[PUP] Documentation

[Scott Bulger]

George,

As soon as I sent that I realized the word insane wasn't appropriate, if you
were here (inside my peanut sized brain) you would have heard it used as an
explicative, more like a surfer guy saying "radical" or something like that.
Believe me, I am fully aware your boat is more than capable for the journey!


I paid 8.6% in Washington.  I agree 15% is on the bounds of sanity (there I
go again!).  My point was twofold (and I'm the first to admit I don't fully
understand all the issues):  

1.  If you own and operate a boat in the US, somehow the piper needs to get
paid.  Those young men and ladies in the USCG need to get paid and maintain
their boats, somehow I always picture my check making it's way into their
pockets (I know that's delusional).  The same is true in your host country.

2.  when I see a boat in Seattle WA year after year and it says "BVI" I know
it's some kind of scheme to escape the tax.  I guess they pay plenty of tax
when they pay their moorage and maintenance, but somehow it just doesn't sit
right.

Maybe I'm just being unreasonable because I'm not smart enough to take
advantage of such schemes?  I don't know what to think about people who
really are out there and nomads moving from one country to another.  

I guess what this all means is:  What is the purpose behind flagging
(documenting?) a boat in a country anyway?  I think in the US the process is
rooted in the military being able to seize your boat in times of war and use
it for national defense.  I don't know what it means in other countries?  

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA