So if in Florida where I have a Documented boat-- Both boat and dinghy have Florida registration and titles also---- I only have to mark the dinghy T/T and the documented boats Name? Putting numbers and decals is a pain on inflatables. Can I just put the T/T and documented boats name and registration decal on the inflatables transom inside? Thanks
I am not a lawyer nor am I expressing any legal opinion. Check with a real attorney to see if what I say 'floats'.
What registration decal? Check with someone in the know. My boat has a home port of Atlanta GA. It is US documented. A documented boat does not need to display FL numbers nor registration decal because it is not registered in FL, it is "documented."
I suggest you check and see if you can just declare home port your boat in a different city and state. Well, any state other than Calif. No need to contact anyone in the new home port. I suspect you will need to change your US documentation. You keep kicking a sleeping lion, begging to pay another tax. Yes, there may be a maximum number of days you can stay in FL waters. Let them find you and count the days. How difficult is it to take a boat ride out of FL waters and back in the same day? Head east until you are far enough pump your sanitary tanks, pump your sanitary tank, make a log entry and then back in. This resets the calendar and clock. Dont brag and dont flaunt it. You have followed the letter of the law, I suspect. Screw the spirit of the law.
You get a tax bill for your boat, send them a polite letter indicating you have changed home ports.
Some boat sales, they take a nice trip outside of US waters, Bahamas waters? Sign the bill of sale, log the lat and long on the sales slip and presto, no sales tax. Of course that voids US documentation and the hailing port. Then the next year, pick a home port other than FL, put on the stern of the boat and re-document the boat with the CG.
This marina has some sort of silly rule about the maximum number of days I can remain onboard. I leave the boat, go to the grocery store or boat parts store, get a haircut and I satisfy that rule. I suspect owning my slip has little something to do with it too. Also, my legal residence is GA. IF I change my legal residence to FL, my boat is still home ported in GA. Then, there is some sort of exemption if the sale is between two private parties, no sales tax, I believe. Yea yea, I am walking a fine and narrow line.
If someone says, "That's what the law means." The ask them, why doesnt the law say what it means?