First boat - what do I need to think about?

bbg

bbg

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I am under increasing pressure from my wife to by a boat. Having never done it before, I am taking things slowly, but the pressure is mounting.

I am at the stage where I am starting to realise that "I don't know what I don't know".

In terms of big issues, I think I have identified the following:
- registration (I will have to choose a country of registration, determine the rules that apply - e.g. safety rules / equipment might be different for France and UK - and comply with them)
- berthing - I suppose I will need a place to keep the thing
- insurance - because it is a lot of money at stake
- radio licence / operator's certificate - goes along with national authority, but a specific additional requirement as well
- VAT-paid status / proof

I am not so concerned about the purchase / sale process itself, but what do I have to do / think about once I own my yacht?

Edit - in light of some of the early responses - I am wondering more about administrative issues, not sailing issues. I know what kind of boat I want. I know how to sail (I have been a watch captain on a maxi on a trans-ocean race). I just don't know how to own a boat, if that makes sense.

Further edit - I might register the boat in UK, France or Switzerland. I haven't decided yet. I will probably try to keep the boat in S of France.
 
Go on an RYA certified sailing course. That's what I did. It taught me a lot of what I needed to know.

PS. Mounting pressure from your wife to get a boat! Either you're a very very lucky man - or she's trying to get rid of you onto a boat - perhaps also lucky! You can't loose!
 
PPS. You'll probably need to pass the RYA Dayskipper theory course in order to obtain insurance. That course will also teach you invaluable lessons. You can do it as a correspondence course or at various learning establishments around the country.
 
Find a berth.

They are in very short supply in many places with almost infinite waiting lists (e.g. the south of France).

You can't register a boat in most places without being resident there, however how well this is checked varies from country to country.

There are also exceptions like Belgium (no need to be resident, minimal boat tax, little formal requirement for safety gear, no requirement for certificate of competence or such nonsense).
 
Thanks. Just for clarification - I am no sailing neophyte. I will have no doubt how to use the boat once I buy it. I am considering doing the YM course by correspondence, more for interest than anything else.

I will, however, be new to boat ownership.
 
"Go on an RYA certified sailing course. That's what I did. It taught me a lot of what I needed to know."

That'll teach you sailing skills, not ownership skills.

-----

"You'll probably need to pass the RYA Dayskipper theory course in order to obtain insurance."

I wasn't asked about bits of RYA paper when I got insurance for my boat, and have never been asked since.

I don't suppose I'm the exception to the rule.
 
If you are keeping a boat in the UK it doesn't matter which country it is registered in. In the UK you will have to abide by UK rules for VAT (proof of VAT Paid or cough up) and a VHF operators licence and a VHF radio licence(even though the latter is free).

Insurance is not obligatory but it is relatively cheap (£200 for a £40,000 boat) depending where you want to sail. Insurance may be required by a marina although I've never been asked.

UK has no safety laws (yet) except drinking.
 
Thats good you are under pressure from the wife to GET a boat, mine would love me to get rid of my boat, she will go before the boat oh yes, Ken is right with the insurance not asking for qualifications, iv never been asked for proof in 20 years, its a good idea to go on a sailing course or go out as crew to learn the ropes, you might find its not for you, as for buying a boat there are lots and lots about just be carefull and dont let your heart rule your head, i dont know about moorings in your neck of the woods so cant advise,sorry,
best of luck.
 
If you are a Swiss resident you should be able to register it in Switzerland, irrespective of where you keep it.
No country should allow its flag to be used by non residents or foreign nationals who are not residents, but some countries do. If Swiss registration is onerous or expensive there are ways round it.

In Turkey there are many Turkish boats that registered in Delaware, USA, because that State allows cheap registration via a Delaware corporation. This saves the Turkish owners paying high local registration charges, import duty and the local equivalent of VAT. I know American sailors who are very annoyed at the abuse of the US flag in this way, often by motorboat owners who have no training, and it shows. It happens because the rights held by individual States in the USA allow Delaware to have set itself up as a flag of convenience state, not just for pleasure boats, but also for corporations.
 
You are quite right that sailing and owning are very different problem sets. At least SWMBO is onside!

I would consider:

Buying
Mooring
Insurance
Maintenance - this is an ongoing task, good DIY skills or deep pockets required.

Where are you planning to moor your boat?

Buying can have its problems, many posts here confirm that. The RYA publish good booklets on buying new and second hand, model contracts etc.

Edit - RYA page http://www.rya.org.uk/KnowledgeBase/buyingaboat/Pages/buyingaboat.aspx
 
I have edited my original post to include where I want to keep it (probably S of France).

You put it succintly - I am looking for advice on ownership, rather than on use.

I already know how to sail.
 
Buy the RYA publication on Buying a Boat. Most of it is applicable anywhere. You can only normally register in UK if you are resident - not citizen except in some very narrow categories. If you keep it in France you will have to pay VAT. As others have said Belgian registration is common, but you will need specialist advice on this.

Good luck.
 
bbg,

I can relate to your situation..... having sailed all my life, on some occasions, seeming to spend more time afloat than ashore, I found myself buying my own boat bigger than a dinghy for the first time a few years back....

You do indeed have different things to concern yourself with....

All I can say is that your experience will stand you in good stead..... just get on and do it.... yes, there are a few basics, like negotiating a berth, sorting out the insurance, making sure you have enough life jackets etc etc... but if you have the depth of sailing experience that you sound to have, then its purely admin, and nothing that will cause you trouble... you'll be up to speed in no time...

What you will find is that your 'thinking patterns' change.... you'll find yourself contemplating things like "where do I tie the wooden plugs for the through hulls"..." i'd better put Sunday evening aside to update the charts".... "I wonder if that mainsheet will last the rest of the season, or should I replace it".... in a way that you've never worried about when its someone else's boat...

It'll come naturally to you... your headstart over a complete newcomer to sailing is vast....
 
[ QUOTE ]
As others have said Belgian registration is common, but you will need specialist advice on this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really?
That surprises me - I looked into this a while ago.
To qualify - as a private individual - you need to prove residency. Apart from the red tape involved, this has serious tax implications.
 
let me just expand on the above post....

you've bought your shiny new 10m boat, and phone the marina for a berth..... they answer, we have a slot, port side to, but the finger is only 8m... is that OK?

A newcomer goes into a tailspin.... they don't know if that is OK... they have no idea whether a finger needs to be longer than the boat, shorter, or what....

You, as an experienced sailor think... uhmm.... its port side to, and the boat kicks to port in reverse.... we have centre cleats, my crew are quite capable of getting off at the wide point and making off a line quickly enough to not cause any problems.... and there is a cleat both side of the bow to hold her straight.... yep shouldn't be a problem.

That is your advantage... its just admin for you.... for a newbie its all unknowns....
 
[ QUOTE ]
Buy the RYA publication on Buying a Boat. Most of it is applicable anywhere. You can only normally register in UK if you are resident - not citizen except in some very narrow categories.
Good luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

From the sound of your other queries I second this book - really helped me for my first time in a real step by step way without patronising.

Its here

RYA book
 
no need for dayskipper on insurance, i own a 26 footer and only hold a competant crew, still got insurance with st margerats at a very good price!
 
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