Importing a Canadian boat into the US

[ChuckBuck]

Hi Folks,

I hope you are all well.

I'm looking at buying a Canadian registered sailboat and shipping her down to Chicago where I live and sail. I am a Canadian citizen, but have been legally working in the US for the last 6 years.

Any insights into this process (and costs) would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks,

CB

[TropicCat]

My boat was Canadian and I live in the US.

The only extra steps I can remember when buying my boat were paying a 2% US duty tax and having the boat delisted as a Canadian Registered vessel. I seem to recall that in registering the boat I had to show the import duty papers.

[Faster]

SN member djodenda recently did this, he's very helpful with information.. perhaps PM him.

As for duties, NAFTA eliminated any duties for North American built boats, but watch for French built Beneteaus and others built in the far east. Local taxes and shipping costs should be the only major items to be concerned about.

As a Canadian yourself, are you planning to actually import the boat into the US, or can you keep her Canadian? Not sure about the US rules here and it likely varies state to state...