Crossbow on Boat?

[Geko21]

Hi,

I am starting a circumnavigation and plan to take my hunting crossbow onboard, as well as a couple of metal detectors for beach hunting. Does anybody think that this could cause problems with customs somewhere? The crossbow has optical sight, and it looks serious. It has sentimental value for me, I do not even fish these days. The metal detectors are for beach hunting and I use them only where it is allowed. But of course, all these would stay on board at all times.

Any personal experiences with such things are welcome.

Thanks

[Factor]

Illegal in Qld Australia without a permit, and illegal to import into Australia with out permit, so if you are planning on coming this way, talk to Australian Customs first.

[belizesailor]

The cross bow is likely to at least raise some eye brows and probably more. The metal detectors not likely to be a problem.

[Blue Stocking]

Illegal in Bermuda. Surrender to Customs on arrival.

[storyinframes]

Illegal in India too.

[Celestialsailor]

Why not just store it and avoid the hassles?

[LakeSuperior]

I wonder how even having metal detectors on-board would go over in Greece?

[Geko21]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Why not just store it and avoid the hassles?

I may have to do just that. How is the situation in the Caribbean, Panama, The Pacific islands?

Honestly I didn't expect it to be that bad. In my view this is very simple weapon compared to many. My logic was - I can have a speargun (right? can I?) and crossbow is not much different. It is even traditionally used for fishing.

But, well..

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Geko21

I may have to do just that. How is the situation in the Caribbean, Panama, The Pacific islands?

Honestly I didn't expect it to be that bad. In my view this is very simple weapon compared to many. My logic was - I can have a speargun (right? can I?) and crossbow is not much different. It is even traditionally used for fishing.

But, well..

Some countries even a speargun is considered a weapon and must be declared and possibly surrendered until departure.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Geko21

I may have to do just that. How is the situation in the Caribbean, Panama, The Pacific islands?

Honestly I didn't expect it to be that bad. In my view this is very simple weapon compared to many. My logic was - I can have a speargun (right? can I?) and crossbow is not much different. It is even traditionally used for fishing.

But, well..

Just my passive opinion but if you have any kind of weapon onboard, you may just be attracting trouble.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Geko21

The crossbow has optical sight, and it looks serious. It has sentimental value for me

As regular on CF someone turning up with a sentimental attachment to a crossbow does not come as a complete surprise.........

........but for officialdom it may come accross as a bit odd. and officialdom generally doesn't like odd.

[Canibul]

In some situations the wording that seems to get their attention is when an arrow, or spear, is "mechanically held or released". I did a lot of bow hunting in the US and found a lot of places that were fine with compounds and even with mechanical releases had a different set of rules with crossbows. Maybe because they can be stored cocked and loaded?

same thing with spear guns. Bahamas, no mechanically held spears. slings or pole spears only. Nothing that can be held and is fired by trigger.

Here, even slings are illegal, but I don't think they would prosecute someone down there stabbing lionfish to death with one.

[Agape39]

Originally Posted by Canibul

In some situations the wording that seems to get their attention is when an arrow, or spear, is "mechanically held or released". I did a lot of bow hunting in the US and found a lot of places that were fine with compounds and even with mechanical releases had a different set of rules with crossbows. Maybe because they can be stored cocked and loaded?

same thing with spear guns. Bahamas, no mechanically held spears. slings or pole spears only. Nothing that can be held and is fired by trigger.

Here, even slings are illegal, but I don't think they would prosecute someone down there stabbing lionfish to death with one.

In the Bahamas you can not fish with a speargun, but you can have one on board, they don't care. Guns are allowed, but give them an excuse to board you to "check the weapon". Always check ahead or be prepared to loose it...

[MJS1]

Would a recurve bow, legal eveywhere

[a64pilot]

I think a weapon, is a weapon, and in many places a weapon that throws or shoots a projectile, is a firearm, bows, slingshots, spearguns etc.
I know it isn’t logical, I’d assume a fire has to be involved to be a firearm, but not so.
Just as an example my Beeman air rife was illegal in Germany where I had it. I didn’t know that until I got there, and it never left the closet until it left to come home, so nothing came of it. They have a Ft lbs of energy limit that the Beeman exceeded, making it illegal. It was registered etc., just no one knew or asked about muzzle velocity.

Point is that rules vary from location to location, there are no universal rules, you have to check, and often you will get different answers to the same question, so even if you call and ask and get an OK, that may not be true in check in.