Crossing the border for a vacation towing the boat

[gabid]

I am wondering if anybody went for a vacation towing the Mac from Canada to US.
I was reading this article, it sounds interesting, but I don't know what it takes (from customs point of view) to cross the boarder back and forth with a boat on the tow:

http://sailing.about.com/od/sailingarea ... lorida.htm

Gabriel

[Sumner]

For us going into Canada was easy....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... -koot.html

back into the states took more time. They spent about an hour going over the Suburban and especially the boat (with dogs and such). They even wanted to know what was in the little silver pouches (double doodie/wag bags) . It was a remote Idaho crossing and I guess they didn't have anything else to do,

Sum

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Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[bartmac]

My boarder got really upset when I crossed the border without her!!!!

[kasmith21]

I crossed last winter and planning to do it again in March. It's not a big deal. You need passport, boat registration and proof of your address (I brought a hydro bill). Obviously you want to use the RV lane at the border. I crossed at the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie. I left my boat down in Florida for a couple of months and they had a couple questions about that (wanted to make sure I wasnt leaving it for good)...other than that it was easy. Have a great trip...

[gabid]

Thanks for your replies and sharing your stories. So it's possible without too much hassle, I am glad to hear this.

[Chinook]

We threw the Canadians a bit of a curve ball a few years ago when we took our boat up to Alaska. We trailered across the border at Blaine, entering Canada as motorists, with the usual drill of presenting passports, and answering the standard questions (where are you from, where are you going, what is the purpose of your trip, do you have any alcohol or firearms or firewood or fresh produce). After responding with acceptable answers (mostly true, but perhaps fudging just a bit by not disclosing the case of beer buried in the boat's deep dark recesses), we were welcomed into Canada. We launched at Horseshoe Bay, North Vancouver and began our 2 1/2 month cruise up the Inside Passage. The tricky part came when we arrived in Prince Rupert, just below the Alaska border. We stopped at the marina there for a few days to see the sights and provision for the next leg, across Dixon Entrance and into Alaskan waters. Since Prince Rupert is a major entry point for southbound boats crossing from Alaska into Canada, they have a Customs station there. Customs agents regularly walk the docks to see if you have your Canadian clearance number affixed to your boat. We didn't, and we were contacted by the Canadian Customs officials. We told them we hadn't crossed into Canada by water, but rather by vehicle. We gave them the date and place where we crossed, and after a bit of checking, they were ok with us. If we ever do this sort of thing again, I'll be sure and request some paperwork at the Canadian border crossing station, so that we can readily satisfy the Customs agents down on the dock.

[Tomfoolery]

Bahia Honda looks like a really nice destination. Thanks for bringing it up. I'm keeping a list of places to go in Florida, in case I end up there at some point, which I'm hoping to do in the not too distant future.

[gabid]

Bahia Honda looks like a really nice destination. Thanks for bringing it up. I'm keeping a list of places to go in Florida, in case I end up there at some point, which I'm hoping to do in the not too distant future.

You are very welcome, I found very interesting reading about sailing from Tom Lochhaas on that website.

[Phil M]

Thanks for your replies and sharing your stories. So it's possible without too much hassle, I am glad to hear this.

Just remember to have your valid and up to date truck registration, drivers license, boat registration, boat trailer registration, and passport. If one of the sixteen registration numbers is off a single digit, trouble. Also, no fruit, no booze, no smokes, no guns. And have a job. Be willing to chitchat about sailing for several minutes, as they want to verify you are actually a sailor.

[chipveres]

For Bahia Honda, please be aware you must approach the anchorage from outside. That is, suppose you are coming down the ICW like a prudent Mac sailor. You must cross to the ocean side at Moser Channel under Seven Mile Bridge. The new bridge at Bahia Honda is only 20 feet and won't clear a Mac.

Chip

[mdeane]

We crossed into Canada over the Rainbow Bridge towing our M26 in August last summer. Our faithful traveling companion Tex (Shelty) accompanied us. The process took less than 5 minutes. Documents required are; Passports, Registrations for vehicle, trailer and boat, proof of Rabies vaccination at least 6 months preceding entry. We launched Sol Mate in Kingston Ontario and stayed at Confederation basin our first night on the water. Our passports had not been stamped on entry so to be safe we called Canadian Customs from the dock and received a registration number. We returned to the US traveling over the International bridge in the 1000 Islands region and again the process took less than 5 minutes. We had some canvas work done in Port Credit, declared the purchase in the interview process. The value exceeded our personal exemption, however, no duty payment was required. Just make sure you have all your documents out and ready for inspection.

Marc

[Tomfoolery]

The new bridge at Bahia Honda is only 20 feet and won't clear a Mac.

That's what the Mast Raising System and a big engine are for. (as long as conditions allow, of course)

[Catigale]

FYI if you have bad boy DUI DWI convictions in your past, you can be refused entry into Canadian territory. This might be pretty inconvenient on a boat.

[BOAT]

Last time we went we did not have a boat, but getting into Canada was easy. We just hopped on a ferry at Port Angeles and zip - we were there. Getting out was a real pain. We sat in a line of traffic miles long and spent and entire day (a full 9 hours) in creeping traffic on the 5 to get back into the US at the Washington border at some place called "Blaine".. it was HORRIBLE!!! It was horrible. My wife said "never again". Next time I will find a place to take a ferry back into the states. What really puzzled us was that 99% of all the cars trying to get back into the US had Canada plates. We could not figure out what the hull was going on. When we finally got to the border agent at the US gate he looked at our passports and said "said welcome back home" and passed us right on in in less than 20 seconds. We were pretty rattled by then - a hull of a way to waste one day of your vacation.

[Tomfoolery]

I'm more worried about the Porta Potti being strictly verboten in Ontario waters when I'm there for the MMO rendezvous than I am about the border crossing, at least in the Niagara area.