Customs, Import tax and CE certificate on older boats.

[SurfyJim]

I am looking at importing a 1970 boat from USA to UK.
Is a boat built in 1970 ,due to its age, free from import and customs duties (even if it has undergone a total restoration in USA) when I import to the UK.
How may a boat fully restored in the USA including new engine fall short if the CE certification for the UK.
Now that we are outside the EU -do I need certification if the yacht is for my own private use only.
Thanks in advance,
Regards
James

 

[Tranona]

Welcome to the forum.

Yes. It is irrelevant that it is for your private use. You will pay VAT on the landed cost (purchase price or market value plus shipping costs. The RCD has been replaced by the UKCA which currently has the same scope as the RCD and the boat will have to meet that. This will mean a complete analysis of the design including stability and all equipment to meet the appropriate category. The engine (and all other equipment) will have to meet current requirements, which again are the same as the EU.

Suggest you speak to the RYA for more detailed advice and here, for example, hpi-ceproof.com for advice on whether the boat is likely to comply.

 

[SurfyJim]

Welcome to the forum.

Yes. It is irrelevant that it is for your private use. You will pay VAT on the landed cost (purchase price or market value plus shipping costs. The RCD has been replaced by the UKCA which currently has the same scope as the RCD and the boat will have to meet that. This will mean a complete analysis of the design including stability and all equipment to meet the appropriate category. The engine (and all other equipment) will have to meet current requirements, which again are the same as the EU.

Suggest you speak to the RYA for more detailed advice and here, for example, hpi-ceproof.com for advice on whether the boat is likely to comply.

Thank you for your information! Looks like I will try and find a European spec boat instead to save all the hassle and added costs. Cheers!

 

[st599]

Thank you for your information! Looks like I will try and find a European spec boat instead to save all the hassle and added costs. Cheers!

Even with an EU spec boat, if it is not in the UK by the cuttoff date, you will need to prove it passes the new UKCA. The UK chose not to allow EU RCD compliance to be used to prove UK RCR compliance.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I am looking at importing a 1970 boat from USA to UK.

There's a reason why so few people do that. The obstacles in the way (VAT, compliance) mean that it's just not worth the candle. Find a UK boat instead.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Apologies for the slight thread drift.
Does this mean that if I buy a brand-new boat from the EU, I’ll have to pay approximately £5k to get it recertified as compliant with the new UKCA standard, whatever that may be?

 

[Tranona]

No. The UKCA is currently the same as the RCD, but a new boat needs to have a certificate, a paperwork exercise. Recently an importer told me that they were paying around £1000 for this on big MOBOs. I expect over time most builders will automatically certify boats for sale in the UK.

 

[st599]

The RYA estimate a cost of between 500 and 5000 for second hand boats. The cost is with the importer I think. https://www.rya.org.uk/news/rya-and...tial-new-costs-of-trading-second-hand-vessels

 

[SailingEd]

Thank you for your information! Looks like I will try and find a European spec boat instead to save all the hassle and added costs. Cheers!

wont help you, anything imported post brexit needs a RCR post assessment along with a new UKCA mark as were no longer part of the EU.

along with VAT at 20% you will need to pay import duty (the good news is its 0% currently on boats) on top of that you have the RCR inspection, all quotes i had were £4.5k-5.6k (for a Hallberg Rassy 1979 boat - a well known and well found design) then on top of that you will need a new engine because the current one (unless built post 2016 it has a slim chance) wont meet the emission requirements to get a RCR rating as its based on the latest standards, so budget for that too.

new boats is a different kettle of fish, and usually a paperwork exercise and alot cheaper as the boat will most likely comply with all aspects of UKCA and have all the necessary technical files and paperwork, as its a copy and paste of the CE regs, but the UKCA will get different translations and interpretations as with all regs - so don't bank on that, anyway if your buying new it will most likely be through an agent and they will do the importing so ... not your problem to worry about.

basically a non UK used second hand boat will turn into a financial headache before you even get it wet in UK waters.

more info here -> Rcd (recreational craft directive) brexit hot mess

and if your a RYA member there is guidance on their website explaining all the above, and the new RCR which replaced the RCD in 2017, the implementation date being brexit eve.

so we're left with the UK market of boats which is pretty at the best of times. if you lived in Northern Ireland you could always keep the boat in Ireland and effectively EU waters and that would be problem solved (although there is another can of worms to open on being a non eu national keeping a boat in eu waters and transiting to the UK in a EU boat, its probably best not to open that can!) , wont help you with non EU boats though.

then to add fuel to the fire, if you ever want to move your UKCA and RCR compliant boat to the EU you will need to get a RCD and CE post assessment as the boat wasn't in EU waters on brexit eve... fun times!