I said the same thing!!! Buy 1989 albemarle in the states for 12,000 to 15,000 or cheaper, ship it for let's say 8,000 or more? Sell boat in AUS. For 40,000 dollars!!! I'm in the wrong buisness. I'm gonna make some calls on shipping right now.
The problem with those engines on this boat is they are the OMC FICHTS. they had alot of issues, and earned a bad reputation for it. You can normally pick up an 01-03 FICHT for $2500-3500(if your lucky) here where the same year MERC will bring $4500-5000 EASILY.
well I can't front the shipping money but if you find someone willing to pay 40k+ for my boat sight unseen I'll drag it to the coast fast enough to make ur head spin.... and THEN I'll find 3 more to follow it with!!!!
This has become pretty big business down here in FLORIDA. Tampa is on the gulf coast, and there is ALWAYS boats being loaded onto containers heading from AUSTRALIA and SOUTH AMERICA. it's gotten bad enough that people from SOUTH AMERICA are now shipping boats here to be redone and shipped back to them. With currency exchange it is cheaper for them to pay a top notch shop here to do it rather than a hack shop down there.