Need some advise on a cat purchase!

[BenCo]

Dear cruising community,

We are a young family from Canada looking to start a new life on the water. We are currently in the French West Indies closing in on a 39’ cat previously chartered. We did a 2 days sea trial and the boat seem to be in good overall condition. We are now finalizing on a purchase agreement and are looking for a Canadian accredited surveyor so we can have the vessel reflagged.

Anyone with advise on the purchasing procedure especially from a chartered fleet is welcomed!! And on getting insurance which looks like Is increasing difficult in the Caribbean. And anything we should look out for considering we are in Guadeloupe right now. Thank you in advance!

[boatman61]

I was not aware that reflagging was dependent upon having a Canadian accredited surveyor do the survey.. I would have thought a French accredited surveyor would have been acceptable.

[BenCo]

Hi Boatman61
Thank you for your feedback. You may be right and we’re looking into this with the seller’s agent to double check as we speak. Regards

[Tin Tin]

Surely the Canadian ships registry spells out the requirements, a quick look at their website shows no need for a survey, but the more difficult one may be proof of ownership. If in doubt phone them up.

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-trans...stry-form-help

[singlespeed]

I have never heard of an insurance company turning down an accredited surveyor from another country. Just be certain you are beside the surveyor the entire time so that you can absorb as much information as possible. The surveyor should point out to you items/areas that are suspect or non-functioning. If you don't speak French or fully understand the terminology used in the final report, it is best to ask before the surveyor departs to write the report.

In any case, trying to purchase insurance during Hurricane season is difficult, especially so when the boat is located in the hurricane zone. I would sail the boat down to Grenada and/or Trinidad and talk to fellow Canadian cruisers about their insurance, cost and coverage.

[wannacat]

For Canadian registry you'll need a tonnage survey or something to that fact? Can't remember the exact term?

[Paul Howard]

When I purchased a catamaran in Florida in 2016, as an Ontario, Canada, citizen, I contacted the provincial licensing authority to get my ON..... numbers for the hull after I had completed the sale, but while I was in Canada.
All you need is a bill of sale and boat details and photos of the boat.

It was a simple procedure.

Then payment of taxes are only due when the boat is imported into Canada.
The provincial license is OK for sailing around the Caribbean and U.S., though if going further afield, you should have the federal documentation. It is this procedure that requires a Canadian certified surveyor to do a measure of volume for certified tonnage, a theoretical cargo carrying capacity. The paperwork can take months to complete and is costly. Do a search for Canadian approved measurement surveyors, there are some (or were) in Florida and Caribbean.

This survey has nothing to do with an insurance survey or a purchaser's survey.
Both of the latter can be done by any local surveyor.

[Tin Tin]

Seems if your boat is less than 15m, you can fill the form in yourself
https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-trans...e-measurements

[wannacat]

When I did my tonnage survey 10 years ago, all as the Canadians wanted was a tonnage certificate, never said it had to be a "Canadian certified surveyor". I just called around to different surveyors in Lauderdale and finally one recommended a guy that did tonnage surveys. It took 4-6 weeks to get my registration. Maybe requirements have changed now?

[kamaV]

I am currently on a cat I bought in Guadeloupe fall of 2019... in the process of navigating Kama V North.
happy to help!

First of all, although you should get a survey, no need for a Cdn accredited surveyor to register /flag it in Canada.
Be aware that if you plan to import it to Ca, you will need to pay gst, pst AND a 9.5% duty if the boat is European made
Not sure where you reside in Canada but one option is to keep it in lake Champlain usa to avoid paying the taxes & duty.
I would be interested to know who the broker is if any.
U can reach me at guybel1@videotron.ca if u want to discuss further

[BenCo]

Much appreciate your response