Expired Cruising Permit - Now What?

[OverboardDavid]

I discovered to my horror that my cruising permit for my 48' catamaran expired a couple of months ago. The boat is still in a U.S. yard undergoing modifications (holding tanks are being installed) where she has been all winter. (I did notify Homeland Security when I moved the boat to its current location.) Although built in the U.S. and therefore not subject to an import duty, she is registered in the BVI. When I last obtained a cruising permit, the issuing officer told me that the rules were somewhat different for a U.S. built boat owned by a U.S. citizen. Can anyone advise me about what the best course of action is to renew the permit or register the boat in the U.S. My preference is to avoid leaving the U.S. although I would be happy to go off-shore a sufficient distance and then re-enter the States and go through the correct clearance procedures. Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

[Rhosyn Mor]

US built boats are allowed pretty much unlimited cruising permits, regardless of their current registration. If you are a US citizen you can relieve your self of all hassles by documenting the vessel in the USA. If you want to maintain BVI registration ( which is essentially British registration) you should not have a problem.

[Vasco]

I always thought that you could not renew an expired permit unless you had left the US. I know on returning to the US,after spending the winter in the Bahamas, if your permit has not expired they will not issue a new one. Many Bahamas cruisers ask for a nine or ten month permit when they return to the States in May/June. That way if they return from the Bahamas a bit earlier the next year they can get a new cruising permit.

[OverboardDavid]

I actually returned from the Bahamas a couple of years ago before my cruising permit expired. The agent, once he learned that it was a U.S. built vessel and that I was a U.S. citizen, issued a new one. He did, however, suggest that I cancel the permit when I left the U.S. I have to say he was really helpful but unfortunately doesn't seem to be in the same office because he would be my first call for advice.

[Vasco]

OD,

There's something to be said for the "don't ask don't tell" policy. Seeing that you're a US citizen and not looking for a tax break on the BVI documentation it might be best to de-register the BVI documentation and just register the boat in the US.

[christmasisland]

I have attached a document that explains the cruising license requirements and other US domestic and foreign pleasure boat requirements.

You may have a problem renewing your cruising license without going foreign, call your local CBP office.

Below is a link to the US Customs directive ... this may come in handy when discussing options with CBP.

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...t/3130-006.txt

Good luck.