What Paperwork Do I Need to Cruise?

[estarzinger]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

In Spanish speaking countries ( ie Spain and all of the Americas ( with a few exceptions ) from Cape Horn to central Alberta) the document is the 'zarpe'. In English it is your port clearance.....

That is certainly true in theory . . . but it's funny . . . . it was called (in actual practice by the official behind the counter) a zarpe most places we cleared - including french islands and South Africa. Perhaps it was just the particular guys we dealt with, but it was pretty constant over all our cruising.

But does not matter, they just want to see it . . . it sort of shows that you left last port in good standing and are not running from the law or huge unpaid bills.

I used to have a big stack of French blank ones which they left out on the counter in Deshaies

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

That is certainly true in theory . . . but it's funny . . . . it was called (in actual practice by the official behind the counter) a zarpe most places we cleared - including french islands and South Africa. Perhaps it was just the particular guys we dealt with, but it was pretty constant over all our cruising.
.........

Same same 'pratique' which to the best of my knowledge is used globaly...

[zedpassway]

We had a boat last fall that sailed into Bar Harbor, Maine, ostensibly from somewhere int the Caribbean and then to Canada and then to the USA. The did not have a information for the places that they said they had left. The boat was immediately impounded by the USCG for possible drug smuggling. Later(about a month) it was released when it was finally determined that the owners were just too dumb to realize that they needed documentation of where they had been.

[old pirate]

Surprised no one mentioned the most important papers,,,,,,, paper money and plenty of it !

[Livia]

Where we went (only in the Pacific) we were asked for only our boat docs, clearance from last port, and passport in most countries. We didn't have a printer or copier aboard and simply carried lots of copies including blank crew lists. In the few instances where a copy of something else was needed, we asked where we could buy one and they sent us somewhere we could.

I don't remember being asked for a boating competency cert (which we needed in Canada of course) or a radio cert anywhere we visited although we carried them.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Livia

Where we went (only in the Pacific) we were asked for only our boat docs, clearance from last port, and passport in most countries. We didn't have a printer or copier aboard and simply carried lots of copies including blank crew lists. In the few instances where a copy of something else was needed, we asked where we could buy one and they sent us somewhere we could......

In my experince in recent years if they want a copy they take a copy .. in their office.. on their photocopier..

That said I carry a few p/copies of passports and ship's papers... haven't bothered with an on board printer since my old Canon BJ-80(?) died about 10 years ago..

[mawtty]

A good set of Admiralty charts, me hearty.
Read Joshua Slocomb's book. Don't take a goat on deck.

[KetoNomad]

Wow! Thanks for the help everyone. This all seems pretty easy to come by. I was worried I'd need much more.

[CaptsWife]

Originally Posted by StuM

Noonsite has a fairly good summary as well as details of the requirements for many specific countries:

Documents required & other considerations when cruising abroad —

Thanks, StuM.