Registration

[Maine lobsterma]

I have an opportunity to get a sailboat that is registered in the Bahamas, my question is what and how do I go about registering it in the usa where I live?

[Scot McPherson]

Well you need to do your research, but the basics are the boat needs to be de-registered in its home country so it can be registered in the USA.

[denverd0n]

You may have to pay an import tax to bring it to the United States.

[skipmac]

Also, when you get the boat to the US do you plan to do a state registration or USCG documentation?

[Maine lobsterma]

Documentation

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Maine lobsterma

Documentation

To document a vessel with the USCG the basic requirements are:

1. You are a US citizen.

2. Proof of ownership.

First is easy enough. Second, here's the official word from the USCG NVDC website.

In the case of a previously owned vessel, the applicant must present bills of sale, or other evidence showing transfer of the vessel from the person who last documented, titled, or registered the vessel, or to whom the vessel was transferred on a Builder's Certification or Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. If title was transferred by some means other than a bill of sale, contact the NVDC for assistance.

If the boat is not US built then you might have to deal with US Customs to import the vessel, possibly pay import duties, etc. That is a whole different ball game. I import products into the US and use an import broker to handle the paperwork. There fee is about $100.