Boats in Greece.

Allan

Allan

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I have seen a few boats for sale in Greece. Most seem to be VAT paid and good value. Are there any pitfalls involved in buying out there? I like to think I am cynical enough not to get caught out, but if I'm shown bits of paper to prove VAT payment and ownership how do I verify them? A list of what paperwork I should ask for, would be usefull.
Allan
 
In my experience of Greece over a number of years most boats have NOT been vat paid but you still need to check anyway. If the yacht is ex charter sailing under a Greek flag it is almost certainly not vat paid -- when the present owner sells it it must come off the Greek register and that when the vat is usually paid --- the Greek Shipping Registry normally require some proof from the present owner before they de register.
Also make sure that you get a Bill of Sale which gives the price you have agreed to pay INCLUDING the VAT. If you are taking the boat to a non vat area say Turkey then you do not have to pay the vat in Greece at all. This is by no means a definitive answer as some Greek areas have their own interpretation of the vat situation. Hope this is of some help.
What sort of yacht are you looking at ?
 
I have seen a number of boats out there, one in particular is a steel cutter owned by a UK resident. If I buy one I will be bringing it to the UK and sailing the west coast and to Ireland.
Allan
 
We bought Heerenleed in Greece. Fortunately, the Greek legislation takse shipping seriously (and yachting is included). But make sure you have a reliable broker, preferably one who speaks your language. We used Seahorse in Athens-Glyfada, a Dutchman who has lived in Greece for ages. It was he who showed us through a lot of misery. You can reed all about it on our website below. Go to the English version, than click on Log and then on 1999.

If you have any specific questions, just ask
cheers
 
You want to see a valid VAT invoice, or a letter from a customs authority saying the VAT is deemed paid.

Both documents would have originators, dates and reference numbers.

To check the document your first step would be to contact the originators to make sure they existed, and that their VAT/TVA/tax number/reference was the same as that shown on the document. If you want to go further, you could fax them a copy and ask if it was valid. You'll only get a 'probably' reply for older documents, but recent ones are easy to check.
 
Debt is also a possible pitfall as well as VAT. Idon't want to cast aspersions on all yachts for sale privately in Greece and Turkey, but a small number are on the market because a long term liveaboard project has gone wrong, often due to financial problems or a split between owners leading to confusion over who pays the bills.

It is important to check that there are no outstanding mortgages of secured loans and that local yard and harbour bills have been paid. Also check that the person selling the boat has the legal authority to do so. It is not unknown for a partner (domestic or financial) to try to cash in without telling the other.

If you are spending a lot of money it may be worth employing a broker to act on your behalf who is conversant with British and Greek law, and maybe even a solicitor to do searches, draw up and check paperwork.
 
try
http://www.williamsandsmithells.com/
I bought my boat in Greece through them and brought it to Dublin in 2005.
They also were involved in the previous owner buying the boat from a Greek National and have ensured that VAT was paid and documented, Ships Registry sorted out etc etc.
If nothing else, it is worth speaking to them to get a view of what to watch out for.
Eyes open, proceed with care, you'll be fine
 
I bought in Athens last year and sailed back to Galway, Ireland. I bought through a large American broker so there was no language problem and a degree of safety. Its straightforward enough but the Greeks like to take their time. They also like paperwork and rubber stamps. There is a charge for de-registration off the shipping register. You can get a temporary registration from your own countrys embassy in Greece to get you home.
 
[ QUOTE ]
...
If you are spending a lot of money it may be worth employing a broker to act on your behalf who is conversant with British and Greek law, and maybe even a solicitor to do searches, draw up and check paperwork.

[/ QUOTE ]

...and there is one such based in Athens about whom I have heard so many stories of woe. PM me for details. This person is known to try to get a percentage on everything you organise for your boat out there. He even tried to get 15% of the antifouling costs on one yacht to which he had absolutely no claim and to the cost of a new anchor chain from a local chandler on another.

If there is one such individual about, there are probably others. I'm not saying that ALL owners' agents are corrupt but it would appear that around Athens you have to be very careful.

Steve Cronin
 
I bought my boat in Greece in 2000 after visiting numerous yards and agents. Most Greek agents, specially the ones around Athens seem to be rogues. Having searched that area I took the bus to the Ionian (Lefkas & Preveza) and the Athens agents even rang the Ionian yards saying they wanted a 15% introduction fee. Luckily the yards were honest and told me of the calls and said they were ignoring them.
Finally, after many more viewings I found my Pionier 10 in Preveza with UK couple living there. They had sailed from UK and had to return to work. I bought it instantly as a private sale, it was the only yacht I saw in perfect condition and well loved!
After 7 years warm weather sailing for 8-10 weeks pa I am upsizing and reluctantly selling the P 10, lying in yard at Preveza.
PM me for more info on yacht, and rogue agents in Greece.
Charles H
Yacht SPOONFUL
 
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