USA and Canada Registration Requirements

[SydneyTim]

Hi there

We are Australian and are looking at buying a boat in the USA. While we sort out the international registration we will be cruising the east coast of the USA and hopefully Canada.

My question is this, can we sail from USA to Canada with only the North Carolina state registration on the vessel, or does it need to be internationally registered to do that?

Thanks

Tim

[GordMay]

Yes, you can legally sail in Canada with a U.S. State registration.

[hellosailor]

You may have problems every time you cross the border though, with both countries asking "Well, if you're Aussies, why does the boat have NC registration? Do you live THERE? Or where?"

I'd get written statements from both US & Canadian authorities before even coming over, to find out what both will want, and to show the border folks since this will be a situation they are NOT very familiar with.

[Pblais]

There isn't "International Registration". About the only thing you can get is a NC state boat registration since it is only a requirement that the boat be there and you don't have to be residents or US citizens to get one. US Documentation is only for US citizens. I would also carry a bill of sale and of course your own passports.

You might get some curious interviews but it is legal, just not always expedient with the various officials you may encounter as you cross back and forth over the border. You do need to check in going both ways each time you cross. Make sure you display the registration numbers as required plus the sticker for current registration.

[Charlie]

I have a boat in Canada right now and everytime I go across the border I'm told there are different requirements. I have found that as long as you are polite and don't offer any information that isn't requested of you it is easy to go back and forth across the border. I am a US Citizen though.

[SydneyTim]

Many thanks for that, it will take a while for the Australian registration to come through and we want to be able cruise around while waiting for it

[olepedersen]

Let me first welcome you to North Aaaaaaaaaamerica I am danish been here in Canada 45years and love it, sailing as much as i could and let me tell you how it is legally a Canadian cannot sail a foreign vessel , that he owns ( because of taxes) in Canadian waters' but a foreigner can, same in the states. If you have your pasports and the vessel registration you will be ok . In many years of delivering with my Danish papers I have only had one problem , in 1982 I delivered a new canadian built boat with American registration I got boarded by US coast guard in florida waters,( THE BEST GUYS IN THE WORLD, after the Danish navy of course) they told me I was in violation because the life jackets approveved by Canadian coast guard, was not approved by Us coast guard, They were nice enough to let me purchase new ones at my next port of call and get re inspected in order to avoid a fine. see I still cant type. So have a good time and remember to cacth a big fish the trick is to to get the Bait past all the small ones. Ole