Found an Abandoned Boat? How to Register a Boat in Ontario Without Ownership

Register a Boat in Ontario

If you happen to find an abandoned boat, you might be looking into how to register a boat in Ontario without ownership. In such cases, you will need to first follow a few key steps.

How to Register a Boat in Ontario Without Ownership

Have you found a boat without ownership somewhere in Ontario? Are you trying to find out if it has an owner you can reach out to? Would you like to see if you’d be able to claim the abandoned boat title as yours? Either way, there is a very specific process to follow. Let’s take a look at how to register a boat in Ontario without ownership.

Found a Boat Without Ownership?

When looking to claim a boat without ownership for yourself, you will first have to confirm whether the boat actually lacks ownership or not. To do this, you’re going to have to consult with the Transport Canada registry whether or not there are official ownership claims over the vessel. The best way to do this is to request historical research of a vessel. This process will provide information from the Ship Registration Computer System Database from 1984 to the present, or even from the microfilm registry if the vessel was registered prior to 1984. In order to do so, the process will require the official number or the vessel name in order to carry out the consultation. Remember, however, that this process is for registered vessels only, and it won’t include vessels licensed under the pleasure Craft licensing system.

Registering the Unowned Boat

So, you consulted the registry to find out whether or not the boat is registered, now you need to figure out how to register a boat in Ontario without ownership. Yes, if you find out that it is indeed registered under an official owner, you have the option of trying to reach them. By definition, an abandoned boat is one whose abandoned Transport Canada title has, in some way, been relinquished, left, or given up by the lawful owner without the intention to later resume any right or interest in the vessel. This means that should you find an abandoned boat, it has been relinquished to a certain degree by its owner. Of course, this abandoned boat might be a boat that has been lost or stolen, so reaching out to the registered owner first is always recommended.

Register a Boat in Ontario

File For Boat Registration

Here at the National Vessel Registry Center, we are well aware that no one likes to go through extensive documentation and paperwork, which is why we’ve set off to make it all much easier for you. We have established our platform in order to provide everyone access to all the forms they might need in order to take care of their Transport Canada boat registration or pleasure craft license, as well as the corresponding documentation that might follow. Regardless of what you need to file with Transport Canada, all your vessel documentation needs can be met right here on our website. Additionally, you can feel free to reach out to our team should you have any doubts throughout the process.