I'll tell what I know about Florida tax.

When I sailed from Boston to Florida back in 1983, I had paid MA sales
tax on my Bristol 40.  She was documented, so I thought no state
registration would be needed anywhere.  So, I never registered her in
Florida, and was never cited nor advised to do so.

But, when I purchased my trawler in Charleston, SC in 1997, I paid no
sales tax in SC.  Instead, I was advised to wait and pay it in Florida.
It, too, was documented, so I thought I would avoid state registration.
Wrong!  I no sooner got into Florida waters than I was visited at a
marina by a Florida Marine Patrol officer, who cited me for not having a
Florida registration sticker and gave me few days to obtain same.  In
order to obtain a FL state sticker, which is required of all boats
remaining in Florida more than, I think, 30 days unless they bear a state
registration sticker from another state, I had to show proof of sales
tax.  So, $12,000 plus $80 or so later, I became legal in Florida and the
citation was cancelled.  The only difference in Florida treatment of a
documented vs. a registered boat is that a documented vessel is not
required to bear the FL letters and numbers on its hull:  only the
sticker!  The moral of this is that the inspectors treat power boats
quite differently than sailboats!

Regards,

Capt. Howard W. Evirs, Jr.
M/V White Squall
No. Palm Beach, FL

In Southern Cal it becomes increasingly common to take delivery off-shore
head to Mexico and wait 6 months.  The Coral Marina in Ensenada has a set of
boats waiting out the delay.  I think Cal is trying to find a way to stop it
but has not managed it so far. 10 or 12 grand is well worth the trouble.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com
[mailto:owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com]On Behalf Of Howard W Evirs
Sent: October 18, 1999 9:40 AM
To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com
Subject: TWL: Re: trawler-world-list V3 #109 (Florida Tax)

I'll tell what I know about Florida tax.

When I sailed from Boston to Florida back in 1983, I had paid MA sales
tax on my Bristol 40.  She was documented, so I thought no state
registration would be needed anywhere.  So, I never registered her in
Florida, and was never cited nor advised to do so.

But, when I purchased my trawler in Charleston, SC in 1997, I paid no
sales tax in SC.  Instead, I was advised to wait and pay it in Florida.
It, too, was documented, so I thought I would avoid state registration.
Wrong!  I no sooner got into Florida waters than I was visited at a
marina by a Florida Marine Patrol officer, who cited me for not having a
Florida registration sticker and gave me few days to obtain same.  In
order to obtain a FL state sticker, which is required of all boats
remaining in Florida more than, I think, 30 days unless they bear a state
registration sticker from another state, I had to show proof of sales
tax.  So, $12,000 plus $80 or so later, I became legal in Florida and the
citation was cancelled.  The only difference in Florida treatment of a
documented vs. a registered boat is that a documented vessel is not
required to bear the FL letters and numbers on its hull:  only the
sticker!  The moral of this is that the inspectors treat power boats
quite differently than sailboats!

Regards,

Capt. Howard W. Evirs, Jr.
M/V White Squall
No. Palm Beach, FL