I am looking at a sailboat on the north side of Lake Huron and want to transport it to the US....I contacted the transport company I would normally use and was told because of paperwork and changes they have to make to their truck they no longer transport from Ontario...they mentioned if the boat could be moved to the US side they would be interested....any experience or comments to this?...thanks..
Canada To US Transport Question
- Thread starter shavdog
- Start date
Sail or have it sailed to U.S. Sault Ste Marie and go through customs there. Ship it from there or sail to Duluth.
I did a search and found Andrews Trucking that does a lot of Canadian deliveries and has rec'd good recommendations on here...think I will contact them and ask a few questions....thanks.
I bought my 270 in Denver and would never, ever, entertain driving one cross the border again. Granted the issues were with the Canadian side, but the sheer number of agencies that all pointed the finger at each other over the paperwork was astounding. I can just imagine what a transport company would make you pay.
By all means, talk to Andrews. They know all about hauling boats into Canada. My experience was very good with them
Andrews has a good reputation. Probably cheaper to sail it into the USA and truck it from there.
I imported a Hunter 260 on a trailer into Canada myself. For the boat I only delt with customs at the border. I paid the sales tax and that was it, no other agencies involved. Had I sailed it across the border it would have been all done in 20 minutes.
The trailer however required a Transport Canada form filled in, and a fee paid at the border, then a safety check done within 30 days. Then I could buy a licence plate for it. Seemed simple and straight forward to me.
Friends importing boats and trailers into the USA seem to have a similar experience, as long as the paper work is all in order.
Bob
I imported a Hunter 260 on a trailer into Canada myself. For the boat I only delt with customs at the border. I paid the sales tax and that was it, no other agencies involved. Had I sailed it across the border it would have been all done in 20 minutes.
The trailer however required a Transport Canada form filled in, and a fee paid at the border, then a safety check done within 30 days. Then I could buy a licence plate for it. Seemed simple and straight forward to me.
Friends importing boats and trailers into the USA seem to have a similar experience, as long as the paper work is all in order.
Bob
I brought my Catalina 270 from Missouri to Ontario (I know, the opposite direction) without any trouble or problems. The main point, though, was that i hired a customs broker. This was the best $250 spent on that purchase (maybe after the $500 on the survey). The driver who moved my boat spent under 10 min with customs; according to him, it was the easiest border crossing ever (and he does it for living).
I shipped using uShip. Eventually it worked, but I had all kinds of problems with the first company i selected (they were crooks). But the second time (good it wasn't the third
-)) was a charm and it worked great.
Andrews always has good reviews; I never heard of anyone complaining. However, they are not cheap.
Moving a boat across the border is not a rocket science; however, you MUST have all documents in order. Also be aware that even though the customs officers work for the same "company" and are, theoretically, bound by the same rules and laws, in practice, the rules are (or at least can be) different at different crossings. This is where the customs broker would earn his keep.
Good luck
I shipped using uShip. Eventually it worked, but I had all kinds of problems with the first company i selected (they were crooks). But the second time (good it wasn't the third
-)) was a charm and it worked great.Andrews always has good reviews; I never heard of anyone complaining. However, they are not cheap.
Moving a boat across the border is not a rocket science; however, you MUST have all documents in order. Also be aware that even though the customs officers work for the same "company" and are, theoretically, bound by the same rules and laws, in practice, the rules are (or at least can be) different at different crossings. This is where the customs broker would earn his keep.
Good luck