Buying a pre damaged boat?

[BruceK]

Self maintaining a brand new boat when warranties etc could be adversely affected and not worth the money saved skimping on an suitably certified engineer sounds decidedly dodgy to me. Maybe he just wanted a seaside apartment and the boat never went anywhere and when it did the inevitable happened. All up it's perhaps a punt to far considering the monies involved. Shame really. I can only aspire to that level of boat. Good luck.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Self maintaining a brand new boat when warranties etc could be adversely affected and not worth the money saved skimping on an suitably certified engineer sounds decidedly dodgy to me. Maybe he just wanted a seaside apartment and the boat never went anywhere and when it did the inevitable happened. All up it's perhaps a punt to far considering the monies involved. Shame really. I can only aspire to that level of boat. Good luck.

If it's the one I think it is, it's a 90's boat, not a new(ish) one.

 

[Soco2]

Self maintaining a brand new boat when warranties etc could be adversely affected and not worth the money saved skimping on an suitably certified engineer sounds decidedly dodgy to me. Maybe he just wanted a seaside apartment and the boat never went anywhere and when it did the inevitable happened. All up it's perhaps a punt to far considering the monies involved. Shame really. I can only aspire to that level of boat. Good luck.

Thanks Bruce,
I think it has had a few owners (4+) and the owner 2 times before this one kept it well I believe. Still no evidential material though to substantiate.
my main concern when asking the original question was if it was too big a punt? There is one in Spain for 88k which looks ok and is serviced and has a generator etc.
so the offer for this uk boat would not be anymore than that and the £7k equivalent transport costs for Spanish one could go into fixing bits on the uk one? Like the inop anchor £1-2k! Etc etc.

 

[petem]

the trouble with being on this forum is after a while you start to believe that every boat owner/buyer in the world is reading this stuff. They are not, there are a few hundred of us at best. I sold a big boat that had to have quite a few bits changed after going aground - did anyone ask about it? did the surveyor find anything amiss? no - it was repaired properly. I kept it for a few more years then sold it - not because it had gone aground, but because it was too big for me. Boat was surveyed, everyone's happy, boat was sold.

Who on here has run aground? if so do you publicise the fact when you sell? Fibreglass boats, especially Fairlines are very strong, Unless the shafts got ripped out the back it will fix fine. Bramble bank is a sand bank not the Eddystone rocks - it will mostly just slide over the top.

This particular boat hit the news because it hit Bramblebank. If it had gone aground on the river trent or the humber estuary no-one would know or care. (and a lot do it's a bugger!) If you are interested, get it properly checked just like any other boat. Regarding re-sale, it's old news now, in a few years no-one will remember.

Surely it can't have been that badly damaged if they were able to tow it back to sure (without it taking on any / much water).

 

[Soco2]

£25k worth of damage. The shaft didn’t pull out completely but it moved the engine backwards so just think of the forces involved!

 

[BruceK]

Well to spare you the drill on that one, not much apparently. Indeed some do that all on their own without any help from grounding. I cant say anymore but one genre of engine mounts has a bit of a rep for being a bit flimsy. All very hush hush and all. Dont ask and I wont lie.

 

[kashurst]

Thanks, yes I suppose buying abroad does make sense and gives me more boats to choose from.
my main reservations are : parting with so much money to a non uk regulated broker, the vat status being wishy washy? One is flying a Dutch flag.
And trusting level of foreign survey/ making sure I haven’t got a lemon.
Otherwise asking prices are a lot lower in Europe.

unless the uk one was extremely cheap, which the broker said it won’t be, I think it’s due a wide birth for me.
Thanks for your input : )

If the broker indicates the owner of the UK boat won't budge much on price forget it.

Regarding the two in Spain, and this is a general comment for buying abroad/Spain. Unlike the mickey mouse UK system that relies on people keeping the original stamped invoice to prove VAT paid, in Spain and other countries the VAT status is recorded on the boat registry - when it was paid, where and to whom. That stays on the boats registration until it leaves that registry. So you should have no problem verifying vat paid or not. The UK is in the transition brexit period so until 31st December no problem.

