Duckworth Boats Tariff Exempt: What It Means For Your Dream Purchase

The boat on our lot won’t carry a surtax. Some of the gear you tow and anchor it with might. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Yes, every Duckworth boat on our lot in Ainsworth is tariff exempt. Canada’s new counter-tariffs, in force since September 8, 2026, don’t cover U.S.-built recreational boats, and our in-stock Duckworths are already here. What can still carry a surtax: certain trailers, anchors and marine chain. That’s where smart buyers look next.

We get the calls often. “Is that boat going to cost me 25% more?” For the Duckworths sitting at our marina right now, no.

But the boat is rarely the whole purchase. That’s the part most tariff headlines skip.

A scenario worth walking through

Picture an eager wannabe boat owner, suddenly nervous about the impacts of recent tariffs on his dream purchase.

He finds a Duckworth he likes, hears it’s tariff exempt, and relaxes. Then he orders a new U.S.-built trailer, a heavier anchor and a length of galvanized chain from across the border. Those three items can land with surtaxes of 25% to 50%. The boat was never the risk. The accessories were.

Nothing about that is unusual. It’s just the detail nobody mentions until the invoice shows up.

Why are Duckworth boats on our lot tariff exempt?

Two reasons, and they stack.

Check what the September 8 list covers

Canada’s latest round of counter-tariffs hits roughly $27.6 billion in U.S. goods at rates of 15%, 25% and 50%. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, American-built recreational boats, personal watercraft and marine engines are not on that list.

Duckworth builds its welded aluminum boats in Washington State. So the hull itself isn’t caught.

Understand why “on the lot” still matters

Tariff lists change. Canada put retaliatory tariffs on U.S. boats back in 2018 and only removed them in 2019. Boats were exposed once. They could be again.

A boat already sitting at our marina has crossed the border and cleared. Its cost is settled. A boat you factory-order today still has to make that trip, under whatever rules apply when it arrives. For anyone budgeting a job, that certainty is worth more than a few weeks of shopping around.

Where can tariffs still show up when you buy a boat?

This is the overlooked part. The boat is clear, but the equipment that makes it useful for work may not be.

Rates per NMMA’s summary of the Government of Canada list. NMMA also flags that broad codes for aluminum, steel, electronics, pumps and lighting may reach some marine parts.

Our counter-intuitive advice: price the package, not the boat. A tariff-exempt hull paired with a surtaxed trailer and ground tackle can erase the savings you thought you had.

Does a Duckworth make sense for a construction business?

For shoreline work on Kootenay Lake, often yes. But match the boat to the job first.

Match the hull to your water

Kootenay Lake throws wind-driven chop and big open stretches, and weather turns fast. Duckworth’s deep-V welded aluminum hulls track well in that and stay stable at rest, which matters when you’re loading material at a beach or rough dock.

Plan around your load, not the brochure

Think about your heaviest realistic load. Then add a margin. We’d rather talk you into the right hull than sell you one that’s working at its limit every trip.

What should you check before you buy?

A quick pre-purchase checklist for business buyers:

• Confirm the specific boat is in stock on our lot, not a factory order
• Ask where the trailer is built and whether it’s included
• Price anchors, chain and dock lines from Canadian or in-stock sources
• Size the hull for your heaviest realistic load
• Book rigging and setup so the boat is ready for all of your plans

Questions We Hear at the Marina

Are all Duckworth boats tariff exempt in Canada?

U.S.-built recreational boats aren’t on Canada’s September 8, 2026 counter-tariff list. The Duckworths on our lot are already imported, so their pricing isn’t exposed to future list changes.

Are there other tariff exempt boats in BC?

Other U.S.-built recreational boats generally fall outside the current list too. Always confirm whether a specific boat is in stock or still has to cross the border.

Could boats be added to the list later?

It’s happened before, in 2018. Nobody can promise it won’t happen again, which is why in-stock inventory carries less risk.

Does the tariff exemption cover the trailer?

Not automatically. Recreational boat trailers carry a 25% surtax if they’re U.S.-built and imported after September 8. Ask us what’s included with the boat you’re looking at.

Can I use a Duckworth for work?

Many owners do. Talk to your accountant about how it fits your business, and talk to us about sizing it for your loads.

Ready to see one in person?

Our tariff-exempt inventory is limited to what’s physically on the lot. Once a boat sells, the next one arrives under whatever rules apply that day.

Stop by the marina in Ainsworth or call our sales team at 1-250-353-2550. You can also browse at jonesboysboats.com, or contact us here.