My husband is thinking about getting a smallish cabin cruiser (not for commercial purposes) and hearing different comments about whether you need a "boat licence" or not. Has anyone done this on Phuket? Any advice you can give?

He still needs to get a Thai Mates 2nd Class licence before he can legally drive the boat.

If it's being imported and not Thai built, there is also other stuff that will have to be done/paid, though I don't know exactly what.

I recently imported a 25' speedboat from the US. Here in Hua Hin, Pranburi actually, I had to arrange a license and various other paperwork. No big deal really. Pay the VAT and another 2% or so and off you go! Ask at the harbormasters office and I'm sure they'll be helpful.