Gas at Border
 

With gas prices already skyrocketing here in Canada [again, for no apparant reason?] I think I will be heading "across the pond" now and then to get gas this season. What are the rules for customs as far as gas docks go? It used to be you could get out of the boat, but, not leave the dock if gassing up, and you didn't need a passport, etc.

I imagine a lot has changed [9/11] and I am not sure what the necessary protocol is, I have a passport and a nexus card, but, sometimes I have people in the boat who dont have those documents [And I rarely carry my passport in the boat, usually just the nexus card]

Also, where in the 1000 Islands can you get gas nearby? I am on Wolfe Island, just across from Millens Bay, I know you can get gas in Alex Bay, and Clayton I beleive, is there any other marina's [small or big] that sell gas?

I would like to make up a list of gas stations along the border and save the GPS co ordinates so I know how far I am from "gas" at any given time. I did this on the "Canadian" side along with the phone numbers and hours of operation, its been really handy.

Thanks guys!
Michael

I boat on lake erie, and every once and I while we will go to Buffalo to get gas. Pre 9/11 we would usually just get gas, and leave, never really a problem. Now we make sure to call customs no matter how long we are going to be there. Most marinas in my area have the video phone and it is usually pretty quick and painless to call into customs.

Not that it is legal, but you could always just pump away, and hope that there are no cops around, and if they pull up on you try to give them the "I am on my way to report in now".

Last May I went to Clayton and Alex Bay; I made sure my buddies had their passports before we set out. We checked in at Clayton using the video phone; there was actually a spot to position our passports under the camera. If your crew doesn't have passports you should probably go right to Hart Island, bring all possible ID and check in face to face. What's the worst that could happen, they turn you back across the river, better than getting caught there illegally and risk being denied entry in the future. Easiest thing to do...call U.S. immigration and find out for sure.

Man do I miss A-bay and the Rum Runner, C.P. Romans and all the other fine establishments.

As for fuel...lots of places, premium is the issue. Start googling!

Thanks! I will give that a shot, I tried "Googling", but, I really cant find what I want? which is a list of marina's that sell gas from say Cape Vincent to well East of Alex Bay/Clayton, but, no luck, I can find individual marina's, but, I figured there MUST be a website/map that shows where the Marina's are all along the St Lawrence?

I will keep digging, Thanks!
Michael

What you need is Lakeland Boating magazine's Ports O' Call directory. Gives info all around the lake (Ont edition) and into the St L. Lots of pictures and places of interest.

Sounds perfect! I have most of the ones on the Canadian side, but, would like to chart some of the US ones, where can I grab this magazine? Do they have a website?

Thanks for the info!
Michael

Yes LB mag has a website...I bought my copy some time ago at The Chandlery in T.O.
I'm originally from Trenton and boated Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, and the St Lawerance. Been down the river as far as Brockville; did the U.S. side Sackett's, Sodus, Rochester...
Buy the official charts! but the Ports O' Call will give you pictures and info...

I am pretty sure west marine stocks all the boating destination books. You can probably order it online and get it sent from the store too.

:angry-smiley-038::lolhit:would highly recommend reporting @ customs right away or do not even bother stopping!! Things can get ugly quick even if you are just stopping for a fill if you do not report!

I actually dated a girl from Trenton for years, Frasier Park Marina was nice and Tommasso's restaurant made THE best pasta! Never got used to the smell of that paper mill though, lol

I am buying a chartplotter this Spring. Do the good charts for the plotters list Marinas?

Thanks
Michael

I used to run to the Texas/Mexico border for diesel but had to consider the distance of the drive and fuel burned to/from. I filled up w/ 100gal. Passport was all I used. CBP was more concerned w/me transporting diesel and the possibility of me selling it and/or me possibly transporting drugs. Nothing they could say as I have my xfer tank set up per TXDOT reg. Interesting to see what happens on the N. border. What is the price difference?

