New Boat Tax

[jibes138]

I don't use the local schools, perhaps only the people with kids in school should pay a user fee for going to school?
Boating contributes to the economy by creating jobs in a broad variety of professions, from building boats, to marinas, selling fuel, making the raw materials to build the boats, repair guys, sailmakers, dodgers, biminis, etc. Frankly I feel more than taxed enough already at 60 to 70% of total annual income. Perhaps a documentation should be like a title, it is a one time event unless the vessel changes ownership? Rather than charge us more find ways to reduce the cost by eliminating non value added process steps.
I'd gladly donate 26 bucks to the CG to help with terrorism, drug interdiction, blasting German U-boats out of the ocean, or searching and rescuing. What I don't accept is suddenly paying a fee for something that was always funded and staffed. Show me where Congress cut that funding out of the budget otherwise it is just a tax hidden as a fee.

 

[woodster]

I don't mind the $26.00 ...but i do mind it not exempting the documented boats from a state fee...if you are registered with the coast guard that should exempt you from state registration or at least have that little sticker from the state be $10.00 only that you have to put on your mast

 

[Benny17441]

By the same logic why should the whole tax payer base pay for the USCG rescue at sea efforts when the great majority of them never set foot on the water? Come on, everybody is paying they are just squeezing a few more dollars of the captive audience of boaters as they cannot get a bigger budget from congress.

 

[jibes138]

When was the last time some process efficiency experts took a look at any government agency to see if they were operating efficiently? All we ever hear is give us more money, give us more people. Companies expect productivity improvements every year of 3 to 5% while our 18Trillion in debt government expects productivity declines. All you folks lobbying in favor of this fee, how come when I title my car it is a one time fee and one time event until ownership changes hands or the lien is terminated? Why does a boat need the title renewed every year? Perhaps it is a way to make a few more jobs in FALLING WATERS WEST VIRGINIA? If we don't start standing up to this nonsense it will just keep getting worse.

 

[Gunni]

I must go down to the seas again
to the lonely sea and sky
And all I ask is a tall ship
and a star to steer her by...

And yet there is more about me
as I ply my angry sea
I will need you pack my free lunch
and pay my documentation fee.

 

[woodster]

I must go down to the seas again
to the lonely sea and sky
And all I ask is a tall ship
and a star to steer her by...

And yet there is more about me
as I ply my angry sea
I will need you pack my free lunch
and pay my documentation fee.

better have a six pack license when you accept the free lunch and registration fee ...cute little poem there Gunni

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I don't use the local schools, perhaps only the people with kids in school should pay a user fee for going to school?

Imagine how much more poorly our public education could get, if possible.

Show me where Congress cut that funding out of the budget otherwise it is just a tax hidden as a fee.

It is clearly a bogus tax called a 'fee' to confuse the weak minded butthis isn't the forum to discuss how we got here

 

[Chris Patterson]

I could not resist..

 

[dlochner]

Documenting a recreational vessel gives little benefit to the general public. It offers value only to the banks who mortgage boats and to the owners who have mortgages on their boats. Why should taxpayers in Iowa support my boating habit. Besides, they are already subsidizing my boat mortgage through an income tax deduction.

 

[WayneH]

I could not resist..

Chris,

This only works if you wait until all the pacemaker lights fade out.

 

[CloudDiver]

I don't see an issue with paying the nominal fee, but its the renewal every year that is problematic. I thought one of the main reasons to go USCG documented over state registration is because you don't have to do it annually? What if you are a permanent or long-term cruiser? Renewing a registration every year might not sound like a big deal, but when you lump it in with all the other admin B.S. we have to put up with doing every year it feels like they are driving the thorn into your side just a little deeper.

Yet another reason to learn about how to and where to flag my boat out of another country... (my future live-aboard, not my current trailer-sailor, lol)

 

[njlarry]

When was the last time some process efficiency experts took a look at any government agency to see if they were operating efficiently? All we ever hear is give us more money, give us more people. Companies expect productivity improvements every year of 3 to 5% while our 18Trillion in debt government expects productivity declines. All you folks lobbying in favor of this fee, how come when I title my car it is a one time fee and one time event until ownership changes hands or the lien is terminated? Why does a boat need the title renewed every year? Perhaps it is a way to make a few more jobs in FALLING WATERS WEST VIRGINIA? If we don't start standing up to this nonsense it will just keep getting worse.

