Recommendations Wanted for Puget Sound Moorage

[Bmarler]

The guy we bought our previous boat from lived in Washougal down near the Oregon border and moored it at Pleasant Harbor. Made a lot of sense to me. I’d choose PH over Olympia if I lived down that way for access to the warm water in the Hood Canal in the summer in addition to being a jumping off place to parts North.

I wouldn’t go that way. There isn’t much to do in hood canal except for to go north. There are a couple of good diving locations, and a state park at about it.
Staying in Olympia gives access to all of south sound. People short change the south sound all the time, but it holds a big variety of places to go. This year the wife and I decided to do a no repeats summer. We go out every weekend, staying at a different location each time. Granted, I’ve been to most of these places before, but we get lazy sometimes and just go to our favorites. This year has been a great reminder of how many places we can go.

 

[Sababa]

I wouldn’t go that way. There isn’t much to do in hood canal except for to go north. There are a couple of good diving locations, and a state park at about it.
Staying in Olympia gives access to all of south sound. People short change the south sound all the time, but it holds a big variety of places to go. This year the wife and I decided to do a no repeats summer. We go out every weekend, staying at a different location each time. Granted, I’ve been to most of these places before, but we get lazy sometimes and just go to our favorites. This year has been a great reminder of how many places we can go.

What there is to do in Hood Canal is swim in the 75-80 degree water in the summer time. In hot weather, I can happily spend week at Twanoh and Alderbrook with no complaints about changes of scenery. In fact, I'm about to!

 

[Dockmaster]

My only complaint with Pleasant Harbor thus far is it is a PITA to get to the airport without a car. $500 for car service and $400 for Uber but was told Uber might not show. I wanted to drop one of my vehicles at PH to be there when we arrive with the boat then flew to Alaska to start my trip south. Ended up doing a one-way rental from PDX to SEATAC and had my wife follow me to PH. Then 2.5 hrs drive from PH around to the airport. Dropped the car and got on the plane.

I’m in Alaska now, prepping and provisioning. Plan is to point the bow south early Sunday morning.

 

[Rigamarole]

As a fellow Oregonian I will caution you to be up on the vessel registration requirements. I say this since your stay is open ended and don't want you get get caught out needing to register (sales and use tax).

Are you saying Washington makes you pay sales and use tax again if you stay to long? That can't be right. Maybe tax the difference between what you paid and what their rate is? Or do you just have to change your registration? I thought Coast Guard Documented boats didn't have that problem either.

 

[Rigamarole]

I'm bringing my boat south from Ketchikan to Puget Sound late August or early Sept. I'm looking for moorage somewhere in Puget Sound while we stage before shipping it to Mexico. I'm not sure how long it will be in Puget, depends on the wait for a slip in Mexico. Likely will be several months if not longer. I live in Portland, OR area so I prefer something in the south sound or the Kitsap side. I would rather not deal with traffic through Seattle and points north of there if I can avoid it. We may do some cruising while it's there but distance to San Juan's is not a concern. I believe finding a slip might be a challenge? I'm 59'4" overall with a 17'6" beam. 50 amp power would be great but I can get by with 30 amp if necessary. Any suggestions on marinas that might fit the bill and have availability? Thank you!

Any chance you can share details on the shipping process and pricing? I'm 70' x 19' and don't mind doing the up/down trip twice but not more than that. Certainly not annually.

 

[Bmarler]

Are you saying Washington makes you pay sales and use tax again if you stay to long? That can't be right. Maybe tax the difference between what you paid and what their rate is? Or do you just have to change your registration? I thought Coast Guard Documented boats didn't have that problem either.

No, it’s true, if you stay in Washington too long it’ll cost you. Looks like you have a pretty big vessel, better check the rules for your size class.

 

[Portage_Bay]

Are you saying Washington makes you pay sales and use tax again if you stay to long? That can't be right. Maybe tax the difference between what you paid and what their rate is? Or do you just have to change your registration? I thought Coast Guard Documented boats didn't have that problem either.

Sales tax is a one time event. It's a common misconception that documented boats don't bay state taxes. That varies by state. In Washington State you will pay state taxes.

 

[Portage_Bay]

Are you saying Washington makes you pay sales and use tax again if you stay to long? That can't be right. Maybe tax the difference between what you paid and what their rate is? Or do you just have to change your registration? I thought Coast Guard Documented boats didn't have that problem either.

