posted 11-17-2003 07:43 PM ET (US)        

This Cetacea article features photographs and narrative from Blair Way on the shipment of his Boston Whaler Walk-Around 21 to Australia using a standard 8 X 40 foot shipping container.

posted 11-18-2003 05:01 AM ET (US)            

The cost was not too bad, around the US-$5,000 mark. Pretty standard for a 40 foot container. A bit of handling charges, etc., to enter Australia, another $1K US. Not too bad, given that it is a BW, especially when considering the replacement value down here. BW's are very expensive here. A second hand 18-footer is selling for $69,000-Aus.

To lift the boat I used a three point lift with the stbd rear anchor point set up so I could lengthen it once the trailer was rolled out of the way and the cradle was dragged under the boat (another reason I had to make it light). This made the boat tilt to stbd in a controlled manner and then I lowered it into place. The opposite (loading on the trailer) was a little trickier but it involved putting it on the trailer at an angle and then retying the slings and doing another lift to square it up.

posted 11-18-2003 09:10 AM ET (US)            

A big fish in a big pond!

posted 11-18-2003 02:44 PM ET (US)            

How is she to trailer?

posted 11-18-2003 03:59 PM ET (US)            

How was the fuel in the built in fuel tank? Did you have to drain it?

posted 11-18-2003 07:16 PM ET (US)            

You should be able to fit 2 Outrage 18s in a standard 40 foot shipping container without any problem - that is assuming that the standard container has 8' interior clearance. That boat is only 7'2" wide according to the specs. You should also be able to get a 22 foot hull in a container without much problem.

Brian - what kind of duty did you have to pay?

posted 11-21-2003 07:33 PM ET (US)            

Landlocked, it is a good size for trailering, I tow it with a V6, either a Ford explorer or a Mitsubishi Montero / Pajero. I have towed it over 6000 k’s so far. I have just upgraded the trailer with a dual axle braked one (required by law here for over 2 ton GVW) (the old one is a dual axle, single axle braked). The roads here are worse then most two lane blacktop in the US. They have no interstates to speak of.

BugsyG, I drained the fuel tank as best I could and had to sign off that I did.

Plotman, for personal use the duty was minimal, but for immediate sale it is more. I’m not sure of the rates but it would be in the order of 25% or more! I did fit a 78 outrage 21’4” in a container very easily, it had about 1’ on each side to slide in at 8 foot wide. No special cradle was required but the trailer was too wide so it had to be dismantled. I think I could fit at least 3 whalers in a 40 footer, stacked carefully. Weight would not be a problem.

JayR, it would be fun to bring some older models in without motors and then rig them up here and sell. I’m not sure how good a market there is, as they love “tinneys” here! These are aluminum boats in al sizes! They do not believe it is possible that a boat is unsinkable, they have very few regulations for safety in small recreational boats construction. A lot of people do comment on how they like the whaler, especially my old outrage 21. The WA gets attention but I store it at a yacht club so less gas station discussions etc!

Backlash, Glad you liked the shots… I thought most BW owners would understand why I did it! I glad Larry and BugsyG qualified you boat to the country! Mine has to be the best in this country too….(easy I know but it is improving everyday.. fuel flow meter in now and new trailer!)

Thanks to everyone for great feedback, I knew I would find somebody that understood why I did it!!

posted 11-23-2003 02:32 PM ET (US)            

What a great place to use a Whaler. I loved it and can't wait for the next pages to be released over the winter...

For the entrepreneurs in the group:
1 USD =1.38581 Aussie Dollars.

So the conversion comes down to something like $49,790.40 for a second hand 18 footer. (in US Currency, based on the $69,000.00 AUD figure provided.)

So we're doing okay on the currency conversion factor...

Shipping = 5,000 USD
Austrialian Duty = Approximately 30% (of sale price?) - figure 20,700 AUD (Based on 69K AUD sale price), or 14,937.12 USD

I assume there is a charge for title/registration but will leave it out for now.

Price of a second-hand 18' Whaler in the US: For argument sake, we'll say 16K USD.

Add 9 percent for sales tax, title and registration fees: 1,440 USD

So:

16,000.00 USD - Purchase Price in the US
1,440.00 USD - Sales Tax, Title and Registration
5,000.00 USD - Shipping (did this include insurance?)
14,937.12 USD - Austrialian Gov't Duty Tax
______________________________________________
37,377.12 USD - What we have invested to purchase and ship

49,790.00 USD - Estimated sale price
37,377.12 USD - Our investment
____________________________________
12,412.88 USD

This does not include:
10% variance on sales
Insurance: for boat, and for shipping
Any export fee from the US (?)
Australian title/registration fee (if necessary)
Our "Sweat Equity" in purchasing a boat, prepping it for shipping and unloading

Best estimate - leave 6K USD for profit per hull - and split it between the two parties on each end.

Worth it?

Hell...the economy is bad enough..some of us could use a project.

:-)

posted 11-24-2003 06:07 PM ET (US)            

The Great Barrier Reef fascinates me - an uncle of mine (my namesake) owned and lived on an island off of Mckay, Queensland for a number of years, and I'll be kicking myself for the rest of my days for not getting over there somehow then...

I've sent you a photo of Uncle Jack and his grouper taken out on the island - hope you enjoy it.