| The thought of unwittingly purchasing a | | | | titling law that allows for the |
| stolen boat does not occur to most boat | | | | reassignment of a hull and registration |
| buyers. When it happens it doesn't make | | | | number. This is called the "homemade |
| the morning paper or the evening TV | | | | boat" provision which provides the |
| news. Yet the number of small boats that | | | | opportunity for a great deal of |
| are stolen each year has been steadily | | | | mischief. Let's say, for example, that I |
| increasing for several decades, to the | | | | acquired a 1976, 29' Seabird hull and |
| point where it involves several hundred | | | | completely rebuilt it with new deck, |
| thousand boats annually across the | | | | interior and engines, etc. I could apply |
| nation. The odds of running across one | | | | for a new title under the homemade boat |
| of these has become uncomfortably high. | | | | provision and be assigned an entirely |
| The risk of the stolen boat being | | | | new hull number and title. In Florida, |
| discovered is also increasing. All over | | | | the new number assigned would have an |
| the nation, the legions of bounty | | | | FLZ prefix that indicates a homemade |
| hunters roaming the docks and marinas | | | | boat. The problem here is that stolen |
| are also increasing. Thus, the chance of | | | | boat artists can do the same thing with |
| someone who unwittingly purchases one of | | | | any stolen boat. Therefore, any boat |
| these boats of loosing it is fairly | | | | with an FLZ prefix should be viewed with |
| high. | | | | great caution. |
| In the state of Florida alone, which has | | | | The problem with this registration |
| about one million registered boats, | | | | number is painfully obvious - its got |
| based on insurance records, I estimate | | | | one too many digits. But not really. The |
| that up to 5,000 boats are reported as | | | | "1" between the L and 4 is not a |
| stolen annually. Some are stripped and | | | | stick-on number but the residue from a |
| destroyed, others are shipped out to | | | | number that was removed. Here, the |
| foreign countries, but the vast majority | | | | adhesive was blackened with crushed |
| of stolen boats end up being altered in | | | | pencil lead to make the missing number |
| various ways and resold in other areas | | | | show up. The original number was 1438 |
| or states. | | | | but had been altered to 4387. |
| Stolen boat cases are often involved in | | | | Another tip off may come from evidence |
| insurance fraud. Unscrupulous owners who | | | | that stick-on lettering for state |
| get in financial trouble rather | | | | registration numbers have been changed. |
| frequently will sell the boat for | | | | Sometimes the hull finish will have |
| whatever he can get for it and, at the | | | | faded and the old numbers can be seen. |
| same time, report it stolen and try to | | | | In other cases, the remaining gum |
| collect the insurance. Its a quick way | | | | residue of the old letters may be |
| to make a lot of money if they can get | | | | apparent, or can be shown up by rubbing |
| away with it. This scam has become so | | | | a little dirt over them. The dirt will |
| widespread that both insurance companies | | | | stick to the nearly invisible adhesive |
| and state agencies are very much on the | | | | and be shown up more clearly. Because a |
| alert. Many state agencies have stepped | | | | number is supposed to remain for the |
| up their review procedures of title and | | | | life of the boat, unless its been moved |
| registration changes so that more and | | | | from another state, there is not likely |
| more of these frauds are being | | | | any good reason for the change. I have |
| discovered. The problem for the boat | | | | discovered several boats this way. |
| buyer here is that this greatly | | | | More stolen boats are discovered through |
| increases the chance of his unwitting | | | | inconsistencies in the paper work than |
| purchase of a stolen boat being | | | | any other means. Federal law requires |
| discovered. When that happens, he may | | | | that when state registration numbers are |
| find himself involved in costly | | | | assigned, that number remains with the |
| litigation. | | | | boat unless its reregistered in another |
| Most people who purchase a stolen boat | | | | state. And herein lies yet another means |
| are never aware of the fact that they | | | | for thieves to try to legitimize a |
| own one unless its discovered by a state | | | | stolen boat. Transference of |
| title agency, or the small army of | | | | registrations and titles from one state |
| bounty hunters commissioned by insurance | | | | to another provide a much easier means |
| companies that are searching for them. | | | | for the thief to provide false proof of |
| The bad news is that even though one may | | | | ownership. The reason being that its |
| have no knowledge of having purchased a | | | | harder, if not impossible, for the state |
| stolen boat, when it is discovered the | | | | bureaucracy to make a thorough check of |
| new owner has to forfeit the boat, | | | | another state's records. And |
| usually with no recourse for recovery of | | | | bureaucrats, being what they are, |
| his loss. Even worse, he may even find | | | | usually won't make that effort. Buyers |
| himself trying to fend off criminal | | | | should be extra cautious when looking at |
| charges of conspiracy or being in | | | | an out-of-state boat in their home |
| possession of stolen property. | | | | state. |
| As many as a half-dozen times per year I | | | | Also be wary when "things just don't |
| run across boats that have anomalies in | | | | seem right." I know that's a rather |
| either the hull or registration numbers. | | | | vague statement, but here are some |
| In fact, most stolen boats that are | | | | examples. The owner is a person who |
| resold have only a minor change in the | | | | never appears and is always represented |
| H.I.N. or Hull Identification Number. | | | | by a "friend". Used boats normally have |
| Because these numbers are only molded | | | | a lot of the owner's cast-offs on board. |
| into the plastic of the hull, it is a | | | | Beware of a boat that is totally devoid |
| very simply matter to alter it. Hull | | | | of the little things like useless junk |
| numbers can be completely changed, or it | | | | in drawers and so on. The boat appears |
| may only have one or a few digits | | | | to be economically beyond the means of |
