Stolen boat database search resources and information about checking on stolen boats.
Stolen boat
detection is an important aspect of any boat title search effort,
regardless of the size or value. As a purchaser, your entire
investment could be easily forfeited if the boat actually belongs to
someone other than the seller. And this can apply even if the seller
is unaware the boat was previously stolen. Checking to see if a particular boat
has been stolen may however involve a fair amount of detective
work. The extent of this endeavor will depend on your
confidence in the seller and the availability of historical data
regarding the boat's chain of ownership.
In order to determine
just how far to go in conducting the research, you should
first examine the circumstances. How well do you know the seller and
does such party have the wherewithal to make good on any title
warranties or ownership representations. Can the seller produce a
complete chain of ownership going all the way back to the
manufacturer. Is the title history being examined by a professional
boat titling agent. It all comes down to the level of comfort you
feel about the transaction in general.
If there are
any concerns whatsoever about the boat's history or the seller, you
should commence with a stolen boat check. The first step is a close
examination of all identification numbers as they are actually
affixed to the boat itself. This includes the hull identification
number, official vessel documentation number, state registration
number, and any other markings which are unique to the boat. You
might also consider an experienced boat surveyor that will know how to
recognize any markings which appear to have been altered,
obliterated or removed. A surveyor will also know where to look for
hidden hull numbers on certain models.
Armed with reliable
identification numbers, you can now seek out any online information
that may be helpful in your search. Our database service is ideal
for such purpose as it combines eight different informational
databases into a single interface. In addition to a stolen boat
database, it provides a number of resources for verifying hull
number formatting, manufacturer matches, and other tools which may
offer clues about the boat and its historical background. It also contains information and resources for obtaining Coast Guard
abstracts of title and state registration records. The service can
be found by visiting our database page which can be accessed from
the menu selection shown above.
An important thing to
keep in mind when working with any database is that it may not be
fully conclusive and could be subject to errors or omissions. The
manner in which state and federal agencies gather and report stolen
boat information is not always accurate or consistent. In fact, many
jurisdictions do not even make such data readily available to the
boating public. You should not therefore presume the boat you are
checking is free and unencumbered just because of a negative online search
result.
Another step you can take
in your detection effort would be to contact a local law enforcement
office and ask them to check the National Crime Information Center's
database. This is the nation's foremost data gathering agency with
regard to stolen property such as boats. Enforcement officials rely
heavily on this resource when conducting jurisdictional
investigations of their own. The database is not however available
for direct use by the general public and is only accessible by going through
governmental agencies.
As a final
effort, you should run a background check on the seller to see if
such party is responsible and reliable. There is no title insurance
available for boats, therefore your only recourse will be against
the seller in the event of a theft conversion. You will want to
ensure that such party has no criminal background and is
financially able to compensate for any losses incurred on your
behalf. There are several resources available on the internet for
running instant background checks.
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State of Washington USA
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