Rick Morel wrote:

On Sat, 17 Mar 2007 20:54:16 -0400, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

I think you are right. If you are a legal resident of a state, this case
LA. then you are required to buy a state registration which is little
more than a tax. In Florida, if one lives or even works for three months
one is required to register the boat in Florida even if it's documented.
The only difference is documented boats don't have to display the
registration numbers but they still must pay for a registration and must
display the little registration sticker.

Wilbur Hubbard

Not in LA. If the boat is documented, Wildlife and Fisheries doesn't
want to have anything to do with it. No tax, no sticker, no nuttin'.
Would be the same if he registered in England, the Bahamas or Canada.
If you document a state registered boat they actually appreciate an
email, mail or phone call so they can delete from the database.

Molesworth, you could state register in LA if you want. I take it you
have a LA driver's license? Don't know why you'd want to, though.

That's interesting. I think that's the way it used to be in TX too.
The question comes when you visit Florida (if you do). Florida gives
you 90 days if your boat is registered in another state (although this
seems to be less of a problem now than it used to be) before they make
you change the registration to Florida. If it isn't registered in
another state - documented or not - then it has to be registered at
once in Florida.

This is what I thought the OP was referring to when he said the boat
had been de-registered in Florida. From the Florida Boat Registration
website.

Sales Tax
If you purchase a vessel, you'll need to pay state sales tax when you apply for registration and the title. If you've already paid sales tax in another state, simply provide show the tax collector a receipt of tax paid and you'll only be charged the difference, if applicable.

After the purchase of a boat, you have 30 days to apply for registration and title from your local county tax collector's office, either in the county where the boat is located or where you reside. Even though you have about a month to complete your application, you'll still need to carry a copy of the bill of sale with proof of purchase date on the vessel at all times.

Registration and Titling Exemptions
Certain vessels are not required to be registered or titled in Florida. The following do not require registration (but may require titles; see below): vessels without motors, vessels used strictly in private lakes or ponds, U.S. government-owned vessels, and vessels used strictly as lifeboats for other vessels.

Vessels that don't require titling include: unmotored vessels less than 16 feet in length, U.S. government-owned vessels, vessels used strictly in private lakes or ponds, vessels used strictly for demonstrations by a dealer or manufacturer, vessels owned by the State of Florida, vessels from another country (with a temporary 90-day permit), and vessels already registered in another state or jurisdiction (as long as it won't be operating in Florida waters for more than 90 days).