where is the best place to register our boat

[water babe]

We were thinking somewhere outside the states.

[rebel heart]

The advantages are few and far between unless it's a large commercial vessel. Just get it USCG documented if you can.

[FLLCatsailor]

I agree... There is really no upside to an offshore registration unless you are commercially operating the vessel...


A BVI registration runs around 4500 and 1500 a year.... I'm going through the process with a client who is setting up their yacht for charter...

[Kettlewell]

You might want to look into purchasing and registering your boat in a state without a sales tax on boats, like Rhode Island. Can save a bundle if you can find the right boat there. It's also a fun area to visit and look at boats, though boatyards tend to be pricier than places further south, particularly Florida. Boat prices vary so much that often on larger boats you might save more on the price in one state than you save on sales taxes in another state. Boats aren't like cars in pricing--you will find that prices often vary by 25-50% (or more) on the same boat in different locations, with different equipment, and in different condition.

[northwestsailor]

Wyoming is a good state. Unless you ship your boat by land through Wyoming you need not pay any tax.I have an LLC that owns the boat and have not had any problems with the state. Of course I called them first to make sure.

[Capt Phil]

As a delivery skipper, I was asked that question a number of times by folks who were non-US citizens but had purchased a USCG documented boat offshore. They couldn't keep their new boat in the USCG documented registry so on doing a little research, I found that the easiest way to for them to deal with issue was to form a Company in the Cayman Islands, very inexpensive to do that, the vessel is in the Company name and the registry can be handled quickly and efficiently by Marine Title Companies in Miami, FL. Home port is Georgetown, Cayman Islands.
So, if you have a reason not to have a USCG documented vessel, that would be an easy way to go.
At all costs, avoid buying or registering or home porting anywhere in California. Otherwise, why bother avoiding documenting in the US... Cheers, Phil

[David_Old_Jersey]

Unless you have a really good reason to register outside your home country then don't on simple cost grounds. Sometimes there are good reasons, but often enough not (at least not when the added cost is factored in). Boat taxes are generally related only to boat location (and Owners personal tax position) rather than the flag of registration.

Anytime you need to add a company to the registration process then the costs (and PITA factor from maintaining the company) increase a fair bit - especially when you go offshore to the flags of conveniance.

Although not relevant to OP (presumably is a US citizen) - Jersey is worth a look at, for personal registration - same as the UK part 1 Register but with no residency requirement and open to citizens of EU (inc. UK!) and those from the Commonwealth (inc. Canada, India and Australia - but not of course the US, as you guys left the Empire a bit early!).

[Capt Phil]

All good points, DOJ... cheers, Phil

[Kettlewell]

Are you asking what country would be a good one to purchase a boat in and liveaboard? That's a different question. Most countries will limit how long you can stay in their waters if you are not a resident. Almost everywhere will give you at least 90 days within the country, and some will give you much more without too much hassle.

[denverd0n]

Some indication of what you are trying to accomplish, and why you think you should register outside the states, would help. As you can see already, the answers you are getting are all across the board. That's because your question is too vague for anyone to really know what it is that you want to do.

[Capt Phil]

+1, denverdOn!! Phil

[jeremiason]

Without knowing the value of the boat and where you inend to keep it, there is not enough information to make a opnion...

The value of the boat, may make registering the vessel outside the US a better way to go, but it is costly.

In Panama, you can register a recreational vessel for about $3500 and $2k US a year annual renewal...

If you intend on coming back to the US once in a while, you would have to obtain a cruising permit as a foreign flaged vessel and renew it once per year.

If you boat is valued at under a million dollars, you won't save money registering off shore. If it is worth over a million dollars, you should be getting advice from your tax man, not the Cruisers Forum!

[s/v Jedi]

I don't see USCG documented as a viable option at all, except sometimes when you live in the US or hold a US passport.

[Sand crab]

Montana also has no sales tax and only registers boats on a one time basis which is permanent. $295.50 and you are done forever. You can also get a permanent license for your car. Crazy!

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

Montana also has no sales tax and only registers boats on a one time basis which is permanent. $295.50 and you are done forever. You can also get a permanent license for your car. Crazy!

We have a car and a motorhome in the US which we registered in Montana for those reasons, plus you don't have to return for inspections either. But if you live in another state, I don't think you're supposed to register stuff in Montana.

We had to erect a LLC for this and as we don't own any real estate nor rent any, it's perfectly okay to choose the state that makes it the easiest. Full time live-aboards get that same freedom after they sell the house.