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Considering selling my 2002 FW 240 Horizon. I purchased the boat in Michigan and imported to Ontario. The importing process was very simple coming into Canada. My question is around an American purchasing my boat, are there any difficulties that i should be aware of. Living in a border city there is always interest from the other side when the exchange rate is favorable. Thanks in advance for any heads up.

Here is a little information from US Customs and Border Protection:
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1184/~/importing-a-boat-for-personal-use-into-the-u.s.
I don't think the EPA requirments mentioned would be any issue since the boat was manufactured before 2010. (and also produced in the USA for USA use, and has appropriate USCG and NMMA tags) But there is still a form to fill out.

A 1.5% duty is mentioned. I don't know if this applies to a used boat, especially a USA made boat, but a call to Customs and Border Protection could tell you for sure.

As usual, in most states, sales tax would apply to the buyer when he registers the boat.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

I am a little fuzzy on this, but we brought our new boat in from Canada.

1) The american buyer cannot bring it across the border - he would have to pay Canadian GST, then file for a refund on that. The transaction needs to take place AFTER the boat has cleared customs inside the US. Do electronic bank transfers so you don't get hit at the border with a bunch of cash

2) There are no major taxes to pay because of NAFTA. The boat was built in North America.

3) You might find a customs broker to file the border paperwork for you -- it's a couple hundred bucks, and those papers are what the Canadian needs to come into the USA and go through customs. Makes it alot smoother.



In our case, the boat had to come by water (too big to trailer). The selling broker brought it into the country to a customs marina. We had a customs broker declare the arrival and a time to have customs agents expecting the arrival. When the selling agent got to the dock, he called the customs office with the paperwork numbers. Agent came down, inspected the boat and numbers, cleared the seller broker for entry into the country - and then we called the title company to fund the loan.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA