Boat Purchase in Phuket and return to Aust

[Flacky]

Hello everyone, I am thinking of purchasing a yacht in Phuket and returning it to Australia.

Has anyone done this and what was your experience? Was it worthwhile and what should I look out for? I don't know if I will have the time to sail it back to Melbourne in one leg but could look at freighting it or doing a few legs etc.

Thanks in advance

Chris

[Mike Banks]

Is this a new vessel or one that has been around for a while? I am a bit doubtful about boats built in these areas if timber. Glass or metal I do not mind--but you will have trouble bringing a timber vessel in--quarantine, duty etc. Of course you will have to pay duty regardless of the construction material but I bought some marine ply from such an area and it was infested with borer--

[dirkdig]

Try to get one with big fuel tanks as a lot of the trip will be in areas of no wind thru Indonesia.
Then mostly headwinds across the top until about Brisbane.depending on the time of year.
Great trip to do in legs.
Diesel in Indonesia about .60 cents a litre

[mausgras]

Funny you should ask this question, I am thinking of doing the same. I will be interested in the comments too.

[Flacky]

Hi everyone and thanks for replying. I have decided not too proceed just yet. The boat ended up being ex-charter. I enquired how much to ship it back and the one quote I got back was $38k.

Otherwise, I don't think I have the time to spare from work to bring her back myself but I really appreciate your comments especially about the sh##load of diesel required

Cheers
Chris

[Schmacko]

Flacky
Was the boat a 43' cat in Phuket ?

[Flacky]

G'day Schmacko, no it was a Beneteau 350 (AU$32k). Are you looking at a 43'cat over there?

[zUrchin]

From my perspective, you might as well sail her on her own bottom and enjoy the islands through hops. Indonesia has 17,000 islands. The Philippines has over 7,000. Do your research though on what specific areas to avoid.

[Schmacko]

Flacky
Yes I'm interested in a Belize over there but my hangup with FP is that I really want a hard top bimini and therefore I'm questioning the whole cat question at the moment.
Having said that the boat is the right fitout for me and the right price and I was hoping $15k would get it back to Adelaide....but I don't have enough time to do it....so a few barriers remain yet without even seeing the boat.

[Flacky]

I hear what you are saying Schmacko - we hired at 46' Leopard from The Moorings - Bay of Islands and had a magic time. I have never sailed a big cat before but it was so easy and comfortable with 8 adults.

The timing thing is a pain when you have work commitments. Now thinking about Fiji - Melbourne 2500 miles compared to 4400 miles.

And yes, there is the worry about costs incurred travelling over there and then not being the right boat or buying unseen. This is one of the reasons I am looking at 'Brand' types ie Jeanneau, Bavaria, Beneteau.

What do you know about Duty (5%) & GST (10%) - especially on the add-ons for GST?

Cheers

[Schmacko]

Duty will be payable but if you buy the boat in a company GST will be refundable otherwise GST will be payable....bummer heh

[Flacky]

Hmmmm.... I do have a one-man company but don't think I could swing it

[Mr B]

I bought my Cat sight unseen in Fiji and sailed it back to OZ,

I had a licenced surveyor check it out for me, Then paid for it,

10% GST, plus Customs and AQUIS charges, approx $500-00 for the Termite bloke to go over it,

Its now sitting at Yaringa, western port bay,

[Flacky]

G'day Mr B - how was the trip and what's Yarringa like?

Were you happy with the process and the final purchase?

Cheers
Chris

[Mr B]

Originally Posted by Flacky

G'day Mr B - how was the trip and what's Yarringa like?

Were you happy with the process and the final purchase?

Cheers
Chris

Totally satisfied all round, very scary process, Sight unseen, Plenty of piccys, lots of emails, then phone calls,

I bought a boat much better than I hoped for, It had gear on it that was not listed,

The trip was fantastic, I loved every minute of it, Even the things that went wrong didnt dampen my enthusiasm for it,

Yaringa is great, Nice people all round,

The only draw back with Yaringa is its an hours drive each way, but so's every thing else from here,
But its free parking at the Marina and plenty of it, 24 hour security, with people and camera's, so its a safe place for the boat,