How do You Register a Boat if You are Country-less ?

[Zonker]

Yea ... I have been searching for weeks now, just don't know how to find a trustworthy agent (Cayman Islands, BVI). If anyone could recommend a good agent - that would help me a lot !

[belizesailor]

Lots if CI & BVI registered boats out there. Surely someone will chime in. If not, I know a few people with CI registered boats.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Liberian? They are currently waiving fees for initial registration.

Tonnage Calculator

Long term is pricy, my boat is less than a ton displacement and they would charge $3900 if they weren't waiving fees. Personally, my boat will be docced with State registry, and that's sufficient for my needs as of now. Liberia has a tradition of being a flag f convenience, though.

[laforge24]

Yeez, guys, is there still fun in having a boat, you seem to all have more to do with administrators and customs then I would care for !!
As it happens seen another lovely boat for sale in the US and was just looking here how to go about to import the baby the europe,,,,
but do I have to re-register that boat, can't it stay US flagged, and I bring to whereever except the US, what would I have to do to register it in Europ?
why TVA? isn't that payed already,,,
Hummmm, soundscomplicated
MAYBE I LL TYE SOME LOGGS TOGETHER

[SaucySailoress]

Thanks, everyone for all your resonses. It is a head spinner indeed....

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Who is issuing you your passports? I would think that is where your boat would be registered/documented.

I'm UK, Skipper German passport.

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

G'Day SS,

In our experience it helps if the boats rego is in the same country as the skippers passport (the skipper in this case being the person who actually does the clearance paperwork). Officials like simple, easy to understand relationships between all the little boxes on their forms, and it saves you both time if you can write "as above" in the appropriate address spots!

Cheers,

Jim

However, neither of us has ever had residence in Germany... and I haven't lived at my Mother's UK address for 16 years!

We were willing to lie to the Town Hall in order to marry there (on the tenth anniversary of our Hindu wedding in India!); but I just can't lie about other stuff now that Big Brother has so many eyes everywhere. Even my Doctor booted me off his list cos I wouldn't lie about living there...

Originally Posted by Zonker

Be careful guys - don't do illegal stuff ...

For me - currently - it looks like I have to go the expensive way of a flag of convenience. Which means form a offshore company and have the boat owned by the company and register the boat. Not sure but that creates a bill of $1000-2000 per year. (Oh ... the boat I have in mind : opt 1 : 10k, opt 2 : 40k)

Have you got any more ideas on how to go about this?

[Zonker]

Originally Posted by laforge24

As it happens seen another lovely boat for sale in the US and was just looking here how to go about to import the baby the europe,,,,

Why do you want to import a boat from the US - there are plenty here in Europe/EU ?!

[laforge24]

Have you looked properly at the price difference and covert it from $ to Euros, they must buy them already cheaper than us in europ,

[laforge24]

WWW is great but relates to these issues, but show me a Hans Christian 38ft
at 40k$ in Europe and I ll go buy/bye

[Zonker]

Originally Posted by SaucySailoress

Have you got any more ideas on how to go about this?

Well ... looks to me it's gonna be BVI, Anguilla or something alike (may be Gibraltar if you have a VAT paid boat). Gotta form a company - but I realized you can't go to a large trust company. The fees will be "horrendous". So right now I am looking for a small mom-and-pop agency which provides the corporate services needed. Unless you want to "hide" something, the setup should be straight forward (e.g. either put yourself as the owner of the company, which might be not good in case of a liability case or let the agency provide a written statement, that you are the skipper of the boat). But still you got to pay a few hundred bucks for the yearly boat registration fee as well as a few hundred bucks for the maintenance fee for the company.

Haven't had any contacts right now - but let you know if you are interested.

PS : oh - a survey by one of these well known surveyors is required - might also cost a few hundred.

PS 2 : may be I will found a company for all those who need a "cheap" registration ...

[laforge24]

When I was officially homeless a couple a years ago I found out that heutzutag BigBrother doesnot allow that, and I was still on land, but couldn't register a new car??
could I have gotten a new Passport, because even at the embassy they need your adress,
would love to do what you do, so all of you come up with an answere please!

[Zonker]

Originally Posted by laforge24

WWW is great but relates to these issues, but show me a Hans Christian 38ft
at 40k$ in Europe and I ll go buy/bye

Calculation is very easy. Assume you pay $1k/year for a flag of convenience. Further the cheapest one here in Europe would be 60k :

-> 20 years "free" registration
-> you save these VAT on 40k

[laforge24]

Originally Posted by Zonker

Well ... looks to me it's gonna be BVI, Anguilla or something alike (may be Gibraltar if you have a VAT paid boat). Gotta form a company - but I realized you can't go to a large trust company. The fees will be "horrendous". So right now I am looking for a small mom-and-pop agency which provides the corporate services needed. Unless you want to "hide" something, the setup should be straight forward (e.g. either put yourself as the owner of the company, which might be not good in case of a liability case or let the agency provide a written statement, that you are the skipper of the boat). But still you got to pay a few hundred bucks for the yearly boat registration fee as well as a few hundred bucks for the maintenance fee for the company.

Haven't had any contacts right now - but let you know if you are interested.

PS : oh - a survey by one of these well known surveyors is required - might also cost a few hundred.

PS 2 : may be I will found a company for all those who need a "cheap" registration ...

Can't we all subscribe to the same company, I am Inn

[laforge24]

And how's about diiferent insurance prices per region or in a company
I suppose that would open a new thread!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by laforge24

Can't we all subscribe to the same company, I am Inn

I did actually think about setting something like that up.

But using a Jersey company with a Jersey ("flag of conveniance") Registration means that whilst the annual costs would be low (plus my slice ), still need the boat to have a tonnage survey - which I suspect would put off those who want (need?) the "cheap as chips" approach. Whilst those who can afford a different way would be put off from not personally "owning" the boat (by self or by own company) - albeit with UK / Jersey registration it is possible to seperate Title (boat ownership) from Registration (so someone who owned / ran the registration company - moi - couldn't sell the boat ..........as the company did not in fact own it).

But one day I might give it a whirl, if it fits in with other stuff.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by laforge24

WWW is great but relates to these issues, but show me a Hans Christian 38ft
at 40k$ in Europe and I ll go buy/bye

Plus vat
Plus CE certification costs ( 10-30k depending )

You'll find it isnt cheaper