How Much Boat? – Country Entry Fees vs Boat Length

 
Part 4 (of 4) of  How Much Boat? – Boat Fees vs Length
 

Another cost check – country entry fees vs boat length

Customs of various countries can ask for boat ‘entry fees’ upon arrival. While researching marina fees in the Bahamas, I found that the Bahamas charges $150.00 for boats up to 35 feet to enter the country, and the fee for boats over 35 feet is $300.  


Which got me thinking… is 35 feet a common price change point? Does this happen often enough to shop for boats that are 34 feet long or less? Or is there another ‘price change point’ based on length?

Not a deal breaker I guess… but if every country – or a lot of countries – does/do this, then it could add up.

So after checking fees info at noonsite.com, here are a few samples of reported charges by customs at various country entry points:

Europe

France

• Tolls are due on waterways – no info as to whether or not it is based on length

Spain 

• Harbour fees are charged in most ports – no info as to whether or not it is based on length

Ireland

• annual dues for Irish and British yachts is £86
• other yachts pay £29 for each period of 30 days up to a total amount of £86

Caribbean

Anguilla

All yachts must pay for a cruising permit  – sample pricing:

• up to 5 tons – 1 week – $150
• 5 to 20 tons – 1 week – $600 
• over 20 tons – 1 week – $900

Bahamas

• charges $150.00 for boats up to 35 feet
• fee for boats over 35 feet is $300

Dominican republic

• clearing in – $43.00 per boat
• tourist Card per crew member (valid 30 days) – $10.00

St Kitts & Nevis

• customs charges EC$20

Turks & Caicos

• clearance fee is $15
• there is also a charge of $75 for the cruising permit

North America

Canada

• at St John’s, overtime is charged for customs clearance between 0000-0800, approximately Can$60 if arrival is after midnight
• otherwise, it looks like mostly ‘no’.

USA

• yachts without a cruising licence and longer than 30 ft (9 m) LOA must pay an annual fee of US$27.50
• other fees vary by state but none seem to be based on the length of the boat

South Pacific Islands

Fiji

• cruising permit: FI$5
• Lau Group Permit: USD10 per day
• health clearance fee of $F33.75 (to be paid to the hospital)
• F$20 incineration fee to Agriculture (Quarantine) for disposal of prohibited food – payable even if you have none
• a fee if entering any of the ports of Suva, Lautoka, Savusavu and Levuka – vessels up to 100 tonnes pay a maximum of $F14.45

New Caledonia

• no fees

New Zealand

• charge for time and mileage to inspect boats
• there are fees for visas and extensions to the visitor’s permit
• fees for quarantine inspections

Conclusion

So… nope. No correlation here between length and country entry charges levied after all. Which I guess is good news. Looks like the Bahamas is an outlier. It was worth a quick check to be sure.

Had there been consistently higher charges for boats over 35 foot length (or over 30 foot in length, etc), it could have been a real incentive to look for a boat specifically measuring 29.5 feet long, or 34.5 feet long etc.

But no ‘common price change point based on length’ to be found. 
  


The biggest constraints on length

It looks like the biggest constraints for us on ever-increasing length are:

• increasing costs per foot for just about everything else – mooring fees, haul outs, repairs and maintenance, insurance…
• increasing power with greater sail area – we want to keep the length down so that it remains well powered for solo sailing

Can you think of any other constraining factor that might persuade someone to choose a boat juuuuuust on the right side of some criteria or other? Let me know.

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener) 


Previously:
How Much Boat? – Annual Marina Fees vs Length, Part 3 (of 4)   
How Much Boat? – Daily Marina Fees vs Length, Part 2 (of 4)  

How Much Boat – Marina Rates vs Length, Part 1 (of 4)

* All fees data from noonsite.com