CBP Private Vessel Decal

[gswearin]

Hi All,
I was wondering if any one know the answer to this: How does CBP measure boats for the 30 foot exemption to the Customs User fee for vessels passing across the border? The actual regulation doesn't say LOA but is that it? Just saw a facebook post about a R27 getting a sticker and I googled around without any reliable answer.

Thanks.

 

[dbsea]

I have a 30 so it was required, but I would have done it regardless. Makes border crossings that much more smooth.

 

[Submariner]

Hi All,
I was wondering if any one know the answer to this: How does CBP measure boats for the 30 foot exemption to the Customs User fee for vessels passing across the border? The actual regulation doesn't say LOA but is that it? Just saw a facebook post about a R27 getting a sticker and I googled around without any reliable answer.

Thanks.

I was just looking at this at their official web site.

FAQ:
"What if my private vessel has a 29 ft. long hull but the rigging extends 31 ft.?"

Answer: Please contact the port of entry where you will be entering.

The RT27-OB is designated 27' by the manufacture, and it's designated 29' by the USCG for federal documentation paperwork (Certificate of Documentation).

I'm going to go with "how can you say I'm over 30', when the COD paperwork from the USCG says I'm 29' and the manufacture says 27'?

The official USCG measurements for COD (certificate of documentation) for an RT27-OB is "29.2 foot long, 8.5' beam, and 4.8foot depth. Net tonnage is 7 NRT, with a gross tonnage of 7 GRT.

"The User Fee was established to offset inspection costs that were previously funded solely by general taxpayer revenue."

"Vehicles are required to pay a per crossing fee if they have not paid an annual fee. A carrier or their agent can pay the single crossing user fee at the port or can save time by paying in advance prior to arriving at the port."

The decal is an annual pass.
I don't believe an RT27-OB requires this fee.

The consequence is they would just charge the fee on the spot. The decal is an annual permit to save time. I'll take my chances.

https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/main/#

 

[FlyMeAway]

The consequence is they would just charge the fee on the spot.

This is (mostly) true. What they are supposed to do is collect the fee, provide you a paper application, and then forward that application to the processing center.

In practice, they can create a tremendous amount of hassle for you. This can take the form of a "customs inspection" which might take 6-8 hours (not joking), or longer (at that point, paying the fee from your phone won't do you any good). Customs docks have been known to be out of the paper forms, and not obtain them until the next day (that's a night on the customs dock). If it's late in the day, they can decide they don't have time to process until the next day. At a busy customs dock they can make you wait until a less busy time to take the fee and process your application. Busy docks can further delay the inspection.

The fee is ~$30. At any reasonable valuation of time, even for a 30 minute delay, that's worth it. Pay the fee.

 

[Submariner]

The consequence is they would just charge the fee on the spot.

The fee is ~$30. At any reasonable valuation of time, even for a 30 minute delay, that's worth it. Pay the fee.

I pay enough in taxes and that's all this fee is. I'm not 30'. I would make the argument the scenario you spell out sounds like a lot of work on their (CBP's) part to hassle over $30, over a boat's that 29.2' per the USCG's own documentation.

I'll watch something on my Roku with the free night of moorage at the customs dock if it came to that.