Boat Imports

[spike2450]

Hi
I'm buying a boat at the end of the summer, hopefully i will be purchasing from the UK but if i can't find the paticular boat i'm looking for then it will have to be a U.S. import. Has anyone on the forum had recent experience using a company called Global Trade Partners (Apollo Duck). I've searched the forum but it would be nice for some feedback.
From the forum i've read that the docks are full of boats being imported etc.
Any help/advice would be appreciated

 

[Sixpence]

There's all sorts of pitfalls with importing from the US but others can go into more detail , one thing to be wary of though is that a lot of boats are being sold that got caught in a hurricane ( I forget which one ) and the extent of the damage is being kept quiet , so careful you don't end up with a wreck

 

[Whitelighter]

GTP have been going for quite a few years, and have happy customers in the UK. Their price excludes VAT and Import tax, which together add 19.2% to the purchase price you pay them.

I think they now include the CE certification for their boats, but you must make sure you get all the relevent information from them.

It is worth factoring into your calculations that, rightly or wrongly, a parralell import US boat will never command the same price as an officially imported model. Also, internal electrics will be 110V, and you will need to modify the electrical system and shore power system to allow you to use it in the EU. Not a difficult or overly expensive task, but does need to be done properly.

I imported my own boat in 2004 from the US, and although i did ok out of it, I tried to sell it for a long time before PX with a UK dealer against s new boat. If you are importing because you really can't find the same boat in the UK (as was the case with me) then it is worth persuing. If it is to make a quick buck don't bother, because you wont.

 

[duncan]

jez has given a fair assesment but I would add that from the posts on here over the last 5 years GTP have a lot of happy customers from their 'end to end' approach but the occasional, highly vocal, complaint happens too.

the latter (that I have seen) have occured around boats that have been bought unseen and untested - and although GTP made (what to me seemed reasonable recompense) in one case (but not to the purchaser) - to me I would factor in a trip to the US to view/trial the boat and use GTP to source, ship and handle the paperwork.

There is no doubt that with current markets and currency you can make it work financially.