Australian boats V American boats

[rustymarlin]

This should generate some interesting comments. I am in the market for a new boat was looking at bigger boats but when you do the sums way to expensive mooring and just upkeep alone . So I have now set my sights on a boat in the 6.8 to 7.3 m range trailerable (fiberglass). I Have been looking for quite some time and the question that keeps comming up is are our boats as good as the imports from america and so on. I have just sold a cruisecraft 575 outsider this was a great boat but I need something a little bigger forthe family. I have been looking at the cruisecraft 685 great looking boat and based on my previous exposure Im sure would be an awsome boat .Have not been for a ride in one yet so keen to understand the ride difference between my 575 and the 685I heard that it is significant. BUT I have also been looking at the grady whites(25 journey) and boston whalers(conquest 235) also very nice looking boats with very good reviews. I understand the whole trailer width issues. Do the american boats have better fitout then our boats in that level of boat, If you have experience with any of the above boats i would be inerested to hear.In the end the decision will come down to best bang for the buck.

[oldie]

ozzie ozzie ozzie

[rosco1974]

the yank boats i have looked at have alot more bang for buck than the ozzie boats..

[GBC]

Mass produced american boats which are USCG compliant are generally much better fitted, finished and wired than Australian product from what I've seen.

The Yank market is of such a size that it's worthwhile for the manufacturer to have complete wiring harnesses cut for each model of boat they produce, and a complete schematic is part of the handover package. Not so amazing in a 23 ft trailer boat, but step up to a 32 with a heap more systems (grey water, air con, hot water etc etc) and they really are a cut above.

Even a 23 import will have a CO2 alarm system in the cabin and if it's a sterndrive, an onboard fire supression system - standard. Not to mention built in redundancy for skin fitting fixings etc that I've had to battle for in OZ before.

Needing a new LHS clear for your bimini is as easy as a phone call to the manufacturer in the states - they'll organise it no worries. Nothing is custom made and everything is traceable and supported.

There's great aussie product as well, but we simply don't have the economies of scale that they have over there.

[Prowl n Wolf]

one thing i love about the yank glass boats over ours is there fuel tanks. just looking at the seaswirls, grady's and whalers they've all got great range capabilities.

[fisho8]

The Grady white's are an awsome fishing rig aswell as the Stripers however the 685CC would be up there aswell. The yank boats are fitted out with more options and are cheaper over all going to be a herd decision mate. Alot of people are importing boats these days good luck.

[Dicko]

Have had a yank import for near 3yrs. Fit, finish, electrical, flotation stds etc plus value for money would see me buy one again.

[Apollo]

Having delivered a yank import (2007 model) earlier this year, I am happy with the decision. The biggest reason for the decision to import one was the choice. Compared to local boats in the similar class, it is better finished and has more options as standard. The build quality is very good and the ride exceptional. The much lower price was an extra benefit.

I did get the chance to see a brand new yank import during the week and was a tad disappointed in some of the fitout of it. It seems the standard had slipped compared to mine (from the same maker), which is a shame give the boat is a good design.

All that being said, in styles other than what I have, there are some exceptionally well built and finished locally made boats, which would certainly get my attention if I was going that way.

[Muddy Toes]

I understand the whole trailer width issues. Do the american boats have better fitout then our boats in that level of boat, If you have experience with any of the above boats i would be inerested to hear.In the end the decision will come down to best bang for the buck.

Hey mate.....If your eventual decision will come down to the most bang for your buck then my unbiased opinion would be to buy American.Yes...I am an owner of an American boat but when you compare apples to apples there is no way Australian boat builders can match the value of the Americans.Although this thread is not related to the reasons for that and the implications of buying overseas there is just not the market over here, manufacturing costs and amount of choice over here to be on a level playing field with the Yanks.It's not unsafe...it's just less than a lot of people are used to.

As stated before the American boats to have a lot of good features that comparable Australian made boats do not offer and often the quality of the fit out is much greater in similarly priced boats.Once again this comes down to the size of the U.S market.
I have no doubt some people will be on here saying that U.S boats are not built to Australian standards and the likes but at the end of the day the boats that are made over there are also built to the relevant standards over there which are not below ours so in essence when it comes to build quality there are going to be boats of a lesser build quality in both the Australian and American market to choose from.
Just as an example I took my boat in to Trymax Marine to get a thru-hull transducer fitted and when I got the boat back the guys that did the install made the comment that out of all the boats they have fitted thru-hull transducers to, yes...including Haines and C/Crafts, my hull was the thickest they have had to cut through so it just goes to show that the build quality is not always lacking for the doubters out there.
But being true to being unbiased one thing that is usually noticeable in the American boats in the 'cockpit depth'. This is quite often shallower to the locally made boats giving some people the feeling of being insecure whilst fishing in rough weather after being used to Australian made boats for so long and having the luxury of a deeper cockpit.
The whole trailer issue is really a non issue in my opinion.Given that some U.S trailer manufacturers can build an Australian spec trailer to suit your needs for about a third of the cost of buying one locally for me.....there really is no issue.

