"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
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 thinks I's gettin the jist of it.
A US documented vessel belongs to a US citizen. He offers it for sale. I
buy it.
BUT
I then must turn it into an Australian vessel and because I have done so
Australia is then responsible for my actions on the high seas, not America.
The USof A doesn't want a bucketload of Aussies or any-ies rushing about the
high seas in vessels purporting to be US vessels - they reserve their
responsibilities for their citizens.

As long as I make the yacht Australian, I am then free (customs/immigration
consenting) to tour the US and any other country that allows me as an
Australian registered vessel, not a US registered vessel.
Which makes sense.

You were getting me on the finer turns of phraseology. Where you were using
'documented' I think I lost you - if I call it "registered" would that match
what you meant?

Hate to be painful but as retirement approaches this is a possibility.
Strange as it may seem, a chappie from my little country seaside town on the
other side of the world to you wandered off the the Caribbean to buy hisself
a boat to sail back because of the vast range and modest prices and it's
certainly something I'd consider.

--
Hoges in WA
Remove the zeds.