Rifle or shotgun on a boat

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cluttonfred

cluttonfred

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Are there any particular legal issues to having a rifle or shotgun aboard a boat within the 50 states of the USA? How about if crossing over into Canadian or Mexican or in international waters? I am not talking about anything contentious, just an ordinary single shot, double barrel, pump, bolt or lever gun. Cheers, Matthew
 
Each state has its own laws governing transport in a boat. In MN for example, it is the same as any other motor vehicle- the gun needs to be cased and unloaded, with a few exceptions for waterfowl hunting, etc. Crossing an international border on the water is the same as crossing it any other way. I know you can't cross into Canada with a firearm without going through a customs checkpoint with the proper firearms declaration. I assume Mexico is even more restrictive.
 
Be careful going into Bahamian waters,,,they can get a bit squirrelly about firearms and ammo..............
 
Canada's marine border security people are downright hostile to American gun owners, and even cleaning gear or empty brass will set off a witch hunt. The land crossings seem to be a little more reasonable.

You have to buy a permit to take a long arm into Canada, and it can't be, or resemble, anything on their prohibited list. The permit is supposed to be done before you get to the border. Hanguns can't be brought in, even if you're just passing through to Alaska.
 
IIRC in international waters the only laws that apply are maritime, and the laws of the land of the flag you fly.

The least common denominator for the 50 US states would be a simple bolt/pump/single shot gun unloaded locked in a case, separate from the ammo.

For Mexico, they have rules about military calibers, so make it an obscure caliber like a 30-30 lever, and you should be OK (this is assuming Mexico has no permitting system?) ATF import/export papers may apply.

Canada? Fuhgetdaboudit
 
Serious stuff here if you're headed south of the border.... I'm a charter captain (small skiff guide) down here in paradise and also a retired cop.... Recently there was a big to do about a boat captain getting seriously jammed up down in Mexico for having a single firearm aboard... Do not take any info about this on the 'net. Make a point of doing some research about Mexican firearms laws before, repeat before, even considering taking a firearm on board a boat down there. You'd be well advised to check out Bahamian law before heading that way as well.

All of this is problematic given the reputation of law enforcement in some countries right near us... The boat captain down in Mexico only came to my attention after reading appeals for fund raising for his defense a year or two ago....
 
Without getting a permit from a Mexican consulate in the US, DO NOT enter Mexican waters with any sort of firearm and do not have ammunition on board, either. Even a .22 rimfire cartridge will cause you more grief than you might believe.
 
When I took my boat to the Bahamas 10+ years ago I had to declare my gun and every round of ammo when we checked in at customs and it must stay secured on the boat while you are in port. As far as I know that is still the case. While not common there have been issues with unsavory characters while making the crossing.
 
Boats are required to have an emergency signaling device. What I used to use before the cabin was broken into was a WWII flare gun with a bronze sleave so I could use the commonly available 12 gage flares. I also had black powder snake loads for fishing in snake country.

Now I have one of those Orange plastic flare guns but I also pack my CCW here in Washington state. You simply never know who you will have to deal with when boating.
 
When I've been stopped/boarded in the Atlantic Ocean by USCG, the first thing they ask is whether you have any weapons aboard.

They are always loaded for bear, and will generally have rifles at the ready if not pointed at you, so no playing here.

IANAL and YMMV but AFAIK, if you follow the same general guidelines as you do with a car (firearm unloaded and separate from ammo), you're generally OK.
 
"You aren't allowed to have a firearm on Corps of Engineers waterways in the U.S."


Untrue.

Essentially all inland waterways are Corp of Engineer waterways.

There is no such prohibition.


Willie

.
 
Friend of mine inadvertently took a Ruger Security Six .357 into Canadian waters. (Victoria B.C.) He had forgotten it was in the boat and when asked, declared it at customs. They not only took his boat apart, they confiscated the gun and fined him $200 and wouldn't return the gun when he left the country. This was a number of years ago. I understand they're even more paranoid now.

(He said if he had known he would have just dropped it over the side..)
 
Another factor is the type of boat, if it is a boat that can be considered a residence it also falls under those laws.

For my state, on my boat, while under way I have to follow state transportation laws. When anchored or docked, I follow laws of residency.
 
taking pistols into Canada:
Restricted firearms Primarily handguns; however, pepper spray and mace are also included in this category. A restricted firearm may be brought into Canada, but an Authorization to Transport (ATT) permit must be obtained in advance from a Provincial or Territorial Chief Firearms Officer. The ATT will not be issued for hunting or self-protection purposes.
Click to expand...
 
While the laws may well have changed, consider having your vessel "documented" as a U.S. vessel, not registered in any State. This used to make the specific boat an extension of U.S. soil and immune from customs inspection on board, except what leaves the boat. While the law may have changed, this "documenting" has kept the Bahamian and Mexican customs people off my vessel and preserved my firearms in Bahamian waters 30 years ago. (where I really needed them!)
 
The OP doesn't say how big his boat is, but a documented vessel has to be at least 5 net tons, so most boats have to be over 25 feet long to achieve that. Also documented vessel still has to comply with the laws of the state in which they are operating.

At least thats what the USCG National Vessel Documentation Center indicates.
 
Curator said:
While the laws may well have changed, consider having your vessel "documented" as a U.S. vessel, not registered in any State. This used to make the specific boat an extension of U.S. soil and immune from customs inspection on board, except what leaves the boat. While the law may have changed, this "documenting" has kept the Bahamian and Mexican customs people off my vessel and preserved my firearms in Bahamian waters 30 years ago. (where I really needed them!)
Click to expand...
Heard that same thing from a vet who was a boat captain in the Caribbean, US registered boat instead of a state.
 
As I understand the local law, in florida you may open carry while engaged in hunting or fishing or traveling directly from the home to the launch site, camp or berth.
 
The above cited information regarding any privileges associated with being a documented vessel are not supported by facts. Being documented only means you are "registered" as a US Flag Vessel and are recognized in foreign ports as being of US registry (Imagine showing your Florida "registration" to a shipping inspector in Turkey, for example). This is simply a registration of nationality for the purpose of international recognition of flag status. It does not include any soverign status of the vessel, and most certainly does not preclude boardings by foreign Coast Guard or by foreign Customs agents, or foreign police, or anyone else.

Were the assertation true, foreign flag vessels in US waters could refuse USCG boarding. That is most definately not the case.

I live 6 months a year on a Documented US Flag vessel and travel to the Bahamas routinely. The advice, while well intentioned, is not information to be relied upon.


Willie

.
 
Curator said:
While the laws may well have changed, consider having your vessel "documented" as a U.S. vessel, not registered in any State. This used to make the specific boat an extension of U.S. soil and immune from customs inspection on board,...
Click to expand...
Unless Curator has some current legal authority to support this, and considering Willie Sutton's comments, I suggest not relying on this.

Being wrong about this sort of thing can have some very unsatisfactory results. Decisions about what to do should be based on something a good deal more substantial than an anonymous anecdote about somethings thirty years ago.
 
Willie Sutton said:
"You aren't allowed to have a firearm on Corps of Engineers waterways in the U.S."


Untrue.

Essentially all inland waterways are Corp of Engineer waterways.

There is no such prohibition.


Willie

.
Click to expand...
In Indiana you can hunt and shoot from a boat as long as the engine is not running. You can hunt on Corps. land.
 
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