Note and update Jan 2015: I recently learned that I have been misinformed multiple times by people who answered my phone inquiries in Maine. With the help of BoatUS, I was able to determine farther up the food chain that Maine will issue a state registration to a documented vessel if requested. In accordance with federal law, you may not affix the state numbers to the hull but you will receive a number and the same paperwork which you can show to the many other states that now require your documented vessel to be state registered in another state if not in theirs. You may get a different answer when you go to your town office to register your documented vessel. If so, ask them to check with Bill Swan at Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Original post follows:
Less danger of it now anyway but I just learned this from Cruiser's Net:
I know you can get a "Sojourner's Permit" (see Cruiser's Net) for 90 days but screw'em if I have to do paperwork just to visit their state and leave money there. Ugly state. Not worth it.
http://cruisersnet.net/
Original post follows:
Less danger of it now anyway but I just learned this from Cruiser's Net:
My state (Maine) doesn't register documented vessels so I couldn't comply even if I wanted to. With all the other crap the state deals out to cruisers and beautiful as Georgia is, I'll stay north of the border when I go down again.1. If your vessel is registered in another state besides Florida, you can operate in Floridian water for up to 90 days without a problem. HOWEVER, if your vessel is Federally Documented, and NOT ALSO state registered, you MUST register it with the state of Florida, or you may be ticketed immediately upon entering Floridian waters. Or, put another way, Federally Documented vessels MUST ALSO be state registered (either with Florida or another state), or you face the possibility of a ticket. By the way, it’s this onerous feature of Florida state law that used to allow the “Venice Water Nazi” to ticket boats coming and going in the city of Venice.
I know you can get a "Sojourner's Permit" (see Cruiser's Net) for 90 days but screw'em if I have to do paperwork just to visit their state and leave money there. Ugly state. Not worth it.
http://cruisersnet.net/