AMEN!!
All you folks who feel another tax is just fine will be glad to know that at anytime you are permitted by law to make an extra tax payment of any amount to help congress out.

 

[dlochner]

I don't see an issue with paying the nominal fee, but its the renewal every year that is problematic. I thought one of the main reasons to go USCG documented over state registration is because you don't have to do it annually? What if you are a permanent or long-term cruiser? Renewing a registration every year might not sound like a big deal, but when you lump it in with all the other admin B.S. we have to put up with doing every year it feels like they are driving the thorn into your side just a little deeper.

Yet another reason to learn about how to and where to flag my boat out of another country... (my future live-aboard, not my current trailer-sailor, lol)

At least in NY, the state registration is good for 3 years and the cost per year is about $30, so it is in line with the USCG fee. The USCG has at least for the past 14 years required annual renewal. The renewal was simple, sign a form and send it back to them.

Banks typically require a boat to be documented prior to issuing a mortgage, it shows clear title to the boat and a lien can be filed with the USCG. There are probably some other legal issues too, but the clear title is a big one. There is some history here too. Originally one purpose of documentation was to have an inventory boats that might be suitable to call into service in case of war or some other crises. I'm sure a google search will yield a more complete explanation of USCG documentation history.

Boat owners like USCG documentation because they are not required to put state registration numbers on the bow.

 

[CloudDiver]

Thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression that USCG documentation was permanent unless there was a significant change, such as your residence, contact info, or ownership... Makes sense to have a renewal, but annually is a bit much. I'm glad to hear NY gets it right for boats, a 3 year interval is more realistic.
In California my Catalina 22 will only cost about $20 annually, mostly because its small, being a 1982 it has low monetary value, and it is sail vs. power so a much smaller carbon footprint. Yet, another annual rite of passage along with my Truck and Motorcycles... luckily it can be renewed online as long as you remember to do it on time. My truck will always cost $400 per year because they do commercial by weight, no matter how old the vehicle gets and its value depreciates.
When I'm 60 and I retire I'm selling everything (house, possessions) and living aboard... having to jump through paperwork hoops will really piss me off. So that's why I'm going to have to look into flagging my boat out of another country. Just another example of how you can never truly be 'free'.

At least in NY, the state registration is good for 3 years and the cost per year is about $30, so it is in line with the USCG fee. The USCG has at least for the past 14 years required annual renewal. The renewal was simple, sign a form and send it back to them.

Banks typically require a boat to be documented prior to issuing a mortgage, it shows clear title to the boat and a lien can be filed with the USCG. There are probably some other legal issues too, but the clear title is a big one. There is some history here too. Originally one purpose of documentation was to have an inventory boats that might be suitable to call into service in case of war or some other crises. I'm sure a google search will yield a more complete explanation of USCG documentation history.

Boat owners like USCG documentation because they are not required to put state registration numbers on the bow.

 

[justsomeguy]

-snip- Just another example of how you can never truly be 'free'.

I'm reminded of a quote from the movie Kelly's Heroes regarding "negative waves".

Don't give up.

 

[dlochner]

snip... having to jump through paperwork hoops will really piss me off. So that's why I'm going to have to look into flagging my boat out of another country. Just another example of how you can never truly be 'free'.

Good luck. This may be one of those it sounds good on paper ideas. Not sure if it is possible. In order to document a boat in the US you must be a US Citizen. And perhaps you should not consider visiting another country. Clearing customs with a boat that is not documented in the same country as you have citizenship may prove to be challenging to the paper work averse.

At least in past year, renewing the USCG Documentation has consisted of signing and dating a preprinted form and mailing it back. Not particularly challenging or demanding.

 

[Gunni]

You can register your vessel documentation number and email with USCG NVDC and they will email you a link for online renewal and payment 30 days prior to expiration.

http://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/renewal_email_signup.asp


If you don't like paperwork, bureaucracy, or paying fees you definitely don't want to take your boat and crew into another country.

 

[redhead78]

i am really surprised it took them this long to make us pay...Red