Importing Boats From The USA

We have been importing customer's boats from the USA since 2005.

We specialise in the transportation of your boat to a sea port on the North West Coast of the USA (Seattle, Washington... two states above California) and shipment to Port Adelaide, South Australia.

We minimise risk of damage by loading boats in a safe and secure way.

If you find your own boat in the USA (via E-bay or web site or from a newspaper or magazine advertisement) we can provide advice, payment and transportation options for importation.

We use UShip to obtain quotations for the collection of a boat in any location in the USA and then transport it to Seattle, Washington, USA.

We can assist and provide advice in relation to the purchase and payment of your boat with legal officer guidance in the USA with the validation of the Certificate of Title (ownership) of the boat by the seller.

We can also offer secure, safe, insured storage (bonded warehouse) of your vehicle before shipment at $75.00 USD per month.

We offer a fixed price written quotation to ship your boat... there are NO hidden charges once your boat arrives or when you collect the boat and trailer.

Services We Offer

  • We have access to a legal/attorney service to oversee the financial transaction if required
  • We explain the Certificate of Title requirements that are needed to export the boat and trailer out of the USA
  • We ensure that a Bill of Sale (sales receipt) is obtained and appropriate for US Customs discharge
  • We provide you with the ship details and Estimated Time of Arrival of the container into Australia
  • We provide you with the Import Approval Application Form for DOTARS consideration of the import approval of the boat and trailer.
  • The import approval for the boat trailer will be in your name.

    • Method Of Loading Boats Into Containers

    OUR EXPERIENCE IN LOADING AND SHIPPING BOATS FROM THE USA

    We have experience in importing boats from the USA.

    Transport of boats via in-land transport across the USA can be expensive.

    It is much cheaper to find a boat that is close to a shipping port.

    We ship from Seattle, Washington USA (North West Coast of USA) so the areas to look would be Washington State, Oregon, Idaho and Northern California etc.

    METHOD OF LOADING

    The following relates to shipping costs if a boat is to be shipped with a trailer or without a trailer.

    MEASUREMENTS

    Measurements are critical.

    The width measurement of the trailer and the width of the boat is critical.

    We require total dimensions of the trailer and the boat on a trailer to provide a more accurate quotation.

    We have included some indicative costs.

    A photograph also helps to determine a quotation for importation.

    MEASUREMENTS REQUIRED
  • Overall length of boat on trailer
  • Length of boat
  • Beam width of Boat
  • Width of trailer from outside edge of fenders
  • Height of boat from ground level to windscreen height
  • Width of trailer - please note that the width of overall trailer needs to be less than 91 inches... that is the inside width of the container... distance between the door openings of a container.

    • Most trailers in the USA are wider than 91 inches (7.58 feet) from fender to fender. They can be up to 102 inches in width. Our rules in Australia only allow trailers to be 98.54 inches wide or 2500mm MAXIMUM.

    COST OPTION NUMBER 1

    This cost is for a boat on a trailer if the boat and trailer fits into a container

    Cost of loading, shipping and unloading of the boat on the trailer (if the trailer fits) would be... $4420.00 AUD plus GST per boat, that is total cost if the boat/ trailer is shipped with another customer's car or boat.

    Please Note: This is for a boat and trailer with a maximum length of 20 feet that will fit in a 40 foot container on a trailer (with space to ship one (1) other car or boat).

    The above includes all costs relating to discharge of trailer or boat in USA, documentation, customs clearance, port charges, broker fees etc, container drayage, container unpack, container cleaning, initial Australian Customs inspection and Australian Quarantine Inspection Service initial inspection.

    COST OPTION NUMBER 2

    This cost is for a boat that is loaded into a container without a trailer.

    Cost of loading, shipping and unloading of the boat without the trailer would cost... $4420.00 AUD plus GST per boat, that is total cost if the boat shipped with one other customer's car or boat plus possibly a cradle to be built. (see below in further options section).

    You may buy a boat without a trailer and the seller may already have the boat on a trailer or stillage.

    New wood (wood must be heat treated or ISPM 15 stamped) must be used if a cradle is to be built.

    The above Includes all costs relating to discharge of trailer or boat in USA, documentation, customs clearance, port charges, broker fees etc, container drayage, container unpack, container cleaning, Australian Customs inspection, Australian Quarantine Inspection Service initial inspection.

    COST OPTION NUMBER 3

    This cost option is for a boat with a Trailer but modifications required to trailer with additional costs to be applied (see Trailer Options below)

    Cost of loading, shipping and unloading of the boat with trailer requiring modifications would cost... $4420.00 AUD plus GST per boat, that is total cost if the boat shipped with one other customer's cars plus the cost of modifications to the trailer.

