For the Aussies

[smj]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

I think Maine Cat is just about as good as any cat made anywhere. About the only other boat made here is the Gemini and they are average. The US still does have a robust monohull industry though.
When I look at Yachtworld it gives me the prices in US$ and the prices in Oz and NZ are decent now for us yanks. Not great but about average. What Ozzie fees and/or taxes would a yank have to pay if he purchased a boat down under assuming he flagged it US?

Agree, forgot about the MC

[Bean Counter]

Also if you are just looking at designed cats, there is Chris White in the USA.
https://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...ywo=cwdesigns&

[Sand crab]

All the CW cats have been built in Chile for some time now. There are a few CW home builds but not many lately.

[Bean Counter]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

All the CW cats have been built in Chile for some time now. There are a few CW home builds but not many lately.

I guess for the same reason Australian designs are now being built in Vietnam and Thailand.

[Teleman]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Plywood vs foam kevlar epoxy for similar dollars?
Really?

Modern ply/epoxy/glass construction is as good as anything else. Easy to maintain or repair.

Most of the Aussie cats under discussion here are Duflex, not foam. I don't think anyone uses Kevlar anymore.

And ply boats are cheaper: There's a well-built well-maintained and equipped Easy 11.6 for sale locally for $130K or offers. A comparable Duflex or foam boat would cost considerably more.

[grahamb]

…...the Catamaran company at Coomera......on the Gold Coast......their cats are on the hard...….see lots in one visit...…..better than a boat show.....and its just up the road from Gold Coast Airport...….relatively …….. and has direct international flights from lots of places....or land at Brisbane Airport....then Coomera is down the road...….relatively...….and has the added advantage of being next door to Brian Perry...….developed the Perry Catamaran range......still available...…..magnificent..…..and is a Shipwright....and his catamarans show it...……

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Teleman

Modern ply/epoxy/glass construction is as good as anything else. Easy to maintain or repair.

Most of the Aussie cats under discussion here are Duflex, not foam. I don't think anyone uses Kevlar anymore.

And ply boats are cheaper: There's a well-built well-maintained and equipped Easy 11.6 for sale locally for $130K or offers. A comparable Duflex or foam boat would cost considerably more.

At a quick glance Free spirit and Alpha centauri II are both for sale for $175k and $190k
Both are bigger boats than an easy 11.6.
Both are foam kevlar epoxy, free spirit has a large prebent carbon fibre wing mast, both have won the Brisbane to Gladstone so clearly sail very well.

I have no problem with well built ply but they are few and far between but when the numbers are that close, to me there is no contest.

I honestly can't remember doing a major repair to foam sandwich due to product failure but I have lost count as to how much ply I have replaced in boats over the years.

[tour]

Thank you for all of the great info as well as P.M's sent.
There is a lot to research to do now and to get in contact with various brokers.
We will, as advised here, look at the Philippines as another option. We will keep you all in the loop as things progress. The time for booking flights and finishing up loose ends is close (a few months away) and as many of you know patience is now needed. So close yet feeling far away.

The more I look at the surrounding cruising areas of the Pacific and Indian oceans the more excited I am.

[clownfishsydney]

Sadly my 38 foot Lightwave is for sail. Available in Sydney Harbour, see https://www.multihullcentral.com/use...sWT1lbN8dSZ-Eg

[earthbm]

Does anyone know the cost/availability of loading a 50-foot cat on a freighter in Brisbane (or anywhere on the east coast for that matter) for shipment to Florida?

[ozsailer]

Hello Earthbm,
Boats can be loaded or unloaded at Brisbane, Its a major port in Australia so you should have no issues there. There are a number of vessels bringing boats as cargo into Brisbane. A quick search on the web quickly identifies a few of these. We had a quote from Turkey for a 40 to 45 foot multihull to Aus of 50 K to 60 K US to give you an idea. To bring it from Hong Kong was far more expensive. I was tokd it was due to port charges.
We have friens who put their 47 mono on once through the Panama Canal. Not much change of 50 K US when it cleared into Aus.



Greg H
Lagoon 440.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by earthbm

Does anyone know the cost/availability of loading a 50-foot cat on a freighter in Brisbane (or anywhere on the east coast for that matter) for shipment to Florida?

We had a friend ship a 47ft mono from New Castle, NSW to Palm Beach, FL last year for usd$45k.

[earthbm]

This is very helpful, thanks!

Probably cheaper to have it delivered on its own. Or better yet, retire and start the world cruise at the Barrier reef.

[fxykty]

Delivering on its own bottom, especially if by you, is the cheapest up front but can result in costs for broken gear and opportunity cost (if you have employment or a business where you need to be active) that equal or exceed shipping. Of course, the experience of sailing yourself, especially if not just delivery mode, can be priceless.

[Mr B]

Originally Posted by earthbm

Does anyone know the cost/availability of loading a 50-foot cat on a freighter in Brisbane (or anywhere on the east coast for that matter) for shipment to Florida?

Try Boatman on here, He delivers boats all over the world,