Buying a boat in the UK

[chrismckesson]

Re: Buying a boat in the UK - all respondents

Query - are there yacht donations in the UK?

Here in the US some of the best deals on 'fixer-upper' boats is to buy them from the Sea Scouts or similar charity. These yachts have been donated for a tax write-off, and then are sold by the charity for cash.

Are similar deals existent in the UK, or is this an anomaly caused by our tax laws?

tks...Chris

 

[dedwards]

Re: Buying a boat in the UK - all respondents

The insurance system is the same in the uk.

Note that the usual buying process in the UK is to agree a price subject to survey, employ a surveyor (cost approx £500) then renegotiate based on his findings (the insurers will also be interested in his report). I think this would probably suit you quite well if you are distance buying.
You probably should be aware that your biggest problem may be finding a place to put your boat as our waters are quite congested. Also consider that it may take quite a while to sell the boat so there is a risk you won't get your money back.

 

[chrismckesson]

Re: Buying a boat in the UK - all respondents

Good point about moorage...

Let's take a Centaur in the Orwell/Stour area as a baseline: What are a cruiser's moorage options? We will mostly cruise, but we will want to spend some weeks with friends, or having a walking tour, or other non-boat activities. Thus my needs would break down to:

> Anchorage while cruising
> Occasional night alongside while cruising, to buy ice, gear, go pub touring, etc.
> Occasional week or two of moorage (could be buoy, could be alongside, could be on my own ground tackle) while we go ashore and tour your country
> Extended storage while we try to sell, probably on the hard at a brokerage facility

What, in your experience, would be a reasonable approach to the above four classes of moorage? What might I expect to encounter as fees for that? Of course, I realize that everything ranges across some spectrum, from the full California Standard marina with pontoon berths and free hot showers, to a rustic workboat float or swinging berth. I would also hope that, since I am not a weekender who needs to be in London Monday morning, I might be able to enjoy less-trafficked, and thus less-expensive spots.

Your thoughts and guidelines?

Thanks!

 

[chrismckesson]

Re: Buying a boat in the UK - all respondents

A related question is "where to look", and this begs the question of "where do you want to sail?"

I've just been browsing the Cruising Almanac, and a fantasy cruise would take me from the Orwell, up the east coast, through the Clyde canal, and down to, say, Cornwall.

And then my wife says "but which direction are the prevailing winds? Would we be better off to buy a boat in Wales and sail it TO the east coast, rather than from?"

Great question me dear! Ladies and gentlemen, on a hypothetical spring-to-the-north/cross-Scotland/fall-to-south which direction does one go: Clockwise or Counterclockwise?

Thanks!