Documentation versus State Registration
The issue of a state’s requiring all vessels entering that state have a state registration, i.e. from the vessel’s home state, regardless of documentation, has been discussed at length here and in other forums. Skipper Long brings news of success with the problem in his home state of Maine.
There have been discussions here previously about the Florida requirement (at least according to Captain Tom Shipp of the FWC, Department of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways) that a documented vessel have a state registration in full force and effect before entering Florida waters. This is currently being verified at higher levels by BoatUS. In the meantime, it poses a problem for residents of MA, DE, VA, and SC which do not require state registrations for documented vessels.
I was told more than once by Maine officials that I could not re-register my documented vessel with the state without surrendering my documentation. With the help of BoatUS, I was able to get a determination farther up the food chain that Maine will issue a state registration if requested. This is more than the pair of decals, unaccompanied by any other paperwork, that Maine owners of documented vessels receive and which may or may not be recognized as `state registration’ by law enforcement officers in other states.
My Maine registration is now on its way and my USCG document remains valid. My vessel will now be assigned a Maine number and I will receive the same paperwork as if it were not documented. I am prevented by federal law from attaching the ME numbers to the bow but I will have the paperwork to show any boarding law enforcement officer in another state. Since Maine can’t get the excise tax decals to boaters before late February or early March, I will be glad to have the registration paperwork aboard before entering Florida in a couple weeks.
If you try to state register your documented vessel in Maine, you may well be told that you can not do so by the local officials in the town where you register. If so, ask them to please check with Bill Swan at Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Comments from Cruisers (3)
Howard, I believe only Florida requires you to have a valid state registration in addition to your CG document, and many of us have successfully cruised Florida for months without once being asked to show a state registration. Technically, Florida does have the law on the books that all boats must have a state registration somewhere, though many in the state do not. If you don’t spend more than 90 days visiting any one state most will not try to extract taxes from you, though some states have a shorter grace period–New Hampshire only grants 30 days! In practice, unless you rent a slip in a marina for a long period you are unlikely to be hassled about taxes while traveling.
More questions than answers Why do some states only recognize other state reg. And not federally documented boats…. Is it for tax reasons???? My boat is documented and I do pay taxes I just want to travel in America with no hassle.
Howard Secrist
Howard,
You should have no problems with this particular issue as a foreign vessel, just the usual internationl voyaging headaches.