New USCG Documentation fee?

[duefocena]

My understanding of documenting a vessel with the USCG is that they may take , in time of war or martial law, possession of your vessel. The benefits of documenting are that your vessel is considered a US govt. vessel in foreign countries and that there is no fee's ( state registration ) required. I just received my renewal documents from what is now named , " Homeland Security/ U.S. Coast Guard"" and there is a renewal fee attached. I tried to call the phone numbers provided and found they are closed on Thursdays? Calling Friday the voicemail proclaims, " The NVDC is currently not accepting calls". Huh? Anyone know what's going on? Why the new charge?

[jaybird1111]

They instituted a fee late last year.

The good news: there is a motion to change renewal from yearly to five-yearly

[St. Elsewhere]

Originally Posted by duefocena

The benefits of documenting are that your vessel is considered a US govt. vessel in foreign countries and that there is no fee's ( state registration ) required.

The rules for states may vary. Washington does collect an annual tax on boats including those that are US Documented, and they assign a state registration number to such boats. Also, there is a licensing fee charged for the annual state sticker. The sticker must be displayed on the boat, but not the state registration number for US Documented boats.

[lonesoldier0408]

When short of money to mis-manage "Elected Officials" get creative at extortion by legalese.

[sailorboy1]

It never seemed right it was free. Why should non boaters be funding the process.

BTW - if you can not afford this small fee you better rethink boating.

[St. Elsewhere]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

It never seemed right it was free. Why should non boaters be funding the process.

Until reading an earlier post in this thread, I had forgotten that the Government can, and has, placed private vessels in government service in time of war. Maybe the annual registration update has been free because in earlier times it served the need to have a list of vessel types, sizes, where to get them, and who to deal with in the process. At the present the list is likely mostly vessels that are of no military use, and may be a reason to charge the fee.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by St. Elsewhere

Until reading an earlier post in this thread, I had forgotten that the Government can, and has, placed private vessels in government service in time of war.

Probably only interested in the ones with guns

Otherwise I can just heard the govt say to someone like North Korea "You better straighten out or we are to going to commandeer a bunch of sailboats and sail them right up you ass!"

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

It never seemed right it was free. Why should non boaters be funding the process.

BTW - if you can not afford this small fee you better rethink boating.

Hey Don I agree with you wholeheartedly with the fee and the reason that the military commandeers vessels it deems useful for costal security but I could see a bunch of sharpies with double duces on the bow sailing up rivers

[markpierce]

Yes, an annual fee has been recently initiated.


In a time of total war, just think, you could have the opportunity to fuel/operate your boat and perhaps with you being its "captain."

[accomplice]

I was annoyed to find there was a fee this time. I've paid many whole boats worth of taxes, why do they have to nickel and dime us? Want an FCC station license -- another fee. Want to re-enter US waters? CBP decal and another fee. I agree with the other sentiment expressed above, though -- it'd be worth the fee if we only had to do it every few years.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by jaybird1111

The good news: there is a motion to change renewal from yearly to five-yearly

Yep....thanks to the hard work of the Seven Seas Cruising Association....
Just another good reason to Join!

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by accomplice

I was annoyed to find there was a fee this time. I've paid many whole boats worth of taxes, why do they have to nickel and dime us? Want an FCC station license -- another fee. Want to re-enter US waters? CBP decal and another fee. I agree with the other sentiment expressed above, though -- it'd be worth the fee if we only had to do it every few years.

What? You want free? You're receiving a service provided by bureaucrats processing the paperwork. Not willing to pay? Be thankful the federal government isn't taxing you as much as my county is.

[duefocena]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

It never seemed right it was free. Why should non boaters be funding the process.

BTW - if you can not afford this small fee you better rethink boating.

I don't think "free" is equal to giving up the right to use of your boat. More of a trade. As far as rethinking boating, "if you cannot afford this small fee", I do believe to question new fee's, taxes, permits etc. is a prudent thing for any boater to do. Here in CA. there is a property tax, registration fee and a "possessory interest tax". The latter is a tax on your use of a slip that you don't own. Based on the value of the property your rented slip occupies.

[newhaul]

Here they call it a leasehold tax

[exMaggieDrum]

I thought there was always a fee for registration but I could be just getting forgetful. Better fees tied to a service then just bumping up the income/sales taxes. The days of "free" service for anything are long gone.