Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

What everyone ought to know about the new Florida boat title law

by Scott Croft 3 Jul 2019 06:27 PDT
In Florida, salvaged recreational vessels will now have “branded” titles © Scott Croft

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' recent signing of a recreational boat title bill, the Uniform Certificate of Title Act (HB 475/S 676), offers recreational boat owners valuable consumer protections and may spur other states to follow suit, says Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS).

The legislation protects consumers from unwittingly purchasing a stolen or storm-tossed boat that has suffered significant hurricane damage by creating a uniform boat titling system that is recognized nationwide as well by the U.S. Coast Guard. Boats that are repaired and later put up for sale will now have titles clearly labeled as such.

"While all states have motor vehicle title laws, these do not apply to recreational boats," explains BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. "This legislation institutionalizes several consumer protection mechanisms that are already commonplace for motor vehicles. These include clear labeling of significant structural damage on vessel titles, creating a uniform system to identify legitimate vessel owners/lien-holders, and better ways to prevent the sale of stolen boats."

Added Kennedy, "By 'branding' the titles of vessels that suffer significant damage, buyers will be made aware of material information that could affect a vessel's condition. It's not designed to stop a sale. It's to give buyers the true condition of the vessel they are interested in purchasing and helps them make smart purchases."

While the legislation offers benefits to boaters residing in Florida due to the high number of boats there, it also has repercussions beyond the state's borders. Florida is ranked No. 1 in the nation for recreational boat registrations with 918,255 registered vessels, according to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard data available. "With a boat registered in Florida that's later moved to another titled state and sold, the new owner will also benefit from knowing the boat's history," added Kennedy. "And it will be much harder to unload boats that are stolen in Florida and later fraudulently sold out of state."

BoatUS advocated for the new law, which is based on model legislation developed by the Uniform Law Commission. Currently, 10 states still do not issue vessel titles, making it easier for thieves to sell a stolen boat using a fraudulent bill of sale or forged registration document. BoatUS supports uniform boat titling in all states.

Related Articles

New Online BoatUS Foundation Course
Taking on Biggest Cause of Accidents: Distracted Boating A quick look at the annual U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating accident statistics shows “operator inattention” and “improper lookout” to be perennial placeholders in the top five primary contributing factors in boating accidents. Posted on 8 Jul
TowBoatUS Sacramento opens in Delta Region
Provides 24/7 on-water assistance to recreational boaters California's Delta region, an incredible boating paradise and home to more than 700 miles of navigable waterways and thousands of recreational vessels, now has professional on-water assistance available with the opening of TowBoatUS Sacramento. Posted on 3 Jul
Capt. Doug & Melanie open TowBoatUS Rocky Point
Capt. Doug & Melanie Nelson open TowBoatUS Rocky Point, Minnesota Straddling the U.S.-Canada border, Lake of the Woods is a vast expanse of pristine waters more than 70 miles wide with an incredible 65,000 miles of shoreline and nearly 15,000 islands. Posted on 12 Jun
Kathy Sinnett honored with Women's Sailing Award
Continuing the tradition in epitomizing the leadership to promote chances for women Since 1999, the BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women's Sailing Award has recognized extraordinary women who have inspired, educated and enriched the lives of women through sailing. Posted on 11 Jun
All the hurricane preparation info boaters need
Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 Recreational boaters whose vessels have been impacted by a hurricane and came out relatively unscathed know it all starts with a plan. Posted on 29 May
Capt. Anthony new owner of TowBoatUS Santa Cruz
Capt. Anthony Capriccio is the new owner of the company that provides 24/7 on-water towing A former employee and captain for TowBoatUS Santa Cruz, an on-water towing and assistance company for boaters, has stepped up into the ownership role at the company. Posted on 25 May
Douglass Marine expands on East End
With the opening of TowBoatUS Orient, New York A long-standing East End family business providing boat service, repair and storage on the tip of Long Island's North Fork is growing. Posted on 16 May
TowBoatUS Pittsburgh ready to assist boaters
New owners for TowBoatUS Lake Anna, VA The 24/7 on-water towing and assistance service for recreational boaters with ties to nationwide fleet of more than 600 towboats has come to Pittsburgh's Three Rivers. Posted on 8 May
TowBoatUS adds port in the Big Apple
Miller's launch opens its second TowBoatUS on-water towing port on Staten Island Miller's Launch, a commercial marine service provider on Staten Island's northeastern Stapleton waterfront has opened it's second on-water towing and assistance port for recreational boaters, TowBoatUS Staten Island. Posted on 3 May
Three TowBoatUS Ports under new ownership
Assisting boaters from Sandusky River to Fairport, Ohio On Lake Erie's West/Central Basin, TowBoatUS Sandusky owners Capts. Jimmer Kennedy, D.J. Huntley and Jason Majoy are new owners of TowBoatUS locations in Vermillion, Lorain, and Cleveland. Posted on 1 May
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERSelden 2020 - FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast