posted 07-20-2005 07:07 AM ET (US)     

I was looking for a small, robust, well built and un-sinkable 'dory type' boat and through my shambling research I happened upon this Whaler forum. I would not have dreamed of trying to import myyself if it were not for the wealth of knowledge and assistance available on this site. After some more 'novice' research I decided that I would go for a Dauntless 160.

I realised that I could buy a second hand boat from the States and ship it back for a lot less than it would cost here,the UK. So initially I trawled through Yacht Trader and Boats For Sale Websites in the States looking for the right boat. It was then that I realised that I would need to buy from someone near a port that ships Trans-Atlantic (Luckily Whalers are biased to East side Locations).

I initially arranged to but a second hand boat from a dealer in Galverston but it had already gone so I decided to go for a New one from his stock. I asked a few questions regarding it's viability on this Forum and 'miraculously' it was sold that afternoon (must stop announcing my good deals in public.

I then decided to narrow my search to Florida as the shipping from Jacksonville or Brunswick is cheaper.

I eventually came across Lauderdale Marina's advert and contacted them. I spoke with (and subsequently dealt exclusively with) Jon Connely, their Sales Manager. After much haggling and, I must say, patience from his side, we agreed on a new (albeit 04) boat with an Optimax 115 and Comfort pack for $24000. I wanted a Bimini and aluminium trailer added to the spec and that bumped the price up to $26000.

John reccomended (very wisely) that I have the boat shrinkwrapped for $295.

I contacted a few shipping agents but the most confidence inspiring Richard Howatt at Peters and May who had a boat, the 'Hual Trotter' sailing from Brunswick 2 weeks later. The cost would be $1770 based on the dimension I gave to the shipping company ( Went up to $2500 when they measured it!!). John Connely agred to have the boat ready to go by then and as I needed to arrange transport to Jacksonville from Fort Lauderdale, he kindly arranged that also at about $1 per mile (total $700).

John sent me all the documents to sign (fairly straight-forward) and the wheels were in motion. I gave John's details to Richard Howatt and they talked between themselves to arrange to have the boat dockside on time.

I paid the money via wire transfer but got a rubbish rate from my Bank (the Bast***s) so I lost out a bit there, more on that later. The haulage fees were all in the bill to Lauderdale Mrina, which saved a lot of bother.

The boat arrived 3 days early in Jackson ville and sailed a day late. Unfortunatley the boat decided to go to Amsterdam and not Zeebrugge which meant that it would arrive here a couple of weekd later than scheduled. Peters and MAy were very good in keeping me up to date through this.

About a week after it sailed, John called me to say that the ancor roller was on back order wand wasn't on the boat and they hadn't time to fit the bimini which they said was wrapped up in the boat!! Bit naughty really but I forgive them! They said they will re-imburse my anchor roller money, pay for Marine Engineers at this end to fit the bimini and that my boat now ahd a ski pole fitted for free - can't say fairer than that!

A tense couple of weeks ensued but Richard at Peters and May esured me that as I had taken out the extra insurance (about £60) I was covered should the bimini be missing when it arrived.

Beacause of the early/late/ early problems with the freighter, my haulier this side couldn't make the new date to pick the boat up from Southampton and tarnsport it up to North Wales (I couldn't do it myself as the yard is closed at weekends and I don't have any days leave left to pick it up midweek - I know, I did think about throwing a sicky!

I contacted Peters and May with my haulage issue and Richard sorted out a haulier within 24 hours and had the boat shipped within 36 hours of arriving in the UK. All the customs clearance and dock handling was taken care of by Peters and May and was done in 24 hours after arrival!

The boat arrived here that same day and was unloaded without a scratch on the boat. The trailer had a dent in the mudgueard and some red paint on the dent where maybe a container had knocked into it. Richard told me that his dock siders had told him that the boat was the best prepared for transport that they have seen and the road haulier said that it was the best shrink-wrapped/prepared for transport boat that he had hauled in over 200 boats. All due to Lauderdal Marina that one!!

