USCG COI for Subchapter T boats

Does anyone here have familiarity with the process of T-boat certification in the US?

I have some general and also specific questions in regard to obtaining a COI and have not had much luck finding answers. Some emails to local prevention units have gone unanswered and I haven't been able to find much information online.

I would like gain a general understanding of the process, costs, timeframes, and key factors involved.

One big question that I have is whether the USCG will now certify any boats that are not being new built and inspected from scratch.

Any insight appreciated!

 

The rules for T boats are found at Federal Register :: Request Access https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-46/chapter-I/subchapter-T. The basic process is. You contact number below and discuss with them what your project is. You will have to submit plans if it's a new boat. For an existing boat they may require to actually see the boat and then tell you what changes need to be made to conform to the requirements. Some existing boats cannot meet the rules. Even on boats that can be upgraded to meet the rules, the changes may be cost prohibitive. If the WA in your profile means Washington the people you need to contact are in Seattle call 206.220.7275 Passenger Vessel Safety Specialist / Domestic Vessels
or contact The National Maritime Center Customer Service Center NMC https://www.dco.uscg.mil/nmc/contact/ and you can use the Live Chat, email or call them. After answering you questions they may redirect you to someone more local to you.

 

Thanks for the comeback, Ike.

I have spent some time reading the CFR's, but I am really looking for more of the unwritten policies and experience from people like yourself who are familiar with how it works in practice, what it's like working with the local prevention units, what some of the largest hangups/expenses are likely to be (apart from work/modifications to the vessel). Tough questions to answer with limited information though, and all specific to the project in question. The boat I'm looking at is a pretty good candidate, I think. It was built professionally to a high standard, to a high quality design. Contact was initiated with the local MSO during building, and the plans were initially stamped by their office at that time. The COI was never issued though and from my understanding, some significant modifications from the original plans may have been made.

Your advice to contact the local inspection unit is solid. I have emailed them already, but I will try to give them a call. From my understanding, they are responsible for inspecting an incredible number of vessels and based on the fact that the USCG is hurting for manpower, I imagine they have a lot on their plate. That's part of the reason why I was hoping to learn as much as possible before initiating contact with them. I didn't realize the NMC live chat would be able to address these sorts of questions, so I may give that a try as well. Since the project I'm looking at will surely require some N.A. work, I have also been looking for one who is intimately familiar with the process and is willing to do some consulting.

I looked at your New Boatbuilders website and it seems like a great resource as well. Are you located anywhere near Port Townsend by chance?

 

All my experience with the Coast Guard was with recreational boats. I have a passing knowledge of the process because I used to get this question frequently. How do I get my boat inspected for certification? I do not have an in depth knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the process. But as with many government offices, getting to the right individual is the hard part. I hope I pointed you in the right direction.

I got a real chuckle from your " are you anywhere near Port Townsend". I'm in Seattle. But I almost grew up in Port Townsend. My folks had a summer cabin on Hood Canal and we made weekly journeys to PT for supplies. I lived there for a while in the 70's. After I retired form the Coast Guard my wife and I lived in a RV and PT was one of our favorite places to go to. The county fairgrounds have an RV park. I haven't been there in about 4 years because frankly I'm getting up there in age, and it's a long drive. But it is still one of my favorite places. I have hundreds off photos I took there. (one of my hobbies)

 

Sent you a PM.