Buying a British boat in a French marina.

[MrCramp]

I am considering buying a Uk boat owned by a couple who live in the UK, but the boat is in a French marina. I will be certain about the ownership and will, of course, visit the boat and survey it myself. I am very familiar with the make of boat.

We would use a RYA form to tranfer ownership. I would sail it home a month later. Are there any French rules/customs about buying a boat in a marina/boatyard? I know of one yard in the UK that attempts to charge a brokerage fee for such a transaction.

 

[Cloven]

We are based in a French marina and several of our friends have sold boats out here when they have upgraded or given up sailing. No problems whatsoever. Some have been sold to French buyers and some to UK buyers. Some have then bought UK registered boats that are already here and again no problems at all.

 

[MrCramp]

Thanks Dave. The boat is not far from La Roche-Bernard. Do you have any recommendations for travelling there towards the end of Feb/early March? I drove there a few times ten years back and went to St Marlo. I suppose Caen or Cherbourg are alternatives.

Have you any idea how long it take to drive there from St Marlo, Cherbourg or Caen, I assume Caen is easier. Any flights that go nearby that you are aware of?
Thanks. Paul

 

[ksutton]

Flybe airline from Leeds Bradford to Rennes. Rennes to La Roche-Bernard is under 2 hour drive, about 150 kms.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Ryan air fly from Stanstead to La Rochelle on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. About 20 euros in February.

 

[Cloven]

Thanks Dave. The boat is not far from La Roche-Bernard. Do you have any recommendations for travelling there towards the end of Feb/early March? I drove there a few times ten years back and went to St Marlo. I suppose Caen or Cherbourg are alternatives.

Have you any idea how long it take to drive there from St Marlo, Cherbourg or Caen, I assume Caen is easier. Any flights that go nearby that you are aware of?
Thanks. Paul

Paul

As you gathered we are based at La Roche Bernard (LRB).

We do the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St.Malo and then it takes us about 2 hours drive once clear of the ferry port via Rennes & Redon to LRB. We go home the same way but many of our friends do the same route outward but go home via Caen (approx 3 hrs drive) as the ferry times are a little kinder and it does mean that you do not have such an early start. Cherbourg can be a quicker crossing but drive times are correspondingly longer. There is also the option of Portsmouth/Le Havre (LD lines) but that is 4/5 hrs drive.

There are two "local" flight options - Nantes & Rennes

FlyBe fly into Rennes (approx 1 1/4 hrs from LRB) from Southampton but with connections from many other UK airports. The link referred to by ksutton from East Midlands in fact routes via Southampton. They do however fly direct from Gatwick to Nantes (approx 1 hr from LRB).

The other option is easyjet which has fairly recently started weekend only flights to Nantes from Gatwick. Unfortunately Ryanair stopped flying into Nantes a couple of years ago.

I also have contacts for self catering accommodation in the area if this would be of help

Hope this helps and please get in touch if I can be of further assistance.

Dave

 

[Tranona]

Suggest you also use the model contracts of sale from the RYA so that the transaction is under British law. You may also want to consider using a UK based surveyor again to keep your rights under British law and also you may find your insurance company insists on a survey from a recognised surveyor.

 

[MrCramp]

Thanks for all the replies. I hate flying, even though it is quicker, so I suspect I will have a drive over.
Paul