Shipping a boat from Europe to the U.S. West coast..

Hey fellow boating lovers, need some advice and suggestions....

We have a found wonderful yacht but she is in europe and curious to ask the group, who has experience or advice on shipping a 60' yacht to the U.S., specifically, the west coast. We live in Seattle and found our dream boat.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Whereabouts' in Europe ?

It's in the south of France....hope that helps.

Ship it from Europe to the West Coast and convert its electrical system??

It is possible. You'll certainly be paying for the 'dream boat'.

Shrew, the boat was originally from the U.S. so it's electrical is good to go. I just help on shipping and what folks found to be reasonable.

Not worth it. I was quoted $60000.00 for 50' trawler from Italy to East Coast US.

WOW! $60,000

I was just quoted under $4,000.00 to ship a 27' trawler from Texas to France RORO (roll on roll off - on it's own trailer). That did not include optional insurance (expensive) and other doc fees (minor).

I understand RORO and LOLO (lift on lift off, and requiring building a cradle) are two completely different things. Just tossed my number out for comparison purposes.

Todd

This may be a ignorant question from blissville.

Would it make it on it's own bottom?

Todd2 said:

WOW! $60,000

I was just quoted under $4,000.00 to ship a 27' trawler from Texas to France RORO (roll on roll off - on it's own trailer). That did not include optional insurance (expensive) and other doc fees (minor).

I understand RORO and LOLO (lift on lift off, and requiring building a cradle) are two completely different things. Just tossed my number out for comparison purposes.

Todd

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I would assume you're not using a yacht shipper. Much different boat and assume you're just putting it on a regular freight carrier. Also, insurance is not really something you should consider optional as a lot of boats do get damaged. So, add that to the price.

Capn James Brett said:

Hey fellow boating lovers, need some advice and suggestions....

We have a found wonderful yacht but she is in europe and curious to ask the group, who has experience or advice on shipping a 60' yacht to the U.S., specifically, the west coast. We live in Seattle and found our dream boat.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

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$60,000-70,000 sounds about right to me. I would suggest calling Sevenstar to get a quote. They ship regularly from about 50 ports in the Med, including several in France and they ship to Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria.

Unfortunately, shipping to the East Coast is far more common from the Med so has routine schedules that the west coast doesn't, so you could find yourself shipping to Fort Lauderdale or West Palm and then to Vancouver or Victoria.

Capn James Brett said:

Hey fellow boating lovers, need some advice and suggestions....

We have a found wonderful yacht but she is in europe and curious to ask the group, who has experience or advice on shipping a 60' yacht to the U.S., specifically, the west coast. We live in Seattle and found our dream boat.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

Been there, done that on my dream boat just a couple of years ago. I used Raven Offshore out of Sidney BC. Contact was Rick Glavin. At the time, they were using Northern European ports only but suspect you could get it there?

We shipped from Antwerp, Belgium to the Fraser River near Vancouver BC in a cargo ship hold for around 70K. Worth it for the boat I wanted. (the boat in my avatar). Keep a stash of the sedative of your choice handy.....
The boat was right around the size you are considering, 57' overall weighing 126,000#.

BandB said:

I would assume you're not using a yacht shipper. Much different boat and assume you're just putting it on a regular freight carrier. Also, insurance is not really something you should consider optional as a lot of boats do get damaged. So, add that to the price.

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I thought touring the canals of Europe while staying on my own boat would make a nice trip after retirement. So first I checked into whether it was even financially feasible. I am no expert, but what I learned was most yacht shippers are really just brokers - they don't actually own the ships that transport the boats/yachts (1 or 2 do). So they all have access to most of the same transport ships.

My quote of <$4,000.00 came from Shipoverseas to RORO my 27 foot trawler on it's own trailer from Freeport, Texas to Le Harve, France. The quoted price includes ocean freight, export documentation and U.S Customs clearance. The price did not include port escort for self delivery, destination fees or marine insurance (pricey: full comprehensive coverage = 1.75% of declared value; or total loss coverage = 1.25% declared value). I do not know what was included in the $60,000 price, quoted above.

The cost of shipping is so "cost effective" because I can ship RORO (roll on, roll off). It would be rolled inside the ship and strapped to the floor next to cars, motor homes, travel trailers, other trailered items, etc. Yachts, to large to fit on their ow trailer, must ship LOLO (lift on, lift off), requiring crane services at both ports and the making of a custom cradle, and these boats would travel on top of the transport ships deck, exposed to the elements. This is considerably more expensive way to transport a boat/yacht.

I'm not endorsing any shipping company or method, just providing what little experience I recently obtained during my research.

Todd

klee wyck said:

Been there, done that on my dream boat just a couple of years ago. I used Raven Offshore out of Sidney BC. Contact was Rick Glavin. At the time, they were using Northern European ports only but suspect you could get it there?

We shipped from Antwerp, Belgium to the Fraser River near Vancouver BC in a cargo ship hold for around 70K. Worth it for the boat I wanted. (the boat in my avatar). Keep a stash of the sedative of your choice handy.....
The boat was right around the size you are considering, 57' overall weighing 126,000#.

