American registered vessels in the caribbean

[mtunzini42]

We are planning a few extended months in the caribbean in 2007. The Bahamas then on south to a few windward islands, before the hurricane season. Our sailing vessel is registered in Florida, USA. We have read that some countries will not accept the Florida owners certificate as sufficent proof of ownership and that we should have our vessel registered with the US Coast Guard. However, we are not US citizens and therefore cannot do so. We have confirmed this with the Coast Guard. Can anyone advise on which countries, in the caribbean, will not accept the Florida owners registration as sufficent proof of ownership? Is there anything, offically, we can do to satisfy these customs officials to allow us happy cruising in their waters?

Thanks.

[JeanneP]

The only country we know of that insists on seeing US federal documentation papers is Guadeloupe, and specifically the little bay/village called Deshaies. We have not heard of any problems with the other French islands, including Martinique. What has happened in Deshaies is that the local Gendarme who is responsible for checking you in fined the boat for not having the correct documentation and demanded that the boat leave immediately.

All US and current and former British islands accept state registration.

A quick look at the countries section of Noonsite - www.noonsite.com - makes no mention of the problems with paperwork in Guadeloupe. It's been a long time since we've been there, and perhaps the difficult gendarme has retired. ???

Although EU, US, and Canada citizens have no problem with entry into the islands of the Caribbean, there are restrictions for some nationalities.