The LIBERATOR Boat Share Co-Op LTD.
The LIBERATOR boat share was conceived late in 2009 by James Modra & Xane Matsen.
It is a non-profit cooperative limited to six members, structured as non-trading with share capital incorporation.
Six like minded individuals are pooling their resources to import a late model Bayliner 3055 from the USA for their recreational enjoyment.
These pages will detail the progress of that journey as we bring the LIBERATOR to Hamilton Island.
See below for updates as they come to hand
21 Jan 2011
We have not booked flights yet, because we are torn between two boats on the very short list one in Sonoma California and the other on the other side of the US in Cumming Georgia
Both boats are fuel injected, have air and electronics and all the standard features. The Cummings boat also has a generator valued at about 8k to install, but this boat is 2 years older than Sonoma boat and has 400 hours.
The Sonoma boat is a newer model with only 72 hours on the motors. From discussions with most of you we agree to go for the newer boat with 72 hours and worry about installing a generator at a later date.
Given this conclusion we are going to order a marine survey to be done on the Sonoma boat now, hopefully in the next week or so, cost should be between $US500 and $US800 including the boat lift. The survey will confirm the equipment, hull and transom integrity.
The results of the survey on the Sonoma boat will tell us we are going to Sonoma or to Cumming. At that time we will make a refundable deposit based on a variable offer, of 40-45k that we will review when we are on site to check it all in person.
In the unlikely case that the Sonoma boat is a dog, we will then need a marine survey on the Cumming boat.
Stay tuned
24 Jan 2011
The Sonoma boat
has fallen through, after pushing the vendor to check that it is actually MPI
by sending us a photo, they have admitted it is just the carburettor model of
the mercruiser, the difference between the carburettor and multipoint fuel
injection MPI is about 30% in more power or 30% better economy.
29 Jan 2011
Hooray! We have a contract on the Cumming
GA boat, at $46,000 US subject to marine survey, hull and transom inspection
and our onsite inspection and evaluation. More to follow.
We have a contract on this boat and we are going to inspect it, we have tickets for 7th March, we are still finalising the choice of international carrier for the export import. I will update with the survey results as soon as they come to hand. Once we land the boat in Hamilton we will need to have a renaming ceremony, no this is not a joke. The boat will be known as LIBERATOR. We are assured that the boat is in good sound condition, and we are quite confident of this.
16 Feb 2011
After a few delays with weather and their boat lift, it looks like our survey will be completed this Thursday, the owner got their mechanics to give the boat a once over before we independently survey it. I had advice from our surveyor that when he spoke to their mechanic, the engines fired up instantly and the air conditioner is working well.
It is good that the owner is keen to make sure it’s all tip top prior to survey.
Attached are all accounts FYI, we will have about 84k total, I am adding things to the project budget file as they become known.
We have located a cradle maker in the
US, 300km away that has shipping cradles for $500 not the $2000 we are being quoted.
The general ledger spread sheet now includes a second section detailing expenses to date through my credit card. Xane and I will fully prep the boat for export while we are there, there is a growing list of things to do, to ensure a smooth transport.
We still have not finalized the ocean freight component this is the biggest cost, 15-20k, I am now in negotiation directly with customs brokers in Savannah GA, we save $ a bit here and cost $ a bit there, but no blow outs yet.
Suncorp will full comp insure us for $1800pa with 6 operators, that’s $34 per week. I have added this to the project statement.
Xane and I will be standing on the LIBERATOR on the 8th March, we are all ticketed to go. Lots of photos and video to be published on the LIBERATOR web site. As soon as the results of the survey come to hand I will publish them to you. I am expecting a very good survey.
19 Feb 2011 SURVEY RESULTS
Hi guys, survey is here, when you read this you will see a list of things to fix, these are all cosmetic and will be fixed as soon as possible, the main things to consider here are engines, hull and major equipment. I spoke with the surveyor for about an hour yesterday on the phone and he was surprised that this boat was in this good a condition overall. The engines have only 150 hours on them, the generator was faultless, he could not find any issues with the hull or transom either, which is also un-usual over all this boat keeps getting better.
These following cosmetic items give us some bargaining power.
Mechanical, Compression and Water test
2/18/2011
HIN# BLBC51ELA202
Westerbeke generator - 4.5 KW, 3 cylinders, 142 hours, model # 4.5BCGTC.
Starts right up and holds “excessive load”. Oil level is good and
belt is tight. Pumping good water and ran for 45 minutes with no problems. Small
oil leak I think is at the oil filter. Turned it 1/8 turn, wiped it down and
found no oil after the water test. Excellent condition but still needs
servicing.
