[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by pschoonveld

Key word being land. If you aren't on land, you aren't in Canada.

As I stated earlier: Bad assumption. Both Canadian and U.S. authorities regard rafting-off a Canadian boat in Canadian waters as having "landed" in Canada. If you think about it for a moment, the reasons why should become clear.

Originally Posted by pschoonveld

The worst thing they can do is yell and demand you leave.

If you substitute "are likely to" for "can," you're probably correct. But "yell at you," while you're in their country, is certainly not the worst thing they can do.

Originally Posted by pschoonveld

One other bit. I've never called the US authorities. Ever. I don't see any reason to.

Look up the penalties for re-entering the U.S. illegally--that should give you some.

Originally Posted by pschoonveld

It isn't like the USCG is sitting at the mouth of the harbor looking to ask questions after you did an overnight from Lake Erie Metropark to Leamington.

You really haven't been paying attention to what's been going on in the last eight years, have you? Yes, they are, actually. Well, not so much USCG, but DHS CBP (Dept. of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection).

To the other readers: Follow pschoonveld's recommendations at your own risk. For us: Having fellow club-members detained, fined, and nearly losing their boat because they didn't quite follow the rules, and a presentation by somebody who actually knows whereof they speak (head of Port Huron DHS CBP), was enough for us. The Admiral and I have NEXUS cards (it's a relatively painless exercise) and we'll be following the rules to the letter. It irks me to have to do it, but the alternatives I'm sure would be several orders of magnitude more irksome.

Jim