Transport from UK to USA: A how to question

[abates]

Hi All, this is not a festool related question but I wasn't sure where to start the thread so hopefully it will get bumped to the appropriate discussion folder. 

Anyway, I am a professional cabinet builder and it has been my dream for almost 20 years to own a Martin t54 jointer.  I recently found one for sale in UK and the seller is asking a fairly nice price for it.  I am wondering if anyone here has bought machinery from out of the country and had it shipped/freighted/transported to the US. 
1) What is the process?
2) Do I need an import broker or can I just pick it up at the terminal?
3) Are there many fees or taxes involved in bringing a machine into the states?
4) If the machine is 220v 3 phase, will that be a plug and play machine or will the hertz difference be an issue (I don't know if it is 50 or 60 hertz).
5) Is shipping a machine via boat problematic or is it pretty straight forward? 
6) Are there any questions I am forgetting to ask?

Thanks in advance for any insight you might be able to offer.

 

[lwoirhaye]

There are a lot of users at owwm.org with a lot of experience moving machinery.  There is one guy who brings stuff over from the UK  who has a site at owwm.net - he's kind of into collecting and restoring Robinson and Wadkin type stuff as well as American makes.  I saw some stuff he'd written about import procedures, though I think he may travel there for work and made some arrangements in person.

As a general rule with motors going up from 50 to 60 hz is not a problem but going down is.  If it's a newer Martin machine it's likely to have some fairly fussy electronics in it.  Getting the motor itself to power up may be simpler than figuring out how to get the switch and safety features to run on 60hz 3-phase electric.