Hi - New Here, But Old On the Planet

[sunvic]

Hello everyone. Boating for many years, but still so much to learn. I am looking at a boat in Fl. owned by a Canadian couple. The boat was built in the US, but it is registered/titled in Canada. I am told it is paid for and can buy it and leave it registered in Canada if I wish. To the best of my knowledge I believe, being a permanent resident of Fl. I should register and title it in Fl. Please tell me how is best to proceed on this. How to check for liens, Will the import tax get me, etc. Many thanks for your valuable advise.
Victor

[Stillraining]

Welcome Aboard

Walk into a US documentation office...they will tell you everything you want to know for free.

[FSMike]

Careful -
Being told "everything you want to know" by the US government is not necessarily the same thing as being told everything you need to know by the state of Florida.

[Stillraining]

LOL...good point but I ment in Flordia...

[skipmac]

If you buy the boat in FL and keep it here you will have to pay sales tax, 6% in most cases. If the boat was built in the US there will be no import duty.

FL will also want you to register the boat in FL even if it is USCG documented but that cost is not significant.

[sunvic]

Thanks for the replies. The one thing that remains and maybe I missed it is how to make sure there is no liens on the vessel. If it were registered in Fl. going to the tag agency I would find out, but being titled in Canada I am not sure the Fl. tag agency could check or could they??

[hummingway]

You could try here: PPSA.ca - lien searches, lien registrations, corporate searches in Canada

some info :
Maritime and Admiralty Law > Maritime Liens - A Primer

If the boat is registered the liens are traceable.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
I hope you can find the answers here.
regards,