Hi all: Would anyone who has recent experience transporting a personally-owned kayak by car across the U.S./Canadian border care to offer some advice or caveats to the uninitiated? I will be driving with my family from New York City to Toronto next weekend, planning to paddle in the Finger Lakes region and on Lake Ontario (or some other recommended spot, if you care to suggest). Since we'll have more than the minimum required luggage to start off with, I could certainly make efficient use of the trunk by car-topping my folding kayak. Would a pass through Canadian customs be relatively simple for a car with a kayak, wrapped in its cover, on the rooftop, especially if it's a Feathercraft? Or would world events and the current climate complicate my lowly objectives? After all, I just prompted a NYC harbor police siren and stern admonition yesterday by paddling too close to a tunnel ventilator near Governors Island, as if the Kahuna could hold something more lethal than my lunch, a change of clothes, its carrying cart and backpack. Would it be better to keep the kayak in its bag, and bury it in the trunk, under piles of duffel bags and soiled cleaning rags, hoping that the officials couldn't care less? Will the Canadian officials be laid back but the U.S. officials more unforgiving, upon my return? Will I need to present an original receipt to show proof of purchase and ownership? Should I just forget the idea of kayaking altogether, or perhaps rent one, both in Toronto and the Finger Lakes? Thanks for your help. Émile Zen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have not had any problems with Canadian Customs folks with a car topped kayak. Nor, have I had one with it bagged in the back. The US folks can get a bit inquisitive but due to the amount of kayak related border traffic here on the west coast we're not a novelty. I have never brought a receipt for it, though I did think about it. Why not take a copy and throw it in your glove box? I have not taken a kayak across since 911 but wouldn't hesitate. I did take one to Florida and Mexico, on flights, and had no problems. I have heard otherwise from PW'ers about paddles as carry on, but when I tried it I was forced to check them. Very interesting since the guy next to me was carrying a Fender Stratocaster! Good Luck, Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Monday, June 03, 2002, at 9:47:24 AM PST, Rcgibbert_at_aol.com wrote: > I have heard otherwise from PW'ers about paddles as carry on, but > when I tried it I was forced to check them. Very interesting since > the guy next to me was carrying a Fender Stratocaster! When I travel with my 'cello, it gets its own seat (and I pay a full price ticket for it - even though it doesn't eat dinner!). It always gets the window seat as well. On one flight years ago, I was forced to have it put in the baggage hold, and watching it almost fall off the careening "baggage train" as it sped across the tarmac made me vow to never get on another plane without *two* tickets. I wonder if the guitar had its own ticket? I've never traveled in a plane with paddles, but would one piece paddles present extra problems - even in the baggage hold - because of their length? Or would it just be an extra charge? Melissa -- PGP public keys: mailto:pgp_keys_at_gmx.co.uk?subject=0x46C29887&Body=Please%20send%20keys *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "Zen, Emile" <zen_at_nria.com> > Would anyone who has recent experience transporting a personally-owned kayak > by car across the U.S./Canadian border care to offer some advice or caveats > to the uninitiated? > I will be driving with my family from New York City to Toronto next weekend, > > Would a pass through Canadian customs be relatively simple for a car with a > kayak, wrapped in its cover, on the rooftop, especially if it's a > Feathercraft? Or would world events and the current climate complicate my > lowly objectives? After all, I just prompted a NYC harbor police siren and > stern admonition yesterday by paddling too close to a tunnel ventilator near > Governors Island, as if the Kahuna could hold something more lethal than my > lunch, a change of clothes, its carrying cart and backpack. A couple of points: There are specific regulations in many harbors regarding how close to approach certain strategic facilities such as those tunnel ventilator structures (25 yards in their case). So if you were too close in the eyes of security forces, you were too close. We are living in interesting times and it pays to really learn what specific security rules exist in an area and adhere to them. Also to keep up with updates on these security rules, which are changing all the time. And remember that whatever the written rules, US Coast Guard and other enforcement patrols can pretty much tell you to move on from just about anywhere on the water if they sense a potential problem. We have had a US Coast Guard enforcement officer give a talk in which he said that they will be eyeing kayaks closely as we are ideal for security breaches because of our small