i think it was cammos that got a tub from the us about 6 months ago. there was something on here a few days ago under the heading of my new ride. might pay to have a look at the thread

from what I've gathered over time reading about this stuff, US trailers are generally too wide for Australian roads, so you either need to get a permit or modify the trailer so it falls within the max width for WA. That's not going to be easy with a boat that size.

The few guys I know who have imported boats from the US either flew over to inspect themselves or used a ship surveyor to give a full condition, mechanical and seaworthy report. I'd also double your budget for taxes and delivery, easily.

Personally if I wanted to bring a trailer boat in for under $40k I'd be looking at something like the 2152 Trophy. You're going to struggle to get something in the 24-26' range for under $40k, unless the boat has problems.

 a fibreglass expert as i think with the influx of yank boats coming in there will be a massive call for their services in the near future.Most of the boats they build are built with substandard resins ect. compared to the oz and nz built boats.They seem to trade boats often and use them in freshwater more than ozzys as well so no need for the extra attention to build strength.Oz built = strength over looks US built in alot of cases is look good and build light imo.The other thing is when some of the oz boat dealers shut down you will pay in the long run.There is also the old chestnut from the delivery company when your new boat gets to freo you will get a call to pick it up and they will tell you that the tub was under measured and will slug you extra 1000s of $ that you have to pay before you take it off the dock.There are alot of hidden expenses like new trailers ect as most of the US ones are too wide plus most yank boats of the bigger sizes are permit tow during daylight hours and flashing lights and signage.Apart from all that it is a great idea

Mullows got a recent seaswirl, his was a 26' with the volvo diesel duoprop. I've been out in MightyMouse's sweaswirl and the ride is pretty good.

Pete D and Steve231 both have the Troph 21' WA, one in inboard, the other in outboard.

The yank boats usually have a lot of beam, and some of the trailers are a little wide. Obviously no point worrying about the trailer width if the boat is too wide anyhow, but some trailers are fixable simply by changing the offset on the rims.

I think $15k is a more realistic total for gst, shipping and charges.

Pretty sure Cammos has an older Southwind.

If he got a 2009 23 Outrage in for under $70k he did really well.

a mate got a 24' Grady walkaround from US. managed to find a model that was basically within aussie road specs (over width by less than a cm i think)

biggest 24' i ever seen. paid about 23k for a 90's hull with newer yammy 225. did it all himself and i reckon he would recommend using a broker now as he paid about 50k in the end. got stung on transport by about 10k and a couple of other hassles along the way. he ordered a new custom 'ali' trailer to aussie spec which is maily galv and needed a bit of work to get licensed and also to tow right and a few rollers (it was slides only), but still a bargain compared. boat seems good, rides good, HEAPS of deck space and good size cabin. he saved a fair bit on the whole rig in the end but he had the time to put into organising things etc as he works a sweet roster. 

not saying its a great idea or that i support buying OS. just an example of someone's experience with it. positives and negatives to both as anything.

good luck, hope whatever you get is a ripper.

Thanks for the comments so far guys.... like I say I am only starting to look into it... I have also seen a few boats in Queensland for not much more so that could well be the path I take. I know buying overseas does rub some people up the wrong way sometimes and I ALLWAYS try to buy australian produce and I am all for supporting the local tradesman, I always use my local family owned tackle store rather than the larger chains or online etc etc.... But the savings on a boat that may cost sometimes 100k over here and 50k over there is extreemly tempting.... As I say, I'm only thinking about it I would more like to know about the sea worthiness and comfort of the boats and others I should be considering too.... I know my budget is a little poor... more realisticaly 60k would be my absolute max....

Not I folks, I still have my Aussie made Southwind, but maybe not for too much longer.

I did the import thing a year or so ago.

On a 2101 Seaswirl Dual Console the shipping was about US$9000 and the taxes and handling costs were about $4000.

Also, do your best to get the trailer made over there to Aus requirements because once you get it here you will be slugged a fortune to get it right. My new trailer in the US cost me $4,500 with electric brakes all around. Cost an extra $1,200 to get some stuff sorted out once it got here. So all up about $5,700 for a brand new trailer.

The only reason I got rid of mine was the overwidth issue. Yes, you can get permits but not being able to use the Freeway and travel after dark were a big issue with me. If something goes wrong I am sure the insurer would have said "too bad, not covered". Too big a risk for my liking.

Would I do it again. Probably not. Not because they arent good boats....they can be fantastic, but more for the peripheral issues. I took my Cruiesecraft 575 for its first run last night. Compared to the Seaswirl it is quite a bit smaller but rides bloody well, and the finish in the new boat is much better than the Seaswirl.

