Does anyone know how this works? I have an uncle who moved here from California and left his 19’ Sea Pro in my back yard. I want to use it but can’t find my uncle anymore. Weird I know.
Everything I read says to send a certified letter to his last know address with as balance and due date. After 30 days to file a lien at the county deeds office. Then I can go get a title from DNR. Does that sound right?
When was the last time you saw or heard from him?
He is going to be pissed, when he comes back for it!
quote:You have made one post and you ask a question concerning a Sea Pro from California. :clown_face: Please, send me a PM. I have 790 walk-to spots that produce redfish on the fly rod 364 days a year. One day a year tarpon force the reds off the flat and I have to bring my 12wt. Dang tarpon!
Originally posted by pdstalveyDoes anyone know how this works? I have an uncle who moved here from California and left his 19’ Sea Pro in my back yard. I want to use it but can’t find my uncle anymore. Weird I know.
Everything I read says to send a certified letter to his last know address with as balance and due date. After 30 days to file a lien at the county deeds office. Then I can go get a title from DNR. Does that sound right?
quote:
You have made one post and you ask a question concerning a Sea Pro from California.
WTH???
I thought it was a legitimate question. Does it matter if it’s his first post or not??
Who better to ask than fisherman who may have some “real insight”.
As for the original poster’s question… Never had any dealing with your particular situation, but I don’t believe it will be that simple.
I once had an old boat that was given to me by my wife’s grandmother. The title was in her deceased husband’s name. The boat didn’t have much value so it was not feasable to go through the paper work to have the title transfered to me. Your case may be diffrent since it sounds like you have a fairly nice boat in the yard.
Best to call down to DNR and get their side of the story.
I’m guessing you don’t have any of the papers at all? No registration card? Probably out of date anyway?
218WA Sailfish
The "Penn"sion Plan
Quick search yielded this.
Under South Carolina law a vehicle may be declared abandoned if it has been left unattended on a public highway for more than 48 hours, left on private or public property for more than seven days without the consent of the property owner or left at a shop or garage after the termination of a repair or storage contract at least 30 days after a written notice to remove the vehicle is given to its registered owner. Reporting an abandoned vehicle to a law enforcement officer is mandatory in South Carolina. Private citizens should not attempt to arrange for the vehicle to be towed themselves, and garage owners must apply for permission before auctioning the vehicle.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
I promise this is a legit question. My Uncle lost his job and couldn’t afford to use it anymore. That is the reason he moved from CA to SC. He has since got a job in NV and I can’t get a hold of him. I’m sure he isn’t going to be pissed because he is more than welcome to it if he ever comes back. What is my loss is he decides he wants it and I have less that $200 for a new boat?
I have been a longtime troller of the website picking tips up from all of you. I know there are a lot of experts fisherman and figured someone had an idea of how the storage liens work. I just feel like the law is a little loose if that is all that needs to be done, but i also understand there are a lot of abandoned boats. Maybe this is just the easy way for the state to help regulate the problem?
Why not just keep the boat in his name and get all the proper registration for it. Sign his name to the documents, and then see about adding it under your insurance so you are covered for liability on the water, not him. That way you get to use the boat, and if he ever comes back for it all you lost was the money to get it legal. By the time you pay taxes, insurance, and registration it might be better if you just found your own boat though.
However, in this technology age, I find it hard to believe that you couldn’t track him down if you really wanted to. Sounds like you just want a free boat.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
You are not a storage facility so you are not entitled to any compensation unless you have a written contract stating so. You will have to follow what salty wrote. You will need to report the to police that the boat was abandoned. You will have to show proof that you tried to contact owner. You will also have to wait the 30days. The burden is all on you.
Scout 185
I can’t get the registration because California won’t give it to me. I will try it as abandoned and I will let you know how it goes.
So, anyway…to ask again…when was the last time you heard from him?
quote:
Originally posted by cape_fishermanSo, anyway…to ask again…when was the last time you heard from him?
Christmas 2012. He was going to Vegas to find work and disappeared.
Also to follow up, I spoke with DNR and I have to file an affidavit in support of title off the DNR website. It only requires a certified letter and an ad in the local paper for three straight days.
