Shipping a Mac26M in a 40' international shipping container

[rr9999]

I am investigating specific details concerning physically shipping a Macgregor26M on a factory aluminium trailer via a standard 40 foot international sea container.

I have done some Internet based research into this matter & am led to believe that a Macgregor26M on a trailer can be physically shipped via a 40 foot sea container. It appears that even though the stated maximum width of the boat/trailer combination is a couple of centimetres greater than the stated maximum width of the container door opening, the boat-on-trailer combination will just fit through the opening. Some comments indicate that the yacht may need to be tilted or rotated sideways on the trailer in order to get it into the container.

However, what is not clear to me is what modifications are required to be made to the yacht and/or trailer to get them successfully into & out of the sea container. Some descriptions & photos show that the trailer wheels & mudguards and brake/axles unit are removed and the yacht/trailer combination is placed on a sled.

Some comments say that the lifeline stanchions were cut off in order for the yacht/trailer height to be reduced enough to fit into the sea container.

If you have experience or detailed data about the physical requirements and/or modifications required to transport a Macgregor26M on a trailer in a 40 foot international sea container I would welcome your input.

Thank you in advance for your valued responses.

[mastreb]

The factory routinely ships Macs in 40 foot equivalent high cube containers. The boat is specifically designed to be shipped this way. You should have no issues with fitment.

[West Coast Mac]

They do fit in a container and that is the easy part. However, I did it and would not do it again. It cost twice the price that I was quoted from the import company- so called 'unexpected charges'. The boat was damaged during shipment and during the removal from the container by quarantine.

Whith the amount of good 2nd hand boats in Australia there i doubt you would be saving a great deal of dollars to warrant the risk and effort involved. It was the most stressful 3 months of my life when it should have been very enjoyable and exciting. An Australian dealer helped me out with supply of parts for repairs (rub rail, stanchions, gel coat, rudders, trailer fender and plenty more stuff).

Do yourself a favour and look for a local boat. Or contact one of the dealers (PM me if you want the dealers name that i dealt with- he was excellent) and see if you can do a deal with him.

[raycarlson]

i would agree with that advice , i run container freight trains across the az-texas corridor and would imagine no mac could make it across without sustaining damage,and i know the L A harbour guys and the trip across the pacific wouldn't be any gentler.i would make sure a dealer imports it so they present you with a fully repaired boat at its final destination at their expense.

[Catigale]

There is a consumer perception that importing costs are somehow pure margin - after all, you are just bringing it in, right?

When you do it a few times, you understand why they charge what they do - for all the times something goes wrong.

Adding ITARS regs makes it even more interesting (my day job)

[Mac26Mpaul]

R9, I beleive some other Aussies here have brought their own boats in. I seem to recall someone doing it and believe they may have saved 10 grand or so, however it took 6 months of screwing around and lots of stuff went wrong. I know a guy who imports stuff, and it seems like a never ending nightmare to me. If for some reason, your container cant be unloaded on the day it arrives (eg, strikes, machinery problems etc), you will be charged thousands every day until it is. The chances of damage are huge, and you will have to pay to have the trailer modified when you get it here as it will have a US hitch and stuff on it. (mine has - not sure how it got registered as its illegal).

Personally I wouldnt bother. There are some amazing prices about at the moment. The NSW dealer of Macs just closed down and currenty has a brand new 2011 on Fleabay for 45K with 60hp motor. Also, a lot of private sellers on boatpoint.com.au and yachthub.com.au etc are asking way too much and could certainly be knocked down. I have a 2008 boat with all the extras and payed 46K for it when it was 2 years old. This was a great deal at the time (about 20 months ago), but that is when the Oz dollar was about eighty something cents on the US dollar. NOw the Oz dollar is about $1.07. Private sellers are not thinking about this it seems, but they will not be selling at the mid 50k prices they are asking for their boats. I reckon you could knock 10K off what a lot of them are asking at least.

As to the new boat at 45K. Remember, outfitting a boat with all the extras cost a LOT OF MONEY! Getting a near new one with all the good gear already fitted is probably a much better option than buying new! Sail covers, Bimini, alc stove, GPS chartplotter, Epirb and safety gear, Stereo, VHS radio, Fridge, extra batteries, etc etc etc adds up to MANY thousands. Getting a near new boat for 45K with all that will save you boocoo dollars!!