You won't have a problem finding a British qualified Surveyor in the Med/Spain.

If you want to buy a boat you can decide who the payment gets paid to. If the owner is serious he will not let some broker stop a sale so they can sit on the money for a month. All you do is on the day of hand over you transfer the brokers % to them and the balance to the owner, whilst sitting in a cafe with both of them. They all need to be there anyway to sign over the bill of sale, keys etc.

 

[Soco2]

If the broker indicates the owner of the UK boat won't budge much on price forget it.

Regarding the two in Spain, and this is a general comment for buying abroad/Spain. Unlike the mickey mouse UK system that relies on people keeping the original stamped invoice to prove VAT paid, in Spain and other countries the VAT status is recorded on the boat registry - when it was paid, where and to whom. That stays on the boats registration until it leaves that registry. So you should have no problem verifying vat paid or not. The UK is in the transition brexit period so until 31st December no problem.

If you want to buy a boat you can decide who the payment gets paid to. If the owner is serious he will not let some broker stop a sale so they can sit on the money for a month. All you do is on the day of hand over you transfer the brokers % to them and the balance to the owner, whilst sitting in a cafe with both of them. They all need to be there anyway to sign over the bill of sale, keys etc.

ok thanks I didn’t know that. That gives me a little bit more confidence!
it may well be the way to go as most models are at least 20% cheaper on asking price than the uk. Still a good saving even with transportation accounted for .
Maybe a good negotiation point if buying a uk boat?

 

[kashurst]

have a look at this boat sale website - bargains do pop up from time to time.
Barcos de ocasión, alquiler de barcos, embarcaciones - Top Barcos

there are a couple of nice Phantom 43 s I keep looking at.

 

[BruceK]

Maybe a good negotiation point if buying a uk boat?

Doubtful. Mine started life as a Med boat. It's not just the Brits that come home looking like they've just been parboiled and playing Russian roulette with that melanoma. Dead easy to spot a Med boat. Got mine looking like it had recently been limewashed. Lots of grunt involved before the local marina queens would shake their bracelets in greeting. They also have a shorter half life on any fabrics and vinyls. 20% cheaper is probably about fair. It's OK I have thick skin and can weather the coming onslaught of hate mail.

 

[kashurst]

Doubtful. Mine started life as a Med boat. It's not just the Brits that come home looking like they've just been parboiled and playing Russian roulette with that melanoma. Dead easy to spot a Med boat. Got mine looking like it had recently been limewashed. Lots of grunt involved before the local marina queens would shake their bracelets in greeting. They also have a shorter half life on any fabrics and vinyls. 20% cheaper is probably about fair. It's OK I have thick skin and can weather the coming onslaught of hate mail.

sorry Bruce, I can't agree with you on that one. There are some shockers,, but if the boat owner fits window covers when its not being used for long periods, the interiors stay like new. As for polishing - down in the med no-one seems to bother too much, better to pay for a professional polish when you buy it/sell it.

 

[BruceK]

See? It's starting already. Next they'll all be telling you that milky veneer is in vogue too

 

[BruceK]

I was expecting a bit more of a backlash on my partisan jibe at my Med brethren Kashurst is quite correct though and certainly the example in Valencia would get my attention. It at least has had new teak decking and covers from 2019

1997 Fairline Phantom 42 Power New and Used Boats for Sale -

As below I did not realise the boat was a 90's boat and so I'd have to soften my stance a bit. I myself do most of the servicing work on my own boat except where it is necessary to have a qualified expert involved (cue outdrives) and I suppose much would depend on the engines. If it's pre electrical wizardry they are simple enough to service as opposed to repair especially in light of the fact there are so many people on this forum that go out of their way to share knowlege and advice. However I personally keep records of every dime I spent on parts and fluids for the log as evidence. Which being a 90's boat has now broken into it's 3rd lever arch file. Which is also a not too subtle hint that buying an older boat doesnt always work out cheaper than newer by the time you've spent a few seasons enjoying it. But that may be just me. My boat has a hard life.

Which ever way you choose, best of luck, and hurry. The season is nearly upon us.

If it's the one I think it is, it's a 90's boat, not a new(ish) one.