You can apply for an abandoned boat title. You will probably have to run an ad in the local and state newspaper. You will need to look up the boats info from the state it was last registered. Take all the info you have to the DNR station on James Island and they will help you
I did this in 2004-2005 and had no problems.
Grady 282
A-Salt Weapon
Until you find out there’s still a bank lien on it and then someone comes and picks it up for you.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Sign his name to the documents,
I think he’s looking for the legal way to do it …[:0]
For anyone wanting to know the process, here is what the DNR site says:
"16) Watercraft/Outboard Motor - Found/Abandoned
To title or register a watercraft or outboard motor that has been found, abandoned or where proper paperwork cannot be obtained to issue a clear title then you will need to complete an Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor.
S.C. Law prohibits the sale or purchase of watercraft or outboard motor without a valid title issued in the seller’s name to assign over to the purchaser at the time of sale. If you purchase a watercraft and/or an outboard motor without a title then you will need to obtain the proper chain of paperwork from previous owner(s), along with the fees and then you will need to complete an Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor."
I see where the OP says that California won’t give HIM the registration. Hard to imagine, though, that the SC DNR would not be able to get the registration information from California before they issue a new title or registration in SC? I have to give SCDNR more credit than that.
But maybe there is the “Drunk-Uncle Clause”. Steal a boat from another state, drive it to SC, tell the SCDNR that your “Drunk-Uncle” went to Vegas and ‘abandoned’ a $100,000 Contender in your yard and they issue YOU a new title. Sweet! 
quote:
Originally posted by TyOneOnFor anyone wanting to know the process, here is what the DNR site says:
"16) Watercraft/Outboard Motor - Found/Abandoned
To title or register a watercraft or outboard motor that has been found, abandoned or where proper paperwork cannot be obtained to issue a clear title then you will need to complete an Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor.
S.C. Law prohibits the sale or purchase of watercraft or outboard motor without a valid title issued in the seller’s name to assign over to the purchaser at the time of sale. If you purchase a watercraft and/or an outboard motor without a title then you will need to obtain the proper chain of paperwork from previous owner(s), along with the fees and then you will need to complete an Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor."
I see where the OP says that California won’t give HIM the registration. Hard to imagine, though, that the SC DNR would not be able to get the registration information from California before they issue a new title or registration in SC? I have to give SCDNR more credit than that.
But maybe there is the “Drunk-Uncle Clause”. Steal a boat from another state, drive it to SC, tell the SCDNR that your “Drunk-Uncle” went to Vegas and ‘abandoned’ a $100,000 Contender in your yard and they issue YOU a new title. Sweet!
Maybe be so. But the last thing I want if for a boat to go bad in my backyard because no one has a registration on it. I would be willing to pay any taxes or whatever is needed. I just don’t know another way to do it. California also isn’t a title state. Dnr said something about how California wasn’t compatible with South Carolina.
The other option I have is to take it somewhere else and truly
quote:
Originally posted by pdstalveyquote:
Originally posted by TyOneOnFor anyone wanting to know the process, here is what the DNR site says:
"16) Watercraft/Outboard Motor - Found/Abandoned
To title or register a watercraft or outboard motor that has been found, abandoned or where proper paperwork cannot be obtained to issue a clear title then you will need to complete an Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor.
S.C. Law prohibits the sale or purchase of watercraft or outboard motor without a valid title issued in the seller’s name to assign over to the purchaser at the time of sale. If you purchase a watercraft and/or an outboard motor without a title then you will need to obtain the proper chain of paperwork from previous owner(s), along with the fees and then you will need to complete an Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor."
I see where the OP says that California won’t give HIM the registration. Hard to imagine, though, that the SC DNR would not be able to get the registration information from California before they issue a new title or registration in SC? I have to give SCDNR more credit than that.
But maybe there is the “Drunk-Uncle Clause”. Steal a boat from another state, drive it to SC, tell the SCDNR that your “Drunk-Uncle” went to Vegas and ‘abandoned’ a $100,000 Contender in your yard and they issue YOU a new title. Sweet!
Maybe be so. But the last thing I want if for a boat to go bad in my backyard because no one has a registration on it. I would be willing to pay any taxes or whatever is needed. I just don’t know another way to do it. Californ
You can take it to my place and abandon it.
Scout 185