Buying a new boat

[Adrian]

I'm looking to buy a new boat (Hanse 312), I'm used to making deals with car dealers but not sure how much discount, if any, i should aim at on a new boat.

Any clues or tips appreciated.



<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>

 

[alahol2]

Whatever you can blag...go for it.
[violins]I've never been in a position to buy a new boat [/violins].

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.troppo.co.uk> Follow the Tightwad Sailor</A>

 

[DepSol]

Get a full survey on it before you buy it.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery

 

[Koeketiene]

Never bought new myself - but helped a few friend through the process.

I's like buying a car - the basic price will be roughly the same everywhere. The best you can hope for is that they throw in some extras (instruments, a stormsail, lazyjack/bag,... that sort of thing).

Hanse's a good choice of boat, they keep their value pretty well. In the same league are X-Yacht & Etap.

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[Birdseye]

So how do you get a full survey when you have to make stage payments? And whose word do you take in a conflict - the boatbuilder who has considerable experience or the surveyor who could or could not have the same?

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[dralex]

I would not have thought a survey was needed on a new boat anyway as surveys tend to be looking for signs of wear, tear and damage. If you were looking to get a marine mortgage, they wouldn't even ask for a survey on a new boat. As far as discounts go, it's such a niche market and once you've decided on a boat, the dealer knows you really want it. All you can hope is they want to keep you sweet for when you trade up.


<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[alan]

You can usually get a good deal at boatshows; where the manufacturer throws in some extras for free (or very cheap) e.g. an electronics package. Most dealers make around 15% on a new boat, so any haggling is about how much profit a dealer is willing to 'discount' in order to make a sale. Definitely get a quote from all the Hanse dealers in the UK (or elsewhere if possible) and then see what discounts they are offering on top of any manufacturer's boat-shaow offer. The fact that a dealer is in Scotland (for example) does not mean that the boat cannot be put in the water and delivered in Southampton. In fact a lot of UK dealers (I don't know about Hanse) will deliver your boat in the Med if you wish. You pay for the transport (in any case), and the dealer arranges for a boatyard to prepare the boat ( step the mast, anti-foul; e.t.c, e.t.c.) and you collect the boat in the Med; most dealers have an arrangement with a particular boatyard, so your port of delivery may be 'fixed'.

I have bought a new boat (Beneteau) in Italy and had it delivered in Antibes (S. France) which is normal for Beneteau/Jeanneau/Bavaria in Italy; I have also helped some friends take delivery of their new boats, so if you have any specific questions then please ask and I'll try and answer them.

By the way, there are finance packages offered by French banks/finance companies (and now Italian banks also) which let you buy the boat via a leasing arrangement where the French government gives back most of the VAT; this enables you to have a loan over a fixed period (typically 3 or five years) at effectively zero interest. This is why in Italy (for example) you see lots and lots of Bens, Jeanns and Bavs with French flags. The Italian government started a similar scheme last year.

Good luck.

Alan.
Nettuno, Italy.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Cloke

 

[CharlesM]

Dont think the builder/broker is infallible.

There was recently a news article in one of the yachting magazines about a person who brought a brand new boat. The company went under, and it turned out the company owed over 200k on the boat. So the purchaser lost out - seems morgage checks on builders/brokers are required as well.

Charles

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[jackho]

Myadvice assuming it,s a brand new boat - look up their website and take a note of all the dealers, e-mail all of them for their best discount and go from there.
That's how I purchased mine and got the best deal in France. You will have to arrange transport but if you can sail it from wherever you will also save another couple of gran. You can also commission it yourself and save another gran or so.
If as you say you are good a handling car dealerships then I can assure you you will enjoy this experience and save yourself a lot of money - including a strong pound if you buy in Euros. Also importing a boat from Europe is exactly the same as a car and is very simple assuming you want to pay U K vat (which is cheaper)
Hope this helps
Jackho





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[Adrian]

Thanks to all of you for your replies, plenty of "food for thought".

This whole event has taken a twist as the marina where i keep my current boat have said that if i don’t buy from the "resident broker” I’ll have to pay them (the marina) a fee of 2% of the value of the boat as well as the already expensive marina berth fee. Surely this is not legal, what possible grounds could they have for making this fee. I’ve virtually told them to stick it, but there aren’t any other marinas to move to.

They hinted that I would have difficulty getting a berth unless I bought from the broker attached to the marina.

I’m sure if I check the Ts & Cs on my agreement it will confirm this, but I’m really mad about it.

Is this normal for all marinas (as indicated by the marina)


<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>

 

[nct1]

Given you come from Birmingham, I should have thought finding another marina would not be too difficult.

Unless there is a huge waiting list for your current marina, why not come back in a year's time ?



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[CharlesM]

That just makes me livid

You obviously are in a marina that has a policy of squeezing till the pips squeek. (to paraphrase someone). They certainly don't give a &^%$ about their customers. Obbviously you are more a mark or punter than a customer to them.

I have heard of marina's insisting you sell through the local broker or pay a %. That has been substantiated by saying you are using the marina facilities in selling the boat (well - I suppose you are using the car park and pontoon...) but NEVER have I heard this in respect to buying a boat. Could you ask how they feel they have a right to this? They are adding absolutely no value to your purchase.

I would like to encourage you to walk now. Of course if you have no other option they have you by the short and curlies, but this is disgusting.

What marina is this?

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[jonjo]

> French government gives back most of the VAT

Not quite, you get a 50% VAT rebate.

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[Adrian]

Not sure i want to name names, but there aren’t many marinas on Windermere!

What really P**sed me off was I've tried to look at boats for sale with the broker and I’ve had such a poor response from them, not replying to Fax/phone calls, i refuse to deal with them, only this month I’ve asked twice for a quote for work to be carried out, only to be completely ignored.


<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>

 

[Birdseye]

Marina policy

It would cost you nothing to discuss your marinas approach with the Office of Fair Trading. As I understand it, one of the problems with most marinas is that they are not subject to the normal monopolies laws since they are classed as ports, but I dont see how this could apply on a pond like Windermere.

Personally, I'd rather not have a boat than be screwed like this, but I accept your reaction might be more measured!

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.