min with a new registration. It took them over year to get a Ohio hull registration number, they had a temp tag for a YEAR. I think I would remove anything that can trace that boat to anybody and take it back ( To a different DMV office(Sylvania))and tell them it was a rebuild that you did. I saw boats at the Holland junk yard before. I think I would say you bought it at a junk yard. <br />All I can say is good luck.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: What to do with this boat???

Since I just received a boat via gift, I'll put in my .02....<br /><br />You don't need a title to register a boat (at least in Missouri you don't). My father was the previous owner of my Bass Tracker in Arkansas, he didn't have the title on hand, lost it somehow. SO I hauled the boat up to KC and went to the DMV to register the boat, trailer and outboard (have to do all three in MO). I straight up told them that the boat was given to me. The first words out of the lady's mouth was "Do you have a Bill of Sale?" What an idiot! After I repeated that the boat was "GIVEN" to me she says, "Oh you need a affidavit of gift". <br />You can probably find a form on your states Division of Vehicles web site. But a writen letter will be ok. You must state on the form who gave you the boat, the Hull's ID#, the Outboard ID# (if you have to register it) and the Trailer ID#. Once I did that and had my Dad sign the form (I actually signed it for him with his permission) I was home free and they titled/registered the boat and motor. <br />The only problem I see you having is figuring out who the current owner is. If the boat has been abandoned, do what it takes to have your brother take control of it (legally)... Then your home free.

 

[TheGerm]

Re: What to do with this boat???

Well I called the DMV they gave me the run around and told me there is only one thing I can do to title the boat. They said that I have to go to court and get a judge to give me possesion of the boat. I tried the title bureau and the Watercraft Division they all said the same thing. I thought that I could peel off the OH numbers on the front of the boat and take it to get a plate made for it but I'm pretty sure the guy at the Watercraft Division would remember me as he was the one that originally told me I needed the title to get the plate made. If I try to get it registered at the DMV they will want that plate. So I'm kind of stuck unless I want to go to court but I don't know if the boat is worth that much money to pay all the court costs ect.<br /><br />Jeremy

 

[KCLOST]

Re: What to do with this boat???

TheGerm,<br /><br />I don't think you will have to deal with court costs in this case. You haven't been fined or anything and you don't need a lawyer either...<br /><br />Just explain the facts to whoever is familiar with vehicle abandonment and find out what you need to present (probably stuff that can be done outside of the court room). You're brother will probably have to be the person to claim possesion however since he has dealt with it for so many years on his property and have done everything to reach the owner..... I think you're just talking about a trip to the court house, not a lot of money. After your brother gives you the boat and you register/title everything then you'll have to dish out the $$$$'s....

 

[amtsst]

Re: What to do with this boat???

Hey Germ. I"m gonna play Devil's Advocate for you and I have a couple of options that might work.<br /><br />Here in Virginia, I have the exact same problem you had. I got a boat from maine (non-title state) that was given as a gift and the giver didn't have a title and had only owned the boat long enough to have a temp registration. It was a fiasco.<br /><br />OK. <br /><br />Option 1: Put the thing on eBay. Take a bunch of pics and clearly state that you don't have a title or registration but you'd be *happy* to issue a bill of sale. Let it go for the highest bid and start over. Make it somebody else's problem! Remove all registration stickers and if sold to somebody in a non-title state, just the bill of sale will suffice.<br /><br />2. Contact a friend who lives in a non-title state to whom you can give the boat. He can register the boat with only a bill of sale. Then he gives the boat back to you. (make sure you trust him!) When you go back to your local DMV, you will then be in possession of a registration, matching hull stickers, and a new bill of sale from your friend, you are All Set.<br /><br />3. Strip the thing down to nothing and sell the parts. Remove the stickers from the hull and put the hull in a prominent place with a sign that says "free boat". It will disappear in a few hours.<br /><br />4. Every state has a form for abandoned property. There are several rules about duration, time of possession, etc. I suspect your brother would actually have to file and then later gift the boat to you but if you follow this procedure, it should only take a couple of weeks to receive a clear title.

 

[TheGerm]

Re: What to do with this boat???

Well I desided to do the honest thing and look the guy up on the internet. I found his address and home number. I called the guy and asked if he would give me the title to the boat. He said yea for 450.00 I was pretty suprised at this. He said that he paid 500.00 for it 5 years ago and he would knock 50.00 off of it for my trouble or if I didn't like the price he would come and get the boat. I'm not to sure on what I should do. I know that the boat would be worth 450.00 If I get it running but the guy never offered me storage money or any money for the money that I have put into it. Should I offer the guy less?? Or should I tell the guy to come and get it??<br /><br />Jeremy

 

[iRich]

Re: What to do with this boat???

well since it's still in his name and he wants to be an @ss about it...go park it in some gas station parking lot or someplace like that. They will look him up and send him a bill for towing and storage...<br /><br />Rich

 

[andrew flavin]

Re: What to do with this boat???

yeah go with whatt rich said, park it somewhere itll get traced back to him. but first have your brother put the lein on the title. it will serve the guy righ tfor being an *** . after all he left and forgot to take his boat.

 

[poppopfishes2002]

Re: What to do with this boat???

hi live pa and were just getting into titles and are still not manatory but you can have one if you want. any way what i would do is call the guy back and tell him to come get the boat but bring $1,500 with him for storage and tell your brother to file papers to that sometimes poeple have a different tune when they hear the real music

 

[Boatsrule]

Re: What to do with this boat???

I would charge him the $1500,00 for storage fees also. If he refuses, remove whatever you replaced and give him the boat.<br />Park it in the mall parking lot and give him a call to where it is sitting!<br />A guy I new did this with a car he once stored for sombody and was never paid.<br />This guy gets a capital "L" in my book.