Shipping as cargo!

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SteamShipW

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OK, this might sound like a crazy request, but...

Has anyone any experience of having a 10ton (or similar weight) motorboat shipped (by ship) from the USA to the UK?

Reason? The boat I am thinking of buying costs a lot less in the US, but has too short a range, and might be a bit hairy, to motor across.

I see that this is not a new subject, but can anyone say they've done it succesfully?


<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by SteamShipW on 18/07/2004 11:46 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
It's not crazy. It's done all the time, particularly by manufacturers shipping new boats to their export markets. Sorry though, I can't tell you who to go to, but it might be worth trying a few shipping agents in the Poole/Southampton area.

Before you go further have you read <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=541574&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post541574>this</A>?

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I don't know anything about these people, but Peter & May Ltd tel 01703 233755 & Fax 01703 233740 do this sort of thing

Zevenster Yachttransport Tel 01703 223671 & fax 01703 330880 also do, but I think that they are Poole to Palma only, but it is worth giving them a ring

If they can't help, perhaps they know a man that can.


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Hi David,

Sorry to correct you but as far as I remember, 01703 codes (Southampton) are now obselete, and should be replaced with 023 80XXXXXX.

Cheers

James

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Recently coming up the Medway past Thamesport I saw a very big container ship unloading. On top of one of the piles of containers was a fair sized motorboat. We were some distance off so I could not see much in detail but I guess it was on some kind of open container.
I know this doesn't help much but proves it can be done.

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Its fairly routine these days. I've not done it personally, though went through the planning once and know two couples who have actually done so, bringing back their own yachts. Peters and May are, as David says, the largest company but there are others. Most companies will prefer to load from a particular port, so it may be a case of finding one that loads from nearest where your boat is, to keep costs to a minimum.

When I went through the sums a few years ago, I found that the savings on the purchase price would be largely offset by the cost of shipping, insurance, VAT and import duty, exchange rate costs, RCD compliance costs, plus a recommended additional visit to the US to check all is in order when the yacht is collected. The residual savings didn't seem worth the hassle. It may be more favourable now.


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<<<but can anyone say they've done it succesfully>>>

We have two large powerboats on board a ship at the moment on an approximate 9,000nm delivery voyage - it is a common practice but as another has said it is expensive. It is easier with power boats as they have no keel so are more stable.

John



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Well, I've just shipped a 40 footer from the Eastern USA to Hamble. No problems, all delivered on schedule and on budget courtesy Peters & May. The only complication (which they didnt bother me with) was that the rig couldnt be shipped with the boat as it made the load too big, so it came separately, one day later, which was no big deal, and didnt cost me extra.

The boat came underdeck, rather than above deck, and shrinkwrapped - the person doing the commissioning says she looked as though she had just come out of the factory.

Cradle should be modified by now, electronics are in, bottom antifouled. The keel, foil and both rudders are due to be installed from today, and the rig should go in towards the end of the week.

To cap it all, we have picked up a Skandia sponsorship slot - as a result some Australian called John Bertrand will be sailing wth us for a day or so - I spoke to Mr Conner whos says JB knew rather more about sailing than was comfortable a few years ago ..

Skandia also coughed up another kite - that makes a grand total of 6 kites now!

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At last! Proof positive. You answer all the questions in my mind, excepting one final potentail problem I learned of yesterday, which is CE conformity.

Can I ask, have you had any worries or hassles regarding CE conformity?

(I've read that when you come to sell your boat, because the boat was not operating in British waters pre 1998 it will require CE conformity, and that this applies irrespctive of whether or not the boat was built before or after 1998.)

Any thoughts?

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I paid (about $1500) to get the RCD/CE survey done in the US before importing. Apart from one extra paragraph in the 'manual', and one extra 'dont open this hatch at sea' sticker, nothing else was needed - but the comfort of being able to sell on is considerable. I didn't need RCD, as the boat is a pure race boat, but as a design ages it tends to cross over to cruisier racing...

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