Evening star., 1942-06-26
Owners Pleasure Boats Over Tax "Wednesday
Length TO Determine
Amount Of Levy Up
10 $500 Limit
Yochtsmen to Get More
Gasoline, Say Insistent
Water Front Rumors
By MALCOLM LAMBORNE. Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
The internal revenue use tax on
motor boats and sailboats over 16
feet in length-with or without en-
gines-falls due for all pleasure
craft owners next Wednesday.
Owners who have their boats in
commission must obtain the tax
stamp from the local Office of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue or from
post offices. Only craft used chiefly
for trade, commercial fishing and
for charitable or religious purposes
are exempt from carrying the stamp.
In this last category the boats
of local Sea Scout organizations
fall and accordingly do not have
to display the stamp. The largest
single Sea Scout unit Is the Co.
rinthian Yacht Club ship At
least two of its fleet, the well-known
cathcats, Wildcat and Bobcat. are
over Is feet and will be exempt.
Yachtsmen who have" been op-
Grating their boats after February l
of this year, when the new use
tax becomes law, have paid pro-
portionately from the time their
boats we're put into operation up
to June 30.
They will have to pay the full
tax for the fiscal year which begins
July and ends June 80, l943, how
ever, even though their boats will
be laid up next fall and winter.
The tax ranges from IS to $500 de-
pending on the size OF the boat.
Stamps Bear on Rationing.
Government officials also have
stressed the importance of pur-
chasing use stamps as they will
have a bearing on obtaining new
gasoline ration cars to be issued
next month.
The once of Price Administration
has informed the Revenue Bureau
that the serial number printed on
the tax stamp will be a necessary
identification in the issuance OF
ration cards. Possession OF the tax
sticker will provide one of the means
Of identifying the coupon book with
the boat, it was explained.
An important announcement re-
earding new quota basis for pleasure
craft using gasoline is expected at
any time.
Water front rumors that yachts
men are going to get enough gas
to cruise week ends for the rest OF
the summer persist here. OPA ofh-
cials admit a revised plan has been
drawn up-a change that will bene-
1T motorboat skippers-but they
hesitate releasing details until the
final okay has been given by
higherups.
The petroleum situation shifts
almost daily in the East. they assert,
and as a result it is difficult to ar
rive at the proper yardstick for
boats.
Argues for Boat Gas.
Almost universal complaint of the
gas rationing program as it affects
boats has been registered here. OBJ
viouSly an automobile can travel
more miles on three gallons of gas
q week than a yacht. Why should
boats have to stand the gaff in
program really intended to cut down
on the use Of tires, yachtsmen mere
ask.
Since boats obviously don't travel
on rubber, the answer to that ques-
ton is boat owners should not have
to suffer under the program.
Many craft that might be OF use
In some emergency duty along the
East Coast have not even been put
into commission this year when
their owners realized the difficulties
in obtaining gas.
The following table gives the rate
of the users tax for the full fiscal
year on "all boats propelled by ma
chinery, sail or both, measuring is
feet or more in overall length, owned
by citizen or resident of the United
States.