Buying from Canada

mikegray

Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2015
Messages
18
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Vessel Name
T-Rhea
Looking for some help from anyone that has purchase a boat from a Canadian dealer. Having some difficulty with the correct paperwork getting the boat through to the US customs.
 
The new owner of Popeye (Ranger tug 25) bought one last year, might wanna contact him...
 
mikegray":107fgl8o said:
Looking for some help from anyone that has purchase a boat from a Canadian dealer. Having some difficulty with the correct paperwork getting the boat through to the US customs.

Rick and Sue are the one that bought one in Canada, they might be able to help you...
 
Contact a customs broker; that's what they do. I bought a large piece of machinery in Canada a few years ago and the customs broker was well worth his fees.
 
Mike,

We purchased a R25 from a broker/owner in Canada. E-mail me directly if I can be of any help. N1322D@GMAIL.COM
Quite a learning experience.....
Rick
 
Curious if anyone has any recent experience they want to share? I'm looking to hire a customs broker to import a boat into the US (from Canada)...
 
It’s been 5 years since we brought Our Journey back into the USA from BC. We thought we could do the paperwork ourselves but proved too much for the seller, the seller’s broker and us. The whole thing had to be timed just right for the insurance, bank, currency exchange and US based title company. Hired a USA broker in WA who did boats. Had boat at Friday Harbor in 4 days after that. Cost about 1% of the sales price. US Customs never even looked at the boat itself, just the paperwork.
 
Austin,

We purchased our boat in Ontario (8/18). We contacted the US customs office at the Lewiston Queenston Bridge (much more helpful than our Peace Bridge.(Buffalo, NY)). We were told by US Customs it’s unnecessary to hire a broker as long as we brought the boat back ourselves and had the proper paperwork. (Wether under boat’s own power or trailer) and for our personal use. We had absolutely no problem bringing boat back ( we towed).

Contact me if you like and I’ll see if i can look up the forms, contacts, etc.

All the best!
 
I just completed the process this month. Here are the relevant bits:

1). I bought my boat in San Diego. Some local Tug Nuts helped me assess the vending broker, the marina to do work on the boat, the engine surveyor and the marine surveyor. I flew down for the checks, had the boat detailed, winterized, service and shrink wrapped ready for transit.

2). I hired a Canadian Transit Company (Andrews Transport) to bring the boat up from San Diego. They were not the cheapest but they were extremely professional and knew the drill. They brought the boat up in four days over the Ambassador bridge. They had all the wide load permits and knew what they were doing.

3). I hired a US firm to Deregister the boat (Dona Jenkins in San Diego) and they got all the paperwork through that officially removed my boat from the US Coast Guard registry . She also provided me with the clear title after the appropriate checks were done. They can ask your shipper for this information at the border.

4). I hired a Canadian Customs broker to process all the paperwork (White & White). They worked with Andrews Transport to ensure that the crossing of the border went well. When the boat arrived in Lasalle Ontario (where it's stored) I had two certified checks - one for Andrews for the transport and one for White & White to pay for their services and reimburse them for the taxes upon import.

5). The last step is to register the boat in Canada. I have used the online system but the processing time is 30 days so I don't know whether I did it right or whether my chosen boat name was available.

Roughly - Service and winterization $1k; Shrink wrapping - $1k; Deregistration in the US - $250; Canadian Broker - $400; Online registration - $250. Shipping of course varies with too many details.

PM me if you have more questions.
 
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