Boat selling advice (Med)

[Yngmar]

We're thinking about selling Songbird after this season. While I learnt a ton about cruising and boat maintenance since I bought her in 2015, I've never sold a boat before. Looking for advice, mainly about where to leave the boat and how to prepare it, as we have some time yet. What jobs to do, which to better leave for the next owner, etc.

Right now we're in Sardinia, planning to visit Corsica, Baleares, Valencia, Almerimar, Gibraltar and then Algarve. For Winter berthing, we're thinking Algarve in October, the marina in Albufeira was moderately priced, and is easy to reach from Faro airport. There's also a small boatyard with a good crane crew who didn't mind DIY. Leaving it on the hard is probably not possible and we don't particularly want to, as we'll stay on the boat for a while. Suggestions for better locations around our route welcome.

We'll also have to think about how to haul all our junk, err, belongings from there back to northern Europe. Probably buy or rent a little van, pack it up to the roof with all the crap we've accumulated in half a decade of living aboard and drive it on a tour through Europe! A little worried about weight as apart from some old clothing, there's probably a ton of tools which I'd very much like to keep (we're planning on fixing up an old house for our next adventure). Perhaps shipping is a better idea?

We thought about sailing back up to the Baltic, but that takes more than a season at our speed and we'd have to face off Orcas and high diesel prices, so the idea is only moderately appealing and I think we'd rather sell in Portugal.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Some cheap-ish flights to Olbia for potential buyers, and you, then ship your gear back?

 

[Concerto]

What about sailing back to the UK? Prices are very strong at present and as you sailed it away, you can bring it back without any extra VAT to pay. Much easier to empty the boat as well.

 

[Tranona]

Yes. Sail it back to UK as it can remain a UKI VAT paid boat if you bring it back, while still giving you the opportunity to sell it as an EU paid boat if you are prepared to sail it back across the channel for the buyer and complete the sail there.

As Concerto says there is a dire shortage of modern boats in the UK, particularly boats like yours and it will sell easily, more so than relying on N Europeans to make their way down to the Med in winter to view. As to preparation, clean and empty, fix things that are critical and be honest about the rest. If going down the UK route worth talking to specialist bluewater brokers like John Rodriguez or Red Ensign in Plymouth.

 

[Clancy Moped]

A second for John Rodriguez, he sold my boat in Crete in four weeks from it being listed.

 

[Yngmar]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Keep 'em coming.

Interesting point about UK VAT. Does this mean the boat has to enter the UK under my ownership? Or could someone buy it in Portugal and then sail it back to the UK and still retain the UK VAT paid status? The boat is German flagged if that makes a difference.

We don't really have many ties to the UK anymore, our stuff would need to be hauled to either Germany or Lithuania where we have family. We felt a bit unwelcome around Brexit and escaped the UK by boat

 

[RAI]

Boats are selling fast along the Algarve too.
Faro airport is easily accessible from the coast by rail from Lagos to Vila Real d.A although Albufiera is a longer taxi ride. The airport is well served by cheap flights. To Germany too.
In the winter months, rental accommodation is cheap and can be useful as a staging post for your stuff.

 

[RAI]

Personally, would go to Lagos for living aboard in the winter months.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Keep 'em coming.

Interesting point about UK VAT. Does this mean the boat has to enter the UK under my ownership? Or could someone buy it in Portugal and then sail it back to the UK and still retain the UK VAT paid status? The boat is German flagged if that makes a difference.

We don't really have many ties to the UK anymore, our stuff would need to be hauled to either Germany or Lithuania where we have family. We felt a bit unwelcome around Brexit and escaped the UK by boat

No if someone brought the boat fro you they lost the UK vat status.
But they keep the EU vat status
I tho last time we talk you wasn't going to do i yet , or did me selling given you the bug?
As for selling as you know we had well over 19 people who wanted to buy our and 5 was very interested, I be I could had let them bid against each other if I was that type person

 

[sailaboutvic]

Delet two posting the same

 

[Yngmar]

No if someone brought the boat fro you they lost the UK vat status.
I tho last time we talk you wasn't going to do i yet , or did me selling given you the bug?

The somewhat lousy start of the season didn't help and we've pretty much decided we're ready for new adventures and not getting any younger or richer out here either

Time for chickens, a dog and a bigger workshop! If the Dutch don't take you either, you're still welcome to settle next to us in some ex-cruiser community in the Lithuanian forest

 

[sailaboutvic]

The somewhat lousy start of the season didn't help and we've pretty much decided we're ready for new adventures and not getting any younger or richer out here either

Time for chickens, a dog and a bigger workshop! If the Dutch don't take you either, you're still welcome to settle next to us in some ex-cruiser community in the Lithuanian forest

you never know

 

[Tranona]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Keep 'em coming.

Interesting point about UK VAT. Does this mean the boat has to enter the UK under my ownership? Or could someone buy it in Portugal and then sail it back to the UK and still retain the UK VAT paid status? The boat is German flagged if that makes a difference.

We don't really have many ties to the UK anymore, our stuff would need to be hauled to either Germany or Lithuania where we have family. We felt a bit unwelcome around Brexit and escaped the UK by boat

Yes. You can take advantage of the Returned Goods Rule to come back to UK. If you sell it outside the UK it loses VAT paid. If you sell it in the EU it retains EU paid status.

Guess a good strategy is to advertise it in Portugal and see what happens. Pretty sure it would sell for a higher price in the UK, but whether that will offset the extra potential hassle, not sure. You could always sail to Germany, drop off your gear and then go back to the UK and put it up for sale here. Life gets complicated and perhaps should not be driven by tax issues, but nice to know the options.