size, relative invisibility, lack of motor noise and not likely to show up on radar. In a word, he said don't take this personally but you may be "boarded." BTW, your Kahuna can pack about a hundred pounds of deadly stuff. As for how to take the boat in to Canada, cartopped would probably be a good idea if you needed the inside-the-car room. If left in its bag on the roof, be prepared to have to open the pack to show what it is inside, but the pack looks like cargo carriers that are plentiful on the market and may not draw attention. You could also just cartop the kayak assembled. Since people cross the Canadian border with canoes and kayaks along its entire length, it is of little novelty foro border officials. > > Will the Canadian officials be laid back but the U.S. officials more > unforgiving, upon my return? That is always an individual officer thing and difficult to generalize on or predict. My most serious border delay was years ago entering Nova Scotia from the Portland ferry. It was a random pick of me and my wife and our car. And we were stuck behind latter-day hippies with grey beards in a pickup truck with home built wooden cap full of incredible junk that the Canadian officials had meticulously opened and examined. > > Will I need to present an original receipt to show proof of purchase and > ownership? This would not hurt especially on your return to the States to show that your Canadian built boat was purchased in the US. But I have also been inside a car with several Feathercrafts on the roof and some bagged ones inside and were just waved in through the border between BC and Washington State. > > Should I just forget the idea of kayaking altogether, or perhaps rent one, > both in Toronto and the Finger Lakes? Rentals are such a chancy thing in terms of availabilty, selection and safety features. Why bother if you have a perfectly good kayak to take along. ralph diaz-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Emile asked: "Would anyone who has recent experience transporting a personally-owned kayak by car across the U.S./Canadian border care to offer some advice or caveats to the uninitiated?" I have often brought kayaks (non-folding) back and forth across the border at Sault Ste. Marie. Customs officials have never expressed any undue interest in the fact that I was carrying one. ("Undue" is the key word: One Canadian turned out to be a fellow kayaker and was very interested in tips I gave him for paddling in Georgian Bay.) I usually try to bring my boat papers with me, including my Illinois license: perhaps the only practical application for registration of my watercraft in Illinois, but a cheap price, if I am ever hassled about it. I will know by the end of the summer whether post-9/11 protocol has changed. TFJ ------------------------------------------ The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any further disclosure or use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message or any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please delete it and notify the sender. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I've never had a problem taking a couple of Romanys from Minnesota into Canada and back, except once when a U.S. Customs official asked me suspiciously if I had bought them in Canada (this despite the Minnesota registration stickers on the bows). I merely answered no, and he let us back into the country without further ado. This reminds me, though, of the time I went to the 1973 World Science Fiction Convention in Toronto with friends driving an RV. Crossing the border back into Detroit, we were asked if we had anything to declare, to which the driver replied, "No, we smoked it all." The customs agent just laughed and waved us through. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 01:41 p.m. 03/06/02 -0500, Chuck Holst wrote: >I've never had a problem taking a couple of Romanys from Minnesota into >Canada and back, except once when a U.S. Customs official asked me >suspiciously if I had bought them in Canada (this despite the Minnesota >registration stickers on the bows). I merely answered no, and he let us >back into the country without further ado. We have crossed the border several times on the Mexican side going to Texas, one time carrying even up to 4 kayaks. Two singles and two doubles in a trailer, and we have never been asked a thing about them even though some said "Handcrafted in Mexico". They have always asked about our Mexican papers and the purpose of our trip. We have always said that we are going kayaking to wherever, one time Padre Island, one time Corpus Christi, one time Tampa and one time California. The officers on this side are not used to see many people moving in with kayaks and I guess donīt even think that Mexicans manufacture nice good looking kayaks. Some times they check our trunk, the globe box, but never the kayaks. Once an officer passed an electronic device through the kayak surface, I guess searching for drugs or radioactive material, I donīt know, but didnīt say a word and let us through. On the other hand they are starting to know us well in the customs office where merchandise is passed for commercial purposes through custom agents, since kayaks are so noticeable. The border in San Diego is another story because so many Americans travel with kayaks to Baja. Best Regards Rafael Mier-Maza el cayuco chief www.mayanseas.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
