Ebay recommends using ESCROW.COM You would have him put the money in an escrow account until all the terms are met. You could ask for a non-refundable deposit to seal it.
If his company is the shipping company find out if you just drop the boat off at the container and they do the rest. When you drop the boat off may be the time you get the escrow money.
This is not an easy solution but then you are trying to be an exporter of sorts.
Later,
Dan