I looked over the boat and everything was as it should have been EXCEPT that the prop was painted black ALU not Stainless as I had expected. I contacted John and he mailed me sraight back saying that the had propped as they saw best for bets performance. He very kindly said that if I wanted a S/S prop then he would send one to me with no quibble!

OVERALL!

Good points:

Saved a packet
Got a nice boat

Bad Points:

Some anxious moments and an lot of e-mail/phone calls

Lessons learnt:

Know in your head what type/type of boat you want before you go searching

Use a reputable company in the US. Lauderdale Marina certainly fit that category for me.

Get a complete and thorough spec list fro the boat before you pay.

Search high and low for the boat you want and make sure you know exactly what you want when you ask for it. Use the Bostan Whaler website for reference.

Get a shipping quote before you commit to buy and get a couple of departure dates off them. Use a reputable shipping firm who will do the complete service (customs etc). I can reccomend Peters and May.

Use Brunswick as a port of departure as they ship direct to Southampton and have more deaprtures than Jacksonville. (Wish I'd known that one!)

Ask the US dealer if they can sort out haulage to the port at their end.

Pay then extra for shrink wrapping!

Definately pay the extra for the full insurance. Even if it's just for the piece of mind!

Make sure the haulier at your end checks the boat thoroughly before he leaves the dock and informs you of any damage so any culpability for damage is clear.

Use a currency exchange facility for the transfer and NOT the High Street bank thieves. I now Use XE.com and they are excellent, they even picked up a discrepancy in my French Notaires Bank details when paying for my house in France. Sharp ccokies and saved me a packet comapred to my Bank. Takes a couple of weeks to sort the account out but really worth it.

Get the shipping company to confirm when you can pick the boat up. Some will allow a midweek pick up.

And now the costs:

Boat: $26000 = £14054
(with comfort pack and Bimini and trailer)

Shrink wrap: $295 = £156

Haulage (USA) $700 = £466

Shipping $2500 = £1351

Customs clearance = £3070
(including duty and VAT)

Haulage (UK) = £525

TOTAL (less refund for anchor roller)= £19622

UK price (quoted less discount) = £29060

Saving = £9438 :-)

And finally would I do it all over again. Yes defiantely, however, next time I'll fly over and spend a week looking around (or maybe just fishin'!!!)

Sorry if it's a bit of a ramble and I hope it is of some help to anyone out there thinking of following this route. Please feel free to contact me if you want any help or clarification and if your up in North Wales, come and have a spin on my Whaler!

posted 07-20-2005 07:16 AM ET (US)         

Just to sum up again:

Boston Whaler 10/10

John Connelly and Lauderdale Marina 10/10

Richard Howatt and Peters and May 10/10

Alliance and Leicester Bank Big fat Zero!

Cheers

posted 07-20-2005 07:27 AM ET (US)         

Do you intend to get the boat CE marked? IIRC it would need to be CE marked if you ever wanted to sell it on. Might also have an effect on your insurance?

posted 07-20-2005 08:20 AM ET (US)         

I will be getting it CE marked WHEN I decide to sell it on although I am in no particular rush. There is a company that will get the bost and do all the paperwork up to CE spec for Approx £900 although most of the work, I can do myself, I believe. I may give it a go just for the hell of it.

Insurance wise, I will be fitting a fire extinguisher and Battery isolater anyway myself so that's ok. Although they never asked!!

As for the trailer, it does not have brakes, but as it is only just over the 750kg limit (880KG I reckon) and it will only be going from the storage to the slip you see in the pics (30 metres on private land) then I am happy with that. I am currently loooking for an old Quad bike because I reckon that a 300cc one with 4WD and reverse gear should be able to crack it on that shallow slip with a moce grippy surface. Let you know how it goes on that one (Hope the hospital have wireless boradband access for A&E patients!!)

Cheers

posted 07-20-2005 09:49 AM ET (US)            

Obviously your hard work paid off rather handsomely.

