Sailboat charter and buying a boat in US

[SMaturin]

Hello,
I am commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore going to relocate to Santa Cruz, CA where I plan to charter a sailboat and then buy one. Please advise on the following: 1) Can I use RYA YM Offshore certificate to charter a boat in US? 2) Will my RYA certificate work for the paperwork when buying a boat in US?

Many thanks for your help!

[Drew13440]

RYA certification will help, yes. For chartering, they will evaluate your past experience with the size and type boat you wish to charter. They will likely size you up when you arrive to take possession of the boat.


There isn't really any paperwork requirement to buy a boat in the U.S. You gots the money, you gets the boat.


RYA cert will probably help you acquire insurance for your new boat.

[john61ct]

IOW no licensing or other paperwork required legally to own or operate.

Yes insurance can be an issue, but informal experience is fine, same with renting, up to the owner.

Land of the free!

[frozenhawaiian]

ok, just to clarify when you say charter it do you mean you run the boat and people pay you to be aboard? or you're coming stateside to charter a boat from someone else and run it for a bit for fun?

[john61ct]

I think OP was clear

>> I plan to charter a sailboat **and then buy** one

Some places (most of the developed world?) require boat owners to get a piece of paper before they're allowed to sail.

Like cars, requiring a driver's license.

Foreigners are often surprised to learn the US does not.