While you may not be considering military duty, it's probably a great option for your boat. Documenting your vessel with the Coast Guard not only makes it easier to get bank financing, but can also provide some relief from annual property taxes.
 
"If your boat is registered nationally, it doesn't show up on local registration lists, and it can't be taxed," says Ed Sweeney, U.S. Coast Guard department chief of public affairs.
 
Tax breaks for Coast Guard-approved boats are determined by each state, so a boat might qualify on one side of the Ohio River but not on the other.

Contact your state tax department to find out if nationally documented boats are charged a property tax. To qualify for service, your boat must be at least 30 feet long and five or more net tons, and you should be a U.S. citizen.

For more information on documenting your boat, go to: uscgboating.org/about/faqs/regulations.aspx.