Boats and BVI Customs

[tedprosser]

We are considering keeping a boat in Road Town, BVI because it is closer to our house in Coral Bay, St John USVI than say St Thomas / Red Hook

Does anyone know if there is a way to get a work permit or something so we can go only to the marina and back to Coral Bay several times a week without have the clear customs everytime???

Ted

[BOATSRUS]

Why don't you check in with Capt Jay over on STT. I bet he can help you out or send you in the right direction.Have you asked Capt Brandi? He has a wealth of info also.Good Luck

[Exit Zero]

For the US side you can go to Customs and fill out the paperwork for a "Local Boater Option" card - everyone on the the vessel must have one BUT then it allows you to clear in to the US by phone.

[captainjay]

I would have to say you aren't going to find an easy way to leave your boat in Road Town without being a British Citizen or a Belonger. Also it is Road Town, do you really want to spend any time there? Also the logistics of getting there from St John are going to be crazy. You will have to go to Cruz Bay and take a ferry. There won't be any way to get around customs you will have to clear both ways. As stated above you can get a local boaters card and clear back into the US by phone. What kind of boat are you looking at? If it is a smaller power boat then I would think dry storage on St Thomas would be the way to go when you are not on island. Anything any bigger than say 30 foot and you are going to want to work out a mooring some place on St John.
I know this won't be a popular statement with some but unfortunately efforts to build a Marina in Coral Bay have been repeatedly blocked by the powers that be. Of all the BS development that has been allowed over the last few years continuing to block a marina is truly insane. St John has the worst boating access of any island in the chain.
jay