BC’s boat/dumpster fire thread

Ok, might be taking a different direction. Dad found a 14 foot John boat in a local junkyard, in great condition. Does anyone have any experience with getting an abandoned boat title? It looks like it fits the description for abandoned here in NC. I already have a trailer and motor.

$150, we’ll see how it goes

bigcountry78 said:

Ok, might be taking a different direction. Dad found a 14 foot John boat in a local junkyard, in great condition. Does anyone have any experience with getting an abandoned boat title? It looks like it fits the description for abandoned here in NC. I already have a trailer and motor.

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Youre gonna let some government tell you who you can and can not commandeer

I would think international maritime rules may be your limiting situations if you venture off onto the big ponds they tell me are much larger than the greatest of lakes I have come to know.

Joking lol, But I didnt know such a thing could exist but beings your place in the country and ownership of a vessel could be from small to large... I see how it exists.
I looked up things really quick on a federal basis and since its not under a classification of a threat, obstacle, or dangerous substances it doesnt need any special treatment from federal law so state law there looks to be the biggest thing. It looks a lot like a bonded title process for a car in this state. If the craft has no visible registering like a tag or sticker, do they have VINs or other numbers you can even find a name of owner without first asking the government or would you just not be expected to be able to determine that?

bigcountry78 said:

$150, we’ll see how it goes

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at least you know it holds water in the front should mean it also doesnt want to take on water from the opposite side. but there are always ways to find out it needs some flex tape when you didnt even saw it in half.
Based on the looks Id say its spent some time sitting that way in the sun over the years. And it looks like someone may have accidently knocked a motor off or didnt mount it right or soemthing caught that rear lip. So it may not have any relevant stickers or tags from anything shy of pre computer records.

I know when I bought my ATV it had a 93 registration tag you couldnt even make out and I am going to guess it sat since about that long ago but the VIN on the tubular frame by the foot brake I think was still good and readable and that gave me a 1987 and when I went to the website for DNR to register it and change ownership it surprised me the last owner and their registration of 93 was listed on their setup and the ownership transfer of ATVs, snowmobiles etc is more or less on an honor system pending anythign the DNR wants to verify(say it was reported stolen and you go to register it). I dont know about boats but here in Wisconsin they handle boating too and it probably follows suit, since VINs on an ATV makes me think a VIN should also be placed on a vessel, hell, a dinky small trailer gets a vin why not a john boat. Where that is .. i wouldnt know.

AuroraGirl said:

Youre gonna let some government tell you who you can and can not commandeer

I would think international maritime rules may be your limiting situations if you venture off onto the big ponds they tell me are much larger than the greatest of lakes I have come to know.

Joking lol, But I didnt know such a thing could exist but beings your place in the country and ownership of a vessel could be from small to large... I see how it exists.
I looked up things really quick on a federal basis and since its not under a classification of a threat, obstacle, or dangerous substances it doesnt need any special treatment from federal law so state law there looks to be the biggest thing. It looks a lot like a bonded title process for a car in this state. If the craft has no visible registering like a tag or sticker, do they have VINs or other numbers you can even find a name of owner without first asking the government or would you just not be expected to be able to determine that?

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There should be a hull number in there somewhere. Basically from what I read they just want to know that you didn’t steal the thing and try to register it. I’m going to get it and then see if I can get the title. If not, I’ll go from there. There’s a ton of boats for sale with no title so I should be able to move it on down the road if I need to.

I have those zigzag cleats on my pontoon boat. One of the best mods I've done to it and makes tying up to docks easy-peasy.

Pretty dang good for a junkyard find

bigcountry78 said:

Pretty dang good for a junkyard find

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I see a GMT800

AuroraGirl said:

I looked up things really quick on a federal basis and since its not under a classification of a threat, obstacle, or dangerous substances it doesnt need any special treatment from federal law so state law there looks to be the biggest thing. It looks a lot like a bonded title process for a car in this state. If the craft has no visible registering like a tag or sticker, do they have VINs or other numbers you can even find a name of owner without first asking the government or would you just not be expected to be able to determine that?

Click to expand...

In the state of Pennsylvania getting a boat title could be a pain with a free boat like that. But, you also don't need a title to use it. You must buy a launch permit. Then you can put it in any public water, parks, lakes, creeks and rivers.

Turbo4whl said:

I see a GMT800



In the state of Pennsylvania getting a boat title could be a pain with a free boat like that. But, you also don't need a title to use it. You must buy a launch permit. Then you can put it in any public water, parks, lakes, creeks and rivers.

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Yea my dad has two, a 2001 base model Silverado, single cab short bed 2wd with 290k, and this one is a 2003 1500HD.

Well. I made the trip this weekend to get the trailer my cousin gave me. It’ll be used to get the fish and ski boat home for a part out/scrap operation. Needs tires of course. But it’s an extremely nice shore lander trailer, definitely worth the trip to go get it.

Decided to let the Jon boat rest for now, getting a title for it could potentially be a headache. Plus, that trailer needs tires and wiring.

That brings us to the bass boat, which is the only boat that is actually at my house. Also the one that I have the title to. I went yesterday and got new tires for the trailer, and I ordered a water pump kit for the Suzuki motor. I’m going to pick up a set of spark plugs and a fuel line kit tomorrow, so hopefully it’ll be ready to fire off when the water pump kit gets here. I already snagged the seats from the fish and ski, just need to get them bolted in. The trailer needs a new connection for the lights, and it also needs a set of safety chains. Other than that, I’ll need some carpet and a battery and I should be on the water. I’m still undecided if I will try to buff the paint or just let it go.

Get the engine running first. Looks like it should run without much fuss. Then polish that hull up. I have polished a lot of boats (ski and pontoons) and it isn’t a lot different than a car. Just use the right product and take your time. I would start off with Meguiars 105 polish / compound from what I can see. Then move to 205.

GXPWeasel said:

Get the engine running first. Looks like it should run without much fuss. Then polish that hull up. I have polished a lot of boats (ski and pontoons) and it isn’t a lot different than a car. Just use the right product and take your time. I would start off with Meguiars 105 polish / compound from what I can see. Then move to 205.

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Thanks, I think I’ll try that and see what happens. Picked up spark plugs and fuel line today, waiting on my impeller kit. Hope to have it running by this time next week, then the cosmetic stuff can happen. Good polish and some new carpet, might mess around and end up with a half decent boat.

I just thought y’all might be interested, the ski boat is an 86 astroglass, and the title for that v6 evinrude says it’s a 200 horse!

That's a good motor if it's in good shape.

Well, I finally got around to working on the boat. Put in a new fuel line, plugs and impeller. I wasn’t able to get it to fire off but I didn’t really mess with it a whole lot. I’m thinking about selling it honestly. The new has kind of worn off, and the reality has set in of what it will cost to maintain it every year. I know in my heart that I’ll never use it enough to justify the amount of money I’ll spend. I also really want an AK, so the boat may get sacrificed.