US Citizen sailing to Puerto Rico

[landonshaw]

Just answered my own question from the Noonsite.com page. It is a voluntary option to register for the LBO. Thank you all. Dave Aloisius

[landonshaw]

Now, once I get inot PR, do I have to comply with all of the US Coast Guard Regs on the boat. Example.

My boat is from 1983 and and has been in Europe and Caribbean. It does not have a holding tank, I expect my flares are out of date, ect.

Without a discussion if this is safe, are there regulations that I need to comply too?

If so, where is this information?

I am under Caribbean Island compliance.

[Rubikoop]

If your vessel is documented in the US then you are supposed to have the required safety gear onboard, life jackets, flares, fire extinguishers etc. In practice I would doubt that your vessel will be boarded but you never know. I believe a bucket can successfully be argued to meet the MSD type 3 criteria. All requirements are on the USCG website someplace.

What is Caribbean Island compliance and why would you think a US Documented vessel in US waters would not have to comply with USCG regs?

[landonshaw]

I assumed that whatever waters I was in then I would need to be compliant to there regulations.
I own a motorcycle in ME, registered in ME. I drive to NH; I can take my helmet off and be legal. Maybe not smart, but legal.

[landonshaw]

I do have to say that I have taken more time figuring out to get back into the states than I ever have in getting to an island in the Caribbean. That being French or English. I am also a US citizen, I am happy that I am not from another country.

[Hud3]

The only major difference I've experienced is that most countries in the eastern Caribbean require all crew to stay on board while the captain clears in, while the US requires all on board to "report for inspection". In actual fact, I've also found when clearing in at US ports of entry the agents to be more professional and the process to be less time consuming than most other countries. The French islands are the easiest, however.

[landonshaw]

I have always found the airport entry to be very professional. I would expect the same by sea.

[chuckr]

PLEASE -- for those who told me to do my research -- we have been in and out of 29 different countries on our boat -we have had to get extra passport pages - we have dealt with a variety of officials and never had such terrible experience as with the US officials in puerto rico -- here in tunisia getting cleared in and not speaking arabic or french was a challenge but the officials worked with me and me with them and in the end we ended up laughing and patting each other on the back
we i left the usa we were one of the first to have the local boaters option but it was only good in florida -

and yes the next time we go to the us when ever that will be - we will simply sail in

[h20]

Originally Posted by landonshaw

Good morning, I am a US citizen and plan to sail from Grenada to Puerto Rico in December and then back to Grenada in January. I looked at a thread and saw a site to read:
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands - CBP.gov
I have been sailing 5 years around the Windward’s and Leeward’s, there are few rules about boat safety equipment, holding tanks, ect. What will I encounter in PR.? Will it be similar to what I have experienced down here? I am US Coast Guard Registered.
Thanks s/v Aloisius

Why do you go to customs if you are a citizen? how do they know your comming from out of the US? can't you just show your drivers lic?

[Hud3]

US citizens need to clear in if they've been to another country, and declare any items you're bringing with you that are subject to customs duties. To clear in, you'll need a valid passport. Driver licenses don't cut it any more.

[Rubikoop]

To expand on Hud's comments: to include vessels arriving from the USVI which is still part of the US.

[sck5]

You really do want the decal. They will make you pay for it anyway when you arrive but if you have it they often dont even want to come to the boat. Whenever they came to my boat they seemed way more worried about unpackaged food products than anything else. They were very polite and professional.

[Kevin84]

Originally Posted by landonshaw

I assumed that whatever waters I was in then I would need to be compliant to there regulations.
I own a motorcycle in ME, registered in ME. I drive to NH; I can take my helmet off and be legal. Maybe not smart, but legal.

Actually, you couldn't be further from the truth. As a US flagged vessel, you MUST comply with US Regulations at all times. A USCG vessel may stop and board your boat at any time in any location. And if you are out of compliance, you can ans will be cited and fined.

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[casique8]

call by phone customs first with out stepping on to pier to and ask port of call, week ends closed

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