Importing A Boat? Info & Costs

[Yabbiehunter]

Hi All

I have been looking at importing a american boat for some time now and to be honest i am waiting for the dollar to climb again before i look in more detail, but i wanted to know if anyone out there knew what costs were involved in importing a boat from the U.S looking at a 5-6M Fibreglass.

Delivery Cost?

Tax?

Gst?

Rego?

Compliance (If any)

Other hidden cost, i am trying to evaluate if it is viable, or i just shut up and buy 1 through a dealer here... Any help would be appreciated.

Yabbie

[GregL]

It works out about $8k just in shipping plus all the rest once it's here.

[Michael Beck]

Hi Greg

Did you import your contender yourself?

Mick

It works out about $8k just in shipping plus all the rest once it's here.

[Yabbiehunter]

Hi Greg

Did you import your contender yourself?

Mick

LOL...................

i can only dream my friend...... was looking @ the trophy for now......ill work my way up to the Contender 1 day

[GregL]

Hi Greg

Did you import your contender yourself?

Mick

Hi Mick

Nah I bought it here threw Contender Australia.

My 3 previous bass boats were also US made boats. They pay about $8k a container landed including building craddles for the boats to sit on as they come without trailers.

I also have been looking at bringing in a second hand bass boat and was quoted between 7-9k dependant on east or west coast starting point. This is for a 21fter.

Greg

[pelican]

Be very careful if it is a trailer boat as many are overwidth and have issues with being towed. There are companies that specialise in importing boats and they will advise you the best places to buy them as transport within America tp ports and agents can get ery expensive ( I don't understand why). . The companies that do it also know the people on the oyjer end and get them to thououghly clean and fumigate the boat so you don't end up with a quaranteen issue. Definately worth getting in contact with customs agent or specialised importer as they deal with the paperwork all the time and buying a boat from the right area makes a big difference.

There is some very cheap brand new motors over there at the minute so if you could combine brand new motors fitted there ( and didn't care about warranty) and buy a spare powerhead and still be infront.

Needless to say there is a lot of scams dealing when you aren't there in person.

Pel

[Michael Beck]

Thanks GregL

I have been very close to buying a contender 23 or 23T locally. Love them, but the price is "just" out of reach today.

Are you happy with the boat, any downsides? eg wet, storage??

Mick

[GregL]

Thanks GregL

I have been very close to buying a contender 23 or 23T locally. Love them, but the price is "just" out of reach today.

Are you happy with the boat, any downsides? eg wet, storage??

Mick

Hi Mick

Mate love my boat and it's the first boat I have been totally happy with.

Storage, PLENTY.

A must is the padded combings.

Wet? Sometimes but only in average conditions running hard.

Ride, unbelivable!

I would love to have a 23 as well just to have one on a trailer to drag up the coast snappering. Hmmm another Tender or a bass boat.......

Greg

[pelican]

There is also a lot of damaged boats over there from hurricanes etc so it would really pay to know who is inspecting the boat and that they are good as a repaired boat . In the US they repair boats they would never do here in Australia. There is a lot of knockoffs over there as well so make sure the inspector knows the type of boat you are buying very well.

[Spoont]

Hi Yabbie,

I imported my Sea Pro late last year. PM me if you would like to chat in depth about the procedure.

With a little patience it is a rather easy process if you know what to look out for in advance.

Cheers

Spoont

[wrxhoon1]

Hi All

I have been looking at importing a american boat for some time now and to be honest i am waiting for the dollar to climb again before i look in more detail, but i wanted to know if anyone out there knew what costs were involved in importing a boat from the U.S looking at a 5-6M Fibreglass.

Delivery Cost?

Tax?

Gst?

Rego?

Compliance (If any)

Other hidden cost, i am trying to evaluate if it is viable, or i just shut up and buy 1 through a dealer here... Any help would be appreciated.

Yabbie

When you say 5-6 mt , you have to be more specific ,sea transport cost goes on cubic mts RO-RO , to give you an indication allow about $200 us per cubic mt + land transport + shrinkwrapping.

Measure the length of the combo from the tip of the coupling to the tip of the leg when its tilted up in trasport possition X the widest part of the combo X the highest part of the combo and you get the cubic mts .

You will have to pay GST (10%) on the purchase price of the rig + US land transport + sea transport .

When she gets here Port Kembla in your case ( as you are in Sydney) you will pay your customs agent say $150-200 to act for you + all goverment charges like every entry costs you $$ and Q/T will want the rig steam cleaned , all up expect say $1000-1500. including tow to Q/T for cleaning. You won't have to pay import duty if you do supply the goverment with

"Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA)

STATEMENT OF UNITED STATES ORIGIN"

When she is released from customs and Q/T , after you pay everyone and the goverment GST , its up to you how you tow it to whereever you want , keep in mind the trailer is unregistered.

