Trailering from the US into Canada?

Wayne McCown

We have crossed the border into Canada with the CD, and know the required routine for getting into Canada and back into the US...via boat.

This summer we plan to trailer the CD across the border and do some boating in Canada, and then trailer it back into the US.

Can we check the boat into Canada and back into the US when we cross the border? What is the required routine?

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:15 pm Post subject:

yes you can. Just trailer across at a inspection station. I'm on the west coast so I dont know where you would cross at but call border patrol and find out. Here in washington you can use the car crossing or the commerical crossing with the boat. All the same rules apply for items you can and can not bring. the border patrol web site and the canadian web site are very helpful.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:57 pm Post subject:

We did that in 2009 when we did the Trent-Severn. No issue. We rolled into Canada, filled out a form, they didn't check the boat or the truck. They didn't give us a Customs Number like when going across by boat. When we trailered back into the US, they wanted to check the boat and asked questions about what kind of food we were bringing back. Once in the boat and looking around, I said to the Customs agent, "You just wanted to see the boat, didn't you?"

He said, "It's a really neat boat." He asked how long we were there, what we did, etc. It was really no different from going across the border and back with just a vehicle.

Pretty easy, actually.

Best wishes,
Jim

thataway · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:07 pm Post subject:

I think that the question is do you get a customs number? We have not the times we went into BC. If concerned, ask the agent and see if they will give you a number to put in the window. No one ever asked us for the Customs number the 4 years we went in and out of BC with the Cal 46 or the 4 years we did in various C Dories by water.

Dreamer · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:26 am Post subject:

Bob Hale, former publisher if the Waggoner's guide book researched this for me a few years ago. The best advice he found was to ask to have your passport stamped as you enter Canada. No clearance number is issued when you trailer in. The passport stamp verifies that you entered legally.

Wayne McCown · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:16 pm Post subject:

MANY THANKS!

CAVU · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:51 pm Post subject:

I have trailered my boat into British Columbia every summer for many years and never had an issue. The entry points going both ways have a sophisticated system of cameras and computers. They know everything about your entry and what you towed in. As far as I am concerned I wouldn't give it a second thought.

journey on · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:55 pm Post subject:

We've trailered Journey On into Canada, both at Blaine , Wa and Sault St marie, Mi. Came back through Blaine and Sarnic, Mi. Going or coming, they act as if you're towing a camping trailer. Same checks and nothing more.

Once, when we went over to Vancouver Isle by ferry towing the boat, we figured that we might be asked for some kind of permit for the boat so we stopped at the Canadian Customs building just north of the border and asked for a boat permit. They were very polite, issued the permit and we were on our way. Just one word of caution: play it straight. No small jokes.

Again, no-one ever asked to see the permit. There were hundreds of small US trailerable boats on Vancouver Isle (fishing,) and when we mentioned we had a permit they either laughed or asked for what. We did have a great time: Journey On on Vancouver Isle .

Boris