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  • No hidden agenda, just clear easy to follow quotations.
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Shipping advice

Talk to Richard, our boat & machinery shipping specialist.
(03) 8657 5563 ext 203

Richard Hack - Managing Director

Richard Hack

Managing Director

Boat & Yacht Shipping & Import

import boat

Importing boats can save you thousands of dollars, and give you access to a wide range of boats that may not be available locally. We ship to and import from locations across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the USA. Shipping boats is a specialised service requiring experience, and should not be left to chance. With over 40 years of experience behind us, Taurus Logistics have shipped all manner of boats, from 70’ launches to dinghies. No hassle. No hidden agendas. No problem.

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What’s Involved In Shipping Boats?

Whether your boat is a 60' cruiser, or a 26' trailer boat, will greatly influence the complexity of the shipping process. Yacht transport is a very specialised field and it’s important to talk to experienced boat shipping professionals like us so we can advise you on best practices and pitfalls.

We take care of all the red tape like Customs, Quarantine and port formalities, including arranging boat lifts in or out of the water at port, pier or anywhere else.

However there are certainly some common procedures in shipping boats and yacht transport.

  • Consider the dimensions of your boat, can anything be removed to make it smaller? If shipping a yacht, can the bowsprit or keel be removed? Alternatively, with motor yachts can the flybridge and radar arches be removed? Many items can be removed with a few hours of labour and can considerably lower the freight cost.
  • If your boat is not on a trailer it will need a cradle. We have fully adjustable steel cradles in several locations around the world that we can rent to you, if necessary we can build a custom cradle for your boat.
  • If possible it’s best to avoid water lifts at the port because they’re very expensive. If your boat can be made low enough for the road, it’s better to lift out at a close marina and then we an truck it to port. This is not always possible depending on the size of the boat you have.
  • A water discharge is dependent on several factors so please talk through this with us, as it’s not always possible. For example, if the ship arrives at night, quarantine will not give clearance because the light is not good enough for them to inspect the boat.

How Long Does It Take to Ship a Boat?

While it’s not possible to list the shipping times for every route Taurus Logistics offers, below are a few of our most popular routes. These are indicative transit times, and do not include all shipping lines, containers, or part container options. Please contact us to discuss container sailing dates, or for roll on roll off please refer to our RORO Sailing Schedule.

Shipping to Oceania

  • Europe to Australia / New Zealand – 50 days Approx.
  • USA to Australia / New Zealand – 30 days Approx.

Shipping from Oceania

  • Australia / New Zealand to Europe – 80 days Approx.
  • Australia / New Zealand to USA – 50 days Approx.

Trans-Tasman

  • Australia to New Zealand – 10 days Approx.
  • New Zealand to Australia – 30 days Approx.

What If I Haven’t Bought The Boat Yet?

If you haven’t bought your boat yet, and you’re just trying to budget if an import boat is viable, then we're happy to help.

If you don’t know exactly where you are going to purchase from, or you're undecided about exactly which boat you will buy, then best to give us a call. Some ports are cheaper to ship from than others, and we can point you in the right direction, so talk to us today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shipping boats is a specialised field, and every situation is a little unique. We have tried to answer the most common questions, but don't hesitate to contact us if there is anything you would like help with.

Do you suggest we shrink wrap vessels before shipment?

This is not a yes or no answer. It depends if it’s going on deck, under-deck, and in some cases such as water loads onto container vessels it’s just physically not possible. In most cases it's money spent that could be better kept in your pocket.

Do I have to supply the cradle for my boat?

No, we have fully adjustable steel cradles in several locations around the world that we can rent to you, or if necessary build a custom cradle for your boat.

If I have a trailer, can they use that to transport my boat?

Yes. The trailer should be in good roadworthy condition, otherwise, we may not be able to tow the trailer to port, and it costs more to transport on a low loader trailer. Also any damages resulting from a faulty trailer will not be covered by the transporter’s insurance.

Should I remove any expensive GPS and fish finders from my boat to avoid theft?

Yes, this is the safest option. Unfortunately, theft does occur from time to time at ports, so either lock them away on the boat and have the key sent to you (you will need to be available to open on arrival) or have them sent separately.

Do you offer Marine Insurance?

Yes. We can insure your yacht for the full transportation, from the time we receive the yacht, until the time you take delivery of your yacht. Whether you are buying FOB or Ex works we can offer comprehensive and competitive marine insurance to cover your shipment in transit. Don't take the risk, get an instant Marine Insurance Quote online. Takes less than 30 seconds. Find our more about Marine Insurance and what it covers.

If my boat is on a trailer, do I have to include the trailer in the dimensions?

Yes, the dimensions are taken from the furthest points. So anything you can remove height or length-wise will have a large impact on reducing the costs of shipping.

My yacht has a flat keel, why do I still need a cradle?

Whilst your yacht may sit very happily on the hard with little or no support, in the open sea a good sturdy cradle is needed. The port and shipping lines will not lift or ship a boat that has an inadequate cradle.

How clean does my boat need to be before shipping?

As clean as possible. The hull should be free from barnacles and other organic contamination. The inside should be vacuumed and no dirt or mud on any parts of the trailer. This is to avoid any hold-ups and extra expense with quarantine.

How do I ship my yacht’s mast?

It’s best to ship the mast as a separate piece, and not have it attached to the yacht deck. This is because if the mast is longer than the yacht, it increases the overall length of the yacht. This would increase the boat’s volume and therefore the cost.

What can I do to make the shipping price cheaper?

Do everything possible to reduce the volume of the boat. ie. Can the keel be removed? Is there a radar arch or flybridge that can be removed? Consider removing any swim platforms or bowsprits. Anything you can do to reduce the size will have a big impact on the freight cost.

Do you ship JetSki's?

In the past it was expensive to import jet skis from USA, because of the bulky trailers, or the expensive costs of building crates. But not anymore! Taurus Logistics has established a very cost-effective solution for our customers, where we build miniature boat cradles to mount the jet ski on, and then consolidate them in our regular boat importer's shipping containers. It's a win/win! No building expensive shipping crates. And if your jet ski does have a trailer, we can ship this too with minimal cost or fuss.
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