Source: Vessel Licenses | San Juan County, WA

Non-Resident Vessel Owners
Non-resident vessel owners may use their vessels for personal use or enjoyment on Washington waters up to six months in a 12-month period if the vessel is currently registered in the state of principal use. Effective January 1, 1998, a non-resident vessel owner must do the following to legally operate a vessel in Washington waters for more than 60 days:

• Provide proof of non-residency by showing out-of-state driver's license, or out-of-state photo ID and out-of-state vessel registration.
• Provide the date of entry/hull identification number or six to seven digit Coast Guard Official Number.
• Purchase a Vessel 60 Day Temporary Identification Document for $28.75, plus applicable fees on/by the 61st day of use. The Vessel 60 Day Temporary Identification Document can be renewed for an additional 60 days on or before the first 60 days expires. Cost for renewing is $28.75, plus applicable fees.

Washington State on Documented Boats

Boats registered in another state​

If your boat is registered in another state, it is exempt only for the first 60 days of use. On or before the 61st day of use on Washington state waters, you (or the owner) must obtain a nonresident boat permit as required by law.


If the principal place of use changes to Washington, you must register your boat in Washington.

 

[Rigamarole]

Source: Vessel Licenses | San Juan County, WA



Washington State on Documented Boats

Ok, so $30 every 60 days. Barely worth the effort to collect it. This is the same with many states but is seldom enforced anywhere I've been.

 

[Portage_Bay]

Ok, so $30 every 60 days. Barely worth the effort to collect it. This is the same with many states but is seldom enforced anywhere I've been.

It's 60 days with one 60 day renewal then you're done. Regarding not being enforced I wouldn't be willing to take that chance.

 

[Dockmaster]

Ok, so $30 every 60 days. Barely worth the effort to collect it. This is the same with many states but is seldom enforced anywhere I've been.

I think you are missing the big picture here. You can stay in WA for 60 days, plus one additional 60 day extension without being registrered in WA. Past that timeframe and you are required to obtain WA registration. When you register it in WA, you will have to pay sales tax. In rough numbers, this sales tax is 10% of the value of your boat.

 

[Dockmaster]

Any chance you can share details on the shipping process and pricing? I'm 70' x 19' and don't mind doing the up/down trip twice but not more than that. Certainly not annually.

All the shipping info is detailed here:

Shipper Recommendations Wanted - Victoria to La Paz

Can anyone recommend a shipper other than Cross Chartering for Victoria to La Paz? I have no issues with Cross Chartering to be clear. I have a quote from them already. I was wondering if others do this route regularly so I can get a comparison quote. Thanks!

www.trawlerforum.com

 

[ksanders]

All the shipping info is detailed here:

Shipper Recommendations Wanted - Victoria to La Paz

Can anyone recommend a shipper other than Cross Chartering for Victoria to La Paz? I have no issues with Cross Chartering to be clear. I have a quote from them already. I was wondering if others do this route regularly so I can get a comparison quote. Thanks!

www.trawlerforum.com

Just an FYI

The south run on the pacific coast is all downhill, easy peasy.

Going north is where problems arise.

 

[tiltrider1]

Vehicles and vessels usually get treated the same. I have never brought a vessel in as anything but a current resident and a new purchase so I always had to pay either a sales tax or the use tax, it’s the same amount either way.

I have brought vehicles in to the state as a new resident and as a previously owned vehicle. As a new resident, you get an exception from sales/use tax. The restriction is that you must have owned it for more than 90 days prior to bringing it to Washington.

I have brought previously owned vehicles into Washington as A current resident. Here I had to pay a use tax but not on the full value. Washington has some strange formula that gives the car a value and then depreciates based on the number of years you owned it. In my case I have found that 5 years drops the value to insignificant and 10 years drops it to effectively zero.

So, buy the boat at home, sit on it for 100 days and then move it to Washington, claim the new resident exemption and just pay the annual excise tax.

 

[Diep]

My only advice to anyone is to carefully and fully read all of the Washington Laws, Rules and other official regulations for yourself. And/or consult with a professional before facing a 5 or 6 figure bill.

 

[heysteve]

This may not be relevant to you if you're just passing through, but I believe WA gives you a use tax credit for any sales tax paid in a different state.