To Reflag or Not, That is the Question

[sak54757]

Hi all, I am thinking of buying a boat that is currently German flagged. While I have been thru the deflagging/reflagging process before, this time I'm wondering why bother (?) Anyone out there have experience with taking a vessel flagged not to their own nationality out and about? I'll mostly be in the Caribbean and States

[Pblais]

Only a few coutries allow non citizens to flag a boat in theitr countries. If you are not German then when you buy the boat ist will autoamtically be unflgged in Germany. You'll need the boat title released so you can register it some place else. Your home country would be typical. It's generally done as a way to avoid taxes but it carries extra costs and you can still get caught in a bind by staying some place too long. In the end the boat winds up some place and at that point the issue of taxes and citizenship come into play. Where the boat sits is as important as well as how long it's been there and where it is flagged and if EU taxes have been paid may be an issue as well.

Unless the boat is larger and more expensive the advantages of a foreign flagged vessel dimishes to costing more than paying the tax.

[Kettlewell]

What Pblais said, and look into the hassle of moving a foreign flagged boat about in the USA before bringing it here.

[sak54757]

Thanks for the input!

[barnakiel]

If you however, buy a boat in a country that allows foreigners to register there, then this works very well too. Many EU countries allow other EU nationals to keep the flag. I have met Belgian and Spanish boats owned by non-Belgian/Spanish sailors.

Send a letter to the registering office in the country where you want to buy and ask if you can keep the flag.

b.