[flyingwelshman]

G'day, we are in the process of planning our summer cruise. This year our plan is to head up to Mackinac and maybe poke around in Northern Lake Michigan and Huron. We are Canadians sailing out of Georgian Bay.
I have reviewed the requirements for a pleasure boat entering the US and have purchased (and received) my customs decal.
One of the listed requirements is a 'dinghy license and papers'.
I do not have a license for my dinghy - I don't think one is required here? The only 'papers' I have would be the bill of sale.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it a concern?
Any other advice/recommendations/experiences that would help in my planning would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Dave

 

[alctel]

Do you have the radio station (equipment) license? You'll need it for entering the US, find the application form here

You'll also need the ROC-M personal license, but you should have that anyway if you are using a VHF in Canada.

 

[flyingwelshman]

Do you have the radio station (equipment) license? You'll need it for entering the US, find the application form here

You'll also need the ROC-M personal license, but you should have that anyway if you are using a VHF in Canada.

Well that's interesting. Thanks.

 

[MedSailor]

Dinghy licensing has always confused me here. Basically you can have an unlicensed (and untaxed) dinghy under certain circumstances if it is your tender, otherwise we (US citizens) are required to have state registration and a tax decal.

There is much confusion among us sailors and the Coast Guard about exactly what kind of boat, markings of boat, and use qualifies it as a tender. I don't think it's necessary to get into all that here, but I believe you should be just fine if asked by stating that your dinghy is your tender and you use it primarily to go from ship to shore you will likely be fine.

MedSailor

 

[boatpoker]

US Code of Federal Regulations Title 46, sub-part S, part 173.11 exempts foreign vessels temporarily using waters subject to US jurisdiction from license numbering requirements.

There are a number of other exemptions.

 

[Markwesti]

If your tender has a engine then yes, for us in the US .

 

[boatpoker]

If your tender has a engine then yes, for us in the US .

Not according to Title 46 (sub-part S) If your engine is less than 10hp.

 

[MikeOReilly]

US Code of Federal Regulations Title 46, sub-part S, part 173.11 exempts foreign vessels temporarily using waters subject to US jurisdiction from license numbering requirements.

There are a number of other exemptions.

Thanks BP. Does this exemption also apply to VHF station license? As a Canadian I don't believe it is necessary for me to have a station license for my recreational boat's VHF. A ROC-M, yes. But a station license is optional up here. Do I really need one to cross to the USA?

In reality I have crossed into the USA many times, and have never been asked about this, nor do I know anyone who has. Maybe things are more lax up here on the upper Great Lakes...

 

[boatpoker]

Thanks BP. Does this exemption also apply to VHF station license? As a Canadian I don't believe it is necessary for me to have a station license for my recreational boat's VHF. A ROC-M, yes. But a station license is optional up here. Do I really need one to cross to the USA?

In reality I have crossed into the USA many times, and have never been asked about this, nor do I know anyone who has. Maybe things are more lax up here on the upper Great Lakes...

Sorry Mike, I'm not up to speed on radio stuff as I have both operator and station licenses I've never looked into it.

 

[alctel]

Thanks BP. Does this exemption also apply to VHF station license? As a Canadian I don't believe it is necessary for me to have a station license for my recreational boat's VHF. A ROC-M, yes. But a station license is optional up here. Do I really need one to cross to the USA?

In reality I have crossed into the USA many times, and have never been asked about this, nor do I know anyone who has. Maybe things are more lax up here on the upper Great Lakes...

You do - the Canadian station license that is.

1. Do I need a call sign or a radio station licence for my boat or vessel?

Industry Canada has exempted Canadian vessels that are not operated in the territorial waters of another country from the requirement for a station licence. For more information, please refer to Industry Canada's Licensing Exemptions.

and

2. I'm planning a trip to the United States. How do I obtain a radio station licence?

Obtain a copy of IC-3020 - Application for a Maritime Mobile Radio Station Licence from Industry Canada.

You should forward your completed application to Industry Canada. A list of Industry Canada offices is provided in Radiocommunication Information Circular RIC-66 on their website.

Taken from https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/oep-navigation-radiocomms-faqs-1489.htm

Plus side it's only 30? bucks a year and is processed really fast, I got mine in under a week.

 

[Gary M]

I was under the impression that you did not need a station license any more. Is this only required if we go to the States?

I live on lower Lake Huron and cross several times a year. We just make sure everyone has their Nexus card and Boat Number that goes with it and it has been no problem.
Going into the states they want you to call in, generally by cell now, about 30 minutes before you get there. Coming back into Canada you land at a Port of Entry and call them. Everyone stays on the boat until you talk to them.

No problems at all about radio licenses etc.

