BajaNomad

Boats being seized?

basautter - 1-10-2014 at 07:00 AM

According to the attached article, the Mexican government is seizing boats from foreigners if a $70.00 tax has not been paid. Does anyone know the rules and regulations (size, time in country...). If I bring my 15 foot aluminum to Baja, do I need to pay this tax???

http://news.msn.com/world/us-canadian-boaters-left-in-limbo-...

DaliDali - 1-10-2014 at 07:03 AM

Trailer boats no.....yachtees in a marina maybe.

Marinero - 1-10-2014 at 08:23 AM

Since the seizures seem to be without particular pattern, it might just be the latest Mexican fundraiser. Not sure I would rely on the Yacht/trailer boat distinction. Maybe Nomads could report in on known events, including location, boat type and disposition.

Hook - 1-10-2014 at 08:27 AM

A 15 foot boat is "probably" exempt (but this IS Mexico) but trailer boats ARE being required to have one, in many areas. Theoretically, any boat of size that is left in Mexico while the owner is not in the country has to have one.

The TIP runs about 50.00 US and is good for ten years. That's a lot of peace of mind for 5.00 a year.

Your call. I probably wouldnt get one for a 15 foot aluminum boat but, again, it's pretty cheap insurance.

capitolkat - 1-10-2014 at 08:31 AM

There is a previous thread from a few weeks ago that discusses this issue. you can also get the details on what size boat needs a TIP ( temporary import permit) and what some marinas are doing to ensure their clients have protection. Essentially if your boat requires a TIP, you have to have one, your boat registration must be current in the states even if you have a TIP, and if you are in a marina, you must have current proof of insurance in the boat name, corresponding to the registration and TIP.

Islandbuilder - 1-10-2014 at 09:31 AM

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=...

micah202 - 1-10-2014 at 09:58 AM

.

...''Heavily armed marines seize 338 pleasure boats from retirees and ‘mellow’ Canadians over $70 permit''

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/01/10/heavily-armed-marine...

capitolkat - 1-10-2014 at 10:15 AM

The TIP costs about $50, can be obtained on line, and they mail it to your address in the states BEFORE you bring the boat to Mexico. The TIP is good for 10 years and is renewable. I'm fascinated that people would bring an expensive piece of property to Mexico like a boat and fail to comply with local laws about registration, and then go nuts when the Mexican authorities enforce existing laws.

There is an old adage in the states that works here-- " Ignorance of the Law is no excuse."

Hook - 1-10-2014 at 10:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by capitolkat
The TIP costs about $50, can be obtained on line, and they mail it to your address in the states BEFORE you bring the boat to Mexico. The TIP is good for 10 years and is renewable. I'm fascinated that people would bring an expensive piece of property to Mexico like a boat and fail to comply with local laws about registration, and then go nuts when the Mexican authorities enforce existing laws.

There is an old adage in the states that works here-- " Ignorance of the Law is no excuse."


Agree completely, capitolkat. There are a lot of cheapskate boaters in Mexico.

mtnpop - 1-10-2014 at 10:56 AM

Is the online site posted somewhere to pay the TIP ??? It would be a good piece of information to have available..

capitolkat - 1-10-2014 at 11:03 AM

Website for TIP is
www.banjercito.com.mx

easy to navigate and pay on line

O.G. - 1-10-2014 at 11:16 AM

My boat got "seized" in Ensenada harbor even though it had a valid TIP. Seems like when I got my boat documented and abandoned the CA state registration I left the old CA registration numbers on the hull. That is what caused the confusion and resulted in my boat being impounded. EVEN THOUGH the marina manager had copies of my TIP, that was not good enough. The copies had to be notarized! Moreover, this "sticker" that has been talked about when you get a TIP is actually pasted on the back of your TIP and can be peeled off to afix to your boat. However, this sticker is extremely thin and not readily apparent that it's there. Cannot even leave the dock to get my boat hauled out in the same marina. The marina (cruiseport) has a lawyer working on this clusterflock.

capitolkat - 1-10-2014 at 11:26 AM

Like I said the requirements are, get the TIP, and keep your registration valid in the states. I chose to have a Coast Guard registration for my boat- that way it is not registered in any particular state and I don't have to pay any associated taxes or registration costs to a state, and generally the Coast Guard costs are lower on annual renewals.

hope you get this cleared up soon as a boat at the dock isn't much use.

Islandbuilder - 1-11-2014 at 01:22 AM

capitolkat, I assume that you mean that your boat is Federally Documented, right?

Seems like most of the boat seizures described in the 38North article had their permits, but were seized for a number of minor infractions or irregularities similar to what O.G. describes above.

The author of the 38 North article, Richard, has organized the Baja Haha cruise from San Diego to Cabo for at least the last 10 years and is a huge booster for cruising in Mexican waters. He knows more about the Mexican boating laws than do most, and if his boat got seized you can bet that it wasn't because he didn't have the right permits and stickers!

This isn't just about trailer boats, but 7 figure valued yachts as well. It's going to put a bruise on the "stumbling to its feet" Mexican tourist industry that is going to take far longer to disappear than it took to inflict, for sure!

BajaNomad - 1-11-2014 at 05:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by capitolkat
There is a previous thread from a few weeks ago that discusses this issue.


http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=70718

Boat info

bajaguy - 1-11-2014 at 09:51 AM

From a post on the Punta Banda Newsletter:
****************************************
Boat owners might find this article important.

Starting around Dec.7 of last year, several Americans with boats docked in marinas located throughout Mexico had their vessels boarded and subsequently impounded by the SAT (Mexico’s IRS)

Over the course of several weeks. At press time, a total of 338 boats were reported to have been impounded. 1/10/2014

http://www.thelog.com/Local/Article/Mexico-Boat-Impound

capitolkat - 1-11-2014 at 12:40 PM

Islandbuilder

Yes the boat is US Coast Guard certified. It is an annual renewal of ownership for US documented vessels, in US waters it guarantees Coast Guard response to emergencies and verification of ownership. it avoids having to register the boat in a US state and for folks who travel to multiple states, or out of Country it avoids problems with where is the home port for taxation. Mine is ported in Michigan.

I didn't read that Richard's boat was seized- he only reported about other's experiences. I'm thinking that after looking at the uproar and response that it will be clarified soon. My TIP certificate is posted on the boat, and I carry a paper copy of the TIP and the Coast Guard certification on board, as well as current insurance papers. I talked to the marina operators here in La Paz and was informed my paperwork was in order and they had a review by the Federal officials in the past month of documents for boats in the marina, where there are boats from all over the world, including Carlos Slim.

Some Mexican officials are backpedaling and have said the first seizures were overzealous, and that clarification of the process was underway.