Bad News from the Bahamas

[AnchorageGuy]

45% import on parts

The Nassau Guardian - www.thenassauguardian.com

[David M]

That's a great way to kill an economy. You tax what you want less of. I hope some of the marine related suppliers survive.

[S/V Antares]

I wonder if this is a response to all the megayachts getting weekly shipments of mostly high end provisions flown in? Is a 20 kg box of Kobe Beef "Spares"?

I hope the real needs(not just improvements) of boats in transit with a valid cruising permit are respected.

[Vasco]

Importing parts on a cruising permit was always a crapshoot anyway. Sometimes you paid something called a "stamp duty", sometimes not. I will admit this'll make folks think twice about importing needed parts.

[Morgan Paul]

This sounds like the great state of Taxachewshits or NY.

[Tellie]

"It will take a lot more than tax to keep me from loving The Bahamas," he said.

I can love the Bahamas too. From Belize.

45%........idiots

[Captain Donald]

Seems a bit excessive to me.

[Chief Engineer]

This is just plain crazy......Instead of drugs to the states...I'll run impellers and spares to the Bahamas.

Psssst....hey buddy....ya wanna by some Jabsco Impellers or a set of Yanmar Injectors?

[David M]

LOL Chief. How do you explain to your cell mate you are in for smuggling Yanmar gaskets?

[Chief Engineer]

I'll just plead insanity.

[Chief Engineer]

I was talking to a resident of the Bahamas today.

The tax situations is so screwy because they are part of the Comonwealth it is cheaper to bring something from Europe than te 100 and some miles from the US.

The taxes/duties vary as to the items........

[amytom]

How does this work if you are bringing parts with you? I have a PDQ32 with twin outboards and could load and bring just about every part that is likely to fail (including head rebuild kit). Would those all be taxed?

[Southern Star]

Not as long as they are satisfied that they are not for resale or being left on island. Bring one of each thing you need (or perhaps a few for items like oil filters) and you should be OK.

Brad

[clausont]

I believe that if we ever manage to get that far, I will steer clear of the Bahamas.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by clausont

I believe that if we ever manage to get that far, I will steer clear of the Bahamas.

Then you'll be missing some of the nicest waters in the world for cruising.

Although we all bitch a bit about import restrictions, there are many countries which are much worse for cruisers. If you feel you need a lot of spares take them with you, Bahamian Customs will not bother you.

We have to recognize that nothing remains the same. When I first cruised there (1990), there were no entry fees, just $10 for a fishing license. Now it's $300 for the cruising permit or rather just for entry if you're passing through. The anchorages were a lot quieter, sailors had to know how to get somewhere without GPS, etc., etc. The only constant has been that a case of beer cost about $40. However, notwithstanding all the changes, it's still a great place to cruise.