I am about 10 mins by boat from NY state, the price of gas "up here" works out to about $4.75 gallon, with both dollars at "par"

Well worth the drive!
Michael

Ah yes, Tommasso's AKA Jim's Pizza...the best!!!

Really too bad Trenton hasn't developed the waterfront; being the start of the Trent-Severn waterway and all, so much potential.

I agree! We used to eat on the back Patio of Tommasso's in the summer and look out over the river and I would think to myself, if I had the money, or was a land developer you could do SO much with this area. The waterfront there is just gorgeous and your boating choices are just about limitless. I actually forgot it was the start of the Trent, until one day eating lunch I saw a 35ft Fountain chugging along under the bridge at idle, I said to my g/f at the time "why would you bring a boat THAT big through here"? Then I remembered it was the start of the Trent system, LOL!

Oh Yeah, Is there a chartplotter [or chart company?] that sells a plotter that will show marina's in a specific area?

Thanks for the input!
Michael

Sorry, I'm in the same boat, lol terrible pun; not much experience with chartplotters other than I want a new one myself. The lake I'm on now is big enough and all but never out of sight of shore and limited destinations...new plotter is low priority.

I would start a new thread to get input for GPS info.

This one should do it, my 478 does, and the only diff is the 478 is for salt, and the 378 is inland lakes.

http://gpsnow.com/gmmap378.htm

The garmin 5212 has marinas on it, but I cannot remember if it has details as to fuel, phone numbers, etc

as far as crossing the border --- the rule is if you touch land you need to check in --
not sure what its like in that area but Western end of Erie there is no mercy.. Alot of times the CBP rib boat will meet us at the border -- in the middle of the lake--- or be hiding around the corner copying the boat numbers and waiting to see if you check in -- if not you will have a nice visit on the way out --- Sometimes these visits have lasted hours ( not me) ....

For us it is a priority to check in no matter what...

The 5212 is a nice unit, its also worth more than my boat! LOL, Will keep digging around, thanks for all the input!

Touch wood, where I boat I can count on 1 hand the number of OPP, Coast guard, or customs boats I have seen in 20 years, I hear Alexandria Bay is pretty strict, but, I am West of there and it seems pretty "quiet" for law enforcement, however, I will probably play it safe, I have a VHF radio now, I will just use my nexus card and call in from there, or go to the nearest customs depot. A lot has changed since 9/11. Back when I was young and foolish and you couldn't buy beer/booze on Sundays here in Canada, we used to go over, buy booze, and come back without ever giving it a second thought, kinda scary to think of what COULD have happened if we got caught?

"need for speed" Are there lakes in AB big enough to run that Avenger? How do you like it, I hear they are a pretty sweet ride, lets hope gas doesn't keep going up, or finding a gas station on EITHER side of the border will be least of my worries! LOL

The Garmin 4XX and 5XX are a good value. The model number is based on where you boat and what features you want. The 4XX series are 4 inch diagonal, 5XX 5 in diagonal.

For what they cost they are a great tool. The 4"'s are a little small, so go for the five if you can swing it.

I always have these on board on the Great Lakes. This is tons of good info on every harbor/marina on the big lakes and what amenities are available or are within walking distance.

http://www.lakelandboating.com/cruise_guide.cfm

http://www.waterwayguide.com/publications

You can buy them on-line or at any boat supply store.

As far as the customs thing, I couldn't tell you. There have been plenty of times I wanted to go ashore in Canada but just didn't. We anchored in a little Canadian bay once on the St. Clair River for a swim and found out later that I could have gotten in big trouble. Having lived on the border all my life I can tell you that Canadians are our good friends and we love having you over.

Thanks, will check that out, might get lucky and find one on Ebay, if not, I wil order one new. Our cottage is on an Island pretty much 1/2 way between Canada and the US, lots of US folks there own cottages, and I am good friends with a pile of them, damn good people!

Thanks again!
Michael