USA Canada shared waters for Lake Huron and St. Clair River

Bizmark

So still planning the trip up the St. Clair through Lake Huron. Some of the run is US waters and some is Canadian waters. This is new territory for us with a boat. When and how are Customs , Coast Guard and HLS involved in our trip

mattie

What's your citizenship?

Bizmark

Canadian, Eh

mattie

Easiest method is to have each person on board get a Nexus - trusted traveller card. Once you have that you can get a boater registration (BR) number for each card. That way you can call in to US customs ahead of time. Nexus cards are good for 5 yrs. 
Or - each person needs an I-68 boater permit. These are annual permits that need to be applied for each year.

Stodge

If you're going from a Canadian Port to a Canadian port you shouldn't need to do anything special.  Nexus etc. (had one for 10 years now) is great for checking into the US from Canada.  Unless you plan to dock in the US you should be fine for your trip.

Stodge

For border crossing info:  http://www.marinerscoalition.com/

Bizmark

Yeah we don't intend to touch land on the American side, just run the St. Clair River and head over to Grand Bend Ont.. Of course not planning to dock unexpectedly would be not to plan at all and that could be a disaster. Worried to apply for a Nexus card due to some not too favourable past history. Are our passports enough, along with a Canadian Pleasure Craft Licence and our Pleasure Craft Operator Cards?

 We don't have the Transport Canada Vessel Registration for Non Personal Use, I am not sure it is required ?

Stodge

For entry into the US you can get by with a passport.  Though you're supposed to report to a US Customs agent in person.  If you had a break down I think they'd make arrangements.  Port Huron has a CBP station, and I think Algonac has one as well.  There isn't much on the Canadian side on the way up the River.  Mitchell's Bay and Sarnia come to mind.   

jme097

I was told by Michigan DNR (don't know how trushworthy this is) that the only time you need to inform them is if you touch Canadian land. I run the St Clair River and Detroit River Canadian side all the time and have never had a problem and have passed many HLS and USCG vessels