Buying from non-UK sellers

[LunaFox]

Hi Everyone,

I'm brand new here so I should probably introduce myself. I'm a potential new boat owner in 2025 (saving the pennies!) I'm solent end of the country. I've always wanted to get out on my own sea fairing vessel, and I now find myself in a position to possibly make it happen.

I was just wondering, when I'm searching for used powerboats I see a very obvious difference in cost between those advertised in the UK versus (for example) France. I understand VAT will be payable and possibly transport etc. Is buying abroad still feasible in the current climate. Or does it really not work out much different when all said and done. I understand it may have been more viable when we were part of the EU.

 

[Tranona]

Welcome

You are correct in thinking it is now probably not viable to purchase a boat in the EU for use in the UK. You have identified 2 of the main barriers which are VAT and shipping/transport costs which include the often considerable costs of viewing boats several hundred miles away. A third, and not easy to quantify is that imports need certification to the latest standards. While it seems that recent boats this does not present too big an issue - but recent boats are not where the price differential is, older boats may require a much more rigorous certification process that may well include replacement of non compliant components such as engines.

While there was a steady but small trade between Europe and the UK when there were no barriers pre 2021 this seems to have virtually stopped so your choice is limited to boats that are already legally in the UK.

 

[LunaFox]

Welcome

You are correct in thinking it is now probably not viable to purchase a boat in the EU for use in the UK. You have identified 2 of the main barriers which are VAT and shipping/transport costs which include the often considerable costs of viewing boats several hundred miles away. A third, and not easy to quantify is that imports need certification to the latest standards. While it seems that recent boats this does not present too big an issue - but recent boats are not where the price differential is, older boats may require a much more rigorous certification process that may well include replacement of non compliant components such as engines.

While there was a steady but small trade between Europe and the UK when there were no barriers pre 2021 this seems to have virtually stopped so your choice is limited to boats that are already legally in the UK.

Hi Tracona,

Thanks for the reply. I really hadn't considered compliance issues and it's a very valid point. I've imported a couple of vehicles from 'rest of world' and I've had to bring them in line with UK regs. I don't know why I hadn't considered it for boats.

I'll stick to looking at UK stock. It did seem like the saving would be marginal.

I have noticed a couple of the boats I've been looking at have been on the market for what I would consider a long time. 6 - 9 months. Is this normal pace for boat sales or are they open for an offer being on sale for that long? Unless they are overpriced already. These are dealers rather than private sales.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

They will be brokers not dealers. Likely to be overpriced by over-optimistic sellers, and / or generally in less well presented condition. Good boats priced well seem to be selling reasonably quickly (weeks), something that has stuck around for 9 months or more looks wrong somewhere. I've just gone through this exercise, the UK based boat I ended up buying had been on the market for only a few days when we saw it, offer made after viewing and accepted the next day. A good model in excellent condition and fairly priced. A similar boat in poorer condition and with export/import history, albeit much cheaper, remains unsold today.

Location plays a part too; boats in popular areas eg Solent likely to be more buyers around that those in out of the way locations.

 

[oldgit]

Some observations on a specific section of the market.
Mobos 10-12 M 1980s to Mid 2000.
As general rule anything clean tidy and loved will be gone very quickly indeed and still achieve a "good" price for the owner, wether sold privately or via a broker.
There are still folks out there with cash to spend, skippers are upgrading to newer boats but usually need to sell first to achieve this.
It noteable that the "new" replacement boats purchased, are from the more "modern" practical school of boats built by EU builders and not the rather traditional and somewhat expensive ? UK marques.
ab initio entrants to boating in this class as rare as Hens Teeth.
A fair proportion of boats alleged to be for sale ,actually listed or not, are folks simply giving up ,after many years of boating,
Frequently claiming its too expensive , but in reality its simply the boat is no longer being used.
This also can mean it has not had much/any mantainance in the recent or not so recent past.
Was that engine last serviced 2 or 5 years ago ?

"Covid" prices are still haunting this section of the market and not a few boats remain unsold due optimistic pricing .
Brokers are having hard time finding decent well priced boats.
For the silly offer brigade (this includes me) there are no distress sales around unless you desperately want to saddle yourself with an old heap of a money pit, the owner would rather get shot of before it sinks.

