testmonkey
Well-Known Member
Hi there, I'm planning to buy a yacht from a private individual in Holland next week. What paperwork should I look for?
Thank you for any tips
Thank you for any tips
Buying a yacht in Holland
- Thread starter testmonkey
- Start date
Aeolus
Well-Known Member
I bought my boat in Holland 2 years ago, but via a broker. You need a bill of sale, proof that VAT has been paid (or a certificate of exemption from Dutch customs). I would certainly ask for all documentation relating to the boat - previous bills of sale, receipts for any work done to the boat (useful if your insurance company asks for proof of work having been done).
There is a marine/boating organisation in Holland called HISWA - they have standard contracts which, I think, you can download from the web - they will also take phone calls and I found them very helpful. HISWA also accredits boat surveyors so, if you are having a survey, make sure it is a HISWA accreditted one and ask for the survey report to be delivered in English. My surveyor was very helpful - if you are buying the boat in Enkhuizen or anywhere nearby, PM me and I'll look up and send you his name.
There is a marine/boating organisation in Holland called HISWA - they have standard contracts which, I think, you can download from the web - they will also take phone calls and I found them very helpful. HISWA also accredits boat surveyors so, if you are having a survey, make sure it is a HISWA accreditted one and ask for the survey report to be delivered in English. My surveyor was very helpful - if you are buying the boat in Enkhuizen or anywhere nearby, PM me and I'll look up and send you his name.
aidancoughlan
Well-Known Member
I bought my boat in Holland about 3 years go. I sourced it from a private seller. The boat was also listed for sale with a local broker (in Port Zelande), and even though we made contact via private ad, both the seller and I agreed to use the Broker to handle the paperwork (the Broker agreed to do it at reduced cost). At the time I was concered about paperwork etc., but stil begrudged paying the extra - but it was money well spent.
I'm not suggesting it's a difficult process, but the Broker turned out to be very helpfull in organising temporary marina storage, hard-standing and transport/crane haulage at no charge. They also translated all documents into English, and ensured that all VAT documentation etc. was correct.
Anyway, best of luck - the HISWA recommendation above I can agree with - both the Broker and surveyor were HISWA and very professional. If you are buying in Port Zelande area I will dig out their details if you wish.
I'm not suggesting it's a difficult process, but the Broker turned out to be very helpfull in organising temporary marina storage, hard-standing and transport/crane haulage at no charge. They also translated all documents into English, and ensured that all VAT documentation etc. was correct.
Anyway, best of luck - the HISWA recommendation above I can agree with - both the Broker and surveyor were HISWA and very professional. If you are buying in Port Zelande area I will dig out their details if you wish.
eidiohir
Well-Known Member
i bought my colvic in Holland three years ago through a broker and i found the process more or less painless.One thing to bear in mind is that in Holland once you make an offer and it is accepted it is legally understood to be binding and that only if substantial faults are found during any survey will you be able to back out of the deal. So any deposit before survey will be lost.
I did hear of one person who when the boat was surveyed found that the hull (steel) thickness was two thin for his stated aim of blue water cruising and was unable to have his deposit returned which at ten percent of the sale price is a goodly sum.
I did hear of one person who when the boat was surveyed found that the hull (steel) thickness was two thin for his stated aim of blue water cruising and was unable to have his deposit returned which at ten percent of the sale price is a goodly sum.
michael_w
Well-Known Member
Be very wary of the standard HISWA contract. The deposit is 15% and unless the surveyor finds faults exceeding 10% of the sale price you have to buy the boat.
I was caught out by this clause when we discovered that the keel was improperly fitted to the hull and the structure inside needed extensive repair. Not up to 10%, So rather than buy a duff boat, intended for a circumnavigation I pulled out of the deal rather than throw good money after bad. I note from a recent search, the boat is still for sale.
If you are interested, PM me as I've got a copy of the HISWA contract. Having lost money, I would not like to see any other forumite fall into the same trap.
