Shipping Alternative?

If you can't beat them, then try this!

Buy your boat/motor/trailer that has shipping (hopefully free) within the 48 contigous states and have it shipped to a freight forwarder.  I found one in Los Angeles.  They offer a LCL service, Less than Container Load.  

Why can't I ship anything I buy in China direct to Hawaii?

Due to the Jones Act of 1920, this prohibits it.  All goods must hit the mainland first then reship back to Hawaii.

So we're 2nd class citizens?  What an outdated maritime law!!!!

Even Walmart's China shipments have to come to the US mainland then turn around again to ship to Hawaii.
Dumb law, huh?

Well, a few of the politicians may be starting to get interested in repealing certain parts of the Jones Act to get the shipping changed.  It only makes sense to ship direct from China to Hawaii!

Outboards made in China

Things change as time goes on!

3 years ago I would not have entertained the idea of buying a Parsun or Sail outboard marine motor. But now I would.

Parsun is using the expired copyright to the Yamaha 2 stroke series and the internet discussions are talking about a 1/3 less in price (real?).

The Parsun's replacement parts have been commented on by repair places that says they seem to be better made and are interchangeable with the real Yammies.

By now the prices have kinda caught up as the dealerships are beginning to show up on US soil. The first ones I saw were in Canada.

And now guess what?

I see the china made 2 strokes are running cleaner, 4strokes are starting to show up on the list of choices. Still at $500 less that the competitors.

I've been told that Mercury is now made in China along with Tohatsu and Nissan. Suszuki's are still made in Japan I think.

How much engine power do I need?

With my old Yukon Alaska Sport boat at 13ft-9inches and weighs 230lbs with floor, Yammie 25hp 2stroke weighs 105lbs, 6 gals of gas, 3 divers, 3 tanks, 3 weightbelts I have never opened the throttle more than half way on the Yammie 25hp 2 stroke.

Boat dealers are telling me that a 4stroke 15-20hp should work out fine for a 13-14ft inflatable.

What do you think?

What type of trailer should I buy?

The quote from the local boat place on Oahu was around $1000-1100 for a galvanized 12inch tires bunk style trailer. It's a regular boat trailer with a payload of 1200-2000lbs. I really need only a 600-900lb payload type trailler.

Being garage space limited the foldable trailers seems like a good choice but none of them are galvanized.

Since they are sold as trailer kits that require you to bolt it all together, the shipping in multiple boxes is a plus rather than a totally assembled one that you would have to find a freight carrier to deal with. Your needs may be the opposite.

The Price is the issue here:

These trailer kits costs $375USD - $1400USD. The ones I'm closely looking at are in the $400-600 USD cost range.

There are powder painted steel, galvanized, and aluminum choices on the finish.

I thought I had to purchase a galvanized trailer kit, but some of the makers offer that option for an extra charge of $112 which sounds like it's worth it to add to your options.

I didn't see any aluminum trailers for less than $1100-1500USD; some payloads were less than 500lbs.

Some of these trailer kits are not really designed for boats but more so for a 4ft X 8ft flat bed. With these types you may need to add the winch post, winch, bunks or bunk cloth material so your boat can slide onto the flat bed. I would not use this type of trailer without putting the plywood down on the flat bed, or I'd install two 5ft bunks at the back half of the trailer if you don't like the flat bed option.

For the amount of freeway driving the trailer needs to do, I'm opting for the 5.80 X 12inch tires.

My motor weight of 105lbs, + boat 200-250lbs and maybe 200lbs of dive gear is under my requirement for the payload restriction of 600lbs.

So my choice would be to get a Red Trailer or Amorex foldable flatbed trailer that I could galvanize the steel parts and put together as a kit for under the $800USD price tag.  The CE Smith trailer kits area just under $800 USD too but they are not foldable or break down easy to store away.