How-to guides
Plain-English walkthroughs of the legal and practical mechanics of buying, verifying, and documenting yachts in North America. Written for buyers, not brokers.
Buying
End-to-end walkthroughs of the buying process by country.
How to buy a boat in the USA
From listing to closing: offer, survey, sea trial, escrow, title or documentation, and taxes.
How to buy a boat in Canada
Provincial titling, Transport Canada registration, GST/PST/HST, and importing across the border.
How to buy a boat in Mexico
Foreign-flagged boats, Temporary Import Permits (TIPs), the 2025–2026 enforcement changes, and how offshore closings really work.
Lien checks
Verify a boat is free of debt before you wire money.
Documentation & registration
Get your vessel papered correctly — or remove it cleanly when you sell.
How to register a boat with the USCG
Initial documentation via CG-1258, builder's certificates, bills of sale, and timing.
How to delete a USCG documentation
Requesting a letter of deletion from NVDC at sale, scrapping, or export — and why timing matters.
How to register a boat in Canada
Transport Canada Vessel Registry vs. small vessel licensing — when each one applies.
How to delete a Canadian vessel registration
Closing a registration on sale, export, or loss — and the paperwork the buyer's side needs.