duff MBY article

[gjgm]

thought I d get a copy to read all about grey imports and CE regs. What a total waste of two pages (fill in with lots of big pics, coz we dont have anything to say). What could you learn from this?
hmm..might be a bit dodgy buying a boat that doesnt meet EC regs . Really? WOW, hadnt thought of that. Might be tricky getting CE marked. Ahaaa,. Anything useful, like some cost estimates, some guidelines about how to do it,some case histories. Blimey, i d buy a copy of the Sun if i wanted this empty headedness.
And the STAR letter...have i got this right? The RYA should back up the red diesel argument by implying boat owners might have some big mortgages? That they might be debt burdened? That their boat value might go down. And the one I really love.. that the Banks might lose some money on marine financing. I assume that argument was a clever tongue in cheek joke.
By all means , fight to keep the tax concession, but the reason campaigns are so poor is because, other than personal financial pain, there simply arent any supportable justifications.
I m hoping that the rest of the mag returns to normal standard..!

 

[TomIsitt]

Re: charming

Hmmm...well that told us, didn't it.

The empty-headed lack of cost estimates is down to the fact that the costs vary enormously depending on type of boat, origin of boat, size of boat, condition of boat, age of boat and so on... News-Features such as this are not intended to be the definitive word, but merely to highlight an issue that readers may want to consider (in this case it's the weak dollar tempting people to bring in personal imports from the US).

I think you might find a few people taking issue with your assertion that there aren't any supportable justifications for keeping red diesel (over to you, Gludy)

 

[Gludy]

"By all means , fight to keep the tax concession, but the reason campaigns are so poor is because, other than personal financial pain, there simply arent any supportable justifications."

It is really a question of looking at this the other way around ... there arent' any supportable justifications for increasing the price of diesel.... if so please state them.

 

[duncan]

Re: red issues

I think what Gavin was suggesting was that it might be better to focus (if valid) on the probable impact on 'small local enconomies, hard working employees (in affected industries) etc rather than the boat owners or banks.

Re gray imports from the US I can see the difficulties for you in publishing a 'how to' article - but not any significant ones in compling it! The long term interests of your readeship will of course be best met by your current stance.

On a more positive note can I formally request an article on Island hoping the Caribean using fast powerboats with a focus on performance, ports of call (nightlife) and local beverages?

 

[tcm]

New Labour, New Thinking

I agree.

unfortunately, anyone who voices an opinion that perhaps taxes needn't go up some more is seen a selfish git, these days. Likewise, anyone who thinks that perhaps public spending might be high enough is also a selfish git. Rant etc...

 

[TomIsitt]

Re: rum issues

Island-hopping through the Caribbean...hmm, think we can do that (again). There was talk in the office last week of a trip from Miami to the BVIs in a Sunseeker XS2000...guns, mojitos, salsa, and the smell of diesel in the morning. I'll see what I can arrange!

 

[duncan]

Re: rum issues

last article just didn't seem in depth enough somehow; maybe a series of monthly articles based around eack leg of the trip? Sort of "Cumberlidge on cruising" style - but with attitude!

 

[oldgit]

Re.A very rarified world some folks boat in ?

must agree about your comments regarding the star letter.If thats the best argument that chap can come up with then best give up now.
Essentially the main arguement is apparently that the comparatively well off readers of this magazine who having already been forced to take out large mortgages in order to buy expensive boats in addition to being forced to take out an even a larger house mortgage will suffer unbearable consequences if fuel rates rise.Crikey may have to forgo the Maldives the BMW or gulp the au-pair.

 

[sjw]

I think the main reason many magazines (not just MBY)are making imports big news with negative views is probably not the safety Ce etc but the fact that their advertisers and boat dealer and especially the British Marine federation are concerned about losing customers and do not wish to bring the new boat prices down to reflect the dollar rate.

 

[oldgit]

Re:Nearly half a reason..................

One reason could be to encourage the development of more efficient marine diesel engines.
I would suggest respectfully that it is only in those countries having expensive fuel where any real attempt has been to factor in fuel costs when purchasing a new vehicle.Wonder if the new IPS system would have got any further than the waste paper bin if fuel costs were not about to be problem with regard to running a certain type of boat.Rising prices will do more to encourage folk to use resources sparingly that any amount of appealing to their green side.

 

[gjgm]

well, depends on how you want to look at justification. I guess an EU directive on tax harmonisation of non heating fuels might carry some weight.
I m amazed at the number who appear to feel affronted by the idea that their leisure maybe shouldnt benefit from industrial-level taxation of fuel, as though there was some logical entitlement. Fact is, its an historic anomaly. Crikey, at a time well Jolly Gordon has pilfered vast tranches of our pensions, swiped money out of your back pocket with a subtlety that would vex Fagin, and built up massive debt, the main thrust of most argument over red diesel is that... its an injustice?
Then both the battle and the war must surely be lost...

 

[gjgm]

Re: charming

ye gods, the editor (for it is he !)

so the article was to highlight that there is an increase in grey imports, and that one should indeed apply caveat emptor even more warily?
Fair enough, then.
Now, can you write another article with examples of how to bring a boat in -lets just say from USA-and get it CE marked please ! Preferably one containing hidden vast amounts of petrol at US-taxed levels. as diesel is going to be too expensive to run shortly !

 

[TomIsitt]

Re: legal advice please...

Seems like a good idea...anyone know anyone who's done it? We'll talk to a few people and see if we can sort something out. I suspect (and I may well be wrong) that the cost of shipping and CE-marking a personal import may well outweigh the savings made by buying it in the US, but we'll look into it.

In the meantime, are there any legal brains out there who understand the status of commercial grey-imports (not personal imports, but ones brought in either new or used, by a commercial venture)? How does the ruling about Tesco and Levi jeans affect that business? Is it illegal to bring in new boats from the US if there is already an existing UK importer? Anyone know?

 

[duncan]

Re: legal advice please...

I think the use of the word 'illegal' is probably inapproapriate here.
It is likely that, in the example you give, someone somewhere will be breaching their contractual terms - at first guess it would be the US distributor breaching their distribution agreement with the manufacturer.
Unless he has (materially) misrepresented himself (herself) the importer is legally clear to import. Providing he pay's his bills, takes any necessary steps to comply with the local market regulations and appropriately represents his goods he's not acting illegally either.
The really gray area here is of course the true and appropriate representation of the warantee position on the goods...which the importer may well struggle to really comprehend as he may not have been party to the relevant contracts.

re actual costs of personal import the numbers seem to stack up on the small volume market (say a 175 Bayliner) where the warantee issues are (should be) negligible and you could get it CE plated CAT E pretty cheap, or the larger market where the margin covers the costs and risks. In the middle can't be so attractive.

 

[tcm]

Re: legal advice please...

erm you can ring people up and buy things yerknow. There's nothing really "grey" or "illegal" - the only iffy thing is that a yank manufactuers might have promised other dealers only to import thru them and thereby control the market. But in the example of importing Levi's - ring up wherever and buy a containerload. The legals start with protectionist crap about CE marking but you can gettem approved anyway.

 

[mercman]

Re: legal advice please...

Mr editor how do you think advising readers on "how to grey import" boats from the US will go down with the sports boat companies that advertise in your magazines.
Maxum dealers, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Chaparral, Monterey, Ebbtide, Mariah, Four Winns, Doral to name a few!!
A few thousand pounds a month advertising gone maybe.