to be US documented, the vessel must be owned -- and operated -- by a US
citizen. That means as a non-US citizen you can not own or operate a US
documented vessel. you *can* own and operate a _state_ *registered* vessel
(state meaning one of the 50 states, or various US territories).

However, many countries will not allow a vessel without country documentation
to enter. many (most?) Caribbean countries will allow a state registered US
vesse to enter without US (federal) documentation, because a US citizen from
say Florida is more than welcome to spend his money in say the Bahamas. The
French Caribbean countries are reported to fine US registered vessels for
entering without "proper" US documentation.

hope this helps. if not, ask again and I'll try to explain it better.

I'm not sure I completely understand the finer point you are making here.
If I travel from Aus to US and by a yacht second hand I can sail her away to
anywhere in the world. What I can't do is buy a US yacht and still call it
a US yacht?
I think. You obviously understand the rules very well - can you explain a
bit more for someone who doesn't.
thanks


Hoges in WA
Remove the zeds.