Transfer of homemade boat from Delaware to Pennsylvania

DanD

DanD

New member
Hi All,

After a few years on the search for the right boat for me, I have finally found a black brant III that suits my needs and have a pick up date set for this Friday. While getting all the ducks in a row, I've come to find out that for some strange reason (that the PA Fish and Boat couldn't explain to me), you are not allowed to sell or transfer homemade boats in Pennsylvania. This puts me in a bit of a pickle because the boat was built by the current owner in Delaware, with plans purchased from Devlin boats. There is thorough documentation of the build, it was issued a HIN from Delaware Dept of Natural Resources, and the boat was last registered in 2015.

Does ANYONE have experience with this situation?
 
Good morning, Dan~


I wonder if you completed the application with the manufacturer as "Delaware Duckboats" and provided the legitimate HIN ?


(I'm guessing PA's prohibition is a violation of the US Constitution's "commerce clause" - but.....)


All the best,


SJS

 
At this point and time you have a valid HIN. No need to mention it?s home made. List manufacturers as Devlin and model as Brant. As with most government angencys truth, but in moderation Is the best policy w dmv
 
https://www.fishandboat.com/Transact/Forms/Pages/ApplicationforPennsylvaniaBoatRegistrationsandDocumentationRequired.aspx

This website says list "The make, model and year built, if known." I would write "Unknown" for that information. My boat in NJ is registered as "Unknown" manufacturer and the state was perfectly happy to accept that. There is no need to volunteer its homemade status if they don't specifically ask you.
 
jode hillman said:
At this point and time you have a valid HIN. No need to mention it?s home made. List manufacturers as Devlin and model as Brant. As with most government angencys truth, but in moderation Is the best policy w dmv
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I would do this. I have no problem listing ?make? as devlin.
 
Devlin is the design, The Make is the builder who is responsible for the boat meeting United States Coast Guard Regulations.
Phil
 
Phil said:
Devlin is the design, The Make is the builder who is responsible for the boat meeting United States Coast Guard Regulations.
Phil
Click to expand...

The builder is only required to meet Coast Guard regulations if he/she is building boats for sale. It would be advisable for anyone building a boat, to know and follow the same standards that apply to a commercial builder, however, there is no government requirement to do so.

This pamphlet, ?SAFETY STANDARDS FOR BACKYARD BOAT BUILDERS,? (COMTDPUB P16761.3B), is a simplified explanation of Federal recreational boat construction requirements and is intended for the use of the non-professional, individual builder. The primary objective of these requirements is to avoid certain safety hazards which have been found to be the cause of boating accidents.
This pamphlet is routinely sent to new manufacturers of recreational boats for the purposes of sale, because it gives a good explanation of how to go about complying with certain portions of the Federal safety standards and regulations
 
Phil said:
Devlin is the design, The Make is the builder who is responsible for the boat meeting United States Coast Guard Regulations.
Phil
Click to expand...

Phil thats not correct , no homemade boats for personal use are tested by USCG for safety.
 
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Huntindave McCann said:
Phil said:
Devlin is the design, The Make is the builder who is responsible for the boat meeting United States Coast Guard Regulations.
Phil
Click to expand...

The builder is only required to meet Coast Guard regulations if he/she is building boats for sale. It would be advisable for anyone building a boat, to know and follow the same standards that apply to a commercial builder, however, there is no government requirement to do so.

This pamphlet, ?SAFETY STANDARDS FOR BACKYARD BOAT BUILDERS,? (COMTDPUB P16761.3B), is a simplified explanation of Federal recreational boat construction requirements and is intended for the use of the non-professional, individual builder. The primary objective of these requirements is to avoid certain safety hazards which have been found to be the cause of boating accidents.
This pamphlet is routinely sent to new manufacturers of recreational boats for the purposes of sale, because it gives a good explanation of how to go about complying with certain portions of the Federal safety standards and regulations
Click to expand...


Thanks Dave for the eloquence in reply I was lacking lol
 
tod osier said:
jode hillman said:
At this point and time you have a valid HIN. No need to mention it?s home made. List manufacturers as Devlin and model as Brant. As with most government angencys truth, but in moderation Is the best policy w dmv
Click to expand...

I would do this. I have no problem listing ?make? as devlin.
Click to expand...

That?s exactly what I did when I built my Devlin. Even after taking it to the state police for HIN number. It was listed as Devlin, 2001, model Mallard.
 
If Devlin built the boat the first 3 letters of the 12 digits would be "XDK" under the USCG Identification HIN numbers. Which makes Devlin responsible for the building of the boat. I do not think it is right to associate him or his name to something he did not build, just not right in my opinion.
Phil
 
Phil said:
If Devlin built the boat the first 3 letters of the 12 digits would be "XDK" under the USCG Identification HIN numbers. Which makes Devlin responsible for the building of the boat. I do not think it is right to associate him or his name to something he did not build, just not right in my opinion.
Phil
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Well I guess you best take it up with the NJSP. Boat has been sold 3x over by various owners and theres never been a question. NJ DMV asks for MAKE, not builder...... just to be clear. We are just tying to help out a fellow duck hunter.

Under this thought process I guess we better gets the sawzalls and torches out for our old BBSBs and rail skiffs.



Thats some pretty technical information concerning HIN numbers. Im curious where you derived such expertise from?
 
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Spot on Jode there would be hundreds of sneak boxes that would not be able to be registered. There are plenty of home built boats out there that have been around for decades that wouldn?t pass the USCG regulations but have been in service with no problems. I have to register nun Sam Hunt this year it was built in 1940 and yet somehow still floats.
 
All you need to do is google US Coast Guard Boat Manufactures. You need the 3 letters or the name and the state of the builder you can find out the HIN letters of the builder. Make and Builder are one in the same.
Phil
 
Troy Fields said:
Some good info here to get it registered. Topics like this make me appreciate Maine even more.
Click to expand...

Seeing more and more Maine registered trailers with CT trucks here as people are catching on.
 

When I lived in PA my gunning partner hand built my wooden sneakbox.

Once it was registered with the PA Fish & Boat Commission. I got a metal ID tag, with specifics that was attached where it could be read if need be. In my case the interior of the cockpit.

I never was told, or given any info from the PA F&BC about not selling, or transferring the boat.

That is a new one on me. But state laws change all the time.


If that is indeed the case, lotta folks may have some issues.

My sneakbox ended up in a funeral pyre at my buddies boat yard. I have no experience selling, or transferring.

May be worth your while to ask someone very knowledgeable with PA marine law.

just my 2 cents


Best regards
Vince
 
If you run into problems at one N.J. DMV I find it is just best to say Thank You, I will get that information and come back.
Instead go to another DMV office and try that one they all seem to have different rules and sometimes you can find another
person with more knowledge and compassion. A fellow New Jerseyan.
 
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