titleing a tender boat in florida

[spincycle]

Guys, i have just purchased a new tender boat for the yacht, the last tender on the boat I never got registered in florida. the boat came from SC were I guess you don't have to register with the state and get a decal. what are the rules in florida for this type of thing. do I really need to register the tender of a yacht with state of florida and get a sticker and all that. or is there a exception that i qualify for.

Spincycle

 

[NAN-PO 41]

I don't know about Fla. but here in Taxachusetts you register the tender (and of course pay the sales tax ) if it has a motor. You don't title it if under a certain length. ( I believe 12 ft. )
You should be able to get the Fla. regs off of the regulating authority's web site. ( in our case it is the Environmental Police )
Fred

 

[Pascal]

Peter

unfortunately, there are no exemptions in Florida. you need to register the tender (and pay sales tax on it...). you may get away with it for a while, depending on where you use it but you may as well save yourself the agravation and do it.

 

[Sparky1]

Seems to me there's a loophole for a tender if your yacht is documented. You can only use it to ferry people/goods to and from the boat though. When in doubt, check with the folks who write the tickets for failure to comply.

 

[Brian Degulis]

I was told by the state if it has a motor it has to be registered in FL

Brian

 

[Sparky1]

http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/vslfacts.html#3

Exemptions From Registration

Vessels exempt from registration include:

non-motor-powered vessels,
vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds,
vessels owned by the United States Government,
vessels used exclusively as a ship's lifeboat.
Back

Exemptions From Titling

Vessels exempt from titling include:

non-motor-powered vessels less than 16 feet in length,
vessels owned by the United States Government,
federally documented vessels,
vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds,
amphibious vessels for which a vehicle title is issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
vessels used solely for demonstration, testing or sales promotional purposes by a dealer or manufacturer,
vessels owned and operated by the state or its political subdivisions
vessels from a country other than the U.S., temporarily using the waters of this state for not more than 90 days and
vessels already covered by registration numbers awarded according to a federally approved numbering system of another state or by the United States Coast Guard in a state without a federally approved numbering system, provided that the vessels are not operated in Florida waters more than 90 consecutive days.

 

[Pascal]

in theory (as per fed. regs) the tender to a documented vessel does not need to be registered but it has to be used a tender to go back and for to shore only. not worth arguing with the water cops if you go fishing, driving or just cruising around

 

[Sparky1]

I thought I said that.

Wasn't there another thread which addressed this issue? Seems to me the tender had to bear the name of the documented vessel with TT preceding it. As far as it being "theory" in federal regs, it's either there or it's not. Doesn't federal law always trump state law in such matters?

Looks like the FL regs exempt lifeboats. It's hard to imagine they'd ticket anybody for a lifeboat drill.

 

[spincycle]

federally documented vessel is exempt, is that not the same as a US coast guard documented vessel? My vessel is a US documented boat. There has to be a way of not paying sales tax( i don't give the Gov any more than i have to) on a designated tender. i see the point were if you go from ship to shore it qualifies as a tender. And how do I mark the tender, letters ? numbers? the name on the yacht?

Spincycle

 

[J's Dream]

Federally documented and USCG documented are the same thing.

From what I know, you are best to register the boat in FL (where I am too) and pay the sales tax (it's only 6% if you go to the right county) here. You don't want to be explaining things to FWC on the water, they don't and won't understand...which means you'll then be explaining it again in a courtroom. For an UNregistered tender, it can ONLY be used to and from the main boat transporting passengers/supplies. If you stop to fish even once, it NEEDS to be registered.

 

[Pascal]

unfortunately, documentation has nothing to do with sales tax... even a documented vessel which spends more than 90 days in florida must be registered and unless you can prove that you owed the boat outside the state for more than 6 months AND didn't plan on bringing it in the state when you bought it, you have to pay sales tax.

For the dink, unless it is ONLY used from shore to the vessel, it has to be registered (and sales tax paid).

now, you can try getting away with it, act dumb if pulled over and promise to register the tender. if the cop still gives you a ticket, as long as you show up in court with the newly acquired registration, the case should be dismissed... is it worth a try? it's up to you... i ran my old dink for a year without being asked any question. i finally registered it since we were going to Columbus Day Regatta where i knew enforcement is more strict.