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Thanks for the info. I am hopeful of shipping to PNW as we live in Seattle area. I used 7star to ship my current Defever from Ft Laud to Ensenada and they did a good job. I would love to cruise the med before shipping her stateside.
Thanks all who have posted. This boat has a 1700 mile range so can't go on her own keel.

Todd2 said:

I am no expert, but what I learned was most yacht shippers are really just brokers - they don't actually own the ships that transport the boats/yachts (1 or 2 do). So they all have access to most of the same transport ships.

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Sevenstar and their subsidiary, DYT, are the only ones I know who own their own ships.

Capt James.

Back in 2015 I was dealing with a broker on buying a 75 foot in Sweden. I looked into having the vessel shipped to the states if the deal went through.

The quote to ship the vessel from Sweden to Norfolk was 62,768.00 euros. That is $69,896.56 US at the time. That price included. Cradle, loading and unloading as well as 2 mil in insurance.

I found it would have been cheaper to run her on her bottom to the U.S.
To go from France to the West Coast. I would say it would be closer to 80 to 90K.

If you want my contact in Europe for the shipping company send me a message and I give it you.

Cheers
H.

Capn James Brett said:

Thanks for the info. I am hopeful of shipping to PNW as we live in Seattle area. I used 7star to ship my current Defever from Ft Laud to Ensenada and they did a good job. I would love to cruise the med before shipping her stateside.
Thanks all who have posted. This boat has a 1700 mile range so can't go on her own keel.

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Depending on how you go, you can do it in legs. Longest leg is Nuuk to Halifax at ~1300nm. But there are also places to stop in between (e.g. St. Anthony)

It would take awhile to do that though, but you also don't have to do it in one go.

As you may know we live on a boat in Narbonne in the South of France so I can assure you that's it definitely worth it as a cruising area as you've got such a vast variety of things to do and see.

I've sailed the Greek islands and various other parts of the Med over the years but the admiral prefers shorter journeys of around a hundred miles or so, now we fly if we wish to visit around the Meds coastlines and other ports.
For example take a look at our post on Malta in Traditions and Travel post.
There's no earthly reason a vessel like yours cannot go on her own keel, you've a choice of two routes, the Northerly passing up from Scotland and over to Alaska with several stops along the way for R&R but the predominant wind will be North Westerly which may be uncomfortable on long stretches.
Personally I would take the Southerly route through the straits of Gibraltar (for duty free fuel) from the Med, down to the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of North Africa and across the pond to Barbados as the wind would be on your stern quarter giving you 'a push' and more favourable sea conditions (the fishing's good too).
WOW your boats just crying for an 'ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME', go for it.
However if your not up to it for any reason's there's a company called Atlantic Container Lines who offer a RO/RO and LO/LO service from various ports in Europe to America. I've used the service from Liverpool, UK in the past, they have what are called MAFI trailers, basically really low flat beds which you strap your boat to on a cradle and one of the special shunters (dock tractors( takes it on board where its strapped down for the crossing.
If the boats to large to fit up the loading ramp they can take it as deck cargo.
But as someone has already said most 'Yacht Transporters' are only agents for shipping lines like ACL.
Just Google Atlantic Container Lines.

If you decide on an 'adventure of a lifetime' there is an annual Atlantic Rally Crossing (the ARC) which leaves the canaries isles in spring and crosses over the Atlantic to Bermuda.
The boats are virtually all sailing boats but there's no reason a cruiser could not join.
All boats are safety checked by the organisers before they are allowed to enter and they sail over in loose formation according to their size/speed.
Once they reach the West Indies they have a wing ding of a party for a week or so and the go their separate ways.
I'd give my right arm for a crack at it.

Well said Irish Rambler.
When we arrived in Med from the Netherlands, I ask Sevenstar and DYT ( now part of Sevenstar company) to ship my trawler from Palma de Majorca.
There are indeed many options offered to land in US or Caribbean as well further west. Not cheap but easy. The contract needs some attention..and extra insurance is required.But I believe these companies are reliable.
As an ex sailor ( I did long time ago a passage to the Caribbean with my Fisher 37 motorsailer), I decided two years ago to go to the Canary on my keel, a new experience with my trawler. Now in these islands, I wonder if I will cross or not, stop or not in Cape Verde. My John Deere 6068 AFM 75 M1 rated will certainly do the job!
Covid as of course changed many things.
Create a small group of powerboats and trawlers ready to do the trip would be a great experience and benefit in term of preparation, crew management, security during the passage. Like the Nordhavn Rally starting from US few years ago.

How did the US built boat get to Euroland?


Reverse the process?

If you decide the expense is worth it then with your wanting Seattle as delivery you'll need to deal with the Jones Act. Sevenstar, the best in my opinion, is not operating US built and flagged ships. They usually stop in Florida to unload and reload. Then Florida to any other US port violates the Jones Act. Likely the closest they will get it to you is Vancouver BC which isn't an issue. Even if the border closes again professional delivery captains have been allowed to move boats cross border.



Another thing to consider is that Sevenstar will likely do the job in two lifts. Europe to Florida. Then Florida to Vancouver. Which means you or a trusted hired capt will need to be in Florida for the unload and reload. The time between based on experience can be weeks.