I have a boat of interest around Colon Panama

[BigDogAtSea]

HI all,
I have a boat of interest around Colon. Whats a good place to haul out and have a survey done?? also any recommended professionals to help with title transfer ??
Thanks
Alex

[coopec43]

Is this link any help?

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ama-58231.html

Survey in Panama - Cruisers & Sailing Forums
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[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by BigDogAtSea

HI all,
I have a boat of interest around Colon. Whats a good place to haul out and have a survey done?? also any recommended professionals to help with title transfer ??
Thanks
Alex

The closest place to haul to Colon is Shelter Bay Marina.

I dont have a current surveyor recommendation.

Where is the boat currently registered?

[BigDogAtSea]

Yes,
Thank you so much
Alex

[BigDogAtSea]

Where is the boat currently registered? // Belgium ... wondering where I should ??

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by BigDogAtSea

Where is the boat currently registered? // Belgium ... wondering where I should ??

Are you a USA Citizen?

[BigDogAtSea]

yes I am / and am still learning how to navigate this site .. ?? lol

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by BigDogAtSea

yes I am / and am still learning how to navigate this site .. ?? lol

You being a USA citizen means that Federally Documenting (vs State registering) the boat in the USA is likely the easiest option. I've never dealt with a Belgian registration so don't know the details there, but typically you would "deregister" the vessel from the foreign registry and re-register it in the USA. The USA side of that is typically easy.

The NVDC (National Vessel Documentation Center) handles all USA Federal Documentation transactions. My interactions with them have always been positive (if a bit slow...due to staffing limitations). You can visit their web site for info:

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organiz...tation-Center/

However, they only handle the USA side of the transaction so my suggestion is that you hire a "Documentation Service" to handle that for you. This is what they do for a living so they are typically very knowledgeable and they don't charge a lot for their services. I don't have a current recommendation for one, but I bet other members here do.

[BigDogAtSea]

belizesailor, That is some very good info. Thank you for taking the time.
The general intention is to pickup the boat fit it and keep on cruising (not in the direction of US necessarily) Federal registry implies no state registration and yearly state fees are necessary ... correct?? are there yearly Fed fees?? like property tax ??
One can register US Federal with no Fed. / Coast Guard on board inspection ??
also, Documentation Service State side ?? or Panama local ?? My Spanish is embarrassingly poor.

[s/v Jedi]

You may be able to keep the Belgium registration, I recommend to look into that before de-registering.

[BigDogAtSea]

? Ha, ?? interesting
Thank you

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by BigDogAtSea

belizesailor, That is some very good info. Thank you for taking the time.
The general intention is to pickup the boat fit it and keep on cruising (not in the direction of US necessarily) Federal registry implies no state registration and yearly state fees are necessary ... correct?? are there yearly Fed fees?? like property tax ??
One can register US Federal with no Fed. / Coast Guard on board inspection ??
also, Documentation Service State side ?? or Panama local ?? My Spanish is embarrassingly poor.

Thank you for taking the time.

De nada.


Federal registry implies no state registration and yearly state fees are necessary ... correct?? are there yearly Fed fees?? like property tax ??

Most States wont miss their opportunity to tax you regardless of Federal Documentation. Be sure to check the laws of any specific State where you plan to keep the boat. If the boat is not physically in State waters then they have no jurisdiction. Note: some States may try to ding you for sales tax and annual registration fee. Know the laws: every State is different. If the boat is not in the USA then no State has jurisdiction to tax it, so Fed Documentation only. Fed Documentation is $50/year. An upside to Fed Documentation is that officials world wide are familiar with the form. You can travel on State Registrations too, but they are likely to be unfamiliar to officials (except maybe Delaware). Fed Doc cost is the initial fees + annual fee only, no other taxes. Some States may also try to ding you for property tax.

One can register US Federal with no Fed. / Coast Guard on board inspection ??

No USCG inspection required, just paper work.

Documentation Service State side ?? or Panama local ?? My Spanish is embarrassingly poor.

Yes, State Side. They can also help with questions regarding where to register/document the boat, laws of specific States, and whether you can keep the Belgian registry as Jedi suggested.

Unfortunately, I don't have a current recommendation for a Doc Service. Likely that other members do.

If you choose to keep the boat in Panama waters for any length of time then an annual cruising permit there is about $200. Renewable indefinitely.

[BigDogAtSea]

Thank you

[Snore]

From first hand experience as a delivery captain; Panamanian surveys are dodgy at best. Fly someone in!

[fritzthecat]

SHELTERBAY OR LINTON BAY MARINA, BE CAREFUL, BOTH ARE CROOKS, DON'T TRUST THEM. THEY ARE FIDDLERS ON THEIR BILLS AND PANAMA IS COMPLEATLY CORRUPT, DON'T TRUST LAWYERS, JUGES ....