Boat Registration as an Expat

[Savannah95]

I am a US citizen living in the UK and I am having difficulty registering my new yacht. The UK registration requires you to be a UK citizen and the US requires you to register with the state the boat resides in. Other than not being able to take the yacht into inland water ways does anyone know the downsides of not registering your boat anywhere? While I have sailed for a while I am new to boat ownership.

 

[PlanB]

Have a look at the terms for the more expensive Part 1.
This might help:
Eligibility criteria for UK registered ship

* non-United Kingdom nationals who are settled in the United Kingdom
If none of the qualified owners are resident in the UK, a representative must be appointed who is either of the following:
* an individual resident in the UK

 

[Tranona]

If you are established in the UK you can register on the Part 3 register, and as PlanB says you can also register on Part 1 which is a register of title, and probably the better choice. Speak to the registry. If the boat is only used in the UK no need to register at all, but if going outside UK territorial waters registration is required under International Maritime law.

 

[[70521]]

I am a US citizen living in the UK and I am having difficulty registering my new yacht. The UK registration requires you to be a UK citizen and the US requires you to register with the state the boat resides in. Other than not being able to take the yacht into inland water ways does anyone know the downsides of not registering your boat anywhere? While I have sailed for a while I am new to boat ownership.

Are you planning to take it overseas? If not there is no need to register the vessel.

 

[Refueler]

I am a US citizen living in the UK and I am having difficulty registering my new yacht. The UK registration requires you to be a UK citizen and the US requires you to register with the state the boat resides in. Other than not being able to take the yacht into inland water ways does anyone know the downsides of not registering your boat anywhere? While I have sailed for a while I am new to boat ownership.

If you have no intention of sailing outside of UK waters - then don't bother registering at all.

SSR (Part 3) tightened up a few years back and they now often ask for proof of residence in UK by utility bills etc. This was why my Part 3 lapsed and I had to seek reg'n elsewhere. (I live in Latvia, but still a UK citizen with a UK boat - now Latvian register).
Part 1 is a pain in the **** as it needs a designated Certified Survey for tonnage etc.

I would suggest if you want to sail outside UK waters - look for another simple registry such as Polish .. Swedish ... etc. which basically issue a Reg'n Doc and that's it.

 

[westernman]

I am a US citizen living in the UK and I am having difficulty registering my new yacht. The UK registration requires you to be a UK citizen and the US requires you to register with the state the boat resides in. Other than not being able to take the yacht into inland water ways does anyone know the downsides of not registering your boat anywhere? While I have sailed for a while I am new to boat ownership.

You can register it on the SSR (part 3) if you are resident in the UK. No need to be a UK citizen.
SSR part 3 is the easiest and cheapest way to get your boat registered.

Here is the official run down:-

Register a boat

Part 3 registration - small boats
Use Part 3 of the register (small ships register) if:

• your boat is less than 24 metres long
• your boat is a pleasure vessel
• you live in the UK for at least 185 days of the year

You cannot use Part 3 of the register if you’re a business.
Registering on Part 3 of the register means you’ll be able to prove your boat’s nationality when sailing outside UK waters.

It costs £35 for 5 years.

You’ll be sent a renewal notice when it’s time to renew.