Here is a link that gives a bit more of an insight in to my import.

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...ghlight=rocket

If there is anymore you wish to know just ask mate.Similarly if your in the Brisbane area and want to have a look at my import just PM me.

[lucee81]

People crack me up when they start yapping about Australian standards.
To give you an idea it is good at times but should not be followed 100% of the time.
To meet Australian standards a product only has to be on the line of what some shiny arse has deemed safe. so in relation to a boat someone has decided that the hull thickness has to be a minimum thickness to be safe however in America this thickness may be thicker so in essence it's above Australian standard yet not stamped aust standard would you trust it? I would.
There is a lot more in standards obviously but I do not follow them 100% of the time when buying over seas. I do if buying in Australia and prefer over the standard.

[TopBhoy]

People crack me up when they start yapping about Australian standards.
To give you an idea it is good at times but should not be followed 100% of the time.
To meet Australian standards a product only has to be on the line of what some shiny arse has deemed safe. so in relation to a boat someone has decided that the hull thickness has to be a minimum thickness to be safe however in America this thickness may be thicker so in essence it's above Australian standard yet not stamped aust standard would you trust it? I would.
There is a lot more in standards obviously but I do not follow them 100% of the time when buying over seas. I do if buying in Australia and prefer over the standard.

Unfortunately there are times when you have no choice but to buy an equal or worse, an inferior Aus product; simply on the basis the overseas product hasn't a sticker. The wheel is ever rarely invented and for mass market items the stuff bought overseas will be exactly the same as what can be bought in Aus. Given the relatively small user base, why politicians here feel the need to add additional costs onto products (particularly on non-industrial equipment), I don't know. If a piece of equipment is CE marked or has the USA equivalent, that should be good enough for us mortals.

[ozynorts]

Hey Rutsymarlin. I had seen the site below mentioned before about imports and had a look. They even offer a service that you can put in the details of the boat you are looking for and they will put the word out to their american dealers and try to find it for you.
http://importaboat.com.au/
I am also looking at the merits of this option.

[johncar]

I'll be sticking to our local builders for many reasons, yank boats just like everything else over there seem excessive, wasteful and function comes in last place all to often. Other than that, our country will go down the gurgler for our future generations if we keep crapping on it. No doubt though our local business people, manufacturers and polititions need to lift their game to compete in this global market.

[wrxhoon]

Both the GW and Boston are great boats but both are much bigger than the 685, both are 8'6" wide so you need oversize crap.
I have just got a GW 228G Sefarer at 6.76 mts + ouboard bracket its about the size of the 685. GWs and Bostons are regarded as the best boats in USA, I don't know about the BW but GW'S are all hand laid and very strong boats , the transom on my GW 228 is 70 mm thick .
The reason the cockpits on most USA built boats are not as deep as AU boats is the fact they all have dry decks even when stationary. As said before they all have huge fuel tanks, like 400 lts in a 22 footer 125 gals in the 228 GW, 600 lts in a 25 footer.
The GW Journey you are looking at will be over 3500 kg fueled on any trailer so you need a truck to tow it or a Yank pick up. A fantastic boat though with twin 150's, a friend of mine has one with twin 150 4st Yammies,or if you prefer a single, 350 should be good for 50MPH.
Generally USA boats are well fitted with stuff you can't even get as extras in AU.
Unfotunately with our $$ this high the Yanks offer value you can't get here but don't try to buy a new Grady, Boston or any USA built boat new from a dealer here , they will charge you at least $30 k more . If you are looking at new boats some USA dealers will not sell you one for export but nothing stopping you buying used and do what I just did. Have a new ally trailer built in USA , cost less than halt the Aussie gal trailer and a new outboard if you so wish. I just fitted a 250 Optimax on mine .

[ovakil]

I'll be sticking to our local builders for many reasons, yank boats just like everything else over there seem excessive, wasteful and function comes in last place all to often. Other than that, our country will go down the gurgler for our future generations if we keep crapping on it. No doubt though our local business people, manufacturers and polititions need to lift their game to compete in this global market.

That's fair enough but what do you tell the Aussie exporter's?
Don't export cause people only buy local.
Just a thought.