Registration help needed pls...

freeradical · #1 10-16-2009

My wife and I are buying our first sailboat out of Annapolis. We will be bringing her down to the Caribbean right away. We cannot get her coast guard documented because we're legal us residents but not citizens yet.
I understand that a state registration is not enough to cruise in some of the islands (French, BVI ?)
Would a Puerto Rico or USVI registration allow us to cruise in foreign islands ?
What would the tax(es) implications be ?
I can't seem to find relevant info anywhere, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

freeradical · #2 10-17-2009

Any thoughts ?

paulk · #3 10-20-2009

I would try contacting the French embassy nearest you to see what the deal is for entry into their islands in the Caribbean. While Documentation with the US Coast Guard may make things smoother, it would seem unlikely that a vessel properly registered with a state (MD) would have major problems, though the Brits (and their colonial offshoots) may tend to be sticklers. I would certainly contact the USCG about leaving the US and possibly registering your departure somehow. Perhaps others have better suggestions.

gtod25 · #4 10-20-2009

no tax implications, but I had a sister living on St. Croix which helped.

The French islands were a PITA but then again there French. It depends on who you meet at check in. One guy threw the reg card on the desk and said "this is not a country" and walked away. I left the office and hung around for another four days, no problem. Another time they checked me in fine. If Deshaies, Guadeloupe you often do a sort of self check in. It helps if you are not an American

.

All this was four years ago so you might check other boards. Personally as you have no other option I would register in whatever State suits you. I believe Delaware has no tax. e-mail be at whitby42 "at" gmail dot com if you want any more info.

Congrats on the new boat.

Gerry