I've been trying for a week now to call the "for questions about this issue" phone number, that was listed on the paperwork I received. All I get is a busy signal!

Maybe that is a good sign. I hope.

NH doesn't issue titles for anything. I do have to register the boat and trailer each year (revenue enhancement) but the idea that it will slow down or stop thefts is laughable. Have you any idea how many REGISTERED snowmobiles get stolen each year here and either parted out or brought to Canada? The NH Association says hundreds from this state alone. All the border states see it regularly. Trips by friends to Canada with trailers of snowmobiles have lost the entire trailer AND the snowmobiles. Its so bad we don't do our regular trip to Canada any longer. Not worth the risk/hassle. And all of those are registered!

Perhaps we should petition the Governing Council to change the Class name to F15.

Over the years I have come up with a few simple rules for registering boats that were never intended to be registered.

First, these groups are paramilitry, meaning you have to do the paperwork their way or redo it their way. There are no other choices.

Second call up the correct office in your state. Lay out the whole story and ask them what you need to do. WRITE DOWN THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO TOLD WHAT TO DO.

THIRD, Do whatever they told you to do, even if you think it is silly or worthless. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE. For example, Texas wants a tracing of the hull numbers. On a Marstrom, the hull number is written on a piece of paper, laminated to the inside of the hull with epoxy. A tracing shows nothing. If you bring a picture instead of a tracing, they will make you bring the boat to them so they can make a tracing(see #1)You can have a picture or a drawing in addition.

Four, make up a folder with what they want. Go to the office or branch that you called and try to get the person you talked to. If you can't get the person you talked to tell whoever you are talking to, so and so told me to do this.

Five Give them the stuff they wanted. Hold the extra stuff back. Don't give it to them unless they want it. Don't tell them anyhing they don't want. Be friendly and nice but don't run your mouth. (You don't know all the rules, you may have broken one).

Good Luck you will need it.

Re Marstrom's

I believe that Fun in the Sun (Jill) or Coconut Grove (Carla) were supposed to engrave your Marstrom with a street legal hull number that added to the Marstrom ID number and issue legal paperwork. (Something about their role as importers of the boats).

Carl, great advice!

I think the cure is to call them all home built. Name it yourself. Maybe you could call it a Hobie 16. Engrave your own set of numbers and be done with it.

MORE good advice.

Something similar can be done in Brazil.

There are fishermen and native americans who build traditional boats large enough to require registration. Specific rules for such handcraft boats allow anyone to register a self made vessel, provided that a registered naval engineer fills the papers certifying stability, seaworthiness, tonnage, crew number and the like. The engine's invoice is the only other requirement, when there is an engine, naturally.

Simple and fair requirements like this tend to work well: local engineers are familiar with traditional designs in their area and charge nominal fees for taking a look at the boat and signing the papers.

Boats are registered in the same naval department where stolen boats are reported, where captain licenses are issued and the like, so the system is reasonably safe against frauds.

If I ever bought a boat through normal channels, that would be the case. My Marstroms came striaght from Goran.

Come to think of it, I have only purchased one catamaran through normal channels and it was really easy, I might to try that again.

Isnt there a law stating that if you found a boat at sea adrift you are allowed to keep it?

No

what does "salvage rights" mean? I have no idea. Do you have to be a licensed salvager to obtain these rights?

Without getting into marine law, basically a salvor may retrieve abandon material and hold it. The salvor must then allow the rightful owner a chance to pay reasonable salvage fees to regain the property. Often the fees are greater than the value and then the salvor may sell or use what he has retrieved.


If you find a Hobie adrift and save it, you are entitled to the expense involved in the salvage and a reasonable profit. That could be more than the value of the boat. You would still need a court order to obtain clear title.