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