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Useful Info and Links
While we are experienced freighters, importers and qualified supply chain professionals, we are also "boaties" having a range of boat knowledge ourselves. For independent information on
boat values, boat performance and reviews about boats, the following links may prove valuable during your search and negotiations.
We also welcome you to contact us for specific
information regarding your individual circumstances. We can
assist you with your boat negotiations if required.
Links to American Boat Values, Test Performance & Feedback:
For Valuations on American Boats for Sale including RRP and base average selling prices on almost every boat make,
model and year in America (you do not have to become a member of their website, choose the "Check Boat Value, Click Here" option
halfway down the page, middle left, to do your search):
American Boating Association Boat Values
* We offer free unlimited American Boat History Reports while you are searching!
Write-ups and Testing on American Boats (includes videos, boating news and boat buying tips):
Boat Test Website
Finding your American Made Boat Just Got Easier!
Tired of Searching? You have been asking us and we have been listening!
NEW! FREE REGISTRATION
Make our website and our excellent reputation with our American Boat Dealers work for you!
Advertise the boat you are looking for directly with our trusted American Boat Dealer Network.
Click here to find out
more! Or click here to register
for a My Boat Classified Ad!
Using our Search Engine to Find Your Boat:
Use our Google Custom Boat Search option "Search for Boats" above and on the right of this page to find your boat. Our search parameters include over
50 used boat websites and search engines as well as boat liquidation websites on both the East and West Coasts of the USA.
To narrow your search put a boat location (i.e. Florida, California etc.) as well as the boat make, model and year in the field then
click the "Search for Boats" button.
Links to Importing Information:
Where your Boat Dealer can provide a Certificate of Origin for American manufactured boats, under AUSFTA, goods that are US
originating goods according to the AUSFTA Rules of Origin may enter Australia at preferential rates of duty:
Free Trade Agreements (FTA)
* We process your AUSFTA application and paperwork for you when you freight with us!
*IMPORTANT NOTICE
Be aware that you can be audited at any time 4 years after importing your boat and/or trailer. For this reason we source the appropriate documentation from
the Manufacturer. Paperwork signed by the seller or dealer will not be enough. Please note advice from Australian Customs:
"The (US Originating Goods) statements should be completed by the US manufacturer/producer of the goods. A statement from an exporter
who is not the US manufacturer/producer of the goods will be accepted when it can be demonstrated that the information contained in the exporters
statement has been obtained from the manufacturer/producer (in other words they must provide US Originating Goods Documents from the Manufacturer/Producer)", Senior Customs and Border Protection Officer, Customs Information and Cargo Support Centre
In response to supplying an AUSFTA US Originating Goods Declaration signed by the seller or dealer to our Customs Broker for their review, they have advised the following: "If the importer
is audited, unless a further declaration from the manufacturer can be supplied, Australian Customs would call up the duty payable."
At LFAI Pty Ltd, we do the work to make sure you have the correct documents from the Manufacturer/Producer. To view an appropriate US Originating
Goods Document example, click here to view.
Importing a Trailer for your boat
Importing a trailer with your boat may be worth your while where you can negotate a trailer from the American dealer at
a competitive price. A number of our customers have been able to do this. The savings may be worth the effort and cost of
modifications to meet Australian Standards. In many casees our trusted American Boat Dealers will make the modifications to your trailer Stateside!
 We are also RVCS Licensees and USA Manufactured Magic Tilt Trailer Dealers, so you can order your
Australian specification trailer (galvanised or aluminium, rollers, electric brakes, electric winch, trailers for over 10,000 makes and models of boats) directly from us with your boat, at US Dealer RRP prices.
Customs Info on Importing a Vehicle (Trailer) (Includes Import Permit Information as well as links to each Department of
Transport in Australia for Roadworthy requirements):
Importing a Trailer into Australia * We process your Permit to Import a Vehicle application and
paperwork for you when you freight with us!
Permits to Import a Trailer cost A$50 with a service level agreement (SLA) of 14 days for processing. The vehicle import
permit is required prior to ocean freighter loading.
Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle
Towing Oversize Trailers
Permits are available for towing oversize boats on trailers in most states. Click on each state to view: New South Wales,
Northern Territory,
Queensland,
South Australia,
Victoria,
Western Australia
Paying GST
10% GST is payable and applied to the US components including your boat purchase price and your Bill of Sale plus a Commercial Invoice with the complete breakdown of all costs has to be presented to Australian Customs for this purpose. We have recently become aware that some operators claim to be able to "help with your GST"
or "pay reduced GST" on the value of your boat and freight invoicing.
Changing your Bill of Sale or freight invoicing is against the law and these documents will not match what has been submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the USA as Sales Tax Exemption is claimed on exports by your boat dealer and the freight forwarder. Please be aware that this is defrauding the Australian Tax Office and you, the importer and the Customs Broker can all be prosecuted for doing this.
