What's involved in buying US boat and import to Canada

Easiest solution is to figure out where you are going to cross, then
call that customs office and talk to them. They will be very helpful.
Some of them will require you to have the paperwork at the border 3
days ahead of time (they will treat it like a car), some will not.
Otherwise, its very simple.
Be prepared to pay GST at the border.

Good luck!


On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 20:24:44 -0400, "Buck Frobisher"
<farside114.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:

>"Jim Phillipps" <jimphill.TakeThisOut@cisco.com> wrote in message
>news:1129049061.781818@sj-nntpcache-5...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Looking at buying a 1998 Sea Doo GSX Ltd from a guy in CT. Trailer
>> included. What do I need to easily get through customs - what do I have
>> to
>> pay? Any sites? Thanks,
>>
>> newbie boat buyer...
>>
>> Jim
>
>Hey, Jim, careful: boats are addictive.
>
>Do a Google search on this question within this newsgroup, it's been
>discussed in several threads in the past, lots of info there.
>
>Cheers,
>Frank
>
 >> Stay informed about: What's involved in buying US boat and import to Canada 

Jim Phillipps wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Looking at buying a 1998 Sea Doo GSX Ltd from a guy in CT. Trailer
> included. What do I need to easily get through customs - what do I have to
> pay? Any sites? Thanks,
>
> newbie boat buyer...
>
> Jim
>
>
When I brought my boat through customs at the border at 3 AM in the
middle of winter from a trip to Florida, I had to wake the only guy
on duty, and he guided me through the procedure. To sneak through
was considered, but, and more likely today, to be recorded on a
video surveillance system sneaking through would not only probably
have been a problem for me, it might have got the customs guard a
lot of trouble. I didn't have the heart (read guts!) to do it. He
was a nice guy, just a little tired.

I had a bill of sale, clearly identifying me, the old boat, trailer
and the seller. No questions were asked about the "utility trailer."
The lights worked but it didn't have legal plates, but I undertand
that at that time, we were expected to register and license it
within 30 days, but old utility trailers are grandfathered for
customs, or were. The border guard didn't care, I didn't care.

I paid some tax, or duty or something, on an estimated age
depreciated cost and reduced tariff for old boats. That was just
after free trade came in, I believe. I understand there is now no
duty on anything ten years old or more.

The next week, I registered the boat at customs and excise downtown,
and paid sales tax. They gave me a license that has a carbon copy
smudge that says my 6700 lb boat weighs 16700.

There is no impediment I know of to the normal traffic of free men
ignorant of most of the law. We are not required to be literate,
how can we be expected to know every law's most closely reasoned
creation?

They get a lot of old boats back and forth.

That was 20 odd years ago, mind.

Consider getting a writ of loan and inventory for the whole kit,
from your new "friend." If you register it at the border, they
probably won't come after you until well after it's reported stolen
by the owner of record. Just tell them "It's borrowed for a week,
I'll be bringing it back to return it, Or, I might buy it." You
should ask by phone before you try that. They might want you to
deposit for escrow all possible charges until proof of return is
provided. Some day, you may actually get caught if you try to diddle
them.

There's holes in the system.

Call your customs people, they will tell you what they require.

Call three times, talk to different people, and then figure it out.

Terry K
 >> Stay informed about: What's involved in buying US boat and import to Canada 

Here is the true deal people on importing to Canada, first a real bill
show actual price will have to be shown, from a dealer is better since
most know you would lower price for taxes and goverment knows that, if
you get caught doing so seizure/fines and delay at boarder are just
some of the fun things, you do not need to be there three days ahead,
you fill out a B3 form upon entry, pay GST and PST and if newer then
10 years duty, also a trailer falls under the RIVA program so a safty
and a 180 fee is basic to that trailer. KEEP in mind thoe, it is VERY
common in the USA to use there boats in leins for other things, once in
Canada it cant be detected, so you maybe unlucky and get one with a
lein only to have it suddenly yanked out from you some day, so be
carefull, have it searched in the USA first,
 >> Stay informed about: What's involved in buying US boat and import to Canada 

Hi!

boatdude wrote:
>
> Here is the true deal people on importing to Canada, first a real bill
> show actual price will have to be shown, from a dealer is better since
> most know you would lower price for taxes and goverment knows that, if
> you get caught doing so seizure/fines and delay at boarder are just
> some of the fun things, you do not need to be there three days ahead,
> you fill out a B3 form upon entry, pay GST and PST and if newer then
> 10 years duty,


I will only underline that, under NAFTA, Canadian, American and
Mexican built boats pass the borders of our three countries duty free!
(GST, PST still apply though) But it's otherwise true if you buy a
French, Taiwanese or "anywhere else" made boat in the US to import
into Canada. Duty is then 15%.

Jean
Montreal
 >> Stay informed about: What's involved in buying US boat and import to Canada