Price does come into it...especially with the dollar so strong but make sure you weigh up all the options. I know the resale value on the imports is dropping badly. You may be best suited to have a look at the ones that have already been shipped to Australia. Could get a bargain because alot of those goes paid good $$$ for them in the hope of flogging them off for a profit, but now the $$$ is so strong are looking to offload them ASAP.

One more thing to consider....the likes of Seafarer and Cruisecraft dont really lose much value so perhaps spend locally and have better resale value in the future. Just a thought.

I imported a 21 foot bowrider from Arizona last year. It is more of a family boat than a deep sea fishing boat but that is where I am at the moment with 4 kids and a nervous wife. It is a Yamaha jetboat and I must say it is really well finished and luxurious. I ended up ditching the trailer and bought an Aussie made McKay. The Yank trailer had the wrong hitch, wrong trailer plug, no trailer brakes, bowed in the middle with the weight of the boat and I also needed a WA compliance plate. I also had to wait 7 weeks for Canberra to give me permission to import the trailer (they were not worried about the boat).

In the end the boat I paid $14k US for was landed in Freo for $28 with all GST, custom broker fees etc included. With the new trailer it now owes me $34k. I reckon it would be worth $35-40 on the WA market now so I saved a bit but not a lot considering the headaches. I must say though that the dollar was 91 cents then.

Would I do it again? Probably but I would not worry about the trailer. By getting a local trailer everything is legal right away and you don't have to wait for some tosser from Canberra to give you the green light. There is a mob in florida called watercraftmix who put boats into a sea container in a custom made crate. I reckon i would give them a go next time.

Anyway my 2 bobs worth.

Yep they have all the bling on the outside and built like a junker on the inside. Aussie built for me and i would only consider a handle full of boats built in the states to handle our conditions .

I would personally try to track down a U.S. made boat already in Australia. Like Bradz suggested there would be heaps of boats that are already in Australia with nervous owners watching the Aussie dollar climbing. I reckon drive a hard bargain & save yourself the time, hassels, uncertainty & possible budget blowouts.

Maybe consider dropping down a size if your budget is only $50k as you will be battling to get a good modern boat in the 24 to 26 foot range for that sort of money.

Here is an example of a U.S. walkaround already here for a good price.

Cheers.

http://www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=9645107

A little info:

http://www.australiatrade.com.au/Shipping/Import/Boats.htm

i thought about the import path but got a 625 cruisecraft outsider at a little over 18 months old with all the fruit for $74k, out of the budget a little agreed but i still have warranty for the motor, trailer and hull and mate she rides beautifully, one thing i will say as there is a heap of import boats in Karratha (we must be the capital of tightarses HA) fly over and have a look at it, i saw my bosses and i wouldn't have brought it to fish 4 people out of it.

Oh dear -"yankie crap" sorry but you need to do you research -  the biggest recreational boating industry in the world is surely going to have its share of "price or entry" level boats but like all things you get what you pay for -

A 26 foot boat is going to cost a lot to ship (speaking from a bit of experience) i would bank on 20k for shipping, when they measure at the dock its overall height, length - width

-a lot of the US trailers have "guide poles" on them - if u buy a trailer and it has them on take or cut them off prior to shipping -as 20cm each side ads a lof of shipping  (20cm x 2 - times hight -times length) added approx2k to the shipping quote of a mate of mines boat!

If you are thinking of putting it in a sea container - think carefully -i have seen 4 done this way 2 boats were damaged - they strip the boats down -windscreen /targa off and build a cradle and slide them in sideways - the trialer then goes in next to them -makes shipping approx half price but if it gets here damaged yes you can repair it but resale will be stuffed

As a few people have mentioned there are a lot of good value boats here - i saw a late model seafox 23ft centre console (i know you are not after a cc) for sale at a boat importer for 29k on a trailer here in perth.....i doubt you could buy one and get it here cheaper

cheers

Clint

I have done more than my fair share of insurance work, repairs ,boat building on big dollar rigs . I have worked over their and seen first hand how they build them and sorry to say they are nothing special.They dont use any different or special materials to us or do any manufacturing process that we don,t in OZ.They do spend a lot more money on setting up boat building plants ,plugs and moulds advertising but i guess this is why a lot of companies went down the drain or have huge debt sure their are some with no debt Now look they are doing it tough.

Sure they have cheap boats and exspensive one,s as well. The fuel is cheap the labour is cheap and a huge population so you have a lot of choices.The harder it becomes to import the better the Australian marine industry will be for it.We have some awesome boat building companies in oz and a lot of smaller factories who the average guy wold not even know about cause some might only build 20 boats a year .Our marine market is flooded with bargins due to people still hard for money or the old saying of "no time to use it".

Buy a rig that you can see and know has no faults and will still have warranty because you bought it locally and not get burned and told its a import sorry. 

If you do buy a import look at some first hand look past the bling.

