Has anyone bought a boat in Sweden ??

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nairda96

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Well it comes round to it again, Looking at folkboats and of course the price of them in Sweden has me dreaming about what could be. But where to start, I have bought boats in the UK and had them shipped over here to Ireland and that was ok but it wasn't so far to travel to see the boat and at least I can speak the language. Has anyone bought one there and had it shipped back, If so how, Container, lorry, on it own trailer, Any extra cost, taxes etc Did you travel to Sweden, Any help would be great, Thanks, My budget is tight by the way.
 
Sweden is in the EU so there are no constraints on buying - no duties nor VAT on secondhand boats. Just the usual documentation requirements. Not in Euro so there is potential currency risk as seller will probably want Krona. Plenty of brokers and advertising sources and English is widely spoken. However, would not think it a sensible place to buy for a low value boat. The boats are likely to be cheaper and in relatively better condition than UK but transaction costs (getting there, viewing and most of all shipping back) is likely to cost more than the boat. It is different if you are looking at high value boats that can potentially be sailed back.
 
Thanks for the info, The problem is that I'm in Ireland, and the few folkboats available here are rather expensive, say 4 to 5 thousand euro for a "sailing project" and a lot of them are unattractive east german models. Boats in the UK although cheaper, if valued at 0 euro are still going to cost me 2000 euro to get back here. I wouldn't at this stage be willing to sail a boat back. If the cost from Sweden wasn't hugely more expensive there seems to be some very nice boats at better prices than in the UK. I just don't know how much exactly it would all cost.
 
Folkboats

Folkboats can be trailed. There is a well attended 'Folkboat world championships' every year with boats arriving from all over Scandanavia and most of these arrive by trailer. The FB exhibitor at SBS last year was on the same ferry as us from Denmark to the UK with his FB on the back. My guess is your best bet would be to buy a boat with a trailer and tow it back.

However there are plenty of FBs in the UK. I'm not sure whether the premium from getting one in Sweden would outweight the ferry costs.
 
If you can't afford to ship a boat from UK to Ireland then there is no way you can afford to get one from Sweden! There are no direct ferry sailings if you are thinking of trailing one back so you will at least double the cost.

As said there is plentiful supply of good FBs in UK and any one that is worth having (as a cruising boat) is quite capable of being sailed back to Ireland.
 
I'm sure the boat would be very capable of sailing back from the UK or Sweden but I am looking for a boat now and if I saw one that suited I wouldn't consider myself experienced enough or in a position to leave on a sailing trip for how ever long it may take with weather and such, as much as I would love to try.
I had come across a quote that someone else had got for bringing one over, being towed by a transport crowd but on its own trailer 1450 sterling, thought it seemed very reasonable, perhaps too good to be true, hence why I'm asking. The 2000 euro was what I paid for my current fishing boat to be brought from Southampton by lorry including lifts at both ends.
 
That price for towing on its own trailer sounds in the right ballpark as ferry costs are much lower than a truck - plus you only have to pay the tow vehicle one way.

All the boats in Sweden now will be tucked up in bed for the winter. Don't know how many would have their own roadworthy trailer tho'. Think you have to accept that unless you are extremely lucky to get a good low priced boat ready to go on a trailer, it is unlikely to be a cost effective exercise.
 
Yea I guess so, They just look so dam good, There is a beautiful nordic style one in my local boatyard that needs completely refastening and I can't see her selling for less than 5 or 6 thousand, and she doesn't float properly !!! Just seems very expensive in comparison.
 
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I once helped bring a 27ft Albin Vega back from Sweden to Scotland. We took the ferry over from somewhere on the Tyne I think then picked up the boat 40km S. of Gothenburg and sailed it back via Denmark and Norway. Kristiansand to Peterhead was 320nm and took 71 hours.

It's not a difficult sail if you have the time to wait for a decent forcast for the N. Sea bit.

