Canadian buying boat in the USA

born2bfree · #1 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011

Hello,

I'm planning to purchase my first sailboat this season. It appears that there is much better boat selection down in the USA.
1. Can anyone shed some light on what is proper process of buyng a boat in the USA? What type of paperwork should I request from seller? What are the typical costs?
2. What is involved and required in order to move the boat across the border and registering her in Canada? What are the typical costs?
Any help is truly appreciated.

noreault · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011

The process is pretty easy. You need the Bill of Sale and some proof of ownership. The nature of that will depend on the state. Most provide titles. Of course it could be a US Coast Guard registered.

You then need to present the documentation when crossing the border. If you are trailering you need the data on the trailer also. They will collect GST, and special boat tax if BC, so be prepared to pay. There is also duty if the boat was not manufactured in North America, NAFTA gives you a break.

The process is really easy and very quick. It is important that bill of sale be a fair price or CBSA will give you problems.

This is a pretty good site:

Pat's Boating in Canada: Importing a Boat from the U.S.A.

SeaFever2000 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011

BornFree,

What kind of a boat are you looking for? And what is your budget? Where are you located?

canadianseamonkey · #4 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011

Get yourself a customs broker and it will make your life much easier and probably save you some tax.

Faster · #5 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011

We've imported a number of boats over the past 6 years or so and the process is very simple as indicated above. Just have all your paperwork in order. You will need some kind of title from the seller, so they are certain that the boat was his/hers to sell.

As mentioned, documentation for the trailer is more problematic than for the boat if that's the situation.

Also, don't be tempted to misrepresent the price you paid in order to save a few dollars in taxes. The border agency knows all about Craigslist and Yachtworld so if you got a 'steal' make sure you've got paperwork to back it up. If you get caught, generally at the very least you'll pay a fine equal to the attempted fraud savings. Don't forget, too, that your rights wrt the border agency are far fewer than with police.

Also keep in mind that if the boat is not built in North America (eg some older Jeanneaus and Beneteaus, and of course any Taiwan/Asian builts) will be subject to an additional 9.5% duty. Otherwise you will be billed the Canadian taxes commensurate with the province you're in.

If trucking, you may find significant savings if you relaunch in the States and sail it home from a nearby port. Blaine WA is a good spot if you're in BC.

born2bfree · #6 (**permalink**) 03-06-2011

Thank you for all of your insight in this matter.
I would like to sail boat into Canada rather than dealing with trailer issues at the border.
I live around Toronto so I guess; I would bring my boat using system of canals from New York to Rochester if I sourced her on the East Coast. Would that be the most sensible route?
I am looking for a boat that I will be able to take pretty much anywhere in the world single-handed. She should be 30+ feet and be made to take some pounding. Can you suggest some candidates on a budget?

mitiempo · #7 (**permalink**) 03-06-2011

Budgets come in all sizes. What's yours?

Faster · #8 (**permalink**) 03-06-2011

To clarify... the trailer documentation is only an issue if it's a trailerable boat and you've purchased the trailer along with the boat.

If you're having the boat trucked by a boat mover, it's not your trailer and there's not an issue there. Then the one issue you should check out is the difference in trucking costs to a northern US location vs crossing the border and launching in Canada.

mikehoyt · #9 (**permalink**) 03-07-2011

I bought a boat in Conneticut. We took a flatbed trailer and cradle with us to Conneticut and then drove it home. The boat had some repairs to be done so we purchased for a very low price.

At the border we only had to present the bill of sale, etc.. and I had a folder with copies of bank draft etc... Was very little difficulty. I paid the HST at the border and was on my way. Customs was far more interested in the door panels of the truck we towed the boat with than anything to do with the boat. Was a very very simple process.

Mike
Nut Case
J27 #150

rikhall · #10 (**permalink**) 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadianseamonkey

Get yourself a customs broker and it will make your life much easier and probably save you some tax.

Although, I have never disagreed with Monkey before - I personally, me, don't think you need one at all.

Just my opinon, from my personal experience (three boats from the USA)

Rik