A question to owners and captains of foreign flag yachts

Hi,

What effect would having a Florida Registration on the back have on your choice of Nationality of crew?

Eh?????



Fish

Our consideration is not necessarily the tax (yes, a consideration, but not primary) as to the issue of privacy with being flagged offshore.

For a smaller boat that were US based, yes, I'd highly value the flat tax of 18,000 (say for a 100 to 500K boat) that were to reside in US waters.

The US flagged yachts I have seen are most always in a US corporation and have to hire US crew......

I think it could be a great thing for this states economy. The more boats that stay here and use the services the better.

Why not recind the sales tax on all US built boats regardless of size. That would bring manufacturing to the state. Or all boats, that would give a shot to every quarter of the business in Florida. Richie Rich in Palm Beach is the only one still doing OK in today's economy. He doesn't need another freebee that will be made up for on the backs of the working poor.

US flagged boat operating in US waters must be crewed by US citizens or have a visa with employment rights which are difficult to get. A foreign flag yacht the crew are only required a B1/B2 visa which is simple to get.

Not sure if US flagged vessels can be owned by non US citizens? certainly cannot operate the vessel, in Canada a Canadian cannot operate a US registered motor vehicle while it is in Canada.

Many yachts are owned by corporations so, if that's true, it would be easy to walk around. They can certainly also operate vessels in the US. They can't become licensed captains.

In the current economy it seems most of the money is coming from outside the US, but that changes. If you're talking about a yacht (under say 100'), cruised primarily in the western hemisphere, that tax could be small potatoes to open up a major resale market not to mention dealing with cruising permits / customs, etc. Also, DK how more US flagged yachts couldn't help US workers.

This might answer some questions:

http://tinyurl.com/ydocxxx

I think this would make Florida more desirable for all vessel that are being bought and sold. Seems to me people would also bring their vessel to Florida to be sold. California keeps going from 90 days out of state to a year out of state back to 90 days out of state and now we are a year out of state to avoid sales tax. Atleast it helps keep Ensenada, Mexico marinas with tenants.

It would help Florida and US crew, as a US owned vessel has to be manned by US crew. Also many Northern Owners have houses in Florida and could register the vessel there. I think it would be a great incentive for people with vessels $500,000 and over not to foriegn flag them and not have to leave the country ever year to come back and renew their cruising permit. Other states such as NC and SC, tax on yachts are like $1000 or so......

There is no US citizenship requirement if the boat is documented as a recreational vessel. If the boat is operating in the US then the stipulation is the crew have to have the right to work in the US. Their citizenship is irrelevant.

If some owner wants to hire Gabonese or Greenlanders to work on his boat in Newport or New Port Richie, as long as they each have a green card they can sail away. The master can have a New Caledonian or New Zealand passport, as long as he has a green card he is permitted by US law to drive the owner and his polyglot crew from Portsmouth to Pensacola.

no benefit with us customs

I foresee NO benefit with domestic flag vs. foreignflag entering the U.S.; the majority of vessels are only back in country occasionally and based off shore for easier access to targeted ports/waters of the owners choosing. With the local option registration to pre-clear US customs upon return, what is the incentive of a US flagged vessel?

You don't have to run the vessel out of the country once a year, to come back to the US in order to renew your cruising permit which requires a drive to the US customs office. While it's easy to take a trip to the Bahamas once a year from South Florida and relatively cheap (fuel/time), not really worthwhile if the boat spends all of it's time in South Carolina.

One issue that the State of Florida does not seem to police too severly is the live aboard restrictions, 5 days max continous or 10 days total in a 30 day period ,what about all those mega yacht crews sitting around in Marinas or work yards and really living aboard under the current law, yet withall a lot of Marinas will not allow transient vessels owners and guests to stay aboard for more than the 5 day max. The annual cruising permit can be renewed without leaving provided the vessel was built in the US even though foreign registered, just do not try it in Ft Lauderdale, I was turned down twice there and went to Miami instead.

It also lets you get rid of that pesky little disclaimer "Not for sale or charter in the U.S.".