Bash the side of the hull to check for impact strength, tap the bottom of the hull to see it is nice and solid do research on what materials it is built out of foam core,plywood,coosaboard,glass top hat internals what resins, polyester resin maybe with a vinyl tielayer or full vinylester,epoxy  what fibreglass mat chopstrand mat and good old wovenrovings or stitch cloth what method of layup done by hand ,chopper gun,resin infusion these are over looked by most buyers and are not aware of what they are buying might seem a bargin but honestly a lot are not. and as mentioned in past threads do homework on trailers some makes are not worth converting to OZ standards.Not to mention converting electrics as well the list goes on so research is the key buying a boat is a big investment.

Some people make a profit though others will take a loss luck of the draw and never buy a boat thinking you will make money.

This is my opinion and yes i could argue till the day i die cause i am sick and tired of people being ripped of or buying junk if any one wants help or advice on buying a boat pm me only to happy to help.My Formula is American designed though oz built.

                                                                                                       Cheers Nick 

I looked at importing and went the other way.

Some awsome boats have been build here in Australia, and are every so ofter coming up for sale.

So someone else has taken the depreciation hit other than me.

Plus ,if you put a dent, scrape or whatever on the boat, you just shrigg your shoulders and get on with fishing instead of bursting into tears or a wild rage which fixes SFA.

Before plunging into importing and all the pittfals with it, one of the big ones is the to wide beam for towing the boat legally.

This is a huge issue to me.

If it does not meet all the set parameters and is illegal than your insurance cover is void plus you are fully responsible for ALL damages.

Even if you paid the cover and it goes pearshape, the insurance company will look at this and void the claim.    

Look instead at the second hand market here in Australia.

Some good boats for excelent prices are available.

The older boats made by Savage, Hains Hunter, Bertram and the like are first class in hull design and build quality.

They might need a spruce up or re power but in the end it should be a very ecoomical game boat!

You can go and inspect them or have them inspected for you without hassles. this to me is extremely important when large sums are at stake..

I would have to disagree with the crap built state ment. We (dad) purhcased a boston whaler 235 conquest a couple of year  back through the local dealer. The build quality and finish on this boat is second to none, the list of standard features and  "niceities" leave ALOT of the aussie boats for dead.  However we have had some issues around the wiring and aftermarket acessoreis.... However this is more of the lousy dealler for instance instatalation of the GPS receiver was mounted on the dash rather than the hard top..... 

Would I buy another Boston whaler probably not. I would look at Grady white, Wellcraft or Century boats. The reason being boston whaler don't offer any other outboard other than Mercury.

Given the price you a looking at I would be VERRY carefull and ensure you do your research properly then have th hull/motros inspected.

HTH 

BEn  

You do get some very nice boat from the USA, but most of the imports we see are the cheaper end of there spectrum. Century are a very nice boat. Built by Yamaha but check out the landed price for one here.

Go speak with shipwrights down at Hillary's and ask them how easy it is to fix a hull with full foam and no inner access. A few Sea Rays there needing hull repairs and the job just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Yank boats all the way.

I brought my Wellcraft from the local dealer when the GFC hit, this was a brand new & imported for Australia boat not one of the 2nd hand jobs. The finish, strength & attention to detail are 2nd to no Aussie built boat. I have owned Haines Signatures, checked out the Whitleys, Cruisecrafts, Commodores, Haines Hunter etc all the top Aussie boats couldn't hold a candle to it. I checked out the Bostons & Grady Whites both on a par but pricing was rude in my opinion, the Trophies were nice but just not quite the same standard as the Wellcraft for similar pricing. Even down to the ergonomics of a curved dash not just straight so it is that little bit more comfortable if you are leaning against it. Would I do it again, Yes I am actually looking at bringing in a bigger one, but not 2nd hand, buying new through a dealer in the states. Landed here still $20K less than dealers charging delivered & Yamaha warranty is still covered here, so is the hull as it is the manufacturer not the dealer that pays for any warranty issues.

You will not have Yamaha Warranty here in Australia for any boat bought from over seas. Ask for that to be provided to you in writing beforehand and you soon see the difference.

Most companies advertise warranty locally but that's false. The Manufactures were chasing the dealers advertising that , but now figure its not there issue. If customers are that gullible its there problem.

Wellcraft are a very nice boat but sorry there are no Cruise craft.

Got a customer coming in this afternoon. He bought and paid for it in November. Just received the boat and was promised it all registered, detailed and delivered. He is now picking it up. Still has to do the Trailer conversion, register everything and not sure about the detail. As the people he was dealing with are no longer getting back to him via email or phone. Simply he's just getting what he can before he does his total doe. He was promised lost of things TOO.

This happens ever day.

One last point. Be careful buying a anti fouled boat from the states. Many hurricane damaged boats just get a quick repair, new anti foul and ship of the other side of the world.