Selling Your Vessel: How to Expedite the Process

Kim George
May 22
2 min read

Thinking about selling your boat? Whether you're upgrading to a new model or stepping away from ownership altogether, a quick and smooth sale starts with the right preparation—and the right partner. At Pacific Maritime Title, we help streamline the selling process by handling the paperwork, clearing any title issues, and coordinating directly with all parties involved. Here’s some helpful tips on how you can expedite the process and sell your vessel with confidence.

Organize Your Selling Documentation Early

One of the easiest ways to speed up your sale is to have your paperwork ready before listing, and once a Buyer has been identified. Be sure to gather:

Certificate of Documentation or State Title
Registration Documents
Loan Payoff information or Lien Releases (i.e. Satisfaction of Mortgage)
Maintenance and Service Records (Optional)

If anything’s missing, we can help locate or request official replacements to avoid delays.

Clear Liens or Loans with Our Help

At Pacific Maritime Title, we go beyond just identifying liens—we’ll work directly with you and your lender to pay off any outstanding loans and secure the necessary lien releases. Whether it’s a recorded mortgage or a mechanic’s lien, our experienced team handles the communication and documentation needed to clear the title and keep your transaction on track.

Complete Our Seller Questionnaire

To keep the process moving efficiently, we encourage all sellers to complete our Seller Questionnaire early. This gives us the key information we need to begin research, prepare documents, and coordinate the closing. You’ll also want to work closely with the buyer to confirm they completed their Buyer Questionnaire promptly—this step is essential to aligning both sides of the transaction and avoiding delays. Our team is available to answer any questions as you work through the forms.

Download Seller Questionnaire

Leverage Tax Credits

If you're planning to purchase another vessel, ask about potential trade tax credits available in Washington State. These can reduce the taxable amount on your next purchase by applying a credit for the boat you’re purchasing. Our team can help you explore if you're eligible and guide you through what’s needed to complete both transactions properly.

Let Us Coordinate the Closing

From title transfers and lien releases to U.S. Coast Guard documentation and state filings, we take care of all the details—so you don’t have to. We also work directly with brokers, buyers, and financial institutions to keep the process moving and avoid unnecessary delays.

Ready to Sell? We’re Ready to Help. Let Pacific Maritime Title take the stress out of your vessel sale. With expert research, documentation, and coordination, we’ll help you close the deal faster and with total peace of mind.

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