Seeing as the loonie is doing so well vs the US dollar, I'm thinking about getting a new board. Checking out US sites vs CDN sites, I'm finding price differences of upwards of 400 bucks. has anyone ordered a board from the states? How much duty and extra fees am I going to pay?

I'll let you know how my cross border shopping works out. I ordered a couple of boards and misc stuff last week, quite a big price differential between Canada and US.

I'll give you a break down of costs once it arrives.

Hope this helps.

i have shipped stuff to tsb shipping, a parcel handler in pt roberts. I then go get it on mainland work trips. cost is $3 a parcel. have never shipped a board though.

Value of goods: 369.00USD = 367.56CAD + 22.05 GST + 5.00 handling + 48.00 shipping= Total 444.61

Notice the GST only applies to the purchase price, not the shipping and handling. Also because the value of goods was under 400.00CAD I did not have to pay import duty.

Cost Breakdown:

07 Chinook medium carbon extension US style: 85.00
07 Dakine day light board bag 245 x 80: 85.00
07 Dakine day light board bag 255 x 90: 85.00
07 Chinook base 2 bolt rubber: 57.00
07 Chinook base 2 bolt rubber: 57.00
GST: 22.05
Handling: 05.00
Shipping: 48.00


Stay tuned for the break down on shipping/duties on the boards. For 122, and 133 litre 2008 Starboard Futuras in Technora I paid 1,350.00 for each board.

Thanks alot for the reply, I'm pretty interested on how the whole board purchase and duty thing goes through.

All prices CAD:

08 Starboard Futura technora 122L: $1,389.41
08 Starboard Futura technora 133L: 1,389.41
PST+GST: 339.45
Shipping: 160.00

Total: 3,278.27

A couple things to consider: I picked the boards up in Vancouver. The shipping company is located at the airport right next to Canada customs. I did my own brokering. ($100 in savings)

Brokering consisted of getting the paperwork from the shipper going next door to customs and paying the taxes and duties on the declared value.....a 15-20 min process...bring ID.

If you do the math on the PST/GST it should have been 261.24, thats because the shipping bill listed the boards at 1,350 a piece in USD. Customs mistook the amount for CAD....that was the first mistake by customs in my favor.

Also I paid no import duties!! At the time I couldn't figure this one out, however having thought back to my conversation with the customs officer, I remember them asking me if the product was from a US company.
My response was that I didn't know, however I said the shipment had come from a US company. I think they assumed it was an American product, and under the NAFTA trade agreement you don't have to pay duties on products made in the US......second mistake by customs in my favor.

1,639.13 CAD per board (with a couple of mistakes by customs)...you be the judge.

Oh and by the way I checked afterwards, the boards are made in Thailand!!

Probably the best way to do it is plan a trip to the Gorge, grab the gear you need, sail it a couple of times, and don't declare it when you come back across the line.

Hope the info was helpful.