Extended layup in the USA - paperwork?!!?

[Erico]

I am just about to close the deal on a boat I am buying in the US from a US citizen. I will be registering it immediately with the UK small ships registry.

We want to go to the Caribbean. Apart from 4 weeks cruising in US waters next year I can't get away long term until Summer 2006. This means leaving the boast in the US for 2 years.

I am having real difficulty finding out how I can do this and what paperwork I need. Can anyone point me in the right direction.

There is no difficulty with visas - its the cruising permit for the boat that is the problem. My understanding is that after 12 months you should visit another country before you can renew for another 12 months.

Thanks.

Eric


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[Sea Devil]

Eric hi,
I seem to remember I had a problem after the lightning strike - I had been in US waters longer than a year and had to get the coastguard to give me an extension. It did present a few problems and was before Sept 11... I think the US coastguard have a web site.. They were basicly helpful. If you can't find the info from the US CC then try Moorings sales in Ft Lauderdale - they have a web site and pose the problem as a potential buyer..
regards
Michael


<hr width=100% size=1>If you have time visit my web site
www.michaelbriant.com/sailing

 

[andysignol]

I bought a boat September in San Francisco with the intention of leaving in June. The boat was a US registered boat and I experienced no problem in changing the registry using the SSR. I then went to customs house to apply for a cruising permit for the year as I now was the owner of a British boat in US waters. However I was told that they could only issue a cruising permit if I had an entry certificate and as the boat hadn't left and then reentered the US they couldn't issue one. I was also told that when I was ready to leave the US I should go down to customs and they would issue me with a permit to sail to the next port. My impression is that the rules and regs are open to interpretation.

good luck

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