Boat Registration

[TUG-A-BAGO]

My wife and I are going to be purchasing a R-31 in the future. We have a place in Florida and wish to cruise the Bahamas, BVI and into Canada. I've been researching Boat registration and learned it is easier to transit foreign countries with a Federal registration versus a State. Does anyone have any experience with this. Also, do local jurisdictions stop you because you don't have state numbers. Any info would be greatly appreciated

 

[knotflying]

I have cruised Canada and Bahamas with state registrations, no issues. I recently got USCG documentation and so far no issues locally.

 

[baz]

Note that the USCG & Homeland Security Documentation now requires an annual fee of $26 starting this year. I can't recall what the initial fee for the Documentation was back in 2009. The Govt. fees are nonetheless increasing these days. :roll:

 

[Crewdog]

I believe that most states boating laws will exempt a federally documented vessel from the display of the state registration numbers on the bow, but DO require that a decal be affixed with the years the registration is valid, either on the bow or windows.

A boat owner still must register in the state that the boat is home-ported in.

And each state has different rules on taxing the vessel, either sales and/or property tax as well.

Our boat is documented, and doesn't display state numbers. Last year on the ICW in N Fl, an FWC boat pulled up next to us for a minute while underway, and didn't pull us over, but something tells me he did run our name.

As far as coming back into the U.S., a documentation certificate didn't seem to make a difference, it just was a different screen the Customs Officer had to check; either would do for proof-of-ownership.

State registration databases are available easily to the feds.

 

[knotflying]

An interesting point that Bill brings up regarding the home port and state registration. I am not sure if declaring a particular home port is the triggering point for the state registration requirement but rather how long you may be in a specific state. Each state has different time requirements some are 30 days and some are 90 days. As an example, in Florida, even though my home port is Charlestown, RI, I am required to get a sojourners registration if I am in the state for more than 90 days cumulatively in a calendar year. So even if I am there intermittently, but it adds up to more than 90 days, I am required to register.
As Bill stated, you just have to display the sticker on the window. No numbers on the hull.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Years ago, we had a Corsair (sailing) trimaran that was documented. When taking it to South Dakota (our home state at the time), we were stopped several times for not displaying SD registration numbers. Each time I explained the documentation to the officer, and showed the state registration papers, as well. We finally decided it was easier to just put the state numbers on the boat and not have the inconvenience of being stopped/explaining.

This would be in an inland state where they don't often see documented vessels.

I know some people are under the (mistaken) impression that they don't have to pay state sales/use/pp taxes if the boat is documented. Your state will have a different opinion of that.

 

[bakerboat]

Hi,

We recently documented our R27. In Maine, we pay a bit over $100 for 'Excise Tax'. We get two stickers for either side of the boat and we're good to go.

Regards,
Ken
R27 O'Meara

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We've had documented boats for over 10 years, 4 with our R27. In these 10 years we have had Coast Guard requests for permission to board maybe 5 times and it had nothing to do with our boat being documented. Mostly I really think it has more to do with a sense of curiosity about our boat. Keep in mind that a documented boat, in most states, requires a State registration sticker to be displayed on the forward portion of a boat. If you have a "Coast Guard" or Auxillary Coast Guard safely inspection sticker displayed as well, this helps either speed up a Coast Guard inspection or have them pass you by,

Jim

 

[Rodeo]

I believe I read somewhere in the documentation rules that once documented you cannot display state registration numbers, only the sticker. So far we have never been asked about it in either Montana or Wyoming (that will be the kiss of death).

 

[Crewdog]

Ya know, was just thinking, and it seems that an overlooked advantage to documenting the boat is that your name and contact information would be associated with the vessel in case of an emergency.

We always say our boat name on the radio, but who do you know that says their state registration numbers?

 

[TUG-A-BAGO]

Excellent point Crewdog. That never occurred to me