 

[MikeOReilly]

I was under the impression that you did not need a station license any more. Is this only required if we go to the States?

I live on lower Lake Huron and cross several times a year. We just make sure everyone has their Nexus card and Boat Number that goes with it and it has been no problem.
Going into the states they want you to call in, generally by cell now, about 30 minutes before you get there. Coming back into Canada you land at a Port of Entry and call them. Everyone stays on the boat until you talk to them.

No problems at all about radio licenses etc.

Recreational Canadian boaters operating in Canadian waters do not need a station license. We do need an operator's card. As alctel says though, the USA does require recreational boats to have station license for their radios. I am going get one (if I can get the damn PDF at Industry Canada to work ... won't load for me).

However, my experience is the same as yours Gary. I have never -- and I mean never -- been questioned about having a radio license, nor indeed an operator's card, when I've crossed the Canada/USA border. Not going, not coming back. I'm not suggesting anyone disobey the laws of a foreign land. I am going to get my station licence now (thanks alctel). But I also would not be very worried about making the crossing without one.

 

[flyingwelshman]

Recreational Canadian boaters operating in Canadian waters do not need a station license. We do need an operator's card. As alctel says though, the USA does require recreational boats to have station license for their radios. I am going get one (if I can get the damn PDF at Industry Canada to work ... won't load for me).

I'm going to get one too - just to be the law-abiding citizen that I am.

Mike, I had trouble loading the PDF from the site as well. I saved it to my computer then opened it with Adobe PDF reader and it worked no problem.

 

[MedSailor]

As a US boater who has been boarded by the coast guard more times than I care to count, I've never been asked about a VHF license. In fact, the only place I've ever heard about such a thing (and I DO hang out with boaters quite a bit) is on these forums.

MedSailor

 

[Minnewaska]

I have both an operators license and station license. However, I swore the station license was necessary for the SSB, not the VHF. I know we don't require an operators license for the VHF anymore, but I've had one for years for other reasons.

I'm up for a large bet that says 90% of the recreational boats in the US, with only a VHF, do not have a station license.

This stuff gives me a headache. I've also never heard of anyone ever being asked to produce these documents. I haven't.

 

[windward54]

I have both an operators license and station license. However, I swore the station license was necessary for the SSB, not the VHF. I know we don't require an operators license for the VHF anymore, but I've had one for years for other reasons.

I'm up for a large bet that says 90% of the recreational boats in the US, with only a VHF, do not have a station license.

This stuff gives me a headache. I've also never heard of anyone ever being asked to produce these documents. I haven't.

In the US, if you are a pleasure boat that is not going to foreign waters or communicating with foreign-flagged vessels, then you don't need a license to operate a VHF radio. I've only been asked once if I had a license and a restricted radio operator's license during a Coast Guard boarding and inspection, and only after he saw the SSB rig.

International treaties require a licensing of radio for vessels traveling in foreign waters.

 

[jimq26]

alctel is totally correct re the VHF requirements. Surprised so many are not aware of the rules.

 

[kwaltersmi]

We've gone to and from Canada multiple times via Drummond Island - Meldrum Bay and have never had to produce anything other than passports, boat license/registration, and normal declarations (firearms, alcohol, money onboard, etc.). These have been while towing a dinghy registered in Michigan.

 

[alctel]

Recreational Canadian boaters operating in Canadian waters do not need a station license. We do need an operator's card. As alctel says though, the USA does require recreational boats to have station license for their radios. I am going get one (if I can get the damn PDF at Industry Canada to work ... won't load for me).

I think it's actually Canada that requires you to have a station license once you go into another country, not the US. Not that it matters

Also that PDF is weird - I had to right-click on the link and do a 'save as' rather than just click on it.

 

[MikeOReilly]

I think it's actually Canada that requires you to have a station license once you go into another country, not the US. Not that it matters

Also that PDF is weird - I had to right-click on the link and do a 'save as' rather than just click on it.

Yes, I think you are correct alctel. This is some beaurocratic rabbit hole... Here's a page I found which seems to be quoting Industry Canada policy:

Jim Laursen, ... Spectrum Operations Manager at the Industry Canada office in Victoria, advises that ..."ITU regs state that entering the waters of a foreign administration where no reciprocal agreement exists (that includes the USA)…then the vessel must carry a radio authorization from its home country." To clarify, the U.S. and Canada do not have a reciprocal agreement about VHF radio licenses.

Since we do not have this reciprocal arrangement, the foriegn country relies on whatever the home country says; and Canada says get a station license if you are travelling abroad. So Canadians must have a station license to visit the USA. However, no station license is required if we stay home. And as I understand it, recreational American boaters do not require station, nor operating license, to use a VHF, if they stay home.

It's no wonder border services don't seem to check .