Okay, case closed. I called the vendor where I bought the dinghy and motor approx 2 years ago- Boat Specialists in Ventura, CA. By luck the very sales rep I bought it from answered. I explained that if possible I needed from them a notarized bill of sale stating it was
sold to my boat LLC. They were extremely helpful and understanding, though they had never heard of this requirement.
They ended up sending via
email a notarized Manufactures Statement of Origin as well as a new sales invoice showing the buyer as my LLC as well as my name. So we went back to the Banjercito. The same person was at the window and at first rejected the new documents saying the Statement of Origin was not good for this issue, that I needed something saying the dinghy and motor was sold to the LLC. I pointed out that the invoice now showed the buyer as the LLC and my name as well. That worked, as she thought it was the same invoice she had seen the day before and apologized for not seeing that.
Im sure a lot of this has to do with the individual you have to deal with at the window, but for us the things that were sticking points for all of this check-in were, for a LLC owned boat:
-TIP: Documents showing some way of transfer of ownership for the dinghy and motor to an LLC, preferably notarized. If
buying a boat with dinghy included, be sure to include the dinghy and outboard w serial numbers on the sales documents.
-I had a notarized Letter of Authorization in which the LLC gave me permission to sail the boat anywhere, do any
repairs, and anything else I could think of. But the agent at Cruise Port Marina said I was missing a statement saying I had permission to do all the paperwork for check-in (see attachment). So tedious. But they were able to makeup a new letter for me, which was nice.
-Make sure you know what part of your LLC paperwork shows that you are the owner(s) of the LLC, and thus the boat, and have a copy to give. That will be needed for the TIP.
The Banjercito agent did say we could get the TIP without the dink and outboard. But if we were ever inspected an agent could tax us for the undocumented
equipment.
For those not familiar with having a boat owned by an LLC, it is for tax reasons. I dont know what its like in other states, but in
California there is no sales tax on the
purchase of the boat if its bought and sold by LLC's. Thats the reason for all this extra
legal headache.
Hopefully this info will help someone on there way down to enjoy Mexican waters.
Additional info: Cruise Port gave me the names of two agents that I would have called if Boat Specialists were not able to help to help push the paperwork through:
- BC Connection: 646-151-4314, Alondra or Michelle
- Niza
Marine, Manu(?), 646-119-15-91