Where to register/flag my sailboat?

[dunedin]

…….

Some may agree with all this but as I built the foat from a bare hull / superstructure I consider myself as a competent person but the authorities don't so I must pay someone to survey my boat when I know every inch of the boat which the surveyors dont know the boat as well as I do.

Bit of a topic stray from the OPs registration need, but I can 100% see why an owner builder would not be recognised as a suitable surveyor to inspect a vessel (if one accepted that such an inspection is necessary, which is a different question).
You may be very competent and knowledgable - but there are thousands of DIY builds and modifications that have been done by people who are, at best, “lacking somewhat in expertise”. There are countless tales on here of incredibly bizarre and often simply dangerous things found on boats which were done by previous owners.
The authorities have no way of knowing whether you are one of the real experts, a dangerous “bodger” or something in between. Hence they would rightly insist on an independent and professionally qualified surveyor. Seems sensible to me.

 

[Craigie]

Sailing the New England coast over the past few years with a state reg. has been cheap and painless. You just pay the annual fee, slap the sticker on and you are good.
The Polish flag seems easy enough. I'll have to look at how liability insurance with a Polish flag would work. Also reg. requires a ce certificate, which is a European health and safety standard. The boat is a 1984 US build Freedom. I'll have to inquire if it meets the ce requirements.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Bit of a topic stray from the OPs registration need, but I can 100% see why an owner builder would not be recognised as a suitable surveyor to inspect a vessel (if one accepted that such an inspection is necessary, which is a different question).
You may be very competent and knowledgable - but there are thousands of DIY builds and modifications that have been done by people who are, at best, “lacking somewhat in expertise”. There are countless tales on here of incredibly bizarre and often simply dangerous things found on boats which were done by previous owners.
The authorities have no way of knowing whether you are one of the real experts, a dangerous “bodger” or something in between. Hence they would rightly insist on an independent and professionally qualified surveyor. Seems sensible to me.

Yes I can see your point

Inspection/survey is a require in law to ensure the owner is maintaining the vessel at a defined level of seaworthiness

In the same way that police can stop a vehicle to check the drivers licence and road licence

When you enter any country you will be check to ensure have a valid passport and or the correct visa.

The inland revenue will do an audit on your VAT and .or income . expense

No payment is due to the authorities in any of these actions ensuring you are complying with the laws

I have no issue with the authorities inspecting for ensure I am keeping my boat seaworthy as specified in the law of the land but I do have issue with paying the authorities that they claim is a service that is just ensuring I am complying with the law

 

[Tranona]

Sailing the New England coast over the past few years with a state reg. has been cheap and painless. You just pay the annual fee, slap the sticker on and you are good.
The Polish flag seems easy enough. I'll have to look at how liability insurance with a Polish flag would work. Also reg. requires a ce certificate, which is a European health and safety standard. The boat is a 1984 US build Freedom. I'll have to inquire if it meets the ce requirements.

Polish registration is commonly used in Europe by people who either have difficulty in getting a state registration or more commonly to avoid some of the onerous requirements of certain European states. Your boat will definitely not meet the requirements for a CE mark which means complying with the RCD.

Far and away your best choice is UK or Channel Islands Part 1 which as already noted is an open register of both flag state and title. The sticking points are usually having evidence of clear title, the survey and appointing a representative in the UK (does not have to be a company, can be an individual with a UK address who only acts as a post box). There are agents who will handle the registration and provide the contact point. The survey is a one off cost but once you have that the ongoing costs are minimal, just a modest 5 year renewal fee. As you have found out most of the flags of convenience are aimed at the higher end market and all will have some form of survey as they are mostly registers of title so need a physical inspection of some sort to confirm the vessel actually exists. This is because a register of title means that one can secure a loan against the title of the boat.

All a bit OTT just to get a "flag state" for a small yacht, but that is the reality as international maritime law requires evidence of flag state. Normally that is the same as the owner. but many states make it difficult for their citizens or residents to actually use their registers, particularly as is increasingly common people do not reside in the state of their citizenship.

 

[Craigie]

Thanks Tranona.

 

[Refueler]

The skipper licence in SA does have a limitation.

Mine is Costal which is defined as 40 nm offshore but the authorities also added that I cannot skipper my boat over boarder even I can do that within 40 nm offshore

If I wish to go further I must either take extra tests or take a qualified skipper

Sod that !!

You have my sympathy !

 

[Refueler]

Bit of a topic stray from the OPs registration need, but I can 100% see why an owner builder would not be recognised as a suitable surveyor to inspect a vessel (if one accepted that such an inspection is necessary, which is a different question).
You may be very competent and knowledgable - but there are thousands of DIY builds and modifications that have been done by people who are, at best, “lacking somewhat in expertise”. There are countless tales on here of incredibly bizarre and often simply dangerous things found on boats which were done by previous owners.
The authorities have no way of knowing whether you are one of the real experts, a dangerous “bodger” or something in between. Hence they would rightly insist on an independent and professionally qualified surveyor. Seems sensible to me.

As a Surveyor - I have to agree !!