I was caught out by this clause when we discovered that the keel was improperly fitted to the hull and the structure inside needed extensive repair. Not up to 10%, So rather than buy a duff boat, intended for a circumnavigation I pulled out of the deal rather than throw good money after bad. I note from a recent search, the boat is still for sale.
If you are interested, PM me as I've got a copy of the HISWA contract. Having lost money, I would not like to see any other forumite fall into the same trap.
tangomoon
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info. I think this is the kind of thing this forum wants to know
pheran
Well-Known Member
Like others, I bought my boat through a registered broker in Holland and found the whole process painless. Indeed, it was very much more relaxed than buying in the UK in that I didn't have to stump up the 10% deposit until AFTER the survey and engine inspection. I actually paid the 10% and the balance all in the space of a fortnight!
I was less impressed with the HISWA survey though, high on presentation, very light on content. Beautifully presented report, full of colour photographs but the rest was a statement of the bleeding obvious. I think if I had any doubts about a boat in future, I would bite the bullet and fly someone out from the UK. Shouldn't be that expensive.
I was less impressed with the HISWA survey though, high on presentation, very light on content. Beautifully presented report, full of colour photographs but the rest was a statement of the bleeding obvious. I think if I had any doubts about a boat in future, I would bite the bullet and fly someone out from the UK. Shouldn't be that expensive.
PaulR
Well-Known Member
bought our current boat several years ago in holland but utilised very large uk firm of brokers to handle paperwork at agreed fee and felt it was well worth while
eidiohir
Well-Known Member
i think its the old one of buyer beware. that applies to any boat that you may be viewing.
I found that the Dutch are honest as a whole.
The comments about the survey are to a point overstated as you can find good and bad anywhere.The real evil in the survey in this case is that the broker supplies you with a approved hiswa list from which you may chose a surveyor.This is wide open to abuse and may cause you to have less faith in the survey.Do as I did and refuse point blank to use their surveyor and insist on your own they will give in.
I found that the Dutch are honest as a whole.
The comments about the survey are to a point overstated as you can find good and bad anywhere.The real evil in the survey in this case is that the broker supplies you with a approved hiswa list from which you may chose a surveyor.This is wide open to abuse and may cause you to have less faith in the survey.Do as I did and refuse point blank to use their surveyor and insist on your own they will give in.
Sy-Revolution
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The real evil in the survey in this case is that the broker supplies you with a approved hiswa list from which you may chose a surveyor.This is wide open to abuse and may cause you to have less faith in the survey.
[/ QUOTE ]
Indeed, I bought a boat form Germany last year and chose a surveyor from a list given by the broker. Survey came back saying all was ok. Boat came out for the winter a few weeks ago and found osmosis blistering/pitting all over the hull (only asked for a hull/mast/rigging/ survey). We're trying to get something back from the B*****D but I doubt we'll have much luck.
Don't trust anyone and Beware!
The real evil in the survey in this case is that the broker supplies you with a approved hiswa list from which you may chose a surveyor.This is wide open to abuse and may cause you to have less faith in the survey.
[/ QUOTE ]
Indeed, I bought a boat form Germany last year and chose a surveyor from a list given by the broker. Survey came back saying all was ok. Boat came out for the winter a few weeks ago and found osmosis blistering/pitting all over the hull (only asked for a hull/mast/rigging/ survey). We're trying to get something back from the B*****D but I doubt we'll have much luck.
Don't trust anyone and Beware!
arf77
New Member
I am also hoping to buy a boat from Holland from a private owner this weekend. Does anyone have any advice on the following:
transportation back to the UK / contact details for companies that can do this / rough costs?
surveyors in Holland or in the UK who could potentially visit the boat this weekend?
Dutch surveys - I've heard these are not always valid in the UK e.g. for insurance?
Also I've been quoted £4000 (from an importer in the UK) to cover survey and transport - does this sound expensive?