 

[Refueler]

Its a funny world .....

I know a number of guys who make business of buying boats in UK and bringing into EU (Baltics) .... I know others who do it with cars - now that Latvia will register a RHD car (you have to fit 2 cameras) ...

The boats are from small dinghys up to moderate sized mobos mostly .... 28 - 30ft. Talking to them - they were making reasonable profits after import etc. As to shipping / transport - they have trailers etc - they do the transport themselves. Prices here are higher than France as example.

 

[Tranona]

Its a funny world .....

I know a number of guys who make business of buying boats in UK and bringing into EU (Baltics) .... I know others who do it with cars - now that Latvia will register a RHD car (you have to fit 2 cameras) ...

The boats are from small dinghys up to moderate sized mobos mostly .... 28 - 30ft. Talking to them - they were making reasonable profits after import etc. As to shipping / transport - they have trailers etc - they do the transport themselves. Prices here are higher than France as example.

These sort of anomalies always exist where there is a shortage in one market and a surplus in another and the transaction costs are low. It was similar for about 10 years earlier in the century with sportsboats from the US until the £ bombed and the builders increased supply and lowered prices in Europe.

 

[dunedin]

Its a funny world .....

I know a number of guys who make business of buying boats in UK and bringing into EU (Baltics) .... I know others who do it with cars - now that Latvia will register a RHD car (you have to fit 2 cameras) ...

The boats are from small dinghys up to moderate sized mobos mostly .... 28 - 30ft. Talking to them - they were making reasonable profits after import etc. As to shipping / transport - they have trailers etc - they do the transport themselves. Prices here are higher than France as example.

But do they worry about the niceties of certification etc, or just take a "pragmatic" view?
There seem to be plenty of other "businesses" (very different I am sure from your friends) who export Range Rovers etc to places (not always with any paperwork or indeed owners consent)

 

[Refueler]

But do they worry about the niceties of certification etc, or just take a "pragmatic" view?
There seem to be plenty of other "businesses" (very different I am sure from your friends) who export Range Rovers etc to places (not always with any paperwork or indeed owners consent)

We had and some say still have a 'theft to order' going on that particular cars - especially black Audi's / BMW's / Merc's / Rangeys / Disco's disappearing over into Russia ...

Pal of mine lost his new Audi A6 from a locked garage to this ..

As regards Cars / Boats from UK .... they are inspected and required compliance with full paperwork within x days of entry here. I had to go through same procedures with my Range Rover and the MoBo .... no different to those importers.

 

[LunaFox]

Thanks for all the replies. It's an interesting market and I'm very new to it. I have seen boats sell in literally a few days then others I'm kinda surprised they haven't gone and they are already sitting on hard standing at the brokers. I must be missing something with some of these boats. Maybe over priced. Maybe these are ripe for a silly offer with the broker or do boat brokers not work this way. Are they ok with a boat sitting in stock for 6 months. I'm guessing it may be slightly seasonal also?

 

[Tranona]

A broker does not own the boats although some bigger ones are also dealers buying and selling on their own account. So it is the owner that decides whether to accept an offer or not and some. owners have inflated ideas of the market price. Also there maybe problems with the boat which has resulted in aborted sales. The secondhand boat market is a long way from a "perfect" market - that is many buyers and sellers and homogenous products. Boats are built in small numbers and vary a lot in terms of what they offer and particularly condition. You will find once you start looking seriously that the ideal boat does not exist and you will have to draw up a list of features and compromises you are prepared to make, including budget to find a boat you are prepared to buy at. Some people find it easy and have a very clear idea perhaps based on experience and it is those sort of people who tend to make quick decisions and buy the boats that sell quickly.

 

[Alicatt]

When we went looking the first one was a wreck inside with very nice sounding engines which looked immaculate, but it would have taken as much as the asking price again to fit her out, second one we looked at had a completely different layout but on the same hull the aft cockpit was ideal as well as the large double bed in the aft cabin, but the galley was the sticking point for my wife, third one was same layout as the first, small aft cockpit but the galley was in the right place, engines were good and all hoses etc. replaced, and interior was in good condition, however no double bed, that was the compromise we made.