made in america

[maco]

is a boat thats built in taiwan or thailand for an american company still classed as an american boat . i'm looking at bringing over a passport 40 to australia and as their's no duty payable on u.s. boats,would be interested in the precise definition..any feedback on passport 40/41's or similar would also be appreciated. thank's, maco..

[SoulVoyage]

For US commercial vessels, the defining parameter is WHERE THE KEEL is laid. There have actually been hulls of ships built in the US brought to Germany, had their hulls stripped right down to their US-built keel, and built back up to the size of a large super-trawler in Germany, and sent over to the US Bering Sea. They did all this, because even if the new vessel only contained the vestiges of an American keel, it was still considered an American vessel, and thus passed the scrutiny of the Magnuson Act which prohibited foreign-built vessels from fishing in US waters.

Non-commercial recreational vessels may indeed be different....but I would assume that if their keel is laid in Taiwan or Hong Kong, then they would not be considered an American vessel. But like I said, that might be different for non-commercial vessels. A quick call to Passport, Inc would determine the answer.

[mitiempo]

Because of Nafta Us built boats are duty free coming into Canada. A boat made in Asia, regardless of the company head office location, would be subject to duty as far as I know.

[sck5]

mitiempo has it right. they are quite literal about rules of origin under NAFTA. If the boat was actually constructed outside of the country it is an import. That is why, for example, Toyota builds factories in the US to avoid import restrictions. Just as a Ford car built in Europe is an import if it comes into the USA.

But a friend of mine here in St. Lucia just bought a boat he intends to import to the USA and told me the tax is only one and a half percent or something in that neighborhood - in other words, not prohibitive. Of course you still have to deal with state tax wherever the boat will be docked.

Get the Passport! A good boat is worth a percent or two on the price.

[mitiempo]

Australia's import duty may be more than 1 1/2%. I think Australian duty on a sailboat with an auxiliary engine is 5%.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Australia's import duty may be more than 1 1/2%. I think Australian duty on a sailboat with an auxiliary engine is 5%.

Australi's import duty on boats is 5% but the USA and Oz have a free trade agreement so as far as I am aware no duty is payable on boats exported from the US. Also, it is my understanding that a boat previously imported into the US and now US flagged would be duty free under the same FTA.

Be aware however that Oz GST (VAT) laws still apply so you will be levied 10% on the assessed value of your new vessel. The AV is not necessarily what you paid for the boat when you bought her but a value put on her by Oz Customs. This value will be almost certainly at a less favourable exchange rate and will include an allowance for shipping, even if you bring the boat back here on her own bottom.