    The above Includes all costs relating to discharge of trailer or boat in USA, documentation, customs clearance, port charges, broker fees etc, container drayage, container unpack, container cleaning, Australian Customs inspection, Australian Quarantine Inspection Service initial inspection.

    TRAILER OPTIONS

    Below are costs for trailer modifications so the boat and trailer or boat on it's own can fit in a container if the trailer is wider or the boat is wider than 91 inches in total width

    TRAILER OPTION 1

    Cost to remove boat from trailer and build cradle would be approximately $500.00 USD = $510.00 AUD (labour and materials, new or fumigated wood has to be used).

    If possible the trailer will be tilted on it's side in the space left in the container... plus the shipping charge above of $4420.00 AUD plus GST if no other items will fit in container to share the cost.

    TRAILER OPTION 2

    This option relates to remove the axle and fenders and load the boat secured to the trailer.

    Wood blocks will be tied to the trailer frame which will allow the boat / trailer to slide into the container.

    Axle and fenders will be stowed on top or on their edge.

    The extra work to do this would be $390.00 USD

    COST OPTION NUMBER 4

    This is another option.

    Dependent upon customer acceptance. We have done a number of loads in this manner.

    The inside width of the container is 91 inches so if the boat width on a trailer is greater than 91 inches it won't fit inside the container unless we roll the container and use a high cube container which is 9 foot 6 inches high.

    If we roll the container it is best to leave the boat on the trailer.

    We do that for Mastercraft, Ski Nautique, CorrectCraft, Supra and Tige type boats on a trailer or if the boat and trailer are wider than 91 inches.

    For a wakeboarding boat the tower is folded down or removed.

    With this method the container is rolled on it's side and the boat and trailer loaded vertically against the side of a 8 foot 6 inch high cube container and then the container is rolled back in it's normal position.

    Fuel, battery oil etc MUST be removed from the boat. Recycling of fuel and battery charge is payable... usually about $100 AUD to $200 AUD if not performed by USA seller or boat dealer.

    The boat is cord strapped to the trailer and then the boat and trailer is again cord strapped to the side of the container.

    The cost is currently $5000 AUD ex Seattle, Washington, USA to Port Adelaide, South Australia.

    Crane hire could be $467.00 AUD as applicable to roll the container (if needed) when it arrives in Port Adelaide.

    You will need an import approval for the trailer.

    Alternatively a “roll on roll off“ method is approximately $14,167 AUD. Saves a customer $6000 AUD to $8000 AUD than going “roll on roll off“ or a “flat rack out of gauge“ transport option.

    I only load and ship boats from Seattle, Washington, due to the experience of the loading agent.

    A car or boat must travel at the other end of the container to maintain the weight balance.

    The cost above of $5000 AUD is valid for shipping a boat in a shared container (with another boat or car).

    You have provided the complete dimensions of a boat on a trailer to determine if it can be shipped in the rolled container option.

    I also note the total length of the trailer with the boat on the trailer.

    Alternatively if the boat and trailer is not loaded vertically, the boat would need to be tilted with modifications to the trailer. That cost is approximately $5600 to $6500 AUD.

    The price is ex-Seattle, Washington, USA. Cost of inland transport in the USA is at your cost.

    ADDITIONAL LANDED COSTS THAT ARE APPLICABLE

    The following relates to additional costs in relation to the loading shipping and unloading charges.

    Import approval for trailer from DOTARS is $50.00 AUD

    Transport within USA is at your cost. When landed in Australia AQIS re-inspection and fumigation costs may apply (see below).

    Boats and trailers attract an Australian Customs Duty Rate payable of 5%.

    Boats eligible under the Free Trade Agreement (between USA and Australia) are exempt from Customs Duty. A Free Trade Agreeement Statement is required.

    Total Loss Insurance Cover is 1% of purchase value of boat plus shipping cost.

    All Risk Insurance Cover is 1.5% of purchase value of boat plus shipping cost.

    Please see our Insurance Cover page for more information.

    Cost of transport from South Australia to your location IS AT YOUR COST.

    Does not include cleaning or vacuum charges if required as requested after initial AQIS inspection... charged at cost. This cost is charged at a cost per hour.

    Does not include fumigation costs if required. This can be $250 to $400 AUD.

    Does not include movement of boat without trailer at unpack agency in Australia once landed for fumigation requirements if boat is required to be fumigated as directed by AQIS.

    Does not include fuel evacuation from fuel tank if required.