Florida boats

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tinstaafl

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Anyone any dealings with Florida boats, good or bad?

We're thinking of using them to import a Regal 2460 (around yr 2000) mainly coz they'll take our cuddy in part-ex - makes things nice and easy.

They supply all CE docs, plate, RCD info, blah, blah so I'm sure it's all safe from that point of view.

However, am I right in thinking that to earn the CE mark all the shore electrics need to be converted to 240v, including cabling, etc?

Also, since many yank boats come with them, what are your collective thoughts on these electric aircon/heater jobbies?

Finally, anyone any other info they may feel could be useful for us regarding this idea?

Thx
tinstaafl
 
Thanks NW, very kind of you to offer.

Regarding searching, I know all about importing boats personally, I considered it seriously last time we bought a boat.

In order to legally sell a boat to me, these import companies have to make sure the craft is fully CE marked and RCD compliant. My question isn't really about the technicalities of importing - that's Floridaboat's problem /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I just want any info people might have on the company and also on the issues I raised such as voltage conversion, etc.

No one got any advice?

tinstaafl
 
Does it really work out much cheaper?
Would you rather have a modified import with unknown/untraceable history or a UK boat?
When you come to sell it on again the potential buyer will ask himself the same question.
 
Have to agree on that one, looked at a lot of boats recently and as soon I found out it was imported just walked away. I'm afraid I just can't be bothered with all the american fittings that need conversion.
 
They do all the conversion necessary, either a total rewire or a converter - up to the customer.

Remember, this is a boat with a CE mark, full RCD compliance, perfectly legal, perfectly safe and all above board. I'm not talking about doing a dodgy personal import and making my own CE plates /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'd agree that if there was some shadiness then I'd walk away immediately. But the fact a boat is an import doesn't make it dodgy in my eyes if all the paperwork is there and I'd be surprised if many people thought differently. Isn't this what the RCD /CE business is supposed to be for?

I take it then that no one has had any dealings with Floridaboats but thanks for the responses anyway /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

tinstaafl
 
Not sure what work Florida boats do exactly, but stuff that has put me off various US imported boats incudes;

1) 110V electrics, so need large building site type transformer.
2) US 110V sockets all over boat even if a 240V converter has been fitted.
3) If a UK 240V appliance is fitted, eg microwave or TV, a separate 240 ring main is required from all the US 110V stuff
4) Most have electric stoves which trip the UK 16A shore power supplies.
5) The stoves if not using electric use alcohol or meths which are a bit unsafe in my opinion so need to convert to a UK calor gas system.
6) Stuff like nav lights that meet US coast guard regs but not EU reccomendations, but I think not required for CE marking.
7) No fuel cocks or seacocks.
8) Huge aircon systems that you don't really need in the UK, only work in the marina anyway.
9) Engines nearly always seem to be raw water cooled and needing new risers, I think most US boats are used in freshwater or this is done to keep the price down.
10) Practicaly impossible to find a diesel boat.

But anyway comparing Florida boats prices to UK ones, its not diffcult to find the same boat over here for the same price or maybe only a couple of grand more.
Just not worth it IMHO. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Tinstaafl

You don't need the power converted for CE my brother in law has just had his boat done cost a grand by the way for a 26 footer.
 
Have you tried to use an american style meths stove, you have to remove the electric burner to expose what amounts to a large baked bean tin that you have to pour about a litre of meths in, a sort of wick is draws the meths up to the burner if your lucky. If you don't spill some in the filling process and replacing the baked bean tin your doing well, the whole boat ends up sinking of meths regardless.
No I would have calor stove any day.
 
Yes your right, but usualy the officialy imported boats have been adapted to the UK market, but even some official boats still have the 110V electrics and meths stoves etc..
Its a bit like buying jap grey imported cars, say a mazda mx5 or eunos or a Mitsibushi shogun or Pajero, you get all the strange jap market only bits. So given the choice between a UK spec car or boat and a grey import for the same money or only slightly more for the UK spec you would take the UK one wouldn't you.
The prices I have seen, allowing for actualy getting them back are not really that great, you maybe save only 1-1.5K on say a 25K boat and your probably blow that on going out to look at it.
Well its not for me anyway /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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