Vessel Documentation through the Coast Guard for a 26M

[paj637]

I did the calculations on the CG website and the 26M is just a tad under the minimum 5 tonnes to meet the criteria to document the boat. Just wonder if anyone has come up with different numbers and has actually documented their or ???

[Mikebe]

Not me. There is no requirement to document beyond the normal registration.

[paj637]

I know boats are not required to be documented. I was thinking in lieu of state registration.

[Chip Hindes]

I went through the numbers on my 26X several years ago. As I recall by my calculations it was well within the criteria for documentation.

For a boat which is docked in the U.S. and will seldom venture to foreign countries, I also could not come up with a good reason for doing so. And jumping through the hoops of documentation seemed like a pretty big PITA compared to the benefits, which were none.

Documentation is only universally acceptable in lieu of state registration outside the U.S. Within the U.S. I believe though you can use formal Documentation and avoid the need to display a state registration number, your state of residence is still free to impose its own requirements for displaying the state registration sticker and (of course) the annual registration fee. That is permitted within the rules which govern documentation.

[paj637]

It all comes down to money. As I understand it in SC and GA, I am not required to pay state property taxes on a documented vessel. I have heard of some states have been billing documented vessels that are "homeported" in slips within their states. As active duty military, I am exempt from most state's property taxes as long as I am on orders to that state. That's fixing to change when I retire in a few months. It seems that my trailerable boat, documented, may be able to save me the annual property taxes.

[c130king]

Phil,

I registered with Georgia. You can get the form from Walmart. Fill it out and send it in. Keep the bottom copy of the form. It says it will be your temp registration for 60 days. It took right at 90 days for my registration to be mailed to me. I imagine if you got stopped by anyone they would understand...

But it was only $36 for a three year registration. Also had to register the trailer with the local vehicle registration office...just like a car. I think that was $20 for a 1 year registration.

There was no "property tax".

Jim

[paj637]

Jim,

I'm registered in SC. I tried to register in GA where my other home is and was told that since I wasn't posted in GA, I could not use my military exemption and would have to pay property taxes. I have kept my cars registered in SC for the same reason since I'm still on orders in SC. Anyhow, the one time sales tax and first year's property tax was over $2000 to register my new M in GA. SC's cap on sales tax is only $300 so I made out pretty good. I estimate that annual property tax will be well over $500 for the next few years. Most states normally generate a tax bill off your registration and we have normally just sent in proof of orders and active duty to get it waived (well, you know of course). Just doing some 2007 tax year pre-planning. Hope you enjoy Norfolk! You've got to go see that Tides play. They have a great ballpark. Enjoy.

Phil

[richandlori]

"Net tonnage is a measure of a vessel's volume. It should not be confused with the vessel's weight, which may also be expressed in tons"

This is the only requirement that may be close...anyone done the math on the Mac M?

[maddmike]

I attempted without success to document Zeno's Arrow in 1996 before departing for Canada, the Caribbean and South America. Turned out the only place I had problems (other than the Panama C.) was in the French Islands where I was NOT allowed to go and they made it very clear the cost of doing so would be a heavy fine, (perhaps) jail time and loss of the boat. All other locations where I required documentation (St. Martin, Bonaire, Trinidad, Venz. Brazil, etc.) gave me a short lecture and then cleared the boat. The French Islands are basically a catch 22-you need documentation-you can't get documentation-thus you can't go there. However, that said on my return from South America in 2004 I made a habit of lowering the mast at sea and using ch 16 to declare I needed to enter French waters to repair my boat. Basically they had to comply, but made it clear they didn't like it. MM

[Trav White]

In Florida, you are only required to pay sales tax on the boat and trailer. If you have an itemized invoice, you can save a good bit on the sales tax. When I bought my used boat, I had the seller start with the agreed upon price and subtract the value of the additionals: motor, safety equipment, etc.

[richandlori]

However, that said on my return from South America in 2004 I made a habit of lowering the mast at sea and using ch 16 to declare I needed to enter French waters to repair my boat. Basically they had to comply, but made it clear they didn't like it. MM

Damn smart thinking! I like it!

[Catigale]

In Florida, you are only required to pay sales tax on the boat and trailer. If you have an itemized invoice, you can save a good bit on the sales tax. When I bought my used boat, I had the seller start with the agreed upon price and subtract the value of the additionals: motor, safety equipment, etc

Same would hold in NY I believe. Of course, you are technically responsible for sales tax on anything bought in NY, but since you dont register all these accessories this is between you and your MoneyChanger....consult your attorney for advice of course..

[LCB]

Hello Maddmike,

I see from your recent post that you are back .I have some questions for you.

My 26X has been out of the water for a considerable time. Had to build a house and a couple of other things for the wife.

Now back to the boat. I am preparing to spend a couple of years in the Caribbean down through the Bahamas and around to Guatemala and Belize, or vice versa

I am going to get rid of the Tohatsu 50D, to much power for reasonable cruising not enough power for sports, and terribly inefficient. (Great engine company though) I have enjoyed many miles of sailing, much of it blue water, and in that time I have never encountered a bad situation where an inefficient 50 HP with a limited fuel supply would have made a significant difference

It seems to me that your idea of two 6HP engines is good idea. What do you expect that one of them, at an efficient RPM setting, would give you for speed,( reasonable calm, little wind.)?

Why the 18HP engine? To small to plane, not big enough to play with. Unless the 6 will not give you hull speed, in that case two 8HP would seem best.

Thank you for you time.

Russ

[Frank C]

And ....

Can you empty the ballast tank with twin 6 hp motors??
Can you empty the ballast tank with an 18 hp outboard?

I suspect not. INability to empty ballast has an enormous impact upon flexibility for significantly reducing hull weight, vast improvment in fuel efficiency and/or hull speed, once the sails are down.

[mallardjusted]

LCB,

Have you tried running your 50 at low rpms, say to go about 6 or 7 mph, for an extended period? You might be surpirsed at your fuel economy, and still have the extra power if needed ........ and would save you engine purchase money.

Or you might go with a new 4-stroke or injected 2-stroke in the 30 to 50 hp range, and run it at the slower speeds. I'm sure you mileage would be pretty good. In fact, there was a recent post of someone getting 12 mpg with a larger engine, just by going slow????