Change ownership/site for boat in Caribbean

[DaveNTL]

why isn't it a way of getting out of the cruising permit requirement?

if you bring in a non-US registered boat you have to have a cruising permit - are you saying if you buy a US registered boat you still have to have a cruising permit?

 

[Salty John]

No, I'm saying if you want to arrive on and cruise your British flagged vessel in the USA you need a cruising permit. If you buy a boat in the US you state register it, (requiring that you pay boat sales tax, registration fee and some other small fees such as a title fee) and don't then need a cruising permit. You need a US address, which can be the marina at which you keep the boat, so you can receive your registration card and other related mail. Contrary to popular belief you cannot register the boat in a state that does not charge tax and then keep it in some other state. Register it in Delaware and you have to keep it in Delaware. On the form you are asked if you are a US citizen. If you are not you are required to de-document the vessel if it is USCG documented. Your nationality or residence status is irrelevant.
You should fly a US ensign, although there is no legal flagging requirement for state registered boats. If you fly a foreign flag you are more likely to be stopped and asked for your cruising permit, a nuisance. None of the above avoids the requirement for you, the individual as opposed to the boat, to be legally in the USA. If you leave the USA on your state registered vessel and wish to return, you still need to clear out and clear back in, which will require that you have the necessary visa. You must have this visa before arrival in the USA.
Whew, have I forgotten anything? I'm getting bored with this thread!

 

[stevesales]

Don't blame me, I only started it.

 

[DaveNTL]

We'd already noted it was your fault drowning. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Put me off responding to some other bloke in another thread who said you can only get insurance in the states if you're a US citizen. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Salty John]

Yes, Drowning, look what you started. I only hope you got an answer to your original question - whatever it was!