| altered. Either way, its a process that | | | | the seller. While its not nice to |
| a thief can accomplish in less than an | | | | stereotype people, sometimes there's |
| hour. | | | | just cause for suspicion. If the boat |
| One of the above hull numbers was | | | | and the owner somehow just don't see to |
| fraudulently altered. Can you tell which | | | | "fit," don't ignore the disparity. |
| one? The center number was altered by | | | | A boat buyer can perform his own |
| the builder. It is legitimate despite | | | | investigation by following this |
| the ragged appearance of the impression. | | | | procedure: |
| the right number is unaltered. The | | | | Immediately be suspicious of any hull |
| number at left is not a bad picture, but | | | | number that shows the slightest sign of |
| a number on a stolen boat. The tip-off | | | | not being exactly right. |
| is the indistinctness of the numbers | | | | Obtain from the owner as much paper work |
| that showed obvious signs of alteration. | | | | as possible. Find out how long he has |
| But what about other identification | | | | owned the boat and get copies of all |
| numbers such as engine serial numbers, | | | | prior registrations. Examine all |
| you may ask? How do thieves alter these | | | | official documents for any sign that |
| numbers? Ah, there's the problem for the | | | | they have been altered. You would be |
| poor soul who purchases a stolen boat. | | | | amazed at how many thieves simply alter |
| It is a very rare instance when | | | | numbers on titles and registrations. |
| insurance surveyors or bounty hunters | | | | Be wary of any seller who has owned the |
| find boats on which the engine numbers | | | | boat for less than a year. |
| have been changed or removed. That means | | | | Be wary of freshly painted or |
| that the engine numbers remain as a | | | | refurbished boats. |
| means of positively identifying a stolen | | | | Owners that can't provide any records |
| boat. And if its discovered, the owner | | | | such as repair invoices and so on should |
| will surely loose it. | | | | be cause for suspicion. Most boat owners |
| Fortunately, its a fairly simple matter | | | | keep good records and there's no reason |
| to follow certain procedures to make | | | | why they should not at least let you see |
| sure that the boat you are contemplating | | | | them. |
| purchasing is legitimately owned by the | | | | Contact the state titling agency and |
| seller. Consider the following important | | | | verify the hull and registration number |
| points. | | | | against the seller's name and address. |
| Be extremely wary of a hull number that | | | | Be wary of any inconsistencies. This can |
| appears to be obscured in any way. When | | | | be done by phone in most states. |
| older boats have been repainted, often | | | | Ask to see the title and registration |
| the numbers are painted over so that | | | | before signing a purchase agreement or |
| they're difficult or even impossible to | | | | giving a deposit. If there is more than |
| read. On the other hand, this may have | | | | one owner, such as a husband and wife, |
| been an intentional act to make the | | | | ask to speak to the other party. Don't |
| number impossible to read. Most of my | | | | get caught in a divorce situation where |
| clients don't even think twice about | | | | one party completes the sale by means of |
| missing or obscured numbers, and that | | | | theft from the other. |
| can be a big mistake. Regard any hull | | | | For federally documented vessels, use a |
| number that is not perfectly clear with | | | | professional documentation service and |
| great suspicion. If a number is | | | | make sure that they obtain and provide |
| completely or even partially obscured, | | | | you with a copy of the document |
| do not accept the explanation that this | | | | abstract. Do not complete the purchase |
| happened during repainting. Assume the | | | | until you have thoroughly reviewed this |
| worst until proven otherwise. | | | | document. Make sure that all liens have |
| Be wary of any hull number that shows | | | | been settled. |
| any sign of having been altered. Hull | | | | Approach any boat with great caution |
| numbers can be changed by grinding out | | | | that is being sold by a dealer which |
| the old and molding a new number in | | | | does not have it's own registration |
| place with new gelcoat. Because gelcoat | | | | numbers, but instead has dealer numbers |
| material fades and changes color with | | | | on it that the dealer will remove. The |
| time, this operation may make the | | | | odds are high that there is a problem. |
| presence of new gelcoat rather obvious | | | | Watch out for boats that have been |
| if one is looking closely. There should | | | | recently brought to your state from |
| be no ripples or waviness around the | | | | another. |
| numbers. Be suspicious if the molding | | | | Examine all official documents carefully |
| surface is not smooth and the numbers | | | | for evidence of alteration. Accept only |
| very clear and distinct. | | | | originals and not photocopies. |
| Check closely for signs that any number | | | | Don't purchase a vessel that came from a |
| has been altered. Examples are turning a | | | | non-titling state such as Alabama. The |
| 1 into a seven, a 5 into an 8, and so | | | | odds are extremely high that the boat is |
| on. Alterations on smaller boats are | | | | not legitimate. |
| sometimes laughably crude. | | | | Examine the hull sides on the bow for |
| It happens rather frequently that | | | | evidence that registration numbers have |
| builders change the numbers on their own | | | | been removed or altered. Frequently |
| boats. Many state laws allow a builder | | | | changes will be visible by gum residue |
| to change a number of a boat that has | | | | or the outline of numbers against faded |
| been in their own stock from one model | | | | gelcoat or paint. |
| year to another so long as it has not | | | | Another means of checking are the |
| been sold. Frequently, these number | | | | variety of registration stickers |
| changes look very suspicious. Often | | | | provided by many states. These stickers |
| they're perfectly legitimate, but its | | | | usually have a decal number that can be |
| foolhardy not to check. Call the builder | | | | followed up on with the state. Crooks |
| and ask about it. They are usually very | | | | frequently overlook this subtle point. |
| cooperative in this regard. | | | | The decal numbers must match the |
| Many states have a provision in their | | | | registration. |