Looks like it's that time of year again for this set of questions to come up for the 2012 season.

Yes, Ralph, the government has precious few usable websites.  Have you tried to enjoy the FCC site?  I'm willing to bet the FAA is no better, ah, but I digress.  (No need to respond; I'm just feeling even more cynical than usual about my grandchildren's future this morning.  You do know, don't you, that the government is allowed to keep, track and use personal data about you that you give up voluntarily, as in registering for these web sites?  Paranoid?  Me?  Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT out to getcha!)  OK.  To business.

The Florida Local Boater Option (LBO) has been superseded and made into a National System, now called the Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS).  It is available to US Citizens, legal resident aliens, Canadian Citizens, and I think, legal Canadian residents.  Present holders of the Local Boater Option, Nexsus, I-68 and other such predecessor programs must apply, online, but do not need to go to a CBP office for an in-person interview/background check.  DO NOT GO TO THIS INTERVIEW IF YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING WANTS/WATTANTS IN YOUR NAME.  THEY WILL ARREST YOU.  First time applicants need to go in person to a CBP office.  These offices are at all "International" airports, so there's almost certainly one near everyone, including Canadians, since US CBP usually happens at the boarding location for Canadian Flights (well, used to, anyway).  We did ours in Ft. Myers at RSW.  No need to go to Key West (except to enjoy Key West, of course).

Here's a link to the program.  It was announced in May, 2011.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/boats/svrs.xml

This should work for the vast majority of North American Citizens/legal residents.  I don't know what the illegals will have to do.

Jim

Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Currently at Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda, FL
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436

Wow. Its actually FREE (for now that is).

Thanks for sending this link Jim.

R.

PS: - I agree, and know from 32 years of personal frustration, that the
FAA's web sites suck. As an employee I found more information I was seeking
quicker using GOOGLE than our own internal and public web sites.

From: Jim Healy [mailto:gilwellbear@gmail.com]

Looks like it's that time of year again for this set of questions to come up
for the 2012 season.

Yes, Ralph, the government has precious few usable websites.  Have you tried
to enjoy the FCC site?  I'm willing to bet the FAA is no better, ah, but I
digress.  (No need to respond; I'm just feeling even more cynical than usual
about my grandchildren's future this morning.  You do know, don't you, that
the government is allowed to keep, track and use personal data about you
that you give up voluntarily, as in registering for these web sites?
Paranoid?  Me?  Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT out to
getcha!)  OK.  To business.

The Florida Local Boater Option (LBO) has been superseded and made into a
National System, now called the Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS).  It is
available to US Citizens, legal resident aliens, Canadian Citizens, and I
think, legal Canadian residents.  Present holders of the Local Boater
Option, Nexsus, I-68 and other such predecessor programs must apply, online,
but do not need to go to a CBP office for an in-person
interview/background check.  DO NOT GO TO THIS INTERVIEW IF YOU HAVE
OUTSTANDING WANTS/WATTANTS IN YOUR NAME.  THEY WILL ARREST YOU.  First time
applicants need to go in person to a CBP office.  These offices are at all
"International" airports, so there's almost certainly one near everyone,
including Canadians, since US CBP usually happens at the boarding location
for Canadian Flights (well, used to, anyway).  We did ours in Ft. Myers at
RSW.  No need to go to Key West (except to enjoy Key West, of course).

Here's a link to the program.  It was announced in May, 2011.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/boats/svrs.xml

This should work for the vast majority of North American Citizens/legal
residents.  I don't know what the illegals will have to do.

Jim

Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary