Best country to buy and keep a sailboat in charter?

[Yngmar]

You're probably not eligible to fly an Austrian flag and even if you are you still have to update their register with the new ownership. Sounds like you're already set up to get a Maltese flag though.

Different flags come with different rules and regulations which affect what equipment you're required to carry. They also vastly differ in registration requirements, fees and duration. Some need a surveyor flown in from the flag country, others just some paperwork shuffled around. And depending on which countries you want to go, some are more welcome than others, but in the EU that's not really a problem.

 

[Sailfree]

What boat did you buy in the end?

 

[wwalsh]

If you will charter in the eu you need an eu flag and also to obtain charter license in the countries you will be chartering in which will include system to pay vat on the charters to the country you will make charters in (thats a big topic).

Malta company is a good one to pay low tax if you can afford the total costs.

John Ross is the best for the malta flag surveys Malta Yacht Surveys - Marine Surveyor, Government Surveys
Malta is one of the flags with a lot of regulations which are based on the British MCA code and there is also requirement for surveyor inspection. Same with Cyprus. For easy registration there is slovenia and poland. Whilst they are fine for private use I just wonder what will happen if a charter yacht flying one of the easy flags has a nasty accident with fatalities. Maybe they would realise their mistake and cancel commercial registrations or make the system strict. Also when there are regulations, periodic surveyor inspection and certification, this protects the owner moderately (that his boat was maintained and certified to high standards) in case of accident and claim.