USCG Documentation delay?

[alicemacinnes]

My fiance and I just purchased a secondhand cruising boat and want to leave the US quickly and cruise the Bahamas and eastern Caribbean. We've been told at the last minute that USCG documentation takes 4 months to process and we can't go out of US waters with the boat until we have it. This could ruin our plans. Others have said that Massachusetts State registration will be enough to tide us over in the Bahamas and Caribbean until the USCG documentation is finalised.

Does anyone know if the delay is real, if you really can't leave and/or if Mass registration is good enough.

Thanks

[GordMay]

You don't require "Documentation", if you have a current State "Registration"..

[tenknots]

I've been to lots of countries in a boat that was not documented. Only a few arrogant French countries are said to give trouble, though documentation helps everywhere.

The USCG delay is real. If your MA registration is current, you're OK. Except that you seem to be in a real hurry to leave. Don't burn any bridges...