Changing flags..

[garrobito]

Hi there!
We're almost ready to get a boat with flag of Antigua. Boat is in Canada and we're gonna move to California.
A) How's the procedure to nationalize the boat? Do I need to pay extra tax?
B) It's easy like walk on the DMV and get a new registration?

Last thing..

Navigate north Atlantic is cold, hard and very dangerous.. but boat is in Halifax.. somebody tried to do the halifax/miami route on January?
Thanks in advance :bigg rin:

[Pelagic]

Hi there.....need a few more details

What kind and size of boat are you buying?
What is your citizenship and country of residence?
How long has the boat been in Halifax....?

Its a long journey from Halifax to California.... and North East winter months can be brutal!

Depending on kind of boat.....maybe going inside via Mississippi to the Gulf, or trucking it across US are options to research

[accomplice]

Depending on the boat, Halifax->Bermuda->Miami is not a bad trip (730nm then 900nm). The trick will be to find favorable conditions for the first half of the first leg. If you can wait until April, temps are likely to get much better.

You might want to consider a shorter shakedown trip before heading offshore in a new-to-you boat.

Sent from my XT1060 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Zanshin]

I don't think that Antigua is a good flag of convenience. While I think that they have one of the prettiest flags around I almost never see any yachts that are registered there - even when sailing around Antigua. It might be possible to switch ownership under the same flag, but you would need to create an IBC to do so (see » pleasure yachts ADOMS : The Antigua & Barbuda Department of Marine Services) unless you are a citizen.

Not knowing more than your original post, the red ensign BVI flag is certainly a better bet. The procedure in re-flagging a boat involves first de-flagging it and then registering it under the new flag. Some countries require a tonnage survey, others do not.