FWC

[pipefitter]

Ok, I got my boat finished and ready for sea trial. I call FL. Wildlife Commission out to inspect the boat so that they can verify it is indeed a home built vessel for the registration requirements. So who do they send me but noneother than Jr. Jerkstick! I could almost predict the outcome. I had done my homework,filled out the required paperwork and had everything ready.Pictures,reciepts,photos and any other documentation just incase. First off,he was a jerk,rejected the normal greetings or professional courtesies. Ok,that's not his job,I can understand that. A little egg on the o'l mug never hurt. SO we go thru with the inspection and then I ask him for the inspection certificate so i can register my boat. He says,I can't give you anything. I said well,let me make a copy of what you filled out so I can atleast show you were here. Nope,can't do that and then tells me it will take 2 MONTHS before I can register my boat!I was like...WHAAAAAAT? Then he tells me that he will put it on his supervisors desk and he will file it off to Tallahassee WHEN he gets back from his vacation?
So the whole state halts when your boss goes on vacation? I am really getting pissed by now and no confidence whatsoever that the paperwork will ever get filed and it will take me 2 months before I can start complaining?No reference # or record of them even being there?

What happened was,he didnt have the right forms or the right clue to what he was even doing there. I had the forms and requirements and asked him to look at what I had. Nope...just blew me off and then left. So tonight I get home and there's a msg on my VM saying he has the forms at the office or can mail them to me and I can get my boat registered while still sounding like he's doing me a favor after me being treated like I was a criminal scum

After the boat is registered,I am going to chew someone a new A$$ about the lack of courtesy and professionalism that abounds with the highest form of law enforcement in our state. This after the day before,a county sheriff pulls out in front of me nearly wiping me out and never even knew it happened.

[seayou7]

I feel your pain! There can be hurdles to cross but ignorance and bravado are a deadly combination. There are some boats which are not registered out there, for instance racing boats are arguably not required to register. Just wondering how you might slide into a convenient crack in the system. Good luck! Vigilance is the price of freedom.

[Hal Forsen]

Don't those petty little gubment noodniks chap your hide?
Looking forward to pictures of that sweet skiff on the water Paul.
What is her name BTW ?
Good luck
HF

[warthog5]

I don't know what to tell you. I live in Pensacola, Fl. and it went very smooth.
He had one form and checked the box's. He didn't give me anything, but showed me the form. Time has escaped me now, as this was done in 2003, but a couple of week's latter I got a form in the mail to take to the DMV.

I had the inspection done about halfway thru the build. No paint was on the boat. So I was ready to go when the boat was complete and didn't have to wait, like you are now.
The whole inspection took 15min, but he hung around and we shot the S#@t for another 30min at least.

[jlapratt]

Wait until you get to the DMV! At 16' I didn't have to get the boat inspected but the DMV was just as bad. Fortunately, I studied up and was well-versed in the rules so that when the clerk said "I've never done this before" I was ready to help. Remember to bring in your sales receipts (properly bound, organized, and tabulated on a separate spreadsheet) or you'll have more problems.

And don't forget to carve your HID on the transom and another inconspicuous place. Finally found a use for my little dremel on the boat build.

Jeff

P.S. Yes, I hate the little buggers too. The DMV is nothing more than a frustration and revenue generator. :mad:

[Tom Robb]

It shouldn't be necessary with public "servants" , but being cozy with the political overlord of the mement wouldn't hurt. A word to a frindly ear in office can work wonders with bureaucrats.
My experience with inspectors has been better, but I went to them and asked what they wanted to see to make both our tasks easier. Many are just diong a job like the rest of us and seemed to apreciate the head's-up.

[pipefitter]

The skiff is registered. I had all the documents/reciepts/plans in order and everything.Also a picture showing my mailbox with the skiff in the background. A Simmons Sea Skiff is an obvious build,especially when you have full photo documentation and a dated website coinciding with the photographs submitted at the inspection. The document from the tax collector office stated what to expect as far as protocol concerning the inspecting officer's requirements.When I got home he had sent me VM's because he had the wrong forms with him. He promptly sent them in the mail and they arrived 2 days later.I did return the call and left a VM saying that I appreciated the expedience of the certificate.

The tax office told me that all they are interested is that the boat is indeed homemade, no former liens and not one that the hull #'s have
been scrubbed off,painted with latex and a roller and called homemade.

This is a brand new boat,no prior history and the 2 months wait would be expected for an issue such as filing for a lost title.There's several more financial/legal trails to trace in that situation.

My issue really was the officer's boatside manners.I have no criminal record and altho I didn't expect any enthusiasm or a need to be friends,just professional courtesy as in any busines transaction.Not like I had just been caught with a full length manatee coat with matching slippers.

Hal,I am trying to launch the boat before the weekend to miss the weekend warriors. If not,will be sometime during next week. Boat ramp is only a mile away.No way do I want to be in the middle of that madhouse trying this thing out for the first time.