Buy a sailboat being foreigner

[ricorrea2002]

Hi, I'm argentinian. I'm planning to buy a boat in Florida and sail in Caribbean.
I have saviongs in US bank.
Which are the requirements to buy a boat for a foreigner in US?
Thanks

[Vasco]

Money, that's all you need.

[CSY Man]

Yeah, no other requiremnts than money or a line of credit.
This is the land of the free and everything is for sale, and I mean everything....

[stevensc]

I sold my Camano Trawler to a Swede a few years ago. He transfered payment to my account, once verified we went to a notary public and had a bill of sale passed. That boat was Coast Guard Documented so a proforma bill of sale was part of the documentation.
He had the boat trucked from Houma, Louisiana to Brunswick, Georgia and she sailed a few days later. All very easy.
Florida is about the easiest place you could think of doing this, there are lots of people there with this experience.
Be sure you are aware of tax possibilities I don't know if you would have to pay Florida sales tax maybe it will depend on how many days the boat stays in Florida waters after the sale. Check to be sure.
Buena suerte, Viento en Popa!
Steve W

[CSY Man]

90 days in Florida without paying sales tax, then either pay or move the boat to some other country or state.

[boatpoker]

Only a US citizen or a US corporation may own a USCG Documented vessel.

[Craig Cape Town]

You'll need a visa (usually B1/B2 tourist) to enter the USA. Once you've made payment, you need to document the transaction to show proof of ownership.
Only US citizens can document with US coastguard. State registration requires you to have a US address. You will have to pay tax if you do not remove the vessel from Florida state within 90 days. I believe you can apply for an extension if the vessel is being repaired. (You have to show proof - invoices from boatyard)
You will have to register the boat under a country's flag if you want to travel internationally with it. Not sure how easy it is to do this with Argintinian marine authorities. Some countries require the boat to be in the country and be surveyed before it can be flagged. Find out about this and get the necessary paperwork before you leave Argintinia.
You will have to apply for a cruising permit if you plan on cruising in the US.
Good luck

[ricorrea2002]

Thanks folks for your reply.

Yes I have Visa B1/B2. I don't want to register as USCG Documented vessel.

I hope to stay in Florida less than 90 days.

But I think, I cann't flag as Argentinian boat while I'm in US.

So, my last question is as soon I´ll buy a sailboat, can I sail to Caribbean, with documentation you fellows said (ie stevensc) ??

[boatpoker]

You seem to be asking the same question again ...

- You cannot own a US registered vessel.

- You will run in to serious problems if you try to land in another country in a US documented boat that you do not own.

- You will run into customs problems with a US state registered boat if you land in any country other than Canada or the Bahamas where they regularly see state registered vessels and are familiar with them.

I do Federal Tonnage Surveys and registry consulation for boats to be registered in Canada. These boats are often located in other countries when I do the work. I have also been involved in registering boats in BVI when the boat was in France and a boat in Canada that was registered in England. Don't assume you cannot register the boat in Argentina until you talk to authorities there.

[ricorrea2002]

yes, boatpoker, I'm asking approximately the same questions. It was because I've received different answers.


Thanks for your opinion

[boatpoker]

Just to be clear, only my last sentence is an "opinion". Everything else are "facts" that I deal with routinely in my delivery, survey and registry business.

I am not taking offence, I just want to ensure that you understand

[MarkSF]

You cannot own a US documented vessel, so when you buy it you will have to de-document it, and re-register it with another authority. The options are 1) with the DMV in one of the US states or 2) under the flag of another country

The US DMV registration will not be very good for travelling to other countries.

When I bought my USCG-documented boat I was not a US citizen, so the registration was transferred to the DMV. Fine for cruising in US coastal waters, not good for travel further afield.

It strongly makes sense for you to transfer it to Argentinian registration, or so it seems to me.

[goboatingnow]

Around the world , there are several registries that accept citizens of any nationality, furthermore if you wrap the boat up in a corporate entity ( even temporarily ) you can access many registries. for example Malta is an easy one, with no inspections if the boat is under 20 years ( and there is a provisonal registration process)


Note that many registries have provisional registration services


Deflag in the US, get your bill of sale , reflag ( provisional) , and away you go. You can reflag as required in your home country when its practical.

The world is bigger then the US.

dave

[Tantalus]

If you register a corporation in say, Delaware, with two US citizens named to the board of directors you can then register the boat in the name of the corporatin.

[JamesBen]

I'm going through a similar process, but I'm Canadian and thinking about buying a boat in Panama to eventually sail it through the Caribbean and up the East Coast to Canada.

This is my first boat and so not at all familiar with the process.

If the boat is registered in the US (and since I can't own it from what I've read), can I de-document it from Panama and get my Canadian flag from here as well? Can I do everything from my computer/phone in Panama?

Any Canadian knows who/where to knock to obtain Canadian Flag (I'm assuming the Coast Guard)?

Thanks,
Ben