A free, independent online registry has been set up for privately owned sea boats around the UK.
BoatID lets owners keep their boat, engine and trailer details in one place, with photos and serial numbers, and gives each boat a permanent BoatID number. Every registration is checked by a person before it is confirmed.
Each verified boat gets a public record page and a QR code that can be printed and fixed to the boat. Anyone who scans it can see the boat’s identifying details and whether it has been reported stolen. The owner can be contacted through BoatID, but the page never shows the owner’s name or address.
BoatID was started by Simon Freedman (pictured), a boat owner whose own RIB was stolen. It was recovered only because his trailer had his vehicle registration on it.
“There was nothing independent for ordinary boats like mine,” he said. “I wanted owners to have something simple that stays with the boat, even if it is sold.”
Registration is free for individual owners, for as long as BoatID exists. Owners can register at https://boatid.uk.
