Buying motorboat in USA

[vette]

Having lived over in Texas for a number of years, now back in UK
I am interested to buy a trailer sized boat in the region of 26 to 30 feet.
Rinker, Sea Ray Sundancer, Bayliner, cuddy sports boat type.
Of course, VAT would need to be paid upon arrival.
What about any CE marking ? is that a requirement ?
Having lookid into the transportation side last year, it doesn't seem too difficult to buy from the broker in US, and have uHaul deliver it to the shipping Co. (New York was last proposed exit shipping point from US)

They do seem very good value for money.
The cabin electrics, which will likely be 110v, These I could to 230V, and have the power generator rewound by colleagues I know in the motor rewinding business here in UK.

Any one bought in US and shipped back ?
Happy to hear your tales and experience.



Vette

 

[jrudge]

Several on here have done it successfully.

Yes you need a CE mark.

Your costs are transport, VAT, Import Duty ( depending on who is doing what with tariffs. New get clobbered 25% don't know about old) then any electric changes. ovens charges, AC etc ,etc

 

[Bajansailor]

Vette, I know that jrudge mentions above that several folk have done it successfully, but I think that the general consensus on here seems to be that what you are proposing is not really very viable - this topic has come up on here quite often in the past.
Especially with the exchange rate against the US$ being much worse for you now (12 years ago it was US$2 to a pound).

What is your maximum budget?
Have you tried looking on www.yachtworld.co.uk to see what is available in the UK?
You can do an 'advanced' search, and look for the specific models and sizes that you mentioned.

 

[jrudge]

I agree with you btw but last time I said that 10 people told me I was wrong !

as you say dollar is the key bit but it can be done !

 

[Freebee]

Do a search there are previous threads on this subject..my bet would be you can buy cheaper here..

 

[superheat6k]

So will a CE mark and RCD compliance still be required after Friday - these are EU rules, and, as far as I am concerned, no longer apply. Even for those who say it will - who on this Earth will check for this bureaucratic compliance ? I am sure the bureaucrats who placed this nonsense upon us may have something else distracting them.

On a practical note the generator may have connections to allow it to connect at the terminals to series rather than parallel to provide 230v output.

 

[Elessar]

So will a CE mark and RCD compliance still be required after Friday - these are EU rules, and, as far as I am concerned, no longer apply. Even for those who say it will - who on this Earth will check for this bureaucratic compliance ? I am sure the bureaucrats who placed this nonsense upon us may have something else distracting them.

On a practical note the generator may have connections to allow it to connect at the terminals to series rather than parallel to provide 230v output.

That’s a good point.
OP see my reply to the same question in the buying in Europe thread. Comments apply minus the CE!

 

[jrudge]

We leave with a deal so until the end of transition ( December ) nothing changes. Even then little may change

 

[Alanij]

Another issue with your idea is:

"I am interested to buy a trailer sized boat in the region of 26 to 30 feet."

From the Gov.uk website: The maximum length for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg is 7 metres (i.e. 23 feet).

 

[DavidJ]

Another issue with your idea is:

"I am interested to buy a trailer sized boat in the region of 26 to 30 feet."

From the Gov.uk website: The maximum length for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg is 7 metres (i.e. 23 feet).

That was well spotted. Could have been an expensive mistake.

 

[vette]

I see, so the trailer should be 7 meters max.
That's 23 feet.
I guess there is an allowance for overhang at sides and rear (stern)
Am I right is suggesting that the trailer is measured from the connection of drawbar to actual trailer?

Thanks

 

[vette]

That’s a good point.
OP see my reply to the same question in the buying in Europe thread. Comments apply minus the CE!

I have read on this forum, that Italy seems to be the favoured location to buy ?
Any other countries within the current EU I should consider ?

Thanks

Vette

 

[Bajansailor]

More details re towing here -
Towing with a car

In this link
Towing with a car
they mention that
"The maximum trailer width for any towing vehicle is 2.55 metres.
The maximum length for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg is 7 metres. This length does not include the A-frame."

Re this rule, are you allowed to have boat overhangs on the length and breadth?
2.55 m. width is 8' 4".

 

[Elessar]

I have read on this forum, that Italy seems to be the favoured location to buy ?
Any other countries within the current EU I should consider ?

Thanks

Vette

I would never buy in Italy I know someone who lost his deposit there because of sharp practice.
Spain is good (I’ve done it)

 

[Elessar]

More details re towing here -
Towing with a car

In this link
Towing with a car
they mention that
"The maximum trailer width for any towing vehicle is 2.55 metres.
The maximum length for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg is 7 metres. This length does not include the A-frame."

Re this rule, are you allowed to have boat overhangs on the length and breadth?
2.55 m. width is 8' 4".

Yes. You are allowed the overhang both sides as the boat is load. 9ft max width of boat from memory.

 

[Alanij]

I see, so the trailer should be 7 meters max.
That's 23 feet.
I guess there is an allowance for overhang at sides and rear (stern)
Am I right is suggesting that the trailer is measured from the connection of drawbar to actual trailer?

Thanks

I'm not a legal expert, but I'm fairly sure that the 7 metre max length and the 2.55 metre maximum width include the boat, and there is no extra allowed for overhang. I have no idea how the drawbar would equate to the A-frame part of the regs. as far as boat trailers are concerned.

You would also have to consider what you are legally allowed to tow on your licence - if you have a UK licence issued pre 1997 you can tow up to a total weight (car and trailer) of 8,250 kg, assuming the vehicle is actually rated for the load. However if it is later you're limited to 3,500 kg unless you take a further test.

 

[Elessar]

I'm not a legal expert, but I'm fairly sure that the 7 metre max length and the 2.55 metre maximum width include the boat, and there is no extra allowed for overhang. I have no idea how the drawbar would equate to the A-frame part of the regs. as far as boat trailers are concerned.

You would also have to consider what you are legally allowed to tow on your licence - if you have a UK licence issued pre 1997 you can tow up to a total weight (car and trailer) of 8,250 kg, assuming the vehicle is actually rated for the load. However if it is later you're limited to 3,500 kg unless you take a further test.

You are wrong about the overhang. The boat is load.

 

[vette]

You are wrong about the overhang. The boat is load.

That's just what I thought also.
Trailer is trailer.
Load is load.
Trailer dimensions are not load dimensions.
There is also a term known as "Indivisible load"

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Lots of people tow boats longer than 30ft LOA. The whole Etchells fleet for a start.
And then Dragons are nearly 30 ft, etc, etc,

 

[Beneteau381]

So will a CE mark and RCD compliance still be required after Friday - these are EU rules, and, as far as I am concerned, no longer apply. Even for those who say it will - who on this Earth will check for this bureaucratic compliance ? I am sure the bureaucrats who placed this nonsense upon us may have something else distracting them.

On a practical note the generator may have connections to allow it to connect at the terminals to series rather than parallel to provide 230v output.

Depending on how the gennie is wired internally, star or delta. We used to get 110v phase to neutral and 220v ish phase to phase. Otherwise it was 230v ish phase neutral and 380 v phase to phase.