[NickM]

Hi All and hope someone can help me out ? (living in Australia)

I own a Mariah 19SX Bow Rider which 2 years ago I shipped inside our 40ft container along with our house hold possessions from Malta to Brisbane Australia.The boat was originally purchased in Dubai and we again shipped it in the container to Malta (without problem)

2 years ago the Australian Customs officer stated that the maxiumum weight for a small pleasure craft to enter Australia must not exceed 1250KG. Unfortunatley the spec as stated on the Mariah official specification website for the 19SX states the weight to be 1270KG (20Kg over the allowed weight)

Due to the initial import of the boat there is always a refundable deposit (Duty and GST) which is returned after 2 years (once the Customs know we are not here to make a profit on the boat) but use it as a family pleasure craft which are doing.
The refundable deposit paid out was Aus$2900 (aprox GBP1650).

The Authorioties are now saying that by law the boat is overweight by 20Kg and that the money initially paid is NON REFUNDABLE!!! You can imagine my current frustration over 20Kg

The question to the Mariah Club forum is how acurate is the specifcation on the officail website or is this a generic / aproximate dry weight provided?

SX19 Bow Rider

As you can appreciate having spent the money in bringing the joy of our lives overseas why should we pay the penalty of Aus$2900 for a 20Kg overlimit rule??!!

This is the first time I have posted an article so I do hope you can help or provide a link of someone who maybe able to assist?

Enjoy oyur boating wknds

Thanks

Nick Moreland
Brisbane - Australia

[ShabahZ280]

This is an interesting situation! The official weight listed in the brochure is 1261kg. This is usually true "dry weight", with the base model boat (3.0L), with absolutely nothing in it. No batteries, no life jackets, no fuel, no canvas top, etc. The 3.0L engine weighs around 635lbs (~288kg), and the 4.3L engine weighs in at 846lbs (~384kg), which already adds a weight difference of +96kg just by having the larger engine option. At least that's how they're usually measured in the USA. So chances are, you may be over the official listed weight due to the 4.3L engine, batteries, and any other gear you may have stored onboard. The only true way to know would be to have it weighed professionally.

Hope this helps!

[NickM]

Hi Chris
Firstly thanks for your prompt reply
Not the news I really wanted to hear as you can imagine by the scenario we have!!
How accurate do you think the weights are?
What the Customs officer advised me today was that if the spec is stipulated with the wake board tower which it is as part of the 'standard spec' then this actually adds more weight to the boat as it was still form part of the 40ft container!
No way out really but the next stage as I thought would be to weigh the boat and maybe have it witnessed by the authority

If you do find any further info which may assist or anyone else it would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

Nick

[NickM]

Ps Chris
Which brochure were you referencing as I can't find any other docs / info on specs that's state anything less than 1270kg
Cheers
Nick

[mikeyt]

Originally Posted by NickM

Ps Chris
Which brochure were you referencing as I can't find any other docs / info on specs that's state anything less than 1270kg
Cheers
Nick

Chris is referencing the 2006 promotional brochure put out by SeaFox which indicates the boat weighs 2780lbs/1261kg. As Chris notes the boat will weigh more than that with the 4.3 engine etc but i suspect that the Aussie authorities may be using the 'spec' weight (published weight) of 1250kg as their guideline/limit which doesn't factor in any extras added to the boat. You might need to clarify that with them.

The only way to know how accurate those published weights are is to ask SeaFox to confirm exactly how they arrived at their weight & then physically weigh your boat using the same formula.

[NickM]

Thanks guys appreciate your feed back, will contact Seafox in the start and go from there!?
Keep you posted
Cheers