There is a form you can get at US Customs, and elsewhere for foreign made goods that you are taking abroad and plan to bring back. As I recall you put the information on the form and have it notarized or signed by a customs official. A good idea for cameras, expensive watches etc. It makes sure that you don't have a problem returning. By the way, when leaving the country take along a birth certificate or a passport even if you are just going to Canada. A drivers license is NOT proof of US citizenship. I got a laugh from the subject. Reading it as USA to California ( CA is the official abbreviation for California) and back. Certainly a longer and stranger trip in many ways than to Canada. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "WhiteRabbit" <whiterabbit_at_empowering.com> > By the way, when leaving the country take along a birth certificate or a > passport even if you are just going to Canada. A drivers license is NOT > proof of US citizenship. An aside-story. My wife is Canadian and went to visit her folks with our son who was about 4 at the time. On return to the NY she was well prepared to deal with US Immigration for herself, i.e. she had her Green Card. They then asked about Jason, i.e. what citizenship? She said US (he was born in Manhattan). They then asked for his birth certificate, which she did not have. She never did prove his citizenship. Jason by this time had to go to the toilet quite badly while Donna hassled with the official at the Immigration desk. She finally pointed to Jason and said "I think you may want to make a quick decision on this or you are going to have quite a puddle on the floor." The official looked at Jason who by this time was jumping up and own trying to hold it as kids do. The official relented and waved them pass. :-) ralph diaz *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I just thought of a better way to import our kayaks. Since so many guys want to go across the river to the USA I can rent the kayaks on the Mexican side and pick them up on the other side.... just kidding. I am trying to grow my businesses and to promote the growth of other friends businesses, and to promote better salaries, as a small way to help, giving work to our people and so they will opt to stay here instead of taking chances and risking their lives, looking for the American dream.. Best Regards, Rafael Mier-Maza el cayuco chief mayanseas.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/3/2002 10:26:51 AM Pacific Daylight Time, melissa_at_bonnyweeboaty.net writes: > I've never traveled in a plane with paddles, but would one piece > paddles present extra problems - even in the baggage hold - because of > their length? Or would it just be an extra charge? > > Melissa > Greenland style paddles have seemed to fair well according to many contributors of the qajaqusa.org site. They use a cardboard or pvc tube and check it on. sometimes they get dinged for an extra fee sometimes not. I, however, seem to be a walking ATM machine to airline counter employees when I travel. As far as a one piece standard paddle I can't imagine it being difficult to check on as long as you wrapped it well in bubble wrap, used a good ski type bag, and slapped a *fragile* sticker on it. No doubt you will get better info from someone who has actually shipped a one piece standard paddle with either result. Good luck. Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have taken my home made cedar strip Guillemot from Canada into the U.S. and back a few times, with mixed results. Before going, I visited Canada Customs and got a card with a number which identified my kayak as belonging to me. I did this to prevent hassles on returning to Canada. It is the same sort of card that I use to list my camera stuff, so that when I came back I can prove that I had the gear with me when I left Canada, and hadn't purchased it in the U.S. They gave me a tiny sticker, which I attached near the coaming (it disappeared the first time that I rolled since it wasn't waterproof) and a wallet card. On returning to Canada I was only once asked about the boat, and just showed the card. I once had a harder time with U.S. entry. I was given this hard time as they seemed to feel that I was taking the kayak into the U.S. to sell. Maybe you can get a similar sort of card from U.S. customs before leaving the States. John "Zen, Emile" wrote: > > Hi all: > > Would anyone who has recent experience transporting a personally-owned kayak > by car across the U.S./Canadian border care to offer some advice or caveats > to the uninitiated? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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