Legality question for boats

[1bayouboy]

Anybody know the rules around taking NFAs on board a boat offshore....like 50-60 miles offshore??
Leaving and coming back into the same port/state.

[doubloon]

Same as a gun.

If you cross any state boundaries you need to know the state laws.

If you wander into any "state parks" or cross federal reserves you need to know those laws as well.

Example, leaving the MS coast for a day trip to Chandeleur Islands crosses the state line into LA.

[DoctorSolo]

I got nothing, except to say that this sounds like the most awsome fishing trip ever!

[Bendersquint]

Doubloon is correct.

If you cross state lines with NFA, like say 5 miles off the coast of CA but in CA territory with a silencer and you are doing something illegal.

Also make sure you don't enter international waters as thats considered exporting the weapons since its outside the United States jurisdiction at that point.

ATF doesn't make a distinction between water or land. They make distinctions between state lines and country borders.

[doubloon]

International waters is an excellent point.

I was only thinking about local fishing waters I missed the part about 50-60 miles off shore.

I *think* an armed *private* vessel in international waters is a de facto pirate ship.

I also *think* the distance to reach international waters varies depending where you are, shorter distance to international waters on the Atlantic coast but you can go farther out in the Gulf before reaching international waters.

[Bendersquint]

International waters is an excellent point.

I was only thinking about local fishing waters I missed the part about 50-60 miles off shore.

I *think* an armed *private* vessel in international waters is a de facto Pirate ship.

I also *think* the distance to reach international waters varies depending where you are, shorter distance to international waters on the Atlantic coast but you can go farther out in the Gulf before reaching international waters.

Territorial waters are generally 10-15 miles off the coast, distances beyond that are considered international waters. So if you are going 50-60 miles off the coast you are well into the EEZ and would be considered exporting the weapons.

No, having weapons on board doesn't make you a pirate, just as owning a silencer doesn't make you an assassin.

The Gulf is often contested onto where the lines are but the above still applies, territorial waters are territorial waters.

[Abiqua]

Territorial waters are 12 miles, then you are in international waters.

[MIDGET]

Along the same line - I guess it would be legal to use my M203 40mm (if my form 1 ever gets here) as a "visual distress signal" using parachute flares? Can you see the look on the local water pd's face when he does his little "safety check"!

[Bendersquint]

Along the same line - I guess it would be legal to use my M203 40mm (if my form 1 ever gets here) as a "visual distress signal" using parachute flares? Can you see the look on the local water pd's face when he does his little "safety check"!

You would have to have video of that, it would be priceless.

[curbside]

Im not sure about NFA, but you can have firearms on board a boat in international waters. You can even go to port in some foreign countries with them. Bahamas for example, you have to declare it, then fill out the paperwork when you clear in, stating EXACTLY how many rounds you have, and better have the same amount when you leave. You can even keep it onboard, as long as its locked up. Some places take possession until you leave. Mexico is a no go, so far anyway. Im still trying to find an angle on that.(must have special permission before hand from Mx. government, however you do that. So it really only matters where you will go to port.

[Bendersquint]

Im not sure about NFA, but you can have firearms on board a boat in international waters. You can even go to port in some foreign countries with them. Bahamas for example, you have to declare it, then fill out the paperwork when you clear in, stating EXACTLY how many rounds you have, and better have the same amount when you leave. You can even keep it onboard, as long as its locked up. Some places take possession until you leave. Mexico is a no go, so far anyway. Im still trying to find an angle on that.(must have special permission before hand from Mx. government, however you do that. So it really only matters where you will go to port.

Plenty of hunters out there travel abroad with their arsenals.

NFA is a no-go for leaving the country.

[BLAKE2131]

Isnt it a form 6? to temporarily export a NFA item

[doubloon]

Form 5320.20 http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5320-20.pdf

ATF Form 9 is permanent

I could be wrong but I believe this is for manufacturers or some classification of SOT only, not individuals.

There is some other form for transfer for exportation I think, but I still don't know if it's accessible to individuals.

[mudshark]

You could also leave the dock with an AR-15 and the proper "accesories" and tooling, and once in IW, take an hour to fabricate a LL or even a DIAS and shoot F/A until you ran out of ammo. Then pitch the DIAS or LL over board and come home to the US with your AR-15.

You're not in America while in IW, so there's no NFA law.

[Bendersquint]

Form 5320.20 http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5320-20.pdf

ATF Form 9 is permanent

I could be wrong but I believe this is for manufacturers or some classification of SOT only, not individuals.

There is some other form for transfer for exportation I think, but I still don't know if it's accessible to individuals.

Not for individuals.

[sillycon]

You could also leave the dock with an AR-15 and the proper "accesories" and tooling, and once in IW, take an hour to fabricate a LL or even a DIAS and shoot F/A until you ran out of ammo. Then pitch the DIAS or LL over board and come home to the US with your AR-15.

You're not in America while in IW, so there's no NFA law.

However, while state-side and having the materials with that use in mind its essentially constructive intent and/or constructive possession.

So close, yet so far!