It appears that I'm going to be moving to Nova Scotia, Canada in a month or two (new job) and I'm looking for suggestions with regard to my sailboat (Catalina 36). The boat is currently in Florida so getting it there is easy: That's what the Atlantic Ocean is for! But I'll need... 1) A new insurance company as Boat US doesn't write policies in Canada...any suggestions? 2) To convert from a documented US Vessel to a Registered Canadian vesel...Anybody done this? Is there a relatively straightforward way to do it? 3) I'll be keeping her in Halifax for starters...Any recommendations on marinas? Yacht clubs? 4) Last but not least, it looks to me like I'll have to pay the 15% HST on the current value of the boat. Ouch! Is there some legal way to avoid this? Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreaciated!
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What will your status be?
If you are going to be a permanent resident, your personal belongings (including the boat come into Canada tax free. If you do not declare the boat as part of your personal goods, you have to pay tax when you import it. I don't know that the 36 is large enough to *require* Canadian registry, you may be able to just license it. For insurance: TOS Insurance Group, Paul Mendham can take care of you or introduce you to someone that can.
If you are going to be a permanent resident, your personal belongings (including the boat come into Canada tax free. If you do not declare the boat as part of your personal goods, you have to pay tax when you import it. I don't know that the 36 is large enough to *require* Canadian registry, you may be able to just license it. For insurance: TOS Insurance Group, Paul Mendham can take care of you or introduce you to someone that can.
Welcome to Halifax
I've never sailed before and bought my first boat(Hunter 30) down in Maryland in the Fall so can provide a few answers for you. HST- Pretty much gotta suck back and eat it. Customs patrol the Marinas regularly looking for boats with out of Country decals. Boats that have been sailed into the country. Me I had my boat trucked up and they welcomed me and my cheque book at the border. Call Customs Canada. Insurance- I use WCL Bauld agent is Dennis Crowe (email dcrowe@wclbauld.com phone 1-902-835-1262. As in all companies they require an up to date hull survey(discuss it with him) Marinas are really full and difficult to get into. Waiting lists..... I belong to Armdale Yacht Club www.armdaleyachtclub.ns.ca Another nice one is Dartmouth Yacht Club http://www.dyc.ns.ca/ Another new is being built called Shining Waters. It is outside the city a bit but it looks like it is going to be quite nice. These are the two I'd recommend. It is more likely that AYC will be quicker to get into. I'll add my phone number and feel free to call and I'll answer any questions you might have if I can. It was a real eye opener for me after dealing with a big Marina in Deale and to come here. Rick Gogan 1-902-434-7824
I've never sailed before and bought my first boat(Hunter 30) down in Maryland in the Fall so can provide a few answers for you. HST- Pretty much gotta suck back and eat it. Customs patrol the Marinas regularly looking for boats with out of Country decals. Boats that have been sailed into the country. Me I had my boat trucked up and they welcomed me and my cheque book at the border. Call Customs Canada. Insurance- I use WCL Bauld agent is Dennis Crowe (email dcrowe@wclbauld.com phone 1-902-835-1262. As in all companies they require an up to date hull survey(discuss it with him) Marinas are really full and difficult to get into. Waiting lists..... I belong to Armdale Yacht Club www.armdaleyachtclub.ns.ca Another nice one is Dartmouth Yacht Club http://www.dyc.ns.ca/ Another new is being built called Shining Waters. It is outside the city a bit but it looks like it is going to be quite nice. These are the two I'd recommend. It is more likely that AYC will be quicker to get into. I'll add my phone number and feel free to call and I'll answer any questions you might have if I can. It was a real eye opener for me after dealing with a big Marina in Deale and to come here. Rick Gogan 1-902-434-7824
Not raelly a conversion
Registration in Canada is a reasonably straight forward process, but it is not a conversion. Here is a link that has all the stuff
Registration in Canada is a reasonably straight forward process, but it is not a conversion. Here is a link that has all the stuff
You Don't have to change.
Our marina on lake Erie has quite a few US boats. If you are a US citizen you can call in Canadian customs annually for a yearly clearance. Make sure you record and keep the confirmation number. I have a friend who never takes his boat back into US waters. He hasn't renewed this Michigan tags in years. Good luck.
Our marina on lake Erie has quite a few US boats. If you are a US citizen you can call in Canadian customs annually for a yearly clearance. Make sure you record and keep the confirmation number. I have a friend who never takes his boat back into US waters. He hasn't renewed this Michigan tags in years. Good luck.
Shining Waters
St Margret's Bay is a great sail, and I think Shining Waters has space available. As Rick mentioned, most clubs have waiting lists. Good luck and welcome to Nova Scotia.
St Margret's Bay is a great sail, and I think Shining Waters has space available. As Rick mentioned, most clubs have waiting lists. Good luck and welcome to Nova Scotia.
Call Canada Berder Services
I would agree with Moody Buccaneer. If you are coming to Canada to live, you are probably coming as a landed immigrant or on a work visa. Either way your boat comes as personal belongings. Call Canada border services (That's our new name for customs) and they will give you the straight goods. They were also issuing pleasure craft licences but I think it is now handled by another goverment department as of a couple of weeks ago. Best part is that it is free. Ask them who issues them now. I just imported a boat from US to Canada. I had to pay GST because I am Canadian. Your case is different. Enjoy Nova Scotia and welcome to Canada. Ken
I would agree with Moody Buccaneer. If you are coming to Canada to live, you are probably coming as a landed immigrant or on a work visa. Either way your boat comes as personal belongings. Call Canada border services (That's our new name for customs) and they will give you the straight goods. They were also issuing pleasure craft licences but I think it is now handled by another goverment department as of a couple of weeks ago. Best part is that it is free. Ask them who issues them now. I just imported a boat from US to Canada. I had to pay GST because I am Canadian. Your case is different. Enjoy Nova Scotia and welcome to Canada. Ken
Best way to save money is....
The best way to save money is to get a job in Vancouver BC. First you will have better (longer) sailing weather. Secondly you can moor your boat in a marina in a place called "Point Roberts." This is a very small junk of land that can only be accessed through an area in greater Vancouver but is part of the States. By mooring your boat there, you won't have any tax problems. A few of the now defunct NBA Vancouver Grizzlies lived there to avoid paying taxes in Canada, but they were close enough that they could drive to work in the downtown core of Vancouver. link to the marina: http://www.pointrobertsmarina.com/
The best way to save money is to get a job in Vancouver BC. First you will have better (longer) sailing weather. Secondly you can moor your boat in a marina in a place called "Point Roberts." This is a very small junk of land that can only be accessed through an area in greater Vancouver but is part of the States. By mooring your boat there, you won't have any tax problems. A few of the now defunct NBA Vancouver Grizzlies lived there to avoid paying taxes in Canada, but they were close enough that they could drive to work in the downtown core of Vancouver. link to the marina: http://www.pointrobertsmarina.com/
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