Hello From Belize

[YannMo]

Hello everybody,

I have been reading those forums for the past month trying to figure out possibilities to go to Florida to purchase a 27 ft catalina or similar and sail it down to Cuba and then Belize. My project would then be that once arrived in Belize, I will redocument the boat as a Belizean vessel.
Question 1: Can a foreigner title a boat in Florida? I dont have an address in Florida.
Question 2: Is this legal to sail out of US territory with only the Floridian title?
Question 3: As a foreigner do I need to do the required paper work asked to American Nationals to go to Cuba? Can the USCG cease my boat?
Question 4: Do the Cubans bother about the USCG documentation? Will the florida title, bill of sale, suffice?

Thanks

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, YannMo.

[skipmac]

Hi YannMo and welcome to the forum.

First to clarify. I believe you are thinking about two different documents. A title is only the document showing ownership of the boat. You will also need some form of registration which is like the license tag on a car. It is very easy for anyone, even non US citizens to get both of these in the state of Florida. You should also know that in the USA there are two ways to register a boat. Registration with a state as already mentioned or federal registration through the US Coast Guard which is correctly called Documentation. Documentation is not allowed for non citizens and if you buy a boat that is documented you will have to go through the process to remove the boat from the USCG system and then get state registration.

Since the boat will not be USCG documented there is no concern about them canceling your documents. Also I don't think there is any problem with Florida for this.

Regarding Cuba I cannot say what documents they require for a boat but I do know they are welcoming yachts and would think any official paperwork would be acceptable.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Triumphant]

Why not look for a boat in Rio Dulce first, it is much nearer, 2 yacht brokers there already and a lot of boat being sold privately

[belizesailor]

Oh boy, are you in for some fun. Registering a boat in Belize is an expensive PITA. Less so if you import it under the retirement residency program.

Agree with Triumphant, shop for a boat on the Rio, though smaller boats are less common.

What kind of "project" are you referring to? Much easier and cheaper to refit on the Rio than Belize.