North Channel

[shellback]

Hi All, I plan on taking my Snapdragon 26 up Lake Michigan and then to the North Channel in Ont., Canada.

Anyone been up there?  I know there's Canadian Customs at Meldrum Bay on Manitoulin Island and U.S. Customs at Drummond.  I'd like to know what fees need to be paid in and out of Canada and wether or not I would need a passport.  Even things like wether or not I need to fly a Canadian flag for proper etiquette.  Any info would be welcome.

Thanks,   Ken

[hearsejr]

 from my Friends last visit, he said the requested his passport going and coming , but that was by car, around NewYork state, I think. don't have a gun where they can find it, and I think he was busted coming back with too many cartons of cigarettes.

[CharlieJ]

You WILL need a passport to return to the US. Count on it. And plan in advance-it can take a while although the first crush is over.

[Sandy]

Hey Ken,
Passports for sure both ways.  Unfortunately the US side isn't  nearly as organized as the Canadian side.
I have a NEXUS card ( http://usa.immigrationvisaforms.com/travel/nexus-pass )    It works great when all on board have one, very smooth. If everybody on board doesn't have one things can become confusing.

Worst case is you are asked to stay on the boat to await inspection. The problem is that not all marinas are "official" ports of entry. And its been my experience that when you refuse to get back in your boat and head ten miles in the wrong direction in order to check in really gets them excited.    Id just make a quick phone call to the CBP to make sure your reentry port is on their list.

As far as the Candian flag? My opinion is yes, a courticy flag should be flown from your starboard spreader, above any others that you mat be flying.

I'm hoping to maybe get up that way this summer also, hope this helped.

-Sandy

[shellback]

Thanks all for the passport requirement updates.

Hey Sandy,  where did  you have to go to have the meeting with the US and Canadian customs to get the Nexus-pass?  I looked at the site and it says something about such a meeting.  If I have to travel to the border it might be easier for me to just get a regular passport?

Ken

s/v Hermitage