Buying from abroad?

Depends on where you mean by "abroad". From EU countries no particular issues, although often a bit more paperwork and costs, plus exchange rate risks. Transaction likely to be under the law of the country where you are buying which may be an issue if things go wrong.

From outside the EU a can of worms as importing a boat means dealing with certification and paying duty and VAT.
 
Wasn't looking at Nigeria just yet.. :cool:

So EU is pretty straight forward..

Outside EU would be VAT and import duty right? Anyone know what the import duty is on a used boat??
 
All my boats were bought 'abroad' (in the UK) as i'm in Ireland. Ironically my latest (and biggest boat yet) was bought right here in Ireland
 
wipe_out said:
Wasn't looking at Nigeria just yet.. :cool:

So EU is pretty straight forward..

Outside EU would be VAT and import duty right? Anyone know what the import duty is on a used boat??
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Import duty is low or nothing. VAT is ruling rate based on agreed value - usually the price you paid if recent. Biggest problem is RCD. If the boat was not sold originally in the EU and is newer than 1998 it is unlikely to comply with the RCD so cannot be used legally in the EU without being assessed. This can be be simple if it is a simple boat, expensive for many boats (particularly if the engines are not certified) or technically and economically impossible.

In the case of most powerboats you need to look for a boat where the same (or similar) models have been imported officially and have CE certified engines. You then stand a chance of being able to get the necessary design data and work out what equipment needs to be changed/added to bring it up to EU spec.

If you have a boat you are interested in then get the details and discuss it with somebody like CE Proof who specialise in getting boats certified. Although there are general things to look for each case needs to be considered on its merits.

When you have sorted that lot out you have to think about how you are going to get the boat here. No mean task if it is coming from the most obvious place, USA. You may then find out why so few boats actually make the move!
 
Tranona said:
Import duty is low or nothing. VAT is ruling rate based on agreed value - usually the price you paid if recent. Biggest problem is RCD. If the boat was not sold originally in the EU and is newer than 1998 it is unlikely to comply with the RCD so cannot be used legally in the EU without being assessed. This can be be simple if it is a simple boat, expensive for many boats (particularly if the engines are not certified) or technically and economically impossible.

In the case of most powerboats you need to look for a boat where the same (or similar) models have been imported officially and have CE certified engines. You then stand a chance of being able to get the necessary design data and work out what equipment needs to be changed/added to bring it up to EU spec.

If you have a boat you are interested in then get the details and discuss it with somebody like CE Proof who specialise in getting boats certified. Although there are general things to look for each case needs to be considered on its merits.

When you have sorted that lot out you have to think about how you are going to get the boat here. No mean task if it is coming from the most obvious place, USA. You may then find out why so few boats actually make the move!
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Thanks Tranona, very useful information.. As you say the costs of getting it here alone would likely negate the benefit of buying abroad in the first place..

What is "RCD"?

If it's older than 1998 does RCD not apply? Would it still need CE certification?

Think I might limit my "browsing" to the EU unless something incredibly good comes up outside of the EU..
 
wipe_out said:
Hi,
Are there any catches, problems or things to be careful of if thinking about buying a boat from abroad?
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Dont buy a make of boat that is unheard of in the UK as when you want to sell it if people are unable to compare prices by looking at other ones on Apollo Duck or Boats & Outboards they wont want it.
 
wipe_out said:
What is "RCD"?
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The Recreational Craft Directive. It's an EU thing which gives ratings to recreational craft from A to D to describe their buoyancy, seaworthyness, and passenger capabilities. All boats which are CE marked will have a plate somewhere on board with the RCD rating and a couple of other bits stamped on it.
 
wipe_out said:
Thanks Tranona, very useful information.. As you say the costs of getting it here alone would likely negate the benefit of buying abroad in the first place..

What is "RCD"?

If it's older than 1998 does RCD not apply? Would it still need CE certification?