Thanks Bruce,
I think it has had a few owners (4+) and the owner 2 times before this one kept it well I believe. Still no evidential material though to substantiate.
my main concern when asking the original question was if it was too big a punt? There is one in Spain for 88k which looks ok and is serviced and has a generator etc.
so the offer for this uk boat would not be anymore than that and the £7k equivalent transport costs for Spanish one could go into fixing bits on the uk one? Like the inop anchor £1-2k! Etc etc.

 

[Soco2]

I was expecting a bit more of a backlash on my partisan jibe at my Med brethren Kashurst is quite correct though and certainly the example in Valencia would get my attention. It at least has had new teak decking and covers from 2019

1997 Fairline Phantom 42 Power New and Used Boats for Sale -

As below I did not realise the boat was a 90's boat and so I'd have to soften my stance a bit. I myself do most of the servicing work on my own boat except where it is necessary to have a qualified expert involved (cue outdrives) and I suppose much would depend on the engines. If it's pre electrical wizardry they are simple enough to service as opposed to repair especially in light of the fact there are so many people on this forum that go out of their way to share knowlege and advice. However I personally keep records of every dime I spent on parts and fluids for the log as evidence. Which being a 90's boat has now broken into it's 3rd lever arch file. Which is also a not too subtle hint that buying an older boat doesnt always work out cheaper than newer by the time you've spent a few seasons enjoying it. But that may be just me. My boat has a hard life.

Which ever way you choose, best of luck, and hurry. The season is nearly upon us.

Thanks, a couple of people have told me to get on a plane and have a sunny weekend in Spain and have a look. So that may happen. Looking at a Ph38 at weekend as an alternative but this is a British boat from new and only seen the rain ?
The Tamd63 do look like a very common engine so as long as it wasn’t major internal issues like damaged crank shell bearings etc I could do most of the regular maintenance my self. (Kind of therapeutic) ?

As far as the season is concerned, I have the money waiting patently but obviously just don’t want to buy a lemon but also want to get a good deal at the same time.!!

 

[BruceK]

Well get a good surveyor and an even better engineer to do the mechanical survey. We have Volvopaul on the board who if cant do the survey himself can at least give you a steer with some recommendations on who might. He replied to your other thread, I'd definitely seek his expertise on the matter.

 

[Soco2]

Well get a good surveyor and an even better engineer to do the mechanical survey. We have Volvopaul on the board who if cant do the survey himself can at least give you a steer with some recommendations on who might. He replied to your other thread, I'd definitely seek his expertise on the matter.

Ok great yes I had heard his name mentioned before and he shows from the Midlands so not far from me?
Idon’t seem to be able to send PM’s though for some reason.?‍

 

[petem]

Thanks, yes I suppose buying abroad does make sense and gives me more boats to choose from.
my main reservations are : parting with so much money to a non uk regulated broker, the vat status being wishy washy? One is flying a Dutch flag.
And trusting level of foreign survey/ making sure I haven’t got a lemon.
Otherwise asking prices are a lot lower in Europe.

unless the uk one was extremely cheap, which the broker said it won’t be, I think it’s due a wide birth for me.
Thanks for your input : )

I think the Spanish boats are in Altea which is a couple of miles south of where I keep by boat. It's an easy journey (fly to Alicante). I have contacts there that could recommend a surveyor. Who knows, they might even be UK flagged boats.

 

[BruceK]

Ok great yes I had heard his name mentioned before and he shows from the Midlands so not far from me?
Idon’t seem to be able to send PM’s though for some reason.?‍

Might be because you have a new account? Do a forum search for his contact details I believe it's in the public domain.

 

[Soco2]

Might be because you have a new account? Do a forum search for his contact details I believe it's in the public domain.

Ok thanks. I created a new one because I couldn’t remember my old one ?

 

[Soco2]

I think the Spanish boats are in Altea which is a couple of miles south of where I keep by boat. It's an easy journey (fly to Alicante). I have contacts there that could recommend a surveyor. Who knows, they might even be UK flagged boats.

Ok thank you I will pick your brains if I get a viewing ??