Any information would be very gratefully received - I've never bought a boat before and I'm planning on it being my home, so definitely want to make sure I'm doing the right thing!
Many thanks,
Anna
transportation back to the UK / contact details for companies that can do this / rough costs?
surveyors in Holland or in the UK who could potentially visit the boat this weekend?
Dutch surveys - I've heard these are not always valid in the UK e.g. for insurance?
Also I've been quoted £4000 (from an importer in the UK) to cover survey and transport - does this sound expensive?
Any information would be very gratefully received - I've never bought a boat before and I'm planning on it being my home, so definitely want to make sure I'm doing the right thing!
Many thanks,
Anna
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
zedcell
Member
Hi i know this thread was posted some time ago but found it very interesting as I am in the process of making an offer on a boat also with a broker in Port Zealand.
Was the broker the delta boat centre?
If you could give me any advice on HIWAS registered surveyors in that area it would be much appreciated.
aidancoughlan
Well-Known Member
Hi zedcell,
This is my first time on here in ages. .. and this post is one of the first I clicked on, whats the chances of that ?
I'm not sure if it was the Delta boat centre we bought through, but I'll see if I can find out.
Aidan
This is my first time on here in ages. .. and this post is one of the first I clicked on, whats the chances of that ?
I'm not sure if it was the Delta boat centre we bought through, but I'll see if I can find out.
Aidan
zedcell
Member
Thanks Aidan much appreciated .
Oldfellah
Well-Known Member
Hi.
I purchased my boat privately from Holland a year ago and found the surveyor very good and helpful. This is who I used and it cost me about 600 euro'.....Expertiseburo R.C. Schuijt info@expertiseburoschuijt.nl
The survey was accepted by my insurer without problem.
I found the process to be pretty easy but be sure to obtain all the relevant documents. Original bill of sale covers the VAT issue and I also found that the vendor had all documentation regarding registration in Holland as well. All in all my purchase went very smoothly.
Regarding transport I would have thought that to sail it back would be a great initiation into your new boat. I did the Lemmer-Amsterdam-Ostende-Ramsgate route and found it a great experience and really gave me the chance to get used to my new boat.
Good luck.
I purchased my boat privately from Holland a year ago and found the surveyor very good and helpful. This is who I used and it cost me about 600 euro'.....Expertiseburo R.C. Schuijt info@expertiseburoschuijt.nl
The survey was accepted by my insurer without problem.
I found the process to be pretty easy but be sure to obtain all the relevant documents. Original bill of sale covers the VAT issue and I also found that the vendor had all documentation regarding registration in Holland as well. All in all my purchase went very smoothly.
Regarding transport I would have thought that to sail it back would be a great initiation into your new boat. I did the Lemmer-Amsterdam-Ostende-Ramsgate route and found it a great experience and really gave me the chance to get used to my new boat.
Good luck.
zedcell
Member
Hi thanks for the info, the price on your survey looks good, at the moment I have received 1 quote back at 900 euros plus vat for full pre purchase survey and sea trial.
Did your survey include a sea trial ? and was the surveyor HISWA registered.?
Yes intend to return it back to the uk by sea and thanks again for the advise.
Did your survey include a sea trial ? and was the surveyor HISWA registered.?
Yes intend to return it back to the uk by sea and thanks again for the advise.
aidancoughlan
Well-Known Member
Just to respond to earlier query... the broker we went through in port zelande was For Sail yacht brokers
http://forsailyachtbrokers.nl/en/contact/
It's a lot going time ago now, but they were very helpful with organising transport and gave us a list of HISWA surveyors . My impression at the time with everyone I came in contact with in Holland in relation to yachts was one of complete professionalism.
http://forsailyachtbrokers.nl/en/contact/
It's a lot going time ago now, but they were very helpful with organising transport and gave us a list of HISWA surveyors . My impression at the time with everyone I came in contact with in Holland in relation to yachts was one of complete professionalism.
