Yacht transport - USA to AUS - how much?

[kels316]

Does anyone have a rough figure for transport of a 30' LOA full-keel style boat from the US east coast to the Australian east coast?

Internet research would suggest that this size boat is significantly cheaper (read - 10's of thousands) in the US than OZ. I'd be interested to see what the shipping comes to - does this explain the difference?

[tdw]

Maybe I'm stating the bleeding obvious but don't forget to factor in currency exchange. Although I'm not sure of the current rate I'm pretty sure that there is still import duty on second hand boats plus you will have to pay GST. GST on imported goods is based on landed cost not purchase price. A large part of shipping costs are tied up in land based charges at both ends.

[hellosailor]

I'm not sure it was here but read a recent thread on this, something like $15,000 to use the top-end float-on-float-off transport. Probably substantially less if you ship the boat in a cargo container. If it can fit the beam and height, you'd need a 40' container. If you don't want to become a freight forwarder your best bet would be to call some shipping companies and see what they'd charge to load and unload it, and ship the container.

AFAIK Oz has some type of exemption on duties for US-made boats right now, but once you add in the cost of a couple of round trips to the US to actually visit boats, survey boats, select boats...I can see another fast $5-10,000 being spent that way too.

[roger753]

A full keel 30' may not fit on a 40' container because of it's hight. Did you consider hiring a crew to sail it over there? Start thinking on U$3,00 a mile plus crew and boat expenses.

[yotphix]

No help on price but I would like to let you know that when I was a rider on a Dockwise trip from Ft lauderdale to ensenada recently I was impressed by the care the transport crew gave to even the smallest boats aboard. Washdowns once a week! highly recommended.
www.yacht-transport.com/ Check out their site and give them a call.

[sailorjim99]

G'day Kels
If you are in Australia, CRUISING HELMSMAN did a story on it some months ago.
Followed a guy(Nigel someone I think) who did it witha Hunter.
You have to add on GST, fumigation of entire boat, full clean down for AQUIS of outside of hull and I bet the Govt. will have a few more things for you to do.
Good luck mate.
Jim.

[kels316]

Cheers for all the replies... I've looked into the issues such as import costs and so forth but it was just the pure transport cost I was wondering about. I'll track down that CH issue (probably unread in my mail at home - I'm OS at the moment) and check it out - thanks for the tip Jim.

Does anyone know someone who has done this? I'm not committed to buying a Nth Hemisphere boat, but its just nice to cover all the bases. There are still plenty of good boats to be had down-under, especially NZ it seems.

[sailorjim99]

G'day Kels
Back again mate.
The blokes name is John Champion and it was a hunter.
My mistake, he SAILED it back to OZ.
But if you want to contact C.H. from OS you could try carolinestrainig@yaffa.com.au
She is editor and tell her what you want. She helps a lot of people with this sort of thing.
I cant find the issue where it is printed.
lotsa luck mate
jim.

[Chuteman]

K316:
Based on a Cruising World article.....the base is at least $250 @ foot

There are discounts avail for early booking. Here's Dockwise link.......just ask for a quote:
http://www.yacht-transport.com/index.php?sid=142&l=eng

[SimonV]

Ive done my figures on a catalina 38 from west coast USA to Brissy. In US dollars. Boat around 50K
Transport with Dockwisw 17K after 20% early payment
Duty in Aus nil ( free trade agreement)
GST 10% total purchase and transport cost
Antifoul, clean and fumigate in US. AQIS will consider this when inspectinig.
Good luck

Simon