Shipping from Asia to US West Coast ?

[sailcrazy]

As retirement rapidly approaches, we are looking for ways to get our Taswell 43 from the PI to the west coast of the US/Mexico/Central America. Eventually we need to get her to Belize, but the big hurdle to getting to the west coast of the Americas. We can easily move her from Subic Bay to HKG/Singapore/etc. But we need advice/info on where is the better place to ship from, who to use/costs and process involved, etc,etc,etc. Any help will be most appreciated.

[Laidback]

Hello Sailcrazy,
(I presume you have already explored moving the boat from Manila?)
If Manila is out, then I would suggest using Hong Kong, having shipped from there myself. In my case I was moving a catamaran so at least I did not have to find or build a cradle.
Looking at the logistics :-
You will need a cradle - This needs to be made. I would suggest making it in steel with some wood (the wood being that part which is in contact with the boat) The cradle once made is stripped down and packed onto the boat.
The next thing is to decide whether to take down the mast and rigging - if this is done then this also packed onto the boat.
The boat is then fueled up and departs for Hong Kong.
On the assumption that a ship has been found and an agreement reached to lift your boat and carry it to a suitable port on the west coast of North or Central America
The boat arrives in Hong Kong - the cradle is then fitted around and to the boat by qualified personnel while the boat is in the water. Or the boat is taken to a container port where the cradle is taken off and assembled, The boat is then lifted and placed in its cradle. Then the ship comes along and lifts the boat and its cradle.
Either way the Boat and cradle is then lashed securely to the deck, The mast is also packed securely and separately to the boat. At that point the insurance assessor should be aboard to take pictures, notes etc.
Is your boat called Rozinante?

If you need someone to build the cradle and handle getting the boat ready to go to HK.
PM me and I will give you his contact details in Subic (first class guy - known him for years) If HK is too expensive there is an option I would use in ZhuHai 40nm west of HK.

PS. It might be a good idea to contact Ta Shing in TaiWan and get a sectional plan of your Taswell 43, this would make the manufacture of the cradle much easier and accurate

[windships]

Hi Sailcrazy.
I have recently gone the other way - USWC to Singapore. I did not want to drop the rig. So, I sought quotes from a number of specialist carriers who use heavy lift vessels. They are all very expensive, and you are at their mercy. Typically (other than Dockwise who own their ships - and I would have gone with them had they been able to oblige me.) the "specialists" book space on suitable heavy lift ships and on sell it to you. They supply cradle, loading masters and insurance (at a premium.) The problem is that they are at the mercy of the ship operator, and if the ship operator decides there is insufficient cargo, they will, and do, drop the port from the schedule. You're left holding the bag, and they already have your money. Then you have to wait for the next "scheduled" sailing. Now, if you go through the exercise of building the cradle, dropping the rig, and loading the whole thing on a truck to take to the container berth, (NYK recently moved a 60 foot vessel this way to Singapore.) then the reverse process needs to be followed at the other end. The container companies run regular schedules, so you won't get left out and these days you can probably negotiate the best price, because they are really hurting with the economic downturn.
So, it depends on your budget and what you want to save, and how much time you have to manage the whole process. I believe the harder route would save you probably 50% over the specialist carrier. If you want to get sailing quicker, it might be worth it.
Hope this helps.

[bvimatelot]

Might you not be better off getting it delivered on its own bottom?

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by bvimatelot

Might you not be better off getting it delivered on its own bottom?

Should you decide on hiring a delivery skipper then you have several options :-
Skipper hired from Hong Kong - flies to Manila then gets himself to Subic.
(if you and your first mate are going as crew this will save a lot of the cost)

Skipper brings own crew - one will be enough.

Skipper and crew hired from USA.

The timing of the delivery should be planned for early March - during the transition period of the North East Monsoon and before the start of the Typhoon season May >>> Dec.

The distance Subic to San Diego via Southern Taiwan and Midway Island -
use 8,000 nm

Estimate 50 days to arrive San Diego around 20 April.

Once the boat is delivered safely in the US or elsewhere in Central America
the Skipper is flown back to HK.

If you decide on a skipper from Hong Kong I can give you contact details. Also can give email address of friend who delivered his own boat from Sabah, Malaysia to San Francisco via Midway island. PM me if you need.

[Laidback]

Here is the great circle route from Subic to Costa Rica

Waypoint 1 >>> 2 - 460nm
Waypoint 2 >>> 3 - 4240nm
Waypoint 3 >>> 4 - 3000nm
-------------
Waypoint 1 >>> 4 - 7700nm

[bvimatelot]

Sailcrazy - I just sent you a PM. Tony

[El MeloNesio]

Hi sail crazy!!
I'm Alex, spanish sailorlooking for a boat going to America..Rigth now I'm in Kiribati, quite desesperated, of being sotke in the marshall without any boat.. Do you think is possible if i go with you..I would manage to arrive anywhere you say me..
Thank you anyway,

Alex

Originally Posted by sailcrazy

As retirement rapidly approaches, we are looking for



ways to get our Taswell 43 from the PI to the west coast of the US/Mexico/Central America. Eventually we need to get her to Belize, but the big hurdle to getting to the west coast of the Americas. We can easily move her from Subic Bay to HKG/Singapore/etc. But we need advice/info on where is the better place to ship from, who to use/costs and process involved, etc,etc,etc. Any help will be most appreciated.

hello you..

I'm Alex, 32 years old spanishi sailor..I'm now in Kiribati, and I need to know the best place in the area to find sailing boats going to America..Little bit crazy, really difficult, but possible..I only need to know the place where to look..Can you help me with that..

I hope so..

Alex

Eiiii, still the spanish.. Thank's you all for your quick replies...And if you have more info, don't be shy (as I know you're not) and share it with me.... Ei gaucho!! como le va? I've non preferences, I'd dream about Cape Horn, or Alaska (who doesn't..) but I think it would be much "easyer" to reach north america from majuro..Si sabes de alguien que ande por ahi perdio, en busca de un gran tripulant..ahi estare..Anyway I leave rigth now to Kiribati with the cargo MOanaroi, hope to reach tarawa in 10 days..we'll see..

Hi sailors!!

I'm Alex, spanish 32 good and happy sailor!! I'm coming from new caledonia from boat to boat since last december..I hope to reach hawaii begining of june from christmas, and I'm dreaming about being crew on any boat going to alaska or to mainland...I would share the expenses of the incredible journy...I'm easy man , hard worker, and a happy man..take me with you and you'll never regret..Thank's for reading..

[Capn One Orf]

Sailcrazy I saw your advert for your Taswell 43 but there seems to be no way to contact you ... you listed no contact details. I am interested and I want to discuss a possible sale.

Please email me at icur2006 at gmail dot com

Regards, Ray Row

[highseas]

Laidback. just curious how you sail from Hawaii to Mexico against the prevailing current and wind?

[gpshephe]

sail it yourself

[markpierce]

It cost about $27,000 to ship my 35-foot, 14-ton boat from the Hong Kong area to Oakland (central California). The preferred western U.S. ports are the LA and Seattle areas.

[gpshephe]

Gee is that boat worth 27,000

[gpshephe]

Sorry. I see, it's your home.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by gpshephe

Gee is that boat worth 27,000

There is also the $5K customs charges and the California use charge of $18+K. So that's $50K after the cost of boat. Worth it to me. Maybe not for most.