[EXPIRED]More on Winter “Dockage in North Carolina” Discussion
There has been an ongoing, lively discussion on the MTOA List-Seriver about winter dockage and boat storage in North Carolina waters. I’ve copied most of these messages below. As I’ve said before, but let me say it again, all of us at the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net HIGHLY recommend membership in the MTOA. If your nautical interest lies in trawlers, you simply can’t join a better orgainization.
As you will see, one of the BIG winners in the discussion below is River Dunes Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR), off the Neuse River on Broad Creek. We have provided links to River Dunes and several other marinas that appear in the various messages below at the end of this posting!
I also wintered my Grand Banks 42 in New Bern in 2009 for the winter. Liberator stayed at the Bridgeport Inn. Service was very friendly. Access to the Craven County Airport was even better. I did worry for a week about the weather. However, I paid a local boat sitter to look after the boat.
Martin Conway
We have just purchased a 40 ft Albin trawler which is located in Annapolis MD. We want to move it to No Carolina before winter and must leave it until February 2011 until our retirement commences. Any
suggestions RE: a reasonable, safe and secure site, whether on the hard or in the water? We live in northern MN and want a trustworthy provider but need no amenities.
Gary
On the hard, try Bock Marine in Beaufort, NC. I can’t comment on in the water except to recommend that you call Town Creek Marina in Beaufort. Others will have different recommendations. You might even call Grand Strand marina at Myrtle Beach. They are well protected and south of the freeze line.
Jim
Try Cape Lookout Yachts in Oriental
We have been keeping our 34T at Spooners Creek Marina in Morehead City and are very satisfied. It has modern floating docks and is well protected if you are in close to the bulkhead. We did not have to leave when hurricane Earl came by and their policy is you can stay up to a Cat 2 and possibly more depending on the track. Boats at Morehead Yacht basin had to leave the Marina.
I would suggest checking out the Hurricane procedures no matter where you choose to keep your boat.
George
Gary,
We wintered over in New Bern, NC in ’06-’07. We stayed at the Sheraton Marina, now called Grand (I think). Bridgepointe, on the other side of the river, was about $20/mo. cheaper. I think either would be good but we preferred the Sheraton because everything in the old town was a short walk away. The only thin you need to be mindful of is the State tax that is assessed on all boats residing there on Jan. 1. We were able to easily exempt because our stay didn’t exceed the six month limit. However, be aware of the tax and keep your documentation after you leave. We were forewarned by the dockmaster so we took a walk to visit the Tax Collector’s office. We talked to a nice lady who took down all the information she needed. Just prior to leaving, we visited again and showed them our final bill. Thought that would be the end of it but not so. We got a tax bill from them later in the year. I was able to make the problem go away with a phone call
and a quick fax. But if I hadn’t kept copies of the billing I would have been screwed.
In retrospect, although we thoroughly enjoyed our time in New Bern, we should have gone farther south, below the freezing zone. We didn’t have any problems but it was too cold to cruise the boat.
Regards,
Randy
Morning Star
Gary,
Funny thing… I just posted on a related item on the T&T list about this very topic… Here’s the scoop.
Have you decided the state and county in which you plan to “register”/”record” the boat? If not, do that before you do anything else. With boats, the general rule is that the boat is “registered” or “recorded” in the jurisdiction of it’s “principal use.” You, the owner, get to decide where that is. There is nothing morally or legally wrong with using the boat principally in jurisdictions with low/no excise taxes and low/no personal property taxes. There is no legal obligation to “register” or “record” or pay taxes on the boat in the jurisdiction where you maintain your domicile if that is not the area of “principal use.”
In case you weren’t aware, North Carolina has a personal property tax system on boats that is levied by individual NC counties. Additionally, some but not all cities in NC impose their own PPTs. While New Bern is a very nice location to winter, it does have a very significant local PPT on top of the county PPT, but across the Trent River, outside the city, there isn’t one. Liability for the PPT in NC occurs on January 1st of each year. As of recent changes, I understand that it may also occur if the boat is in that jurisdiction for 90 consecutive days. Plan accordingly. The plan that you mentioned in your post appears to bring you into a PPT taxable case in NC. Check with the marina where you ultimately settle to see if they are in a city with a PPT on top of the county PPT.
A poster on the T&T list implied that there is no excise tax on used boats in NC. I *do not* know if that is correct; it was new to me. If true, that could benefit you if you plan to take the boat to NC. Again, verify it with the county tax office where you decide to locate the boat.
Consider hauling the boat. In most states, if the boat is hauled it is not “in the water and available for use.” That stops the 90 day “register”/”record” clock, but I don’t know about the NC PPT.
South Carolina is similar to NC, but I think involves lower tax rates. Most eastern shore counties in SC allow 180 days before the PPT/registration obligation attaches. If you plan to winter there, check with the marina or the county where the marina is located. The better marinas will know what the local rules are.
