My Hobie 18 / Titling question.

First of all, hello everyone. I've been lurking for a while but just registered.

I got this 1980 Hobie 18 from a family friend, needs a little bit of work but is overall a solid boat.





The only problem I have run into so far might be a big one. The guy I got it from doesn't have a title, registration, or any paperwork on this boat. I searched the forums and Google to find out what I need to do in the state of Florida to get a title for this boat and get it registered in my name. I haven't come up with much. I called the DMV and the lady I spoke with wasn't very helpful. She said that without getting a title signed over to me from the previous owner I "probably" wouldn't be able to get a title for the boat. I have tried calling the Miami-Dade tax collector's office but cannot get a hold of anyone. I would really hate to part out this boat and go on searching for another Hobie. Does anyone have any experience with this in the state of Florida? We filled out a Bill of Sale when he gave me the boat so we could document a transfer of ownership, but I'm not sure that is going to help me in anyway. I am really excited to start working on this boat and get it in the water. If anyone knows what I can/need to do in order to get a title it would be very much appreciated.

Looks newer than an '80. New rudder castings, Comptip.

Regarding the registration, better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

The previous owner installed the new rudder castings and the comptip. He thought it was an '85 because it has sails from '85, but the HIN/VIN ends in "80K". So I am pretty confident it is a 1980. The trailer is a 1979, not that that means anything, but I believe it to be the original trailer.

I'm not so worried about getting stopped and not having the boat registered as I am about not having any paperwork that proves I am the owner. I called the DMV again and got someone who was a little more helpful. She ran the HIN/VIN and said as far as she could tell the boat had never been titled or registered in Florida. So I'm hoping I can get it title with a notarized bill of sale.

Do beach cars need to be registered in Florida?

Unfortunately, yes they do. Any vessel powered by a motor or any vessel over 16ft must be registered. I'm sure I could get away with sailing it around without registering it. I'm more concerned with being stopped, not having registration, and then no way to prove that I legally own the boat. I don't see that turning out well.

H18_SFB - If the DMV isn't very helpful and you can't get a hold of anyone from the Miami-Dade tax collector's office, call the local office of your State Representative, or County Bd. OF Supervisors, or City Council. These elected officials have people working for them called Representatives and it's their job to keep the constituents happy by solving their problems and making their boss look good.
Whenever you have a problem with a governmental agency and aren't able to get it resolved by yourself, don't hesitate to call an elected official in your state or district and ask for their help. You're not imposing on them. They'll cut through the B.S. and help solve your problem.
Good luck!
Richard

In Georgia you get the boat registered through the dept of natural resources and the trailer from the county DMV.

I had an issue when I bought mine where the previous owner never registered the boat or transfered title when he bought it 8 yrs before. Luckily we tracked down the original owner and the guy I bought it from got the title transfered to him and then transfered again to me with bills of sale. The state also had the serial # incorect with the original registration but I got that fixed with a photo e-mailed to the DNR. Quite a process.

GA did have a way of tracking down the registration of a boat based on the make and serial # (the serial # for the hobie is on the transom, see other posts on sorting it out for yr built etc). That is how I tracked down the original owner that it was last registered to.

Good luck in FL!!

I live in Fl and have an 18 also and yes it does have to be registered. I sail near Clearwater with lots of Nacras and Gcats. We all have the same problem but have not been bothered as of yet. The law was just changed to over 16' just recently. The marine patrol and sheriff are so use to seeing all the beach cats around I don't think they care or can even tell a 16 from an 18 very readily. Do what you will but I would not worry much about it . You could always write Hobie Cat with your serial # and request a statement of origin with that and your bill of sale you should be able to get a title.

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ADDICTION
1989 HOBIE 18 SE/sx wings
HOBIE ALTER SIGNATURE MODEL

No paperwork whatsoever? I think I smell a stolen boat. It's happened a time or two in Florida.

From the pictures you post, it appears that registration numbers were once affixed to the starboard bow. Might it have been registered in another state? Hopefully you did not hand him your money without getting the title in return.

Nah, I know it isn't stolen. The previous owner is a friend of the family and he owned the boat for probably 15 years. The guy he bought it off of had it registered at one time but the numbers were peeled off when he got it so he doesn't know what state it was registered in. Unfortunately he never got any paperwork from the previous owner and doesn't know how to get in contact with him. I did a HIN search and the boat has never been reported stolen. The state of Florida couldn't find anything in their database that the boat was ever registered or titled, at least in Florida. I know some states will register boats but not title them. So I am thinking maybe this boat was registered at one time but never titled? Not really sure. I am going to contact the DMV and Tax Collector again and find out exactly what I need to do. I'm hoping with a notarized bill of sale, if the boat was never titled or registered in Florida, that should be enough.

For years our "beach cats" did not need to be registered .... they were under 20' and had no motor ... (a paddle didn't count ...)

Now recently alot of states are starting to require ANYTHING 16' and over must be registered .....

So w/ no titles or old registrations for the boat we are in a "Catch-22" ...

The only titles I have are for my boat trailers .... and I know some states didn't "title/tag" those either when I first started .....

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HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

That's exactly what happened in Florida. Still no titles for trailers, under I believe 2000lbs, but getting a trailer registered is easy. Just get a certified weight ticket and say it's home made.

Your Hobie is as hot as a fire cracker and you need to hide it until the heat cools down. I will keep it under wraps for you for a nominal fee. Seriously though, what state was the Hobie registered in? I'm at the North end of the State and have run into this issue with boats from Alabama. It might be possible that if the previous state did not have title rules you might be able to use a bill of sale and copy of the previous owners registration to be legal in Florida.

Not sure what state it was in, that was probably 15+ years ago.. I talked to FL DMV and was told I just need a notarized affidavit from the previous owner saying the boat is not stolen and was never titled. With that and the bill of sale I will (should) be able to get the boat titled and ultimately registered.