Renewing A US Cruising permit

[harddockcafe]

I am a Canadian citizen and have spent the last 11 months cruising the Loop from Georgian Bay. Have spent 100 days in the Bahamas from early February and am now in Northern Florida. I misunderstood the requirement for cruising permit renewal for having to leave for two weeks and then reapply. I did not realize the boat had to leave as well. my permit is up September 6 so returning to Canada is not an option which leaves returning to the Bahamas which
puts me there in the height of Hurricane season, obviously not desirable. Does anyone know of an alternative, I have heard that some states do not require the boat to leave, Florida is not one of them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Gerald

[Adelie]

I believe the cruising permit is issued by the Federal government so state regulations wouldn't apply except for calculation of state taxes.

[Vasco]

Talk to a knowledgeable customs officer. You may be able to put the vessel up on the hard and when you return after hurricane season get a one way pass to get you and the boat out of the US. You can then go to the Bahamas. Make sure you get an officer that knows the rules. Many do not. You might have to call a couple of times. When you get a favourable reply make a note of the name and number of the officer and details of the conversation.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by harddockcafe

I am a Canadian citizen and have spent the last 11 months cruising the Loop from Georgian Bay. Have spent 100 days in the Bahamas from early February and am now in Northern Florida. I misunderstood the requirement for cruising permit renewal for having to leave for two weeks and then reapply. I did not realize the boat had to leave as well. my permit is up September 6 so returning to Canada is not an option which leaves returning to the Bahamas which
puts me there in the height of Hurricane season, obviously not desirable. Does anyone know of an alternative, I have heard that some states do not require the boat to leave, Florida is not one of them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Gerald

I don't believe the boat has to 'leave', but the cruising permit has to be relinquished and reinstated 2 weeks later. A lot will depend on the customs agent.

[hellosailor]

Yes, the permit is FEDERAL and what any state says about staying doesn't matter. Your boat has to leave the US for 15 days IIRC, not just two weeks. You'll have to get it out or risk being evicted and not allowed back in. You could call the feds and ask, it is possible that if you have a serious mechanical failure like an engine or rudder, they might allow it to be hauled and kept in a boatyard for a limited time--but then, it still is going to have to LEAVE. And the re-issuance of the permit is discretionary, it is not guaranteed.
Exemptions? Ask a broker, maybe if it is on the hard and up for sale to non-citizens. Otherwise, ask the Fed, and confirm the advice they give you in the printed (online) regulations to be sure.

If it was you and your boat--not just you--that was in the Bahamas? I don't know if that would make the vessel's re-rentry illegal, since it left US waters. Don't know it the cruising permit allows for that, so be careful what you say to them.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Yes, the permit is FEDERAL and what any state says about staying doesn't matter. Your boat has to leave the US for 15 days IIRC, not just two weeks. You'll have to get it out or risk being evicted and not allowed back in. You could call the feds and ask, it is possible that if you have a serious mechanical failure like an engine or rudder, they might allow it to be hauled and kept in a boatyard for a limited time--but then, it still is going to have to LEAVE. And the re-issuance of the permit is discretionary, it is not guaranteed.
Exemptions? Ask a broker, maybe if it is on the hard and up for sale to non-citizens. Otherwise, ask the Fed, and confirm the advice they give you in the printed (online) regulations to be sure.

If it was you and your boat--not just you--that was in the Bahamas? I don't know if that would make the vessel's re-rentry illegal, since it left US waters. Don't know it the cruising permit allows for that, so be careful what you say to them.

That brings up a good point! How did you report when the boat was in the Bahamas?

IIRC, you are suppose to notify CBP every time the boat changes port.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by DotDun

I don't believe the boat has to 'leave', but the cruising permit has to be relinquished and reinstated 2 weeks later. A lot will depend on the customs agent.

No. There is a lot of misinformation re US cruising licenses. Another license will not be issued until the boat leaves US waters and enters from a foreign port at least 15 days after the expiry or surrender of the original license. Check this link.
Three Steps to Renew Your Cruising License - Howard S Reeder Inc

[BandB]

Actually simple if you're in Florida. Just take a brief trip to the Bahamas. I know a management captain who has three clients for whom he periodically runs their boat across and then back.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by Vasco

No. There is a lot of misinformation re US cruising licenses. Another license will not be issued until the boat leaves US waters and enters from a foreign port at least 15 days after the expiry or surrender of the original license. Check this link.
Three Steps to Renew Your Cruising License - Howard S Reeder Inc

A friend with a foreign boat got a re-issue without leaving the country in Key West, like I said, it depends on the customs agent.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by DotDun

A friend with a foreign boat got a re-issue without leaving the country in Key West, like I said, it depends on the customs agent.

