Buying a boat in Croatia

[scsr]

Hi,

Hoping you guys can help me!

We are trying to buy a boat in Croatia - an Azimut 46.

It's proving tricky in as much as the broker selling the boat doesn't seem to be overly helpful - we've been told there's no need for a survey, we should just pay the deposit direct to the owner and no need for a contract...!!!

We know that the boat is privately owned but registered to a German company and we have seen the Vat status paperwork. We have arranged a survey and are drawing up our own contract. The owner is very helpful and continuing to upgrade the boat as he promised.

What papers do we need to have in our sweaty little hands by the time the sale has (hopefully!) completed?!

Any advice would be welcomed!

Thanks

 

[Jim@sea]

Proof of the identity and photograph of the owner.
a search that finds out if the boat is on finance in another country.
check with the manufacturer as to who they sold it to
and who the present owner bought it from and contact them.

 

[Whitelighter]

DO NOT pay a deposit direct to either of them.
Use a marine conveyancer (like you would with a house purchase) - ward and Mckenzie are very good.
You can then pay the deposit to them who’ll put it in escrow - same with the balance. They’ll release it once everything has been checked.

 

[kashurst]

Nice and simple might be OK in Croatia but it won't go down very well elsewhere, or when you want to sell it later. Buying a big boat is not like buying a second hand car.

You need evidence VAT paid (or not) - sooner or later it will be checked either in the Med or when it comes to the UK
Copy of current registration documents - Croatian,German etc ? - is it nicked?
purchase contract/receipt - where was it bought/sold last time - was it nicked?
Proof of ownership of the current owner - who did he buy it from, is it nicked?
Verified copy of suitable ID of current owner, with current address - who is the current owner, where does he live,just in case its nicked ?
Contract (with English translation ) with specific mention that there are no loans, mortgages etc on the boat - is it owned by a finance company?
list of whats included - what exactly are you buying? a hull with no engines is not a lot of use.

Plus other posts too

Sounds like this broker is a bit useless, unless he can give you sight of all of the above just walk away.
Don't hand over any money - use an escrow company
Don't get into surveys etc until you have seen the above.
If the owner/broker gets shirty about ID and receipts just walk away.
There are loads of boats for sale don't waste your time, it's the brokers job to do this work

 

[scsr]

Thanks for your replies.

We enlisted a Surveyor who's based in Croatia and he has undertaken a very thorough survey, including an osmosis check - which has come back as not good! He's advised repairs will cost in the region of €20 - 30k including dry-docking to do it properly with a company that will give a decent warranty.

The current owner has been very good so far and continues to do work to her. He thinks it will cost €7k to fix the osmosis and is willing to either do the repairs or knock this off the purchase price.

So until we agree either a proper repair or a substantial price reduction it looks like its we may have to walk away. ��

 

[petem]

Thanks for your replies.

We enlisted a Surveyor who's based in Croatia and he has undertaken a very thorough survey, including an osmosis check - which has come back as not good! He's advised repairs will cost in the region of €20 - 30k including dry-docking to do it properly with a company that will give a decent warranty.

The current owner has been very good so far and continues to do work to her. He thinks it will cost €7k to fix the osmosis and is willing to either do the repairs or knock this off the purchase price.

So until we agree either a proper repair or a substantial price reduction it looks like its we may have to walk away. ��

Makes you wonder how good a job he'll be doing for €7k.

 

[Seastoke]

also dosnt it have to stand for a long time before treatment ,so no use and if you are bringing it back to the uk warrantee not much use

 

[kashurst]

walk away - forget the survey fee, older and wiser etc.

 

[Divemaster1]

Thanks for your replies.

We enlisted a Surveyor who's based in Croatia and he has undertaken a very thorough survey, including an osmosis check - which has come back as not good! He's advised repairs will cost in the region of €20 - 30k including dry-docking to do it properly with a company that will give a decent warranty.

The current owner has been very good so far and continues to do work to her. He thinks it will cost €7k to fix the osmosis and is willing to either do the repairs or knock this off the purchase price.

So until we agree either a proper repair or a substantial price reduction it looks like its we may have to walk away.

We have a 45 ft MOBO with V hull ... quote for repair was between £18 - £22K which was mostly labour (incl Gel Peel) and indoor storage... Decided to do it myself and pay for Pro Gel Peel ... so far the Gel Peel, material (Low viscosity epoxy, Filler, 6 coats of Barrier epoxy + epoxy based primer for anti-foul), Damaged hardware replacement etc. stands at around £3,000 ... + a shedload of work on my behalf where I do not wish to count hours... Guess owner think he can do spot repair, hull dry-out (temporarely remove traces, but will build up again) and finish the half done job for €7,000... but will not come with any warranty etc... so ;

a) Negotate price down for professional repair + inconveinience
b) walk-away