Importing from Croatia to Canada??

[CrazyCanadian]

We are new to the Cruiser Forum. We're just starting our research on importing a sailboat from Croatia to the West Coast of Canada (we live in Vancouver). Can anyone advise on shipping costs, taxes payable (there appear to be new rates thru the new CETA-Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), required modifications like electrical or mechanical and other potential pitfalls. Can anyone recommend a good honest broker and surveyor in Croatia? Thanks!!

[AiniA]

As far as I understand you would not have to pay any tariff because of CETA. We have imported from the US and only had to pay the federal part of the HST (5%). This might have been because our boat was registered federally rather than provincially before arrival. Is this a new boat or used? If it is new you could get it built with 110v wiring rather than 220v. If it is used it is not a trivial exercise to convert the wiring since 220v wiring is smaller diameter than 110v. Options for such conversions have been discussed here several times. Do a search for those. Can't help you with shipping costs except to say it will be very expensive. Do you have the time and experience to sail the boat home?

[CrazyCanadian]

Thanks for your quick response AiniA. This would be a used boat so I'll look at re-wiring posts. And no, I do not have the experience to sail her home.

[AiniA]

It would have to be a very special boat and/or deal to make it worth the trouble in my opinion.

[wedivebc]

Having just imported a boat from US which was built in Sweden so no NAFTA exemption I paid 9% import duty after the cost was converted to Canadian then paid PST 7% and GST 5% on the cost of the boat AND the import duty. So the Gov got about 10k out of me just to bring my boat to Canada.

[rbk]

What wedrivebc said. I depends on where the boat was originally produced not where it currently resides as far as duty goes. On that note you may be subject to sales tax in the country or sale as well. And as with everything else in BC it is subject to gst/Hst. Must be a very specific boat to want to import and ship from Croatia to the west coast of Canada?

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by CrazyCanadian

required modifications like electrical ...

Probably uses different AC power (16A or 32A 230V shorepower?) versus what I think is probably Canadian standard. There are some threads on workarounds you might review, but it seems maybe not as simple as replacing outlets and plugs...

-Chris

[LaughingWarrior]

Originally Posted by wedivebc

Having just imported a boat from US which was built in Sweden so no NAFTA exemption I paid 9% import duty after the cost was converted to Canadian then paid PST 7% and GST 5% on the cost of the boat AND the import duty. So the Gov got about 10k out of me just to bring my boat to Canada.

This notion is frustrating to me, also looking at European boats located outside of Canada (coincidentally, there's a HR36 in Seattle that I really like). Paying federal and provincial sales taxes, plus import duty on a used item (10-15 years old), which in my case could potentially add up to $40K, and the value of which expenditure represents a value to me of the complete square root of SFA.

Oh, Canada.

[wedivebc]

Originally Posted by LaughingWarrior

This notion is frustrating to me, also looking at European boats located outside of Canada (coincidentally, there's a HR36 in Seattle that I really like). Paying federal and provincial sales taxes, plus import duty on a used item (10-15 years old), which in my case could potentially add up to $40K, and the value of which expenditure represents a value to me of the complete square root of SFA.

Oh, Canada.

It's the same with cars, although most don't have the lifespan of a venerable old boat, we still pay tax whenever it changes hands. Not to mention the tax I paid on the money I bought it with in the first place and then the fact I paid GST&PST on the duty I paid... Don't get me started

[SaltireJock]

Hi guys,
I am a Scottish national and citizen who is currently resident in BC Canada and I am planning to purchase a sailboat, either in the US, Mexico, Panama or Caribbean and sail it back to BC.

If I register under a FoC, will I still be elligible to pay import sales tax/HST/GST when I arrive in BC?

My assumption would be 'Yes' *if* I register for import as a Canadian resident but I am wondering if 'No' because the vessel is registered elsewhere and I'm not a Canadian national or citizen?

Any ideas?

[Razoo]

Originally Posted by LaughingWarrior

This notion is frustrating to me, also looking at European boats located outside of Canada (coincidentally, there's a HR36 in Seattle that I really like). Paying federal and provincial sales taxes, plus import duty on a used item (10-15 years old), which in my case could potentially add up to $40K, and the value of which expenditure represents a value to me of the complete square root of SFA.

Oh, Canada.

Don't you know the governments of the world are the biggest thieves on the high seas and every where else?

[BugzyCan]

As a non resident, you can only have a foreign boat in Canada 45 days.

https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafet...sitor-1610.htm

Originally Posted by SaltireJock

Hi guys,
I am a Scottish national and citizen who is currently resident in BC Canada and I am planning to purchase a sailboat, either in the US, Mexico, Panama or Caribbean and sail it back to BC.

If I register under a FoC, will I still be elligible to pay import sales tax/HST/GST when I arrive in BC?

My assumption would be 'Yes' *if* I register for import as a Canadian resident but I am wondering if 'No' because the vessel is registered elsewhere and I'm not a Canadian national or citizen?

Any ideas?

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by BugzyCan

As a non resident, you can only have a foreign boat in Canada 45 days.

https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafet...sitor-1610.htm

Suggest you read that again. That's not what it says.