Depends on the specifics too. Best to talk to an agent, but before it expires as you do have to turn it in when it expires. Resident aliens with foreign flagged boats do not have to leave the country.

[boatpoker]

We left Toronto last August - down the ICW to Florida - to Bahamas and back to Florida this spring where we left the boat on the Hard.

I have crossed into US waters hundreds of times over the last 25yrs. Last year was the first time I felt harrassed and threatened by CPB (not USCG who are gentlemen).

Our experience last year suggests that Canadian cruisers are no longer welcome. Our plan of a Great Loop next year is now under serious re-consideration.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by DotDun

A friend with a foreign boat got a re-issue without leaving the country in Key West, like I said, it depends on the customs agent.

I'm citing the rules. The rules say the vessel has to leave and stay out at least 15 days from the expiry or surrender of the license and has to return from a foreign port to get a new cruising license. There is no "renewal". You get a totally new license and the officers like to see the old one. All the folks I met whose licenses expired while still in the US got one way permits to leave. It is best to follow the rules as the fines are hefty.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

We left Toronto last August - down the ICW to Florida - to Bahamas and back to Florida this spring where we left the boat on the Hard.

I have crossed into US waters hundreds of times over the last 25yrs. Last year was the first time I felt harrassed and threatened by CPB (not USCG who are gentlemen).

Our experience last year suggests that Canadian cruisers are no longer welcome. Our plan of a Great Loop next year is now under serious re-consideration.

I've been doing this since 1990 and have never felt harassed or threatened although some officers have not been as courteous as they could have been. I have heard of the odd officer being unreasonable and rude, especially the guy who used to be at the airport in Ft. Pierce but he is no longer there.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Vasco

I've been doing this since 1990 and have never felt harassed or threatened although some officers have not been as courteous as they could have been. I have heard of the odd officer being unreasonable and rude, especially the guy who used to be at the airport in Ft. Pierce but he is no longer there.

As you know Rick, as per the cruising license one must check in by phone every time you stop the boat. In my experience this has been loosely interpreted over the last 25yrs and usually one call per region was acceptable and we were often told not to bother ..... Last year this seems to have changed.

Quite a few of the numbers we were given with the cruising license were "not in service" and may others were the wrong number. On many occasions we spent hours on the cell phone trying to find the right person to check in with. In one instance we had anchored at Nyack when Hermine was passing NY City. We could not get a cell signal and literally could not get off the boat for two days. On the second day we were boarded and asked why we had not checked in, we explained. Their response "Not my problem". They issued a notice of violation threatening vessel seizure, $50k fine and permanent banning from the US if we did it again, in general very threatening and unpleasant. In an other instance we called in and very rudely told to call the "right damn number" which he gave us then hung up. When we called that new number ..... the same officer answered the phone ! We have several other instances of note that are making us wary of the US.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

As you know Rick, as per the cruising license one must check in by phone every time you stop the boat. In my experience this has been loosely interpreted over the last 25yrs and usually one call per region was acceptable and we were often told not to bother ..... Last year this seems to have changed.

Quite a few of the numbers we were given with the cruising license were "not in service" and may others were the wrong number. On many occasions we spent hours on the cell phone trying to find the right person to check in with. In one instance we had anchored at Nyack when Hermine was passing NY City. We could not get a cell signal and literally could not get off the boat for two days. On the second day we were boarded and asked why we had not checked in, we explained. Their response "Not my problem". They issued a notice of violation threatening vessel seizure, $50k fine and permanent banning from the US if we did it again, in general very threatening and unpleasant. In an other instance we called in and very rudely told to call the "right damn number" which he gave us then hung up. When we called that new number ..... the same officer answered the phone ! We have several other instances of note that are making us wary of the US.

Yes things are definitely getting tighter. They now have cigarette boats running along the FL shore, come right up to the boat, check their onboard computer and then roar off to the next boat on the horizon.