Importing a Boat to Australia

[Dragon Lady]

Those who warned about the French authorities were dead right, what a pack of you know whats.
After stuffing us around for the last week or so they have now said they are too busy to clear my boat off the register and then they are all going on holidays for the Mardis gra for three days next week.
That blows it all out for another week, at least the Aussie authority is on stand by to send the rego when the French get their act together.
I'll never complain about the Australian public service again.

[savoir]

Delays to your best laid plans are as much a part of owning a boat as cockroaches and bilgewater. Start getting used to it.

On second thoughts, pour yourself a beer plus a shot of your best rum and then get used to it.

[Dragon Lady]

Yes patience is a virtue they say.

[savoir]

Quite so, which might well explain why all us cruisers are such a virtuous lot.

[Hotboy]

Chin up Dragonlady. It will all be worth it. Maybe look at it as 'island time' although the French should know better.

[ausaviator]

I've started the process and am a bit behind dragonlady. The problem I have is dealing with the broker in the USA and the offer / contract process. Seems that offers from US Citizens come first. I submit my offer at night after being told that there are no offers on the boat and then when I get up in the morning I'm told that my offer is number 2. Seems a little unfair but is probably quite common.

[Dragon Lady]

Sounds like you are not being given the respect you deserve if you are making serious offers.
The US market is still very soft so don't be afraid to walk away.

[ausaviator]

Serious offer, exactly, you can't get more serious than putting the offer in a contract that they provided.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Dragon Lady

Sounds like you are not being given the respect you deserve if you are making serious offers.
The US market is still very soft so don't be afraid to walk away.

Agreed.

Quit being a softie and start being a hardass because rejection comes with the turf so take it on the chin and move on. There are more cheap boats in Florida than either of us could count.

[Double-Wide]

Does it make sense for an Australian buyer to purchase a used cat in the US? I have a 2005 Sewind 1160 on the market (doublewidecat.com) and my price is about $75,000 less than the 1160's on the resale market in Australia. The difference would more than cover the cost to ship it down under.

Cam

"Double-Wide"

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by ausaviator

I've started the process and am a bit behind dragonlady. The problem I have is dealing with the broker in the USA and the offer / contract process. Seems that offers from US Citizens come first. I submit my offer at night after being told that there are no offers on the boat and then when I get up in the morning I'm told that my offer is number 2. Seems a little unfair but is probably quite common.

Dunno what you call it over there but here its called Inventive Gazumping.... basically you've offered less than asking price...
but the Brokers noticed the drool running down your chin everytime you see the boat or talk about it...
There's no other offer.. he's just yanking your chain to raise his 'Commission'...
Try an E-mail saying no worries, but... you've just seen another boat thats really nice and well equipped... so don't sweat if it sells... thanks for all the help...
See how fast he comes back...
Unless he's a CF member and read this...

[meyermm]

Maybe the problem is you are not putting a deposit up with the offer which is the norm in US unlike Australia. Agree with Boatman61 unlikely to be any other offers the boat market is not that healthy.

[tuskie]

Originally Posted by Double-Wide

Does it make sense for an Australian buyer to purchase a used cat in the US? I have a 2005 Sewind 1160 on the market (doublewidecat.com) and my price is about $75,000 less than the 1160's on the resale market in Australia. The difference would more than cover the cost to ship it down under.

Cam

"Double-Wide"

Yes Double-Wide, it makes great sense for Australians to purchase overseas at the moment. This thread gives many examples of why this is so. The Australian domestic market seems to be slowly adjusting to reality, but a browse of catamarans listed on Yachtworld shows just how far our prices need to come down. A year or so ago, your boat would have been $150,000 less than the Australian ASKING price.
Good luck with your sale, quality boats of good design will always be the easiest to move

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Dunno what you call it over there but here its called Inventive Gazumping.... basically you've offered less than asking price...
but the Brokers noticed the drool running down your chin everytime you see the boat or talk about it...
There's no other offer.. he's just yanking your chain to raise his 'Commission'...
Try an E-mail saying no worries, but... you've just seen another boat thats really nice and well equipped... so don't sweat if it sells... thanks for all the help...
See how fast he comes back...
Unless he's a CF member and read this...

I was going to write something like this... but the Gopher gazumped me!

Call his bluff.
And if he really does have another offer, don't get into the bidding war he's trying to create. There's another one around the corner.

[Dragon Lady]

What's happening ausaviator are they still messing you about?

Does anyone know what's happening with Aussie shipping register?
They seemed to be all out of the office yesterday.