Documente or License

[ncapener]

Hello,
I just bought a 39 ft sailboat that is currently a Documented vessel.
I have the option to continue the documented vessel status or just license the boat with the state. What are the advantages to having a documented boat?
Thanks,
Neal

[BOLTER33]

You only pay onece for documentation , and renewals are free.

[Delirious]

In NY you still have to register (their way of assuring the payment of sales tax). Though the Coast Guard won't bother you but woe be unto you if you enter waterways patrolled by county sherrifs, state or park police. So it just costs more as the state still wants their pound of flesh.

The only advantage hereabouts is documentation is nationwide and potentially better for interstate or international travel.

[sailingdog]

If you're planning on sailing to other countries, you will want to get USCG documentation, since it can often simplify things like customs check-in and out. As pointed out above, it is a one-time fee with free renewals.

[eMKay]

Originally Posted by Delirious

In NY you still have to register (their way of assuring the payment of sales tax). Though the Coast Guard won't bother you but woe be unto you if you enter waterways patrolled by county sherrifs, state or park police. So it just costs more as the state still wants their pound of flesh.

The only advantage hereabouts is documentation is nationwide and potentially better for interstate or international travel.

Isn't this the case with most states and provinces?

[camaraderie]

Documentation is necessary only if you plan to travel to other countries OR if you are financing the boat, the bank will require it. Otherwise, just stick with the state registration since you will have to register it there anyway.

[SVCarolena]

Keep the documentation for the reasons already mentioned, and also because it avoids state title requirements making transfers of ownership much easier, IMHO.

[Delirious]

Originally Posted by eMKay

Isn't this the case with most states and provinces?

Dunnoh.

States have many and various tax & registration rules for vehicles vs. property. I've only ever wandered through the minefields of NY and have the bruises to show it. Our 34 and 27 were both documented, and I got slapped with a "operating an unregistered vehicle" on my NYS DRIVER'S license by a county sheriff when I pulled the Pearson 27 up to a state park dock with no registration sticker on the nose. I had to fight to get it reduced to a "simple" fine (after showing proof of registration within X days after the ticket and prior to my court date, and of course paying the sales tax, which I had been told by the seller was unnecessary and the beauty of documentation - be careful who you believe) that didn't impact my driver's license/auto insurance. Surprisingly I made it for two years before anyone caught this.

I assume others might not know this and it's certainly worth checking. I was clueless and thought it was one or the other. As I recall the Coast Guard documentation paperwork says the state is not ALLOWED to issue numbers to the boat if it is documented; so you do not place them on the boat, yet the registration assigns a number to the "vehicle".

[sailboy21]

Little trick that may keep the revenuers off your back, if you talk slick anyway and don't have a permanent slip or a mooring ball in front of the harbor patrol office. You can pick any hailing port in the U.S. So if you live in New York register your hailing port as Dutch Harbor or something... then you are just a transient I know a couple people in South Carolina that avoided property taxes this way. You just had to leave state waters for x number of days a year. I guess this doesn't work in Florida and they are now requiring even out of state documented vessels to pay tribute. There is a clause that the Federal government can sieze your vessel and use it for whatever but now since patriot act ALL vessels regardless of registration are subject to siezure anyway.

[Boasun]

Originally Posted by sailboy21

Little trick that may keep the revenuers off your back, if you talk slick anyway and don't have a permanent slip or a mooring ball in front of the harbor patrol office. You can pick any hailing port in the U.S. So if you live in New York register your hailing port as Dutch Harbor or something... then you are just a transient I know a couple people in South Carolina that avoided property taxes this way. You just had to leave state waters for x number of days a year. I guess this doesn't work in Florida and they are now requiring even out of state documented vessels to pay tribute. There is a clause that the Federal government can sieze your vessel and use it for whatever but now since patriot act ALL vessels regardless of registration are subject to siezure anyway.

Going on the above: I've seen boats whose home ports were Las Vegas Nevada, boise Idaho and other places where that boat either have never been or can get there. It is especially prevailant in Calif. due to the property taxes there.