Buying in America

[hrsailor]

My daughter wants to buy a boat in Florida and sail to the Caribbean. How does she get insurance in America as she is not an American citizen. Also the boat apparently needs a coastguard certificate, again a problem with not being American. Can the boat be registered and insured here in the UK? She does not want to import it to the EU so she is not worried re: CE marking VAT etc. Thank you for any advice.

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[ccscott49]

I would also be interested in any replies to this post, thanks.

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[Sybarite]

What is your daughter's nationality and where is she ordinarily resident for tax purposes?

John


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[Salty John]

I, a UK citizen and resident, have owned several boats in the US. Any US broker will talk her through the procedure, but basically: The boat will be "state registered" if it is to be kept in the US; an annual fee is payable. If it is "US Coast Guard documented" it must be de-documented because a non-US citizen cannot own a documented vessel. The boat will fly a US ensign. Insurance is arranged through an insurance broker and you could be a resident of Mars for all they care! It is your experience, the type, value and condition of the boat and the cruising area that will determine the premium. If the intention is to leave the USA and cruise the Caribbean, then she could register the boat on the UK SSR, in which case she will fly a British ensign. However, there are then resrictions on how long the boat can remain in the USA, 6 months I believe at the moment.
Look up Florida state registration of recreational vessels on the internet, or ask any of the large brokers in Florida.

John


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[Lizzie_B]

See my answer posted today in reply to bambola's CE certification post. I have done this. If you want any more info please feel free to PM me.

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[snowleopard]

if you want to register on the SSR you'll need to have a UK address. they don't care where the boat is.

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[jimboaw]

A "cruising permit" for a foriegn flagged vessel is valid for 12 months. US Customs don't seem to care how many times you renew it as long as you come in from a non US port. We just pop over to Mexico and then re-enter through Key West. Have been doing so for 7 years. If the boat is state registered then just hold on to the title document but dont bother to renew the registration and remove the state numbers. This will keep the US coastguards at bay to some extent. Better yet she should consider buying a none US boat, plenty around, the customs will issue a first cruising permit on production of the bill of sale and the proof of import tax payment. By the bye in 7 yrs of pottering up and down the E Coast nobody has ever asked to see my cruising permit!

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[hrsailor]

Thanks for all the help. I have directed her to this forum.

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