Please do not ask us if we do this. We don't.
We are aware of an unscrupulous boat importer in Australia that regularly does this without the knowledge of their customers and offers freight quotes at half or much less than the actual shipping line charges. How do they manage this? They charge you the full GST and "alter" your documents and present these to Australian Customs and pocket the difference between what they have charged you and what they have actually paid to Customs. The ATO and Australian Customs are investigating this operator. Please be aware that your ignorance of this practice is not a defence,
you can also be prosecuted and you will have to pay the correct GST plus penalties. If a freight "deal" seems too good to be true - it probably is.
If you believe you have been a victim of this operator, please contact us as we would be happy to refer you to the senior investigating officer for assistance. We are committed to our industry having ethical operators.
Australian Customs sets the Exchange rate on GST applicable to US components on the day the ship leaves the Port of loading with your boat on board. To view this information click on the link: Australian Customs, GST and Exchange Rates
Best Deals on Freight:
For the best value, lowest cost and shortest transit times, we can recommend the optimum boat location and delivery destination
configurations while you are searching for your boat and in most cases
we can provide estimates on all configurations available so you can make the decision that suits your requirements.
Choosing the best origin and destination configuration can save you as much as 20% on freight costs.
We are happy to provide estimates while you are shopping to determine the best importing/freighting configuration for your boat.
To get a quote now click here.
Once you are ready to go, we will negotiate the best freight deal available, as we have sufficient volume, are freighters
ourselves and understand the industry and freighting requirements.
We use six different freighters to ensure
competitive pricing and we provide you with a firm written quotation that will be valid for either 14 days or 3 months,
depending on the ocean freighter selected. For more information about us click here.
Shipping Boats in Containers- What They Don't Tell You
We will ship boats in containers where they can be rolled in and out of the container doors and are very firmly secured - the cranes throw containers around and cannot see what's in them, it costs $90 to move a container to a ship, on roll on roll off and lift on lift off loading your boat starts from $300 - this alone is an indication of how your boat is treated. We get requests to ship boats
that are wider and longer than internal container dimensions and we are aware that unscrupulous operators will offer this. Ladies and gentlemen - this defies logic. Please be aware,
in many cases, the wheels of the trailer are oxy welded off (we have seen boats arrive in Australia with oxy weld burns down both sides of
the gelcoat of the boats as they don't take the boats off the trailers as this costs money).
Further, AQIS inspections are actual appointments where they wish to board and inspect your boat. US Boat Dealers are not typically aware of the AQIS and Customs requirements at this end. If your boat has been "jammed"
into a container, not only will it cost a fortune to have it unloaded in pieces at the Port for your AQIS inspection and reloaded when they are finished (we have seen bills in excess of AU$10,000 for this
to be done), but the chances of damage are so high that an Australian insurer will not cover boats moved in this way, up on their sides with all the weight
against the side of the boat, the weakest point. If you are being told insurance will cover this - ask to see a copy of the policy. We regularly supply ours to our customers.
Container Demurrage Fees
You can also get caught with demurrage fees if you have the common difficulty of not being able to find someone here to get it out. Many operators do not want to touch boats in pieces and jammed into containers as the chances of damaging your boat on removal are very high indeed and they do not want to be liable for this damage. Demurrage fees means you pay for the loss of revenue on the container and freight
while it is in your possession past the allowable 10 days (from the time of unload from the ship), as the shipping company has lost revenue and they will charge you for this for as long as it takes.
Roll on roll off or lift on lift off is only slightly more (and often less - but importantly predictable) than the actual all up costs of a container, your boat arrives in the same condition it left the USA, plus you are insured.
Cheap Freight Quotes from US Boat Dealers
It is also common for some USA boat dealers to lose money on the boat sale to you and make money on the freight instead. In most cases when we have reviewed these quotes,
our customers were actually being overcharged on their freight. Some US freight companies do pay a commission to boat dealers.
Tell your boat dealer you will get your own freight quote to compare. If the boat dealer doesn't want you to do this, he may be making money on the freight, loosing money on the boat and
he will definitely not be here in Australia to assist you when your boat arrives at this end. Typically these quotes do not include Australian Port Charges or Customs and AQIS Clearance. You will know this is the case if there are no AU charges in their quotes and the Dealer is unable to explain the process at this end.
If you are buying an American Imported boat locally in Australia - ask to see the Bill of Lading. If it was shipped in a container on it's side - our advice is to steer clear!
We recently moved a boat for one of our customers into Fremantle and the US boat dealer told us "he moves 300 boats a year in containers on their sides into Melbourne". Firstly he had no idea how far away Fremantle is from Melbourne and secondly, given we are from the freight
industry in Australia over many years, we can unequivocally state that this is at best a "wild exaggeration". Don't be conned. Your boat is worth more here that these deceptively "cheap" container freight quotes
and with us, we ship it so it arrives in one piece!
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Useful Information & Links