F/up....the information on so called wet crossings ( where you cross the lake border but don't physically land) has received quite a lot of traffic on sailnet and SA
It looks like starting in 2011, Canadians were required to call in even if they crossed into US waters without landing, whereas US were not. Substantial fines and boat seizures are rumored, but as usual Sone of the stories reek of Internet legends.....
There is a documented incident of a Canadian guy in a fishing boat being fined 1000 CDN for this practice
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2011 ... oat-owners
So, the practices of customs and immigration are livng things and need to be researched in an up to date manner.
You need to understand two aspects as skipper
1 your home country requirements...which can change hour by hour..
2 Country of entry requirements....more happily set by international treaty, so can't change so easily.
As always be polite and professional at all interactions with officials and leave political speeches at home.
Americans...leave guns, especially handguns, at home. Massive fines.
If you have DUI or DWI convictions, you may be refused entrance into Canada...as in the whole country.