Buying a yacht in Europe

[greg]

I am intending to purchase a yacht in Europe and would appreciate any comments on how one may confirm that the person selling the yacht actually owns the yacht they are selling.

Regards

 

[Guest]

Hi,

I did exactly that and not only paid less for it but had all the fun of sailing it home. I can't tell you about every country but certainly in France and in Germany the boat will need to have been registered. Ask to see the registration document. As far as I know all of our european cousins are much more uptight about paperwork than we are. Ask to see the ships papers!

The boat will need to have been purchased and a bill of sale will exist for VAT. Ask to see the bill of sale. You will also want to see supporting evidence of ownership. Look for bills for any new equipment that has been fitted - such as an outboard or a dingly. Receipts for any services such as engine overhauls, winter storage, mooring charges and so on. When you go to see the boat go early and ask around.

Depending on the cost of the boat it may be worth contacting a local broker and asking them to act on your behalf.

In any event. Good luck and I hope you have lots of fun.

Regards



Fred

 

[Chris_Stannard]

I bought in Holland where they can be rather casual. It is not necessary to register boats and the paperwork can be scant.

My suggestion is insist on a proven paper trail from the builder to the current owner. The sale should be handled by a notary in Holland and he should be satisfied that the the ownership is valid.

Be aware that if you buy in Holland, and maybe elsewhere, the VHF may be set up for inland waterways use with all channels except 16 on 1 watt and you may need a new radio.

Chris Stannard

 

[greg]

Fred,

Many thanks for the tips. Will make sure that I check the document trail when buying. How did you find your boat, by Internet search or by visiting marinas ? I am looking for a Bavaria 42.

Regards

 

[quaelgeist2]

Buy from a fully certified yachtbroker in Holland and he will take care of all these things.

VHF - unless it has been a foreign registered (or non-complying) boat, a Dutch boat will have an ATIS setting that needs reprogramming!

cheers
chris

 

[Guest]

Hi


Greg writes

> Many thanks for the tips. Will make sure that I check the document trail when buying. How did you find your boat, by Internet search or by visiting marinas ?

I did a bit of both. Quite a few brokers this side of the channel have foreign boats on their books but a real good look round the net won't do any harm. If you have decided exactly what kind of boat you are looking for then it is a question of just waiting. Spending some time in French Yacht clubs leafing through the magazines won't do any harm.

You might also want to consider the option of Sunsails or the Moorings offers - 50% down and after 5 years the boat is yours plus you get six weeks sailing a year anywhere in the world.

The other thing worth remembering is that the trip home can be far longer than you first anticipated and will certainly cost more than you budgeted for. Quite often the previous owner will strip out anything vaguely useful that isn't nailed down on the inventory. When the engine stops and you realise that you need to go and buy two screwdrivers, 4 spanners, a socket set and a wrench ..... Shackles and spare bits of string will be in short supply.

On top of that the chewing gum holding the pressurised water system together will let go on your second night - the one where you are away from civilisation - and dump the entire contents of your freshwater tank into the bilges, draining your battery in the process and that will also be the first time you forget to move the battery switch from "both" to 1.

The hardest issue is that you don't know your boat and you haven't built up a useful tool kit or the spares and the expertise to go with them. On top of that you will be trying to explain to a foreign mechanic that you have a problem when what he really knows is that you have a deadline - and the difficulty and price will go up accordingly.

When you do find your boat - don't be in a hurry to get it home. Spend some time getting to know it - leave it where it is and you'll have all the fun of a new cruising ground to explore as well as lower Marina charges and cheaper haul-outs. A lot of the new toys (ahem) essential safety and navigation equipment will be cheaper over there anyway.

Anyway - enough prattle. Have fun looking. I know I did.

Regards


Fred