I wonder how many 55-gallon drums of gas you'd have to strap down to make the crossing on her own bottom. Hmm, assuming great weather the whole way, I cruise at about 6 miles/gallon at 3400 RPM and 23 MPH with my 115 4-stroke. The great-circle distance from Jacksonville to Southampton is about 4220 miles. Ignoring the obvious fact that the extra weight will reduce the speed and increase the fuel burn, I'd need 703 gallons for the crossing. With 45 in the tank, I'd need to find a home for 12 drums. That might be a bit of a tight fit, never mind the fact that they'd weigh 3500 pounds. Oh yeah, it's an 8-day trip, so I'd better pack lunch.

posted 07-20-2005 11:09 AM ET (US)            

Don't forget the free ride you would get from the Gulf Stream (4 or 5 knots).

posted 07-20-2005 12:34 PM ET (US)            

Many of us here on the main land have often discussed shipping a Whaler over from the States but none that I know have actually done it. Good to know that it's possible and at a great price.

I wonder what the difference would be between CE marked Whalers intended for the European and British market compared to the US Whalers? The only thing that I know of is that on some Whalers (like my 170 Montauk) there is a main circuit breaker that's not standard on the US version of the 170 Montauk.

Jamie, fuel costs in the UK are probably even higher than here on the main land. We pay $6.48 for Super 98 and $6.00 for Regular 95. ($5.21 for diesel)

Erik

posted 07-20-2005 12:36 PM ET (US)         

Rossi can confirm latest prices, but gas was 90 pence a litre or thereabouts when I was last in UK in May. So thats around US$6 per US Gallon! As you can imagine, not so many big petrol engined boats in the UK!

Rossi,

There is a company called CEPROOF or something similar, who I think are in Southampton and do a 'self certification' CE kit.

posted 07-20-2005 12:51 PM ET (US)         

I have heard of CE proof but thanks for the steer. They are the company who quoted me £900 for them to CE certify my boat. It is much cheaper to do it yourself (maybe using their kit?) as I believe that the only thing the Whaler needs is a seperate battery cut out switch. There is even a diagram in hte Dauntless handbook detailing the wiring required and labelling it 'optional CE battery cut out switch'

I will CE the boat, probably at the end of the summer or earlier (wanna have some fun first!) just so as I know that it's all above board and as good as I can make it.

On the oiul question, I have just purchased today, 5 litres of Optimax DFI 2 stroke oil from my local dealer and it was £25.10p which is about $45. It must be cheaper where you Stateside guys are? We generally get a right Royal rogering up the derriere when it comes to retail pricing!

posted 07-20-2005 01:00 PM ET (US)            

quote:

---

We generally get a right Royal rogering up the derriere when it comes to retail pricing!

---

Well, over $6,000 USD for VAT and Customs,
$2500 USD for shipping,
$700 USD to haul the boat stateside,
$1000 USD to haul the boat UK side...

Would you like fries with that right royal rogering?

posted 07-21-2005 03:36 PM ET (US)         

To add a bit to the tale. I found the source of the rattling, loose fitting cover. Two of the rubber seals that runs around the periphery of the engine case and makes a tight seal with the cowling, were missing.

One quick call to Mr Connelly at Lauderdale Marina and true to form, he's putting 2 of them in the post, well actually Fedex! You guys not only get rock bottom prices but it seems, top level customer service as well.

Now, how do I get a Green card! ;-)

Out for a trip with some friends tomorrow afternoon. Oh, happy days!!

posted 08-22-2005 04:06 PM ET (US)         

Maybe you should publicise the above facts more widely. That way it would avoid the 'where where you when I needed you comments in return'!

Caveat Emptor it may be but clairvoyants we are certainly not.

I wish you every luck with future custom and indeed, now, I know where to come!

Regards

posted 08-23-2005 09:59 AM ET (US)            

Dave

posted 08-23-2005 10:05 AM ET (US)            

Guys, where is this published ?