Most states will allow you 30 days to get the boat registered and any applicable excise taxes paid. Wherever you do that, decide now. Maryland allows 30 days from the time the boat enters Maryland waters to pay the excise tax and register or record the boat. If the boat was in the water in Maryland, the clock started at closing. Plan accordingly. If you do not plan to “register”/”record” in Maryland, get out within 30 days. You could bounce back and forth from Solomons to Deltaville every 29 days to run out the clocks… Hey, that’s the rules, and you’re just playing their game by their rules… There is no legal or moral obligation to arrange your affairs to maximize your tax obligation! Thus declareth the US Supremes…
All of the states are desperate for “income” these days. If you trigger any of the time criteria anywhere along the way, the locals will vigorously come after you. So, plan carefully; this decision is worth a lot of money.
Good luck!
Jim
Morning Gary,
Give J.C. Cappelmann a call at River Dunes Marina, 252-670-5987. River Dunes is a beautiful marina in a very protected basin. River Dunes is located at m.m 174 just off the ICW up Broad Creek. I would also suggest River Dunes to all the MTOA folks who are headed south for the winter, I promise you won’t be disappointed with your visit.
Call J.C. for rates and info on the marina,
Todd & Brenda
Life’s2Short
We stayed at River Dunes for several days on our way north in the spring and also highly recommend it. It is a wonderful marina, excellent docks, protected basin, friendly and helpful staff, and free courtesy car.
Barbara and Jim and Golden Retriever, Lily
Golden Lily – Nordic Tug 42-092
We too enjoyed River Dunes. Do note however there is a lack of AT&T cell coverage in the area and the restaurant is only open on the weekends. Call ahead.
Bob and Kemba
Aboard M/V Spirit Dancer
Palmetto Moon with Jim, Su and lazy cat Alex are from SC and have our our boat hauled in NC. Not because the yard is better, it is the yard we know best. Sailcraft in Oriental, NC (MM-180) has done all our work for the past 5 1/2 years. All of our visits, the employees have been very professional and competent. Owned by Allen Arnfast who is always there. Phone 252-249-0522 We stop in on our North and South trips to receive excellent service that is priced reasonably and has always come in, at or under the quoted figures. In the North bound stay the boat is hauled for 30 days and we stay aboard, climbing a 16 foot ladder. You can perform any work yourself, but they will assist at the normal labor rates for that job. Sailcraft is a working yard and you would need to haul your boat for that extended time.
On the other hand if you just want water storage; Marina [at] Grande Dunes (MM-257) in Myrtle Beach, SC is a marina I recommend. Phone 843-315-7777 We use this marina for our North and South bound stops for about 30 days each way. Boat is safe, we can visit our families, doctors, tax stuff and get ready for the next six months of travel. They are a quality run marina with very attractive rates for long term stays. Very well protected in a basin with floating docks with fingers on BOTH sides, locking gates, and security. Last year Horry County passed a change in length of stays before becoming taxable. From a total of 90 days to total of 180 days. (not sure if this is calendar or any 12 month period) Leave the keys with the office and they will check on your boat for you.
If you decide on either one tell them that Palmetto Moon recommended you. Sometimes it has made a big difference in your rates GOING DOWN!!!!!!
Jim
Palmetto Moon
Gary
We have docked our trawler at River Dunes for the months of July thru September and December thru March for the last two years. Check the web site. Call JC for long term rates.
The marina is well protected from storms and the only tide is wind created. The facility cannot be matched in NC. RD is a ten minute ride from the village of Oriental. The village has a West Marine and a hardware store and good restaurants
If I can help please call.
Dean
Ode to Joy
I know that many boaters leave their vessels in the water in New Bern, NC at the New Bern Grand Marina (part of the local Hilton Hotel) for the winter. I talked to Nancy, the marina office manager who said that customers boat year around there. The region experiences a mild winter climate, where a small heater or even a 100 watt light bulb in the engine room maintains temperature on the few days the temperature dips below freezing. The marina is in the heart of downtown New Bern with its many shops and restaurants, has floating docks and a full time staff that will look after your vessel while you are away. It’s one of only two NC coastal communities with a nearby airport served by a commercial airline (US Airways). Being part of the Hilton Hotel chain, marina customers have use of the hotel amenities including on-site restaurant, entertainment deck, free morning newspaper and coffee and perhaps most helpful of all – hotel shuttle service to the airport and to local stores for groceries & supplies. But the best part is the monthly dockage rates of $6.25/ft/mo plus metered power (at the standard NC residential rate), which will be offered for up to six month to winter residents; that’s less than $300/mo for a 40 foot boat.
I have no affiliation with the marina except for being a satisfied customer this summer when we spent half the season away from the boat. For more information call Nancy at 252/638-0318.
Phil
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