Purchasing in Canada

[Rain]

Anyone bought a boat in Canada and brought it to the US? I am trying to expand my search area for a 22' and there are some possibilities in BC.

[doubles]

Best way is to use a service like Marine Documentation (no affiliation, but have used them) in Anacortes. They have relationship with brokers and can handle all the paperwork (correctly!). If you call them, they will describe the process and you can avoid any headaches.

[Rain]

Great advice! I really appreciate it.

[Marco Flamingo]

Yes, that's where I bought my boat last summer. I have had some experience with this, so I went prepared. There is a U.S. Customs form for the repatriation of American goods. I don't have the form number right now, but I can probably find it or you might be able to Google it. The C Dory is built in the U.S., so there should be no duty on the hull. My trailer (EZ Loader) was also built in the U.S. I had both business addresses on the form and had the seller itemize the values on the Bill of Sale (because the duty rates differ if I had to pay).

I came back on the Black Ball (a private ferry) into Anacortes, WA rather than cross at the Interstate-5 U.S. Customs in Blaine. That way, I was already on U.S. soil when I went through customs. I had heard stories of people having to leave the new boat in Canada while U.S. Customs thought about what to do. I also had friends that spent several days at the Customs dock in the San Juans when motoring their new boat back. They finally hired a customs broker and paid for him to fly up from Seattle. Both of these situations seemed to be geared towards getting the new owner to quickly agree to whatever duties Customs levied just to get over the boarder. Reminds me of Mexican security waypoints.

I got off the ferry, showed Customs my form, and was told that I had the wrong form and would have to pull over and wait. One issue was my Yamaha motor. I told them I didn't know where that was made (and we all grinned). But I was aware of a policy that if the imported goods are more that 50% U.S. made it is possible to get a duty waiver, in part so that there are no protracted computations over what percentage of the total value is foreign made. When they asked me what the motor was worth, I told them that I hadn't yet started it (true) and that would make a huge difference in the value.

They went off to confer with whom ever they confer with. After half an hour, they printed the "correct form" (which was the same as my form but computer generated so that I'm now "in the system") and then stamped it with a bunch of official stamps. Again reminded me of Mexico.

Off I went with a full wallet. Your experience may vary, but I hope not.

Mark

[san juanderer]

Buying the boat in BC, you might benefit from the exchange rate right now.
I bought the Commander ( Canadian built ) and brought it into the US at the Friday Harbor US Customs Office. Blaine has a bad reputation, as does the Anacortes office.
Customs broker I believe in Blaine was well worth the $250 fee. If the paperwork is done by the customs broker, the US Customs people seem to be more satisfied. I think, because it takes them off the hook due to errors.
Marine Documentation in Anacortes is a bit over priced, and to proud of there services. For a trailerable boat I would try to avoid them.
alan

[Rain]

I think I have heard enough to keep me shopping on this side of the border! Thank you very much!

Looking at a boat in the Seattle area Monday afternoon.

[Hunkydory]

I guess the border crossing has been made much more difficult since the purchase of our CD22 in Vancouver, BC in Jan 2003 from a private party. Once money was exchanged, which didn't include any tax & a bill of sale obtained, It was a very smooth fast crossing back to the US, with for the purchased boat only a quick show of detailed Bill of Sale & manufactures statement of origin, without any questions concerning more charges at border. At least that's the way I remember it now after having almost 13 years now pass.

Jay

[24Salty]

May not be applicable to transporting to the US, but three years ago I purchased my 16 Angler in BC and took it home to Saskatchewan. Two years later I got a bill from the BC government wanting $2000.00 in provincial sales tax because I took delivery of the boat in BC. The only way around it would have been to have the boat shipped from the seller to a destination out of BC it makes no difference if the seller is a dealer or private sale. Just a heads up, nasty surprise getting a huge bill two years after the fact.

[thataway]