Crossing US/Canada border afloat

[seadrift]

A prosecution resulting from the 2011 case of a US boater crossing into Canadian waters without landing but also without reporting to Canadian Border Services caused a considerable kerfuffle. Further, it came as a surprise to most that a Canadian boater passing in and out of American waters (without landing or anchoring) also had to report to CBS on return. The obverse does not apply i.e. an American boat passing in and out of Canadian waters does not have to report in to US authorities. This is of particular concern to boaters in such areas as the Thousand Islands in the upper St Lawrence River where the international border weaves between islands - and where the original prosecution occurred.

This disparity between the two sets of regulations will be ended when a Canadian bill which has been passed by both Houses of Parliament becomes law by the end of June 2017.

The bill amends the Customs Act such that reporting to CSB is not required "...if the person did not disembark, anchor, moor or make contact with another conveyance while in Canadian waters, including the inland waters...". (Though an officer can still require you to report). Furthermore, Canadian boaters need not report to CSB after passing through US waters.

[CaptTom]

Just so everyone's clear, the intent is that "innocent passage" is OK, but fishing, exchanging goods with another boat (e.g.; bootlegging) or anchoring overnight is not.

Glad to hear Canada has fixed that law. You know you're doing something wrong when your Customs laws are MORE restrictive than the US!

[SVTatia]

Thank you seadrift and CaptTom for sharing - helpful information.

[Tetepare]

Why not just get rid of all the stupid laws?

[Ivansgarage]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

Why not just get rid of all the stupid laws?

Be better to get rid of all the stupid people and we would not need stupid laws.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Ivansgarage

Be better to get rid of all the stupid people and we would not need stupid laws.

This is why I discouraged air bags and mandatory seatbelt laws!

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by seadrift

Crossing US/Canada border afloat

I suppose that it wouldn't have made a difference if he sank and as he sank he crossed the border!

It's good to hear that the bill will remove what in this case may be over zealous enforcement. It's too bad that more common sense isn't used although without more details on the particular case, I can't really form a valid opinion.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

This is why I discouraged air bags and mandatory seatbelt laws!

Every pool needs skimming, including and perhaps especially, the gene pool!

[hamburking]

There would be no problem if we had a great big border WALL. Put it right on the official border. Then stay on your side yankees...we won all the good islands back in the war of 1812...you know, the one you never heard of cause you lost!

https://webapp.navionics.com/#boatin...g%7BfmGbg%7BoM

[Capt Phil]

Goodness! How times have changed... I recall cruising back and forth on the west coast one country to the other but never going ashore. If we did it was to purchase food, booze or whatever. When we did that, we always checked in and never had a problem.
We used to cruise down to Sucia Island from Canada and anchor out and never checked in.
Mind you this was back in the 50's and early 60's... we did the same thing in Alaska as well in the same period. Phil

[SVTatia]

[QUOTE=hamburking;2413012]There would be no problem if we had a great big border WALL. Put it right on the official border. Then stay on your side yankees...we won all the good islands back in the war of 1812...you know, the one you never heard of cause you lost!

What? In this case it would be the Canadians building the wall - the crazy laws are ours.

Please don't spread fake news or else there will be an executive order to renegotiate the lost islands.....

[30yearslater]

[QUOTE=SVTatia;2413027]

Originally Posted by hamburking

There would be no problem if we had a great big border WALL. Put it right on the official border. Then stay on your side yankees...we won all the good islands back in the war of 1812...you know, the one you never heard of cause you lost!

What? In this case it would be the Canadians building the wall - the crazy laws are ours.

Please don't spread fake news or else there will be an executive order to renegotiate the lost islands.....

Yeah but don't forget if Canada builds a wall the U.S. will be made to pay for it. As to the 1812 reference perhaps it's time for a rematch. Super soakers at the border anyone?

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by hamburking

There would be no problem if we had a great big border WALL. Put it right on the official border. Then stay on your side yankees...we won all the good islands back in the war of 1812...you know, the one you never heard of cause you lost!

https://webapp.navionics.com/#boatin...g%7BfmGbg%7BoM

Not practical. In this case it's not crossing a watercourse, it is smack dab down the middle.

Combine that with the fact that a wall should have a buffer zone, and your proposal makes sense. We'll just move that wall a bit north.

The new wall border will be above the NY-Michigan Highway so Americans no longer have to pass through Canada. The wall will be built a few meters north of 402 and 401 east to Montreal, with everything south of it being USA.

Canada may retain Montreal and Quebec, but the river will be on the US side of the wall border.

New York, Vermont and Maine will fix the ugly sections to the north that are missing, each being carried north to the river and east to the mouth of the river. Canada will retain NB, PEI, and NS, though both Americans and Canadians will be given free right of travel between USA and the above named areas with no hassle.

This can be revisited in 17 years, which is perhaps not ironically the same duration for which British Canada illegally occupied Oswego and Carleton Island. In recognition of this illegal holding of land, the new border territory will be known as "Jay".

[Scorpius]

Considering every BC Ferries sailing between Vancouver and Victoria and / or the Gulf Islands, 20 or more per day, each carrying upwards of a thousand passengers, passes into US waters immediately upon leaving Tsawwassen terminal, reciprocal enforcement of these laws could be interesting.

[1Sunseeker]

And on the West Coast we had our great "Pig War." In which the San Juan Islands were split. Was it the King of Denmark who made the split official? I enjoy going into Canada and go when ever I can by land or sea. I have found it is easer to get into Canada than back into to the US. Just a telephone call going and a 3rd degree interrogation coming back. Perhaps it is because I am an old white man and outlived my tax producing years. The VA and Social Security would like to get rid of me since I am now a liability.