Dave

posted 08-27-2005 01:15 PM ET (US)            

Still looking for this.................

Dave

posted 08-27-2005 08:22 PM ET (US)            

I too researched the possibilities of importing from the US. After much homework, I decided to order from my U.K dealer.

My understanding is that Boston Whaler restricts or prohibits the sale by US dealers to U.K customers. That was the common message when I contacted various dealers in the States and spoke to a representative at the Miami show.

I could have done it with perseverence, but at any rate savings for me would not have been as Rossi experienced.

In the U.K, Whalers can be supplied with the buyer's engine of choice. I like and have total faith in Yamahas and If I had to buy a new Nantucket with an Optimax 150 then pride of ownership would be lessened and it would not be the same boat for me.

To import a Nantucket with a 150 Opti. would have saved me
£4,600 over a U.K supplied Nantucket with a F150 Yamaha.

Russell Culpan at Dorset yacht Co. was completely transparant and straightforward when providing costings for a U.K supplied boat. My quotation broke down costs in dollars itemising everything, and gave a useful discount.

I am delighted with the boat and Dorset Yacht's service. However,I do question and resent the cost of a Whaler here in the U.K relative to the cost to customers in the US. Thankfully the brand's reputation ensures high resale values here and so my investment is pretty much protected.

posted 08-28-2005 04:55 AM ET (US)            

At the Miami boat show I found several dealers only too willing to ship to the UK. And give me any engine I wanted. The sticker prices were often very negotiable !

What annoys me about the UK importer, is they try to say we are competitive, and then will not publish their prices. I wonder why ?

Dave

posted 08-31-2005 01:47 PM ET (US)            

Having imported my own Whaler (an Outrage 18, 1999 with Opti 150, tee top and all the usual gadgets) last December 2004 I am able to concur with Fellatthelast's comments. In brief, I bought the boat Non-Typical through a broker who arranged transportation to the dock and obtained shipping quotes for me. The broker was first class and I have since been in contact quite recently to discuss buying from him again, but this note is not about that process in isolation. I wanted to bring some other thoughts to the topic, which I hope will be useful to someone........

I have had numerous discussions with Russell Culpan at Dorset Yacht Company and John Lay who I know well. I found my Opti 150 to be a little lacking for the weight of the boat and also a bit noisy. I deliberated for two months before deciding to buy a Yamaha F200 AETX. I obtained quotes for the engine and rigging kit from 7 or 8 UK suppliers and 2 or 3 from the States. I quickly realised that buying from the States was a complete waste of time for this particular engine, being a new model and a slightly stronger dollar than when I bought the boat. There was no finacial advantage to buying from the States and all it would do would complicate any warranty matters in the future.

The second best quote I had was from a website operating from a warehouse in London as I recall. Helpfull people and nothing to lose from buying from them - but that is only the beginning of the process.......

A coule of years ago I bought a 1996 Montauk 17 from Dorset Yacht Company's small used boats brokerage and was delighted by the boat and the whole buying process and advice before and after buying. The price was excellent and the whole thing went smoothly from first contact to delivery to my front door. This is important to anyone wondering about parting with a 5 figure sum for a boat for the first time!

These points are well known to those that have been through the hoop of re-engining a boat or speccing from new perhaps, but cannot be stressed enough if you have not had the pleasure (or stress) of it. You need to know:

The maximum power rating of your hull and transom (available in old Whaler catalogues or from you know where in Poole, Dorset)
The weight difference to expect, especially if going from a two to four stroke (an extra 150lbs for me) and what effect that will have on the waterline and subsequently anti-foul coverage
The matter of whether or not to add trim tabs to the rig and overall expence of the project
The effects on handling, speed, fuel consumption, noise et cetera.

You also need to consider prop selection, instrumentation,wiring harnesses, fitting charges, delivery costs, delivery times, approved agents for fitting and servicing to comply with warranty requirements,the likely value of the old and new engine in the years to come, which position to mount the engine on, whether there will be room to fit and turn the engine on the transom - to note some (and almost definately not) all of the issues.