You won't need to comply the boat ( just to verify the HIN , about $35) but you will need to comply the trailer and it can be tricky, depending on the trailer.

When you find the combo you want to buy you need to apply for import approval for the trailer ( not needed for boat/engine), so you need to pay $50 to Canberra and supply the trailer details and VIN with your application.

Whatever you do don't ship before you get the approval, when you get your approval, check to make sure the numbers are correct, then you can ship it .

Keep in mind the trailer width must not be greater than 2.5 mts ( not even 5 mm) , you will have to change the lights as they don't comply and depending on the GVM othet stuff as well . If under 2 t GVM , you only need lights and brakes on one exle . If over 2 T GVM , you need brakes on all wheels and a brakeaway system . When all that is done you will need a weighbridge ticket and blue slip if under 2 T gvm , if over 2 T you need a brown slip, same as blue but fewer places do them . Don't even think of importing a trailer with over 4.5 T GVM, can be done but very hard.

When you have your blue/brown , take that to RTA with the bill of sale and pay the fees ( rego fee and 3% stamp duty) to get it registered . The boat is much easier , just take the HIN verification and bill of sale to Maratime and pay the rego fee and you are done .

Its all as easy as that but with our $ well under 80 cents its not worth it , you can buy the boat here cheaper.

By the way don't think that you will cheat on GST by telling customs you bought the combo for half waht you actualy paid by giving them a bill of sale for that amount, if they suspect that you cheated they will ask for your bank account details. Worse case they will take your rig and of fine you .

If you still want to go ahead and import I can put you on to a good transport mod in USA that will handle the export side of things for you including US land and sea up to Port Kembla .

[Yabbiehunter]

When you say 5-6 mt , you have to be more specific ,sea transport cost goes on cubic mts RO-RO , to give you an indication allow about $200 us per cubic mt + land transport + shrinkwrapping.

Measure the length of the combo from the tip of the coupling to the tip of the leg when its tilted up in trasport possition X the widest part of the combo X the highest part of the combo and you get the cubic mts .

You will have to pay GST (10%) on the purchase price of the rig + US land transport + sea transport .

When she gets here Port Kembla in your case ( as you are in Sydney) you will pay your customs agent say $150-200 to act for you + all goverment charges like every entry costs you $$ and Q/T will want the rig steam cleaned , all up expect say $1000-1500. including tow to Q/T for cleaning. You won't have to pay import duty if you do supply the goverment with

"Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA)

STATEMENT OF UNITED STATES ORIGIN"

When she is released from customs and Q/T , after you pay everyone and the goverment GST , its up to you how you tow it to whereever you want , keep in mind the trailer is unregistered.

You won't need to comply the boat ( just to verify the HIN , about $35) but you will need to comply the trailer and it can be tricky, depending on the trailer.

When you find the combo you want to buy you need to apply for import approval for the trailer ( not needed for boat/engine), so you need to pay $50 to Canberra and supply the trailer details and VIN with your application.

Whatever you do don't ship before you get the approval, when you get your approval, check to make sure the numbers are correct, then you can ship it .

Keep in mind the trailer width must not be greater than 2.5 mts ( not even 5 mm) , you will have to change the lights as they don't comply and depending on the GVM othet stuff as well . If under 2 t GVM , you only need lights and brakes on one exle . If over 2 T GVM , you need brakes on all wheels and a brakeaway system . When all that is done you will need a weighbridge ticket and blue slip if under 2 T gvm , if over 2 T you need a brown slip, same as blue but fewer places do them . Don't even think of importing a trailer with over 4.5 T GVM, can be done but very hard.

When you have your blue/brown , take that to RTA with the bill of sale and pay the fees ( rego fee and 3% stamp duty) to get it registered . The boat is much easier , just take the HIN verification and bill of sale to Maratime and pay the rego fee and you are done .

Its all as easy as that but with our $ well under 80 cents its not worth it , you can buy the boat here cheaper.

By the way don't think that you will cheat on GST by telling customs you bought the combo for half waht you actualy paid by giving them a bill of sale for that amount, if they suspect that you cheated they will ask for your bank account details. Worse case they will take your rig and of fine you .

If you still want to go ahead and import I can put you on to a good transport mod in USA that will handle the export side of things for you including US land and sea up to Port Kembla .

Thank you Very much for the detailed information, it has shed light on a grey area for me, i think i will wait for the dollar to climb once again (90c+) and then look.... The amount of boats makers available in the US is absolute crazy, also i think they are miles ahead of Aus builders.

Again thank you