Taxes and Boats

So in December I finally received our tax bill for the boat purchase.  It was kind of depressing, I had anticipated between 7% and 8% but the actual bill was for 9 1/2%!  When you buy a candy bar that isn't so painful but for a large boat purchase...ugh!  Did a little research though and found that we were being charged the tax rate for Santa Cruz which is where the boat is registered as a documented vessel but in actuality the boat resides a longer duration in Napa at the Napa Valley Marina...and their tax rate is cheaper.  It doesn't include the tacked on school and library and whatever else Santa Cruz County voters have approved.  I spoke with the tax man, quite an adventure getting to the right person through their menu tree, reminiscent of an episode I once watched of Married with Children.  He was very nice and agreed that we could use the Napa tax rate...so saved myself a few hundred dollars there, maybe enough to pay for a new thru hull or two. ;)