I bought my engine from Russell Culpan. I did so for these reasons:

His was the best price for the whole package - engine, instruments, wiring harness, SS prop etc.

Efficient and well priced delivery to Cornwall for fitting by others (to save me time in driving up and down to Poole with the boat and then collecting the Merc for re-sale).

I felt that I was taking a lot of risk with a lot of money for a boat that cost me a lot and I wanted to get it right - first time. I wanted assurance that the supplier would be in business in the years to come and the knowledge that if there should ever be a warranty issue it will be resolved whithout the slightest difficulty. Price is not everything to me and on this occasion I have been fortunate in buying at the best price and with the best advice. I also wanted to support a business that I want to remain in business, not just for their benefit but for mine too, to be honest.

I would consider buying from the States again, but it is a lot of hassle and the benefits would have to reflect that. Having now got the rig I want, I have probably lost any possible profit I may have gained in the execise but I do have something of a hedge against depreciation if I keep the boat for the next 4 or 5 years, which I plan to do. It is a fine tool for my needs and the rig performs exactly as Russell and John said it would. Right mounting position, prop, trim characteristics and everything else - fist time. Some good fortune perhaps but a ship load of good advice in there too. There is something to be said for buying from the States when all the variables are right to do so, but it is also good to be able to pick up the phone and have an uncomplicated chat about your project too.

posted 09-03-2005 03:52 AM ET (US)            

I also sold a very old Yamaha 70 that was on my 15” SSL for over 600 pounds, made the repower much more palatable !

And is this the 5th request that the UK Distributor publish it’s USA price list ? Come on guys, your under pressure here, you said you would ?

Dave (Dartmouth, 15 SSL Mercury efi)

posted 09-06-2005 08:14 AM ET (US)            

I am a keen Boston Whaler enthusiast and have been since I can remember. My first Boat was a 13' Super Sport that was bought new from Dorset Yacht Company the U.K. Disributor.

I have in the past asked D.Y. for U.S. price lists and they have furnished me with them witout an ounce of trouble! The boats are more expensive to buy over here in the U.K. for obvious reasons of VAT, Shipping, Transport etc. but that would apply to anything surely!?

I bought my last Whaler, a 210 Outrage, from Dorset Yacht Company. I worked out what the price in Dollars would be and the hassle of trying to get a Yamaha instead of a Mercury rigged then finding a decent shipping agent and transport at both ends of the Atlantic, insurance etc etc. And once arrived C.E. Certifying the boat and the addition time and cost for doing so and it really wasn't time or cost effective.

I did think about the second hand route but most of the Whalers are rigged with the Optimax Mercury engines which to be honest should be supplied with Nurofen pain killers for the horrendous noise they make. Flying over to the states to view possible boats was an additional cost that I would have incurred.

I'm sure some second hand boats with questionable engines fitted will be cheaper to buy in the states but by the time they are in your drive I doubt very much that you will have saved much and you will end up with a lovely boat without Factory C.E. certification and probably a less than pleasant engine to put up with until you plump up the money to replace it as the, Thane unfortunately has had to find out.

A small note to Dave UK who appears to be particularly upset by not 'seeing' any prices in U.S. dollars. If I am interested in buying something and getting a good price I normally contact my local dealer whether it be a Car,Stereo, Fridge etc and bully them up for a good deal. If you actually want to buy a Boston Whaler why don't you contact Dorset and give them a chance instead of posting complaints on a Web Forum! Or do you just want to talk about buying a Boat? I have been very well looked after over the years by Dorset as have several of my friends and colleagues I believe the tone of your posts to be frustrating.

Fantastic to read all the different posts about Whaler Tales and knowledge from enthusiasts like myself.

posted 09-07-2005 03:22 AM ET (US)            

And on a completely different topic, anyone from Hill country Texas on this list ?

Dave

posted 06-13-2007 12:55 PM ET (US)            

I am importing a 2004 Montauk 170.