Buying a Boat in Mexico

[Aquah0lic]

I saw a boat I liked on the west coast of Mexico. The question is could I leave it registered in Mexico, at least for a while (6-12mos) while I cruise the other side of the canal, and then register it in Fl (or where ever) when I get back? Or would I even have to change it? I know there are plenty of foreign registered boats in the US and foreigners who have boats registered here. Residency doesn't seem to be neccesary to register.

[Jmolan]

The boat is a Mexican registerd vessel? There is mostly US or Canadian registered vessels on the West Coast of Mexico. Buying a US Documented Vessel in Mexico is not hard. The documents get changed by mail tot he US Coast Guard. No Mexican Govt. involvement at all.

[Aquah0lic]

I'm not 100% but I think it is Mexican registered not US.

[Aquah0lic]

1 answer? Come on guys, I thought this site was full of worldly sailors. Someone must know. I'd call Mexico and ask if I could speak spanish.

[imagine2frolic]

And you don't even know what the registration is. To become a worldly sailor one must practice patience. Some one will come along with an answer......sooner, or later

[Aquah0lic]

OK, put it this way.... the guy who owns the boat is definately NOT american. or Canadian. His english is very poor. So I assume its Mexican registered. Or who knows, it could be central or south American. I won't know for sure until I find a translator.

[imagine2frolic]

Already you are becoming the salt of the earth......

I bought a German flagged boat in the Caribbean. The owner had to deflag the boat, so that I could register the boat in Ca. The boat has never seen Ca., so I didn't have to pay any taxes to Ca. I didn't US Document the boat, so I did have to pay a 1.5% tax while entering the US. If I had taken the boat to Ca. with in 6 months I would have had to pay state tax. Get all your information before the purchase, and you may be able to avoid some taxes legally......LEGALLY!

[Aquah0lic]

OK, so if you didn't US document the boat, where you sailing under the German docs until you came back to US?

This question isn't really about taxes. Its more about if it takes me a year to get back, can I wait to register it in the US until then?