If there is a chance to make some charter money now before < whoever> bills you for a tax burden you aren't sure you owe, would you not take the opportunity ? If customs doesn't generate the bill, who does ? Do you play cards ? Have a decent attorney ? Can keep a straight face ?

Yeah, if the import tax is paid, a sale will be easier if the buyer is from the US purchasing to use from a US port. It won't matter if the buyer is from New Zealand or Capetown SA or Corsica or France, Aruba, St. Vincent or Grenada and NOT declaring a US port as home.

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BOAT bucks. Break Out Another Thousand. It's always something.