U.S. Shipper Exportation Document

[gunkylump]

We are Canadian We purchased a sailboat here in the U.S.A. We registered the boat as Canadian, and have completed the process.

We called the U.S. Customs Border Patrol office in Key West, Fl. to ascertain how to depart the country on our sailboat to visit the Bahamas. This is where things go south.....

The customs officer asked us if we had a Shippers Exportation Document..or SED. No, we do not, what is that. It is required if you are going to leave the U.S. I was told.

Anyone else ever heard of this...it is new to me and our broker.

Any help would be appreciated!

gunk

[skipmac]

Have no idea how this would relate to your purchase of a boat but I'm in the import/export business and that is a document that I have to submit when shipping something overseas. This however is a commercial transaction and would not have thought this would apply for personal property. This however is gross speculation on my part.

If you don't get any better answer let me know and I will refer you to the customs broker we deal with who could probably help. Might cost $100 or so to get them to file papers if necessary.


By the way, I've heard it referred to as the Shippers Export Declaration.

[gunkylump]

Thanks Skipmac, kind of what I suspected..a commercial requirement, but time will tell.

By the way, I thoroughly enjoy following your posts here on CF, very insightful, never demeaning and always thorough. One of my favourite reads....and I will keep you in the loop on this one.

Thanks for the offer....I will let you know if we need it.

gunk

[skipmac]

Thanks for the compliment. You forgot to add occasionally wrong and always opinionated. At least my resolution to bite my tongue when necessary must be working.

[gunkylump]

Your experience and insight into your replies on threads is good reading in my opinion, for whatever that is worth.

I like what I read, but bear in mind, I also like the remarks from MarkJ, Boatman61, MDsailor, Zeehag, ColemJ, Davidfrom Jersey....just to name a very few....it has been a long day, I am still somewhat sleep deprived from our last overnighter which we completed yesterday, so I am sure that I have missed a few names which I really should include.

I have learned a ton so far on CF...you are one of those whom I have learned from, and I DO appreciate that!

gunk

[Dsanduril]

FWIW the CBP sort of addresses this question here:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...3D/suggested/1

What are the requirements to export a boat from the U.S. to Canada?

There are no U.S. export requirements for watercraft, including jet skis and boats from the U.S. to Canada. It is recommended that you contact the Canadian Border Services Agency for Canada's import requirements.

However, it's recommended that if purchasing a boat from the U.S. to take to Canada, and you are planning to tow the watercraft, you may need to show a bill of sale and title at the Port of Entry. Both the vehicle and the trailer hauling the boat must be properly registered and licensed.

Of course, leaving by way of the Bahamas probably complicates things (at least in the minds of CBP). I suspect if you called someone else there you'd get a different answer.

[Crew of Turning]

If I got the information correct, you purchased the boat in the USA and have now registered it as a Canadian vessel. This means to me that you have a 6 digit registration number on your primary document issued from Ottawa which will also include your vessels name and port of registry in Canada. Sail away!

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Crew of Turning

If I got the information correct, you purchased the boat in the USA and have now registered it as a Canadian vessel. This means to me that you have a 6 digit registration number on your primary document issued from Ottawa which will also include your vessels name and port of registry in Canada. Sail away!

Absolutely correct ! just leave !

If you return to US waters you will have to apply for a cruising permit, this is not a big deal, done it dozens of times.

I have been surprised on many occasions how little US and Canadian border people know about their own rules concerning boats. the officer is ill informed.

[Tingum]

The Bahamas certainly does not care, they will simply clear you in and take your cruising permit fee.

[Sinbad51]

I have purchased 3 boats State-side and brought them back to Canada and no exit papers are required. But as previously stated make sure you get a cruising permit when you land back in the States for your tr morth.

[warrior 90]

This should help

Cruising Permits, boat registration, vessel register, USA