Titling a Homemade Boat

Sept. 17, 2022, 2:26 p.m.

I am in the process of getting my winter projects in line and one of those is my first boat construction project.  I am thinking that I will modify one of the basic designs that are available in several of the reference books I have purchased and have been studying over the last year or so. 

As I progress into the more detailed design phase of this project I will publish additional posts that cover the planning, design, purchasing the Bill of Materials (BOM) and the actual build and subsequent testing.

For now, I will publish the steps involved in registering and titling a "homemade" watercraft in my state (VA):

  1. Build the boat (keeping all receipts for the raw materials)
  2. Get an affidavit stating that you built the watercraft
  3. Complete the application for title and registration1
  4. Have the local, state or federal authorities inspect the craft
  5. Submit the completed application with supporting receipts
  6. Receive title and registration from the state

*As I conduct more due diligence and start speaking with folks at the state and related agencies I will make updates to this list.

 

Overview

A look at one of the designs I am considering for an upfit project from a reclaimed hull as inspired by this great YouTube project (I would highly recommend you follow "DIY Waterworld" on YouTube, as well)5:

A look at one of the designs I am considering for a full build from scratch6:

 

Resources

  1. Application for Watercraft Certificate of Title and Certificate of Number (Virginia Department of WIldlife Resources)
  2. Inspection & Compliance (United States Coast Guard)
  3. Virginia Marine Police Boating Safety (Virginia Marine Resources Commission)
  4. Fishing Boat Designs: V-bottom Boats of Planked and Plywood Construction (Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
  5. Skiff Boat Build (DIY WATERWORLD on Youtube)
  6. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 134, Rev. 2 (Food & Agriculture Organization)