Boat registration

[Tiva]

Hello all, I live on the West Coast and am buying a sailboat on the East Coast (Massachusetts). Then i am going down the ICW to Florida and the Caribbean. The boat will probably never be in my home port or any port for very long until we have to leave it during the storm season.

Where is the best place to register the boat and what address do I use for the title and documentation?

I've sailed around the world but have not had to deal with this issue before and I didn't see any previous threads on this exact question.

Thanks for the help, Tiva

[Excalibur5]

I assume you are going to document it with the coast guard due to the international travel. I would simply use your home (or an obliging relative's) address in the documentation forms. As long as they can forward you the renewal notices, you should be good.

I would also put the home port as your home, but that can be a personal preference thing as well.

[Island Time O25]

There are a few lengthy and comprehensive threads on this subject here on CF. Perhaps too lengthy and too comprehensive, to the point of being confusing. I would advise to consider sales/excise/use tax implications of where you register the boat. For example NH and RI do not have sales tax for boats. On the other hand FL has very cheap annual registration dues on boats 30+ years old (with original engines).