Stbd engine – Mercruiser 350 mag MPI, fuel injection, serial #
OM335457, 151.4 hours, No fault codes found,
Oil pressure at idle 50 PSI, 14 ½ volts.
Oil level is good and no metal found in the filter. Belt is tight.
Pumping good water.
Pt engine – Mercruiser 350 mag MPI, fuel injection, serial # OM335444,
148.4 hours, No fault codes found.
Oil pressure at idle 48 PSI 13 volts
Oil level is good and no metal found in the filter. Belt is tight.
Pumping good water.
No sign’s of freeze damage to the blocks or exhaust manifolds.
Outdrive reservoir levels are good. No metal or water found in drive
reservoirs.
Spark plug – AC DELCO 41-932
25328284
Compression pt and stbd engines cylinders 1-8 = 165 (all)
Water Testing 4,000 – 44
mph, cruising is 3,200 – 30 mph. 35 knots wide open throttle.
#21711
Repair
List for 2002 Ciera with HIN # BLBC51ELA202:
*HIN # on the boat and
registration papers does not match!!!
*Install strap for cabin
entry door when opened
*Broken transom shower door
latch
*Install new latch galley
cabinet door under burner
*Install sink drain traps
for galley sink and head sink
*Missing o-ring stbd side
gas fill and water fill caps
*Bent anchor
*Chain and rope transition
anchor winch
*Install anchor lanyard
*Water system has been
winterized flush tank several times before use
*Aft cabin bedding has a
stain
*175 lbs. of ballast weight
stbd aft cabin, needs more wait
*Stbd engine room vent has a
leak , stain in aft cabin
*Cover stbd side positive
battery post
*Install in-line fuse stbd
battery 8 gauge red positive wiring. Batt Charger ??
*Replace torn blower hose
*Pt idle pulley has a
bearing noise ??
*One courtesy light out at
helm
*Pt oil pressure gauge does
not work correctly
*Pt and stbd trim gauges do
not work
*Pt volt meter at 13 volts
*Stbd tack does not work
*Pt tack sticks on 400 RPM
and then ran correctly during water test.
*IAC muffler for the port and stbd engine should be replaced
*Air conditioner strainer
8th March 2011
My fellow Libertarians, Xane and I are writing to you from the main bar of the Summit Tavern, see photo above, this is now our office while in Georgia, we had some serious jet lag this morning and could not get to the job early as we where comatose in our "budget" (shit, hence the "office") accommodation. YES we arrived for a test drive at 2pm our time today, wow, what can I say, the vision that we had keeps getting better. The boat is pristine, clean, fresh and it goes like a scalded cat, enjoy the videos attached. We are implementing the export plan as arranged. Looking f$%#u8King good. Can't wait to get it home, P.S. 46,000US BBQ onboard, few small issues to solve, gauges etc no biggies.
9th March 2011
Well today we arranged the prep work that Marine Max must do, we have also booked with CAREX for the ocean freight component and things are beginning to come together on the logistics side of it. We have located a machine hire and will get down the dock tomorrow to use the bleach cleaning and industrial vacuum, Xane and I will clean it tip top and then pass to Marine Max for leg antifouling, shrink wrap and sundry's.
See photo above this is the hire car, Dodge Charger, yahoo, this has given us automatic street cred, because the yanks do love their cars.
Xane and I will take the boat out again for short squirt tomorrow before we start the clean we will take more photos and another video of the run.
We are planning for CAREX to pickup the boat on the 17th the day before we leave.
Mobile number in the US 0011-1-404-398-9474
10th March 2011
Well we have cleaned the boat from head to toe, yes I cleaned the head. S%hi^t it is about 8 deg here all day and I think its about 4 deg now. Very cold today. We have made a deposit to CAREX ocean freightr today $2000, to get the ball rolling, we are going to get MARINE MAX to do some work on the boat to prepare it for export as well as anti-foul both legs and replace the air conditioner leaf strainer indicated in Mikes surevey. We are expecting to get through customs and AQIS ok but we will have to get licences for our pre-charged gas appliances, the quote to degas fridge and air was $485 when the two licences are $400.
We expect the boat hauler here on the 16th, to take the boat to Brunswick where it will be placed on a cradle for export. We will be taking the boat for a ride in the morning.
11th March 2011
Hi guys, we went down the boat today and finalised the cleaning the remaining work will be carried out by Marine Max, we are still arranging the freight, pre charged equipment licence and certificate of origin FTA, looks like its going to be a bit more expensive, we will get a better picture in a few days.