For many people, it is true that a bad day at fishing is better than a good day at work. Therefore, buying a boat is one of the most significant financial long-term commitments someone can make in their lifetime; some might say it is similar to the commitment of buying a house. If you are in the market for a Canadian vessel to call your own, and depending on your budget, you may want to consider purchasing a pre-owned model and transfer boat ownership. In reality, a used boat that has been well taken care of by its previous owner can be a great investment for a long time.
If purchasing a used boat is the route you intend to take as a prospective vessel owner, there are a few steps you must take. Initially, you must determine your budget. Besides the cost of the boat, there are also permits, maintenance, and docking fees to consider. Then you should look through the online and printed listings. After finding the perfect boat for you, you should contact the seller and make an offer.
Getting Started on Claiming Ownership of Your New Vessel
Once you and the seller have agreed on a price and money is ready to be exchanged, you may believe you are free to leave land behind and take to the water. But there is one last, very important step to take: make sure your boat’s paperwork and proof of ownership are up-to-date.
The Internet Market for Boats
The internet has made it possible to locate and acquire virtually anything. Used watercraft, including boats, are not an exception. Even though the options and possibilities to find pretty much any type of boat you want are available on the internet, and there are some incredible deals to be had, there are also a number of duds and risky situations that you may want to try to avoid.
Although it is not necessarily illegal to purchase a boat with no original or up-to-date documentation, doing so may lead to unpleasant future surprises once the vessel is in your possession. There might be a possibility that the vessel has been involved in a significant accident or is subject to multiple liens. These are not issues you will wish to address after the purchase has been finalized, but many people would rather have them fixed before buying a boat. This is often the case when buying used boats from a salvage yard.
Learning More About the Boat’s History
If the boat has been previously registered, there are some relatively straightforward ways to learn more about the history of the vessel. You can do research at Transport Canada if you have some basic information, like the vessel’s registration number.
Another alternative is to work through a private service like ours, that is, assuming the vessel is registered in the Canadian Vessel Registry, you can find out more about the boat’s history in terms of owners and damaging incidents. Using an online portal like ours enables you to conduct historical research quickly and efficiently.
Transferring an Identification Document to Establish Ownership
Significant transactions, such as buying a car or a property, typically involve a substantial amount of paperwork. This is also true for boats in Canada. If the vessel you are acquiring is already licensed or registered, you will need to transfer boat ownership and those documents into your name. This may initially seem like a mountain of paperwork, but thanks to our quick and SSL-secure online portal, all of this can be completed in a straightforward and timely manner.
You must first gather fundamental information. You must provide proof of ownership of the vessel (bills of sale, receipts, titles, etc.), a photograph depicting the full side view of your new boat, and a valid Canadian government-issued photo ID. After gathering these items, you must complete a form for the transfer of a license for a pleasure craft.
This can be accomplished in one of two ways. You can obtain the document from Transport Canada, print it, complete it by hand, put it together with your supporting documentation, and mail it to the appropriate Canadian government agency. Does this sound like a lot of work?
Alternatively, you may collaborate with us at the Canadian Vessel Registry Center. We provide an easy-to-use online form for transfer boat ownership and other boat documentation needs. Using our website, you can quickly locate the required form, complete the required fields, and upload your supporting documents and payment via our SSL-secured web portal. We eliminate all confusing fine print and redundancies so that you only need to focus on the aspects of your required document that pertain to your specific situation.
Contact Us Immediately to Find Out More
Here at the Canadian Vessel Registry, we can assist you whether you need to transfer an existing registration, apply for a new one, or acquire another type of vessel documentation. We specialize in providing Canadian boaters with the necessary forms in a timely manner so they can return to the water. Contact one of our customer service representatives today for more information.