Dinghy Registration Outside US ?

[Misiu]

Are there any reasons or benefits to register inflatable if one wants to use it only outside the United States?

[hellosailor]

"outside the United States? "
Offhand I would guess there are a thousand different sets of regulations that could apply in that small area.
Just as within the US, there must be some places where any boat must have some type of registration on it, and others where a dink wears the aegis of the mothership.

Reasons? Would be specific to just where "outside the United States? " means to you.

[kb79]

when we bought our boat, the dink wasn't registered because the PO had been cruising and "didn't think it was necessary in mexico"

it may or may not have been, but we had to pay back registration fees to reregister here.

so, if you ever plan on coming home, might as well keep the registration up to date.

[Misiu]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"outside the United States? "
Reasons? Would be specific to just where "outside the United States? " means to you.

Central America

[Misiu]

Originally Posted by kb79

so, if you ever plan on coming home, might as well keep the registration up to date.

I plan on keeping the boat in Central America for many years, probably longer than the life of inflatable..

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by Misiu

Are there any reasons or benefits to register inflatable if one wants to use it only outside the United States?

A good reason to provide the inflatable with a recognizable identity is to MAYBE prevent it being stolen --- example the sail boat is called "SV. MOONBEAM" then give the inflatable the same name in large letters.
On the transom affix a plate with details. Take photo's, so that in the event that it is stolen - a photo may help in recovery and prosecution.
The O/B should also be photographed and serial numbers recorded ; The O/B
is usually the target not the dinghy.
Certainly give your insurance company details and photos to assist in pursuing a claim.
Some Marinas who have a dinghy dock like to have a record of a dinghy using that facility.
Outside the US - do not know of a single country that requires registration.

[AnchorageGuy]

We have never been ask for any kind of registration for our dinghy outside the US. Our trip in Central America was no exception. The authorities could care less about the dinghy and thieves want your outboard and will abandon the dinghy if they steal it. If you plan to stay out of the US it will actually be a hassle to renew while out of the country. When we came back we went to the local tax office and registered it with no problem. It was insured along with our boat, the insurance company just wanted a description and serial number.

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by Laidback

A good reason to provide the inflatable with a recognizable identity is to MAYBE prevent it being stolen --- example the sail boat is called "SV. MOONBEAM" then give the inflatable the same name in large letters.
On the transom affix a plate with details. Take photo's, so that in the event that it is stolen - a photo may help in recovery and prosecution.
The O/B should also be photographed and serial numbers recorded ; The O/B
is usually the target not the dinghy.
Certainly give your insurance company details and photos to assist in pursuing a claim.
Some Marinas who have a dinghy dock like to have a record of a dinghy using that facility.
Outside the US - do not know of a single country that requires registration.

Putting your vessel name on your dink can say " no body at home on SV Moonbeam" when youv'e taken the dink ashore. I gave mine it's own name with T/T (tender to) Minggat in a less visable spot.

[Randyonr3]

was told by the coast guard in the far north while we were up there, to use the
"T/T" with the doc number to follow.. this way it didnt alart anyone that you were not home while dink was ashore but still identified the dink to belong to the mother vessel............

[John A]

Originally Posted by Minggat

Putting your vessel name on your dink can say " no body at home on SV Moonbeam" when youv'e taken the dink ashore. I gave mine it's own name with T/T (tender to) Minggat in a less visable spot.

Another boating myth.

I bet if I passed your boat at anchor and the dink was gone, I could figure out that nobody was on the boat.

[Healer52]

Originally Posted by Randyonr3

was told by the coast guard in the far north while we were up there, to use the
"T/T" with the doc number to follow.. this way it didnt alart anyone that you were not home while dink was ashore but still identified the dink to belong to the mother vessel............

Good tip!

But according to the USCG registration faq, federal registration conveys nothing to tenders...

[svcambria]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Minggat
Putting your vessel name on your dink can say " no body at home on SV Moonbeam" when youv'e taken the dink ashore. I gave mine it's own name with T/T (tender to) Minggat in a less visable spot.

Another boating myth.

I bet if I passed your boat at anchor and the dink was gone, I could figure out that nobody was on the boat.

Yup, but you wouldn't know if it was one of the dinks zipping around the anchorage or tied up to a nearby boat. Putting the name on it tells others that it is tied up at the dock out of sight of the vessel...
There are other ways to mark your dinghy to make it identifiable in case of theft. And unless you are using it for commercial fishing, you don't need registration in Mexico, and no one asked for it in Costa Rica or Ecuador...

Michael

[hellosailor]

kb-
"we had to pay back registration fees to reregister here."
Which tax-hungry state was that? In most of them, a motor vehilce is a motor vehicle, and when you bring it in new or used, you only pay registration from that day forward. (From the date it enters the state.)
If it was supposed to be registered from the date of purchase, that's another story of course.

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

kb-
"we had to pay back registration fees to reregister here."
Which tax-hungry state was that? In most of them, a motor vehilce is a motor vehicle, and when you bring it in new or used, you only pay registration from that day forward. (From the date it enters the state.)
If it was supposed to be registered from the date of purchase, that's another story of course.

I recognize that as a California antic. They know how to get the money out of your pocket and into the illegal aliens pocket pretty well.

I also like the idea of the documentation number better than my plan.

Sometimes the judgemental comments here like "another myth" are justified. Sometimes better left unsaid. Whatever one chooses, the less advertising of "free stuff", the better.

[Misiu]

Originally Posted by svcambria

There are other ways to mark your dinghy to make it identifiable in case of theft. And unless you are using it for commercial fishing, you don't need registration in Mexico, and no one asked for it in Costa Rica or Ecuador...
Michael

Thank you. And as far as I know Panama is the same way.

I will definitely mark my dinghy in some strange pattern. My outboard cover is already painted yellow with some lettering (t/t Niunia)