[Boblee]

Our boat was shipped in with the dealer acting as agent and Sharp marine as the shipper it saved us thousands and was way cheaper than any commercial importer at the time but don't think that option is available now.
My suggestion if you are going to import would be to use someone who has done it before but why not look at the boat mentioned with the NSW dealer as I was talking to the old NSW dealer the other day and if it is the same one it has heaps of extras like $10,000 worth.

[West Coast Mac]

I could be wrong but I dont think the NSW dealer boat on Ebay has an outboard. I think 45K for a new boat without an outboard seems to be the going rate. Has anyone inquired about it? It says he is shutting down. Any details??? I haven't dealt with him but it is a shame that a MacGregor business is closing, especially when he has been around for so long and introduced this great boat to the Australian market. Is Phil retiring perhaps?

Also, i dont see a lot of near new boats cheap. The only near new boat on Boatpoint.com is a 2008 at 60K and that is still 4 years old... hardly near new or cheap.

[Boblee]

Phil has retired and he handed (gave) the business to someone he didn't say who and I didn't ask he is busy with racing three other boats round the world and had just got back from Yugoslavia (I think) when I spoke to him, the Mac business was more of a hobby I think as he certainly didn't make a lot out of it except in enjoyment.
He did mention that the dealer was selling a boat or boats very cheap and that sounded like the price with a motor and sailing package seemed incredible.

Edit you are right it doesn't look like there is a motor on that boat just checked.

[ausmike]

Having actually done what you are trying to do with my - some advice:
Yes you can ship it in a 40 foot "high top" box. They have to take the wheels, axel, guards, lights and guide posts off and "slide" the boat and trailer into the container. The mast cradel has to be taken down and the mast paked separate. They build a cradel and pack it all on that before the "slide" with a few inches in all directions spare. If you use someone who knows what they are doing OK (I found a shipper who had done it all before for a Mac), if not, damage for sure... You need to put all that back together when it arrives to take it away from the reciever (and flush the brakes too as they will be disconnected). They do nothing except take it out of the container and if you are lucky they re-attached the axel and put the wheels on so they can move it around (but check everything before you move it an inch).
Apart from the shipping, insurance, GST & Duty, and all the other fees the customs clearer and agents want, there are a lot of extra costs that you need to consider once it's there before you can actually use it.
1. It comes with a 2 inch hitch - not legal in Aus - must be 50mm (yep a coat of paint really but if it does not have the correct words on the hitch - and it won't - no rego). This means basically taking out the original (and the braking system designed specifically for it, cutting and welding to suit a new legal one and putting that and the new braking system in. $$$
2. The trailer lights don't meet Austarlian Standards so they and the wiring all need to be replaced. $$$
3. Even the compliance plate on the trailer must be replaced (yes it comes with one from Mac, but the "wording" does not suit Aus standards), you need to get one made and attached - could be up to $150 for just engraving an alloy plate with all "correct" the words they want.
4. The trailer (minus the boat) must go over a weigh bridge and after all the mods above are done it must be given a road worthy test and certificate to be registered.
5. To be registered, the boat itself must go to a shipwright or other registered boat inspector to be deemed seaworthy for Aus.
and the list can go on and on...

The shipping, taxes, and mods can end up costing more than the boat itself depending on where it comes from (east or west coast), and what is in the boat when you buy it - the bells and whistles to make it a really nice weekender can cost a lot more in Aus.

Would I do it again - NO, whilst I saved money over buying something in Aus the same spec, the hassel at both ends, the shipping time, the 2 months it took to get it all sorted once it actually landed (and I had weekdays free) in Australia was a pain (just finding a trailer place and them having the time to do the hitch change took weeks) . The good news was that I got to enjoy it both in the US and in Aus, a great boat, love it.

I was lucky, I lived in the US and bought my boat then, so got all the extra gear and spares pretty cheap to really fit it out and avoided the duty and taxes - if not for that I think it would have cost me more than a local boat. As others suggest, it will be better and cheaper in the end to buy one already in Aus.

[Phillip]

rr9999. you have a personal message.
Phillip