We bought our boat in the BVI's and have had it down there for three years now. We are bringing the to Florida in February it is documented to the U.S. but has never been in the U.S. Is there anything that I need to do before we bring it to Florida. Do we have to clear into the U.S. in Key West? We are bringing the boat to the Tampa Bay Area?
Bringing boat to Florida from BVI's
- Thread starter Southpaw
- Start date
Safe voyage Joey. It was fun meeting up with you down there.
Did Conch have any suggestions on what needed to be done? I'm guessing it may need to be Coast Guard inspected and documented.
Did Conch have any suggestions on what needed to be done? I'm guessing it may need to be Coast Guard inspected and documented.
Perhaps you should contact customs directly, at the port of entry that you will clear thru if possible, to determine the paperwork that will be needed as well as to determine any fees & taxes that will be due upon arrival. I would talk to a supervisor and get that persons name at the port of entry to avoid varying opinions from different offices as to what the requirements will be. Entry requirements should be clear cut; however, you know the potential for foul ups when dealing with these agencies.
We've done that trip a few times. There are ports of entry offices in KW, Miami, Naples, port of manatee, Sarasota and Tampa among others so it's pretty simple to find a place to 'land' to check into Florida.
All you need are passports and ship's papers and crew list unless you are declaring stuff.
All you need are passports and ship's papers and crew list unless you are declaring stuff.
I would surmise you are crossing in through Bahamian waters so making entry in Miami or Key West may be the most convenient. When you say documented to the US does that mean it is USCG documented? If so just make sure the registration number has been embedded on the inside of the hull and that the fees are current and that Documentation is in force. Otherwise what kind of title documentation are you holding?
Justin we enjoyed meeting up with you all in the BVI's. Conch is not upto speed with the regulations of the US.
BigEasy
I found a number i'm going to try.
Benny
Yes it is USCG document but has not been registered in the US.
BigEasy
I found a number i'm going to try.
Benny
Yes it is USCG document but has not been registered in the US.
I don't know if we are going to go through the Bahama's or the old Bahama channel do to only having a month to make the move.
Your USCG document is your US registration, otherwise called boat papers. It is only valid for a year so check the expiration date. I sure wish USCG would get with the program and make it valid a lot longer. It causes me all kinds of problems. Germany's registration is valid for 10 years.
I forgot to add, if you keep the boat in Florida for more than 90 days, it will need to be registered in Florida as well. They will ask for the bill of sale and receipt of taxes paid on it. If you have not paid a sales tax in the US for it, then you will owe Florida their sales tax based on the bill of sale price.
[QUOTE=" I sure wish USCG would get with the program and make it valid a lot longer. ...[/QUOTE]
I just got the new BoatUS magazine, and they report it has been approved that documentation will go to five years. Now the debate is how much it will cost.
I just got the new BoatUS magazine, and they report it has been approved that documentation will go to five years. Now the debate is how much it will cost.
If your USCG registration has lapsed due to non-payment of fees in the past years you must "Reinstate" it. Go to the USCG National Vessel Documentation Center web page for the Form and Requirements. Perhaps the original purchase of the boat was financed by a US Bank and that triggered the Documentation. If the new owners (yours) information has not been updated in the file you will need to provide documents evidencing the transaction. I would have hoped that when you purchased the boat someone would have checked (Abstract of Title) with the USCG Documentation Center to make sure the boat had no outstanding liens at which time the registration would have needed to be current. Contact the USCG to find out the current status of the registration. Go to check by boat name http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html
The USCG Registration is your document of title (ownership). The registration by the State of Florida is just a users tax and fees record.
The USCG Registration is your document of title (ownership). The registration by the State of Florida is just a users tax and fees record.
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The USCG documentation certificate is good. What I meant about the registration is that it hasn't been registered to any US states yet.
Florida will not let me register the boat in Florida until it clears through customs. I was just wondering if there was any import fees since the boat was built in France and has never been to the US
Yep that maybe an entirely separate issue if the boat was built in France & imported directly to the BVI's. Again check with a supervisor at customs in your planned port of entry to determine taxes that will be due. Would also check with Florida boat registration officials if you intend to keep the boat in Florida. Might also check with the charter group at the BVI base. They routinely sell boats that are brought back to the states; they can likely recommend contacts that can simplify this process. Once you get all of the info, please let us know the outcome!
We had to pay a $40 Departation tax at customs to leave the BVI's. Ridiculous! I wonder if you have to pay to remove your boat from the islands. 
You can bet there will be taxes and fees when you bring her to FL. Should be a state org question but the county may have their hand out too.
You can bet there will be taxes and fees when you bring her to FL. Should be a state org question but the county may have their hand out too.
By far the easiest thing to do is stop in Culebra (or Puerto Rico proper; bigger variety and much cheaper provisioning) and clear into the US there. Culebra has a small customs/immigration office within walking distance of the dinghy dock. And not a bad place to visit anyway, before heading off for the states.
The USVI is a duty free port so you are not in the US. But Puerto Rico is a part of the US and by clearing in there that makes it a "coastwise" voyage to the states, requiring you only to notify customs of your arrival in the continental US by phone. You'll have to pay a (I believe) $71.00 fee, but you'd have to pay that in the US upon arrival from a foreign port, anyway.
If you've ever flown to the US via Puerto Rico you know what I mean. You clear in there and there's nothing to do upon arrival in the US.
The USVI is a duty free port so you are not in the US. But Puerto Rico is a part of the US and by clearing in there that makes it a "coastwise" voyage to the states, requiring you only to notify customs of your arrival in the continental US by phone. You'll have to pay a (I believe) $71.00 fee, but you'd have to pay that in the US upon arrival from a foreign port, anyway.
If you've ever flown to the US via Puerto Rico you know what I mean. You clear in there and there's nothing to do upon arrival in the US.
Almost all the islands are now collecting entrance and/or exit fees. Last week it cost me ec$203.90 plus ec$ 50.00 overtime to clear in 4 people to the SVG on Sunday. If folks join your boat in Grenada there is a ec$20.00 fee per person upon departure from Grenada by boat, as well. Of course, I believe this is still a bit less than the airport departure taxes in most countries.
I'd like to know why you think it's "Ridiculous!" for a country that has only one industry, tourism, to charge you a $40.00 "Departure Tax" for the privilege of enjoying one of the best sailing venues on this planet. Is it really that awful to contribute to a small, poor country's economy for the pleasure of enjoying the place?
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If $40 bucks is going to get you so wound up, perhaps you shouldn't bother going down to the BVI's again. Or Grenada. Or SVG, Antigua. Heck, St Barths charges by the square of your boat's dimensions just to anchor! Best stay far, far away from that place, 'cause $40.00 bucks is just a drop in the bucket there.
It's not like you don't have to pay to visit our National Parks, even though you supposedly pay your fair share of taxes. Or bridge tolls, even though your taxes go to infrastructure like bridges.
Anyway, ask any non American what they have to pay just to apply for a visa, with no guaranty. Now THAT'S extortion!