Think I might limit my "browsing" to the EU unless something incredibly good comes up outside of the EU..
Click to expand...

Recreational Craft Directive. All boats coming onto the market in the EU/EEA since 1998 have to comply with the requirements to get a CE mark before they can legally be used. Older than 1998, if built in the EU/EEA normally would not need a CE mark. Built outside the EU needs a CE mark, so has to comply with RCD. Boats built in the EU/EEA but sold outside since 1998 may not comply so may not already have a CE mark. You have to look at each boat and its history to determine its status.

If looking in the EU it is not easy to find "bargains". As already suggested if you want to use the boat in the UK buy one that is popular here. Unknown brand boats, however good are often difficult to sell on. Good possibilities are British built boats that have gone to the Med where the market is very soft and it is quite possible to pick up good deals. Obviously the higher the value, the less important the costs of bringing the boat back to the UK if that is where you want to use it.
 
Done it a number of times between EU countries. Pretty easy and straightforward when you take into account that language, tradition and people vary.

No fee or tax. Should always check (document) EC status on a boat where this may be an issue and make sure transportation will not ruin you.

As a matter of fact paperwork was more in the UK than Germany, Sweden and Italy. Wasn't any harder though as everything is well defined by standards and advice is easy to get.

Once you get more specific this parish may be of great help - users are widely spread :)
 
If buying from The Netherlands, be very wary of the standard HISWA sales contract. Basically it forces you to buy the boat unless the cost of repairs exceed 10% of the sale price. I've been caught by this and so have friends. If you are interested, PM me, I've got an English translation.
 
michael_w said:
If buying from The Netherlands, be very wary of the standard HISWA sales contract. Basically it forces you to buy the boat unless the cost of repairs exceed 10% of the sale price. I've been caught by this and so have friends. If you are interested, PM me, I've got an English translation.
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Can't see why that is a problem. Many people think having a specific limit is better than the rather more open ended approach in UK. Also the HISWA contract perhaps puts more onus on the seller to declare defects in advance.

A contract is a contract to buy - not an option. So if you sign it you have to abide by the terms and conditions. You are not being "forced" - you signed that you would buy it unless the cost of repairs exceeds 10% so if the boat met that condition you have to complete.
 
The problem is in my case it was the vendor, who was also the broker, decided that the cost of the repair would not exceed the 10% limit. My spineless Dutch surveyor agreed with them.

I could not see how on earth the defects found could possibly be fixed to an adequate standard. It was sailing boat. The repairs required the removal of the keel, the replacement of rotten bulkheads and shoring up the internal structure to stop the mast going through the hull and other horrors. I decided to forfeit the deposit. Another point, about buying abroad. Don't use the local surveyor, Send one from home.
 
I've bought several boats abroad including from Germany, Spain and Italy and, generally speaking all have been pleasurable experiences. However there are 2 things I now make a point of doing, paperwork and possession. First, foreign owners are not as careful as UK owners with paperwork so make sure that all the correct title and VAT paperwork is present before you complete and do NOT take the broker's word for it that the paperwork will be provided after completion. Secondly, my big concern about buying a boat abroad is that you pay the broker for the boat and then its not there when you go to collect it. Unlikely I know but you can never be too safe when you're dealing with a large sum of money and especially when it's yours.
When I complete on a purchase, I ensure that I am physically present at the boat on the day and only when the broker shows me all the correct paperwork do I phone my bank to authorise the transfer of the balance owing. This might take several hours or even 2-3 days to show in the broker's account so expect to wait. As soon as the broker confirms he has received your money, take possession of the boat and, if possible, move it to another marina or even another country. Good idea to change its name too
Never forget that if anything goes wrong with a foreign purchase you are likely to be trying to enforce the contract through a foreign legal system so its advisable to be even more careful with a foreign boat purchase than a UK one
 
Thanks.. All great information.. Means a much larger "stock" of boats to consider and compare (obviously also taking into account what's involved in getting it back to the UK)..
 
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