Bought a 41' Morgan in Ft Myers and, because I took it out of state (to
Louisiana) it has been de-registered from US database.

I am English and want to go to Cuba (amongst other places in the
Caribbean) so thought of registering the boat in UK, even tho I live
permanently in NOLA to avoid the hooha by US Homeland Security etc.

Does anyone have any thoughts on a downside to this idea?

It's a small matter, but now is the time to decide one way or t' other.

Molesworth

Molesworth wrote:

Bought a 41' Morgan in Ft Myers and, because I took it out of state (to
Louisiana) it has been de-registered from US database.

It wouldn't be de-registered because you took it out of Florida. When
you took it out of Florida, you got out of paying Florida use tax
which is levied on the price you pay for the boat and you don't have
to pay the Florida registration. That is just the Florida
registration - not from the USA

You can't document the boat in the US anyway because you are not a US
citizen.

I think you could register the boat in Tortola or in England. I don't
know whether you'd also have to pay to register the boat in Louisiana
if it was being kept there or not.

In any case, I'm not sure that you will be able to avoid Homeland
Security no matter what you do.

I am English and want to go to Cuba (amongst other places in the
Caribbean) so thought of registering the boat in UK, even tho I live
permanently in NOLA to avoid the hooha by US Homeland Security etc.

Does anyone have any thoughts on a downside to this idea?

It's a small matter, but now is the time to decide one way or t' other.

Molesworth

In article ,
Rosalie B. wrote:

Molesworth wrote:

Bought a 41' Morgan in Ft Myers and, because I took it out of state (to
Louisiana) it has been de-registered from US database.

It wouldn't be de-registered because you took it out of Florida. When
you took it out of Florida, you got out of paying Florida use tax
which is levied on the price you pay for the boat and you don't have
to pay the Florida registration. That is just the Florida
registration - not from the USA

Au contraire m'dear,

I have a letter from US Dept of Homeland Security dated 22 Feb 07 wot
clearly states 'this vessel (named above) was deleted from documentation
on Dec 18 2006' even tho I bought it in Feb '07.

But I take your point and will see if I can register it in UK..

Regards

Molesworth

"Molesworth" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Rosalie B. wrote:

Molesworth wrote:

Bought a 41' Morgan in Ft Myers and, because I took it out of state
(to
Louisiana) it has been de-registered from US database.

It wouldn't be de-registered because you took it out of Florida.
When
you took it out of Florida, you got out of paying Florida use tax
which is levied on the price you pay for the boat and you don't have
to pay the Florida registration. That is just the Florida
registration - not from the USA

Au contraire m'dear,

I have a letter from US Dept of Homeland Security dated 22 Feb 07 wot
clearly states 'this vessel (named above) was deleted from
documentation
on Dec 18 2006' even tho I bought it in Feb '07.

But I take your point and will see if I can register it in UK..

Regards

Molesworth

Try registering it in the Bahamas. Almost as good as registering it in
Panama from what I hear.

Wilbur Hubbard

Molesworth wrote:

In article ,
Rosalie B. wrote:

Molesworth wrote:

Bought a 41' Morgan in Ft Myers and, because I took it out of state (to
Louisiana) it has been de-registered from US database.

It wouldn't be de-registered because you took it out of Florida. When
you took it out of Florida, you got out of paying Florida use tax
which is levied on the price you pay for the boat and you don't have
to pay the Florida registration. That is just the Florida
registration - not from the USA

Au contraire m'dear,

I have a letter from US Dept of Homeland Security dated 22 Feb 07 wot
clearly states 'this vessel (named above) was deleted from documentation
on Dec 18 2006' even tho I bought it in Feb '07.

That is documentation though - you said registration. They are
different (and they are opposite in Canada BTW which may be where the
confusion comes in).

Registration in the US is State business. Documentation is Federal.

I think the deletion from documentation can happen whether the vessel
is sold or not, when the documentation expires and is not renewed. It
certainly is not available to a non-US citizen - that is you cannot
document your boat in the US unless you are a US citizen.

But I take your point and will see if I can register it in UK..

You may still have to register the boat in Louisiana.

Regards

Molesworth

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
Molesworth wrote:

In article ,
Rosalie B. wrote:

Molesworth wrote:

Bought a 41' Morgan in Ft Myers and, because I took it out of state
(to
Louisiana) it has been de-registered from US database.

It wouldn't be de-registered because you took it out of Florida.
When
you took it out of Florida, you got out of paying Florida use tax
which is levied on the price you pay for the boat and you don't have
to pay the Florida registration. That is just the Florida
registration - not from the USA

Au contraire m'dear,

I have a letter from US Dept of Homeland Security dated 22 Feb 07 wot
clearly states 'this vessel (named above) was deleted from
documentation
on Dec 18 2006' even tho I bought it in Feb '07.

That is documentation though - you said registration. They are
different (and they are opposite in Canada BTW which may be where the
confusion comes in).

Registration in the US is State business. Documentation is Federal.

I think the deletion from documentation can happen whether the vessel
is sold or not, when the documentation expires and is not renewed. It
certainly is not available to a non-US citizen - that is you cannot
document your boat in the US unless you are a US citizen.

But I take your point and will see if I can register it in UK..

You may still have to register the boat in Louisiana.

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

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.

Rick

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).

Molesworth wrote in news:ukmole-
:

Bought a 41' Morgan in Ft Myers and, because I took it out of state (to
Louisiana) it has been de-registered from US database.

I am English and want to go to Cuba (amongst other places in the
Caribbean) so thought of registering the boat in UK, even tho I live
permanently in NOLA to avoid the hooha by US Homeland Security etc.

Does anyone have any thoughts on a downside to this idea?

It's a small matter, but now is the time to decide one way or t' other.

Molesworth


You might be better off talking to these guys, or someone like them:

http://www.trippscott.com/PracticeAr...iptions139.asp

Their fees might be worth it over a few years.

I sail with an Englishman who is not a US citizen, but lives here on a
visa. His boat is US registered, but he told me he couldn't own it,
because he is an alien. (I always did notice the pointy ears, but didn't
say anything...(c His boat is "owned" by his son, a natural-born
American born in Atlanta. Your post made me very curious. Maybe
Geoffrey has the wrong information.

When you're talking serious money, rec.boats, probably, isn't a good
place to get legal advise....(c;

Hmm...Sailing the Irish Sea on a Morgan 41. What a great thought....


Larry
--
Roll up to the long checkout line....
Yell, "ICE RAID!"
It's your turn to load the grocery belt...(c;

On Sat, 17 Mar 2007 16:31:45 -0500, Molesworth
wrote:

Bought a 41' Morgan in Ft Myers and, because I took it out of state (to
Louisiana) it has been de-registered from US database.

I am English and want to go to Cuba (amongst other places in the
Caribbean) so thought of registering the boat in UK, even tho I live
permanently in NOLA to avoid the hooha by US Homeland Security etc.

Does anyone have any thoughts on a downside to this idea?

It's a small matter, but now is the time to decide one way or t' other.

There are a lot of boats here in south Florida documented in the
Cayman Islands and the BVI. Call a boat broker in Miami or Ft
Lauderdale (there are hundreds). They can recommend a documentation
agent that knows how to get it done.