Buy US boat for Ontario - is anyone doing it?

[gymrat]

Hi all,

I know it's the end of the season but I was hoping that with the season ending there would be some production boats in the 30 foot range like Catalina coming into the market at a better price than during summer.

There are not too many options here though and looking at Yachtworld there are some options in the US and pricing is 10k cheaper than the model (older year) boat here. A dealer/broker selling a boat I contacted said it's no problem if i do the paperwork as they sell to Canadians. Sailing it to Lake Ontario is not an option for now.

I'm just nervous about buying a boat sight unseen and having it shipped here. With the travel restrictions, is anyone doing it...or is the recommendation to wait until early next year and hopefully I can drive to Ohio to see the boat?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by gymrat

Hi all,

I know it's the end of the season but I was hoping that with the season ending there would be some production boats in the 30 foot range like Catalina coming into the market at a better price than during summer.

There are not too many options here though and looking at Yachtworld there are some options in the US and pricing is 10k cheaper than the model (older year) boat here. A dealer/broker selling a boat I contacted said it's no problem if i do the paperwork as they sell to Canadians. Sailing it to Lake Ontario is not an option for now.

I'm just nervous about buying a boat sight unseen and having it shipped here. With the travel restrictions, is anyone doing it...or is the recommendation to wait until early next year and hopefully I can drive to Ohio to see the boat?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I watch the Ontario sailboat listings on Kijiji just to see what shows up there. I haven't seen any more fall bargoons recently than for other years.

I would never buy a used boat sight-unseen, unless I could afford to lose 120% of the price if it turns out to be a wreck.

Unless you have a free or cheap spot to keep a boat over the winter where you can work on it, I would suggest just waiting til spring. COVID has made a lot of people re-examine their priorities, and that has made some people pull the trigger this year... and others to consider getting out of boating... and we're not yet done.

[SalingSue]

Can’t you figure a way to come to the US and check it out?

There’s a list of exceptions, some very vague.

[Mirage35]

Well, I have a friend who is doing it. He's made offers on a couple of boats, one on Lake Champlain and one on the east coast somewhere, but nothing has come together yet.

He's relying on information from the boat listings and surveyor's reports, as well as phone conversations with the owners, and is looking at well-known, mainstream models (think Beneteau 39-ish from the early '90s). And planning on having the boat trucked to Ontario, so it will actually arrive before he sees it in person.

I wouldn't do it myself, but he seems quite comfortable with the approach.

[Ardbeg]

You can fly to USA to check a boat. Return flight means 14 day isolation. That being said, if you like boat after seeing it why not just leave in USA for winter? I dock at a marina where US boats come in and Canada Border patrol was very watchful this past summer. One guy got a boat across though from North shore New York. I think he got an incredible deal on a Shannon. CBSA was all over the delivery Captain who was US National and got him escorted to the border bridge directly. If you truck it home after purchase be prepared to pay Customs ( non USA made boat) and HST at the border. IE Pay in advance of trucking.

[Stewie12]

I would never consider buying a boat unseen. It is hard enough buying a boat that you can see. Survey or no survey.

[gymrat]

Thanks for the responses. I have been keeping any eye on Kijiji and Facebook marketplace but nothing yet that i would make an offer on. Boatdealers has a couple but I think they are overpriced at this time which is why i started looking at the US market.

I think I'll wait it out for now. Paying to fly and see a boat is a little more expensive than I have budgeted for - i prefer to drive but with the borders closed, I guess I'll just wait it out for now. "Reexamining priorities" is a good way to put it

[gymrat]

Originally Posted by AnglaisInHull

Well, I have a friend who is doing it. He's made offers on a couple of boats, one on Lake Champlain and one on the east coast somewhere, but nothing has come together yet.

He's relying on information from the boat listings and surveyor's reports, as well as phone conversations with the owners, and is looking at well-known, mainstream models (think Beneteau 39-ish from the early '90s). And planning on having the boat trucked to Ontario, so it will actually arrive before he sees it in person.

I wouldn't do it myself, but he seems quite comfortable with the approach.

I'm curious if he shared what the transportation cost would be? I'm looking at the Catalina/Beneteau/Other reasonably priced boats from 90s in the 30 to 34 foot range myself, so mine is a very similar situation.

[garyfdl]

Current travel restrictions notwithstanding... my understanding is - cross border transactions between Canada/US is not that big of a deal, just more paperwork to make the item is not stolen.

First question: is there a recent survey?

If not, I'd ask if the seller is willing to provide one. if no, and I still wanted the boat, I'd contract the services of a certified marine surveyor. I would not take a surveyor referral from the seller/broker. Down side is that you have to pay for the survey, but it's better than paying for "a pig in a poke". You can also deduct the survey fee from the asking price and recoup that way.

I bought my old Cherubini Hunter sight unseen, after a survey. Surveyor did a good job listing the shortcomings; I wound up getting the boat for about 1/3 the asking price.

I was happy with that.

[Tetepare]

First, be aware that in a 30 year old boat, there is going to be things that are suboptimal, broken, or worn out. When we thought we were going to put our C30TR on the market I went through the "near perfect" boat and made a list of things that weren't just right or needed eventual replacement- the list ran over 20 items.


To get to a survey requires a deposit and the Broker Dance, then the cost of the survey. Potentially, only to find that the boat is junk. There are members here from Oak Orchard, Rochester, Sodus, and Oswego. Maybe Buffalo and Sacketts? If you find a boat, do your homework then ask and chances are somebody can look at it- or knows the boat.


By "homework" I mean: make a list to send to the seller.
Type of engine
engine hours
last maintenance
type of auto pilot/ does it work
what electronics (blower, radio, etc) don't work
condition of sails- age, repairs
stuffing box last changed/ cutlass bearing
wet rudder
leaking ports and hatches / interior damage
cushions recovered/ replaced when? Mildew?
Ever in salt water?
Standing rig replaced (probably not with most Lake Ontario boats, and it's OK)


Etc etc. There is a website on survey 101 you can adapt to a list of questions. I don't recall what it is now, and have to run.


Note: narrow it down to a couple boats before you ask for someone to check it. I'm out of Sodus so know most of the Sodus boats, and some of the Fair Haven boats. I don't mind checking out a boat in the area to see if it's a beater- but I don't want to check five of them, right?

[rosatte]

Be sure to get a letter of deletion if boat was state registered I’m into my 6 month waiting on one for a boat I purchased in the USA and no don’t take the answer all that’s easy to get !!!

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by rosatte

Be sure to get a letter of deletion if boat was state registered I’m into my 6 month waiting on one for a boat I purchased in the USA and no don’t take the answer all that’s easy to get !!!

Must be a Canadian thing. If I buy a boat in one state, and bring it to NY, I just register it. I don't need any deletion thing.

[rosatte]

How can you do that boat would still be registered in the state you bought it from to the previous owner we r talking coast guard registration

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by rosatte

How can you do that boat would still be registered in the state you bought it from to the previous owner we r talking coast guard registration

Are you talking about Documentation (federal registration) or state registration? Deregistration for Documentation is well covered in other threads.


For state registration, in NY they don't care about the previous state registration. All they want is the money.

[gymrat]

Thanks all. This is very helpful.