boat ownership search

[david]

Bought my current boat from a dealership (many years ago) so the process was simple.

Now I am looking to upgrade to a newer boat. Anyone know how to verify the ownership, and any liens against the boat?
I understand there is a pleasure craft license but apparently it is not an ownership/title document.

I found Transport Canada has a Vessel Registration Query System website. However, I can't even find my current boat in that system. And I do have the Pleasure Craft License.

By the way, I am looking at a boat in Quebec but plan to register it in Ontario where I live.

Thanks.

[JimW]

The Transport Canada Vessel Registry is only for boat registered as commercial boats, so no boats with Pleasure Craft License will appear in the registration query. My boat is registered as a commercial small vessel, I checked my boat does show up.

I found this on the Transport Canada site.... direct cut and paste...

"How can I find out if the used pleasure craft I want to buy has an outstanding lien, mortgage, or loan against it?

All provinces have personal property registries where citizens can search for financial and security information on personal property such as cars, boats, and tractors.

These personal property registries provide online registration and search services to support both the legislative requirements of the provincial personal property security acts and the enforcement of money judgments and other civil enforcement proceedings.

You can find your provincial site online by performing an Internet search using the name of your province and the phrase "personal property registry." You can also visit your local provincial service centre for more information."

Bought my current boat from a dealership (many years ago) so the process was simple.

Now I am looking to upgrade to a newer boat. Anyone know how to verify the ownership, and any liens against the boat?
I understand there is a pleasure craft license but apparently it is not an ownership/title document.

I found Transport Canada has a Vessel Registration Query System website. However, I can't even find my current boat in that system. And I do have the Pleasure Craft License.

By the way, I am looking at a boat in Quebec but plan to register it in Ontario where I live.

Thanks.

[david]

Thank you Jim. Based on your information, I searched and found a few sites that may be useful to others.

To search for stolen properties in Canada (including vehicles, boats, etc): https://www.cpic-cipc.ca/index-eng.htm

I haven't figured out how it is done yet, but to search for liens in Quebec: https://www.rdprm.gouv.qc.ca/en/pages/english.html

Quebec driver's license check: https://saqclic.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/saaqsto ... rs-licence
This is where I found a discrepancy on the owner's license issue date. In addition, this issue (or "Valide le") date is a future date (2023/05/xx)! He did say he is moving to a new address soon. Anyone knows if Quebec does issue licenses with a future "valide le" date?

[david]

I ended up buying a boat from another person in Quebec.

FYI, I was able to use the RDPRM site to search the credit history of the seller. I had to use the French version of the website however. The English version does not show the link to do the search!

For anyone selling a boat, I suggest going to the buyer's bank to draw up the draft with the buyer. This pretty much guarantees the draft is legit and the fund is available. I have learnt that even a draft can be "fake". The paper for the draft can be stolen from a bank. You can deposit this draft into your bank successfully as the teller cannot tell the difference. You will get a call from the bank a few days later when the draft bounced.

Thank you Jim. Based on your information, I searched and found a few sites that may be useful to others.

To search for stolen properties in Canada (including vehicles, boats, etc): https://www.cpic-cipc.ca/index-eng.htm

I haven't figured out how it is done yet, but to search for liens in Quebec: https://www.rdprm.gouv.qc.ca/en/pages/english.html

Quebec driver's license check: https://saqclic.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/saaqsto ... rs-licence
This is where I found a discrepancy on the owner's license issue date. In addition, this issue (or "Valide le") date is a future date (2023/05/xx)! He did say he is moving to a new address soon. Anyone knows if Quebec does issue licenses with a future "valide le" date?

[JimW]

Thanks for posting an update and some good tips for buying and selling a boat.

So the important question….. what did you buy for a boat?

[david]

It's a 2013 Lund 1775 Impact with a 115 and a 9.9 on separate control boxes. With a few more upgrades (fishfinders, electric trolling motor, and possibly downriggers), it will be my dream fishing boat. I hope one day I will catch the giants you and others are catching on the great lakes

Thanks for posting an update and some good tips for buying and selling a boat.

So the important question….. what did you buy for a boat?

[JimW]

It's a 2013 Lund 1775 Impact with a 115 and a 9.9 on separate control boxes. With a few more upgrades (fishfinders, electric trolling motor, and possibly downriggers), it will be my dream fishing boat. I hope one day I will catch the giants you and others are catching on the great lakes

Thanks for posting an update and some good tips for buying and selling a boat.

So the important question….. what did you buy for a boat?

That is a great boat, a friend has the same boat.... very stable and runs well, you will love it.