- W
 
I have bought 3 boats in Sweden.. well I live here now;)
Vega, Comfortina & now a Najad... to buy it, as people have stated here already would be no problem whatsoever, and here seems to be a far worse depressed market than the UK..alot of bargains to be had I'm sure.. a friend of mine is looking for another boat and has said how prices have plummeted.. I also see it with our Najad 343 the prices have gone down about 20% for those..

If you were to go by road/ferry there are no direct ferries from Sweden. Most people who drive back to UK from here go down through Denmark to Ejseberg(not sure of the spelling) then over to Harwich..
By sea, the obvious route but that would be the start of next season I assume. The yard prices here are quite cheap depending on where you buy it of course but compared to the UK..very cheap.. so storage here for the winter wouldn't but such a bad thing..
Ryan air fly here regular and maybe Easy jet but are unsure..

You can see prices and pictures through a website called www.blocket.se .. i can help you navigate though the Swedish if you wish, but its a mixture of private & brokerage sales..

Regards
Warren
 
Thanks thats helpful info, I have yet to do a passage so I don't know if crossing the north sea would be a great start :D I don't have a trailer licence, not a problem here really but I assume I couldn't tow a 3 ton boat across europe, so I guess I would have to hire someone who could tow it back for me.
Wazza what is it like to get around there, language barrier ? public transport ? car rental ?
Are the prices I'm seeing really the case, I mean I see boats that look absolutely beautiful for
2 to 4 thousand, Keeping in mind I would have been happy with a project boat and I don't mind if the needs work, it'll be a 40 or 50 year old wooden boat at the end of the day.
 
I bought my last boat in Sweden, but I was living there so didn't have the transport issue.

I'm surprised you're finding prices cheaper there. I used to find it that way but with the strength of the krona vs pound & euro these days I think it's more expensive now.

As wazza says, blocket is the place to look, and the prices are totally realistic, in fact you'll probably be able to get them cheaper than advertised. The problem is you'll not see much for sale at the moment, but there wil be loads more on the market in the spring, although at slightly higher prices. Sailing it back next summer could be great fun, you could always get an eperience friend on board for the few long passages.

There is no language barrier in Sweden, almost everyone in the country speaks perfect English.
 
I bought a 30 ft long keeler from Sweden in 2001. Krona was, IIRC, about 13:1. I've always had great admiration for Swedish design and manufacture and my boat did not disappoint.

She was sailed from near Stockholm to Rostock, Germany. Then through the Kiel Canal and North Sea to Gt Yarmouth. I wanted to make landfall further north but the wind had other ideas. I then had her trucked over to the north west coast. Didn't have any free time left, or crew availability to complete the jounet by sea.

I sold her 4 years later and made an approx 60% profit.

Great, memorable experience and I'd consider doing it again.
 
No language barrier, as SvenglishTommy says everyone speaks perfect English..
Public transport is very good and there's Hertz, Avis and so on here so renting a car wouldn't be a problem..
Just been on the blocket website I suggested earlier, there's still quite alot on there but yes there will be more come the spring..
 
Well if I can get a nice boat back from Sweden for the price of a sinking one here I think I'll be very pleased with myself, You just don't see folkboats that pretty here either, Be good if I could go and buy one, arrange storage for it then come back and decide how I'm going to get it back, Its exciting concept. Is traveling about difficult there in Winter.
 
If you get the boat here in the west coast winter storage will not be a problem... your potential buy will most likely already have its winter place already sorted, but there are no lack of winter places here!
If you find something you really like/want I can help with more info and such like.. if you wish..
 
And sorry I forgot to.add, traveling about here in the winter generally isn't a problem apart from when the first snow falls, then its 'hands to panic stations' then soon after order is returned..
You all laugh at the UK/ireland when everything goes to rats s*** when it snows, well the same applies here (when alot comes at the beginning of winter).. but like I say on the whole its good here..
 
I figured they would be better set up for Winter, If I bought snow tires I might not get to use them for 20 years :D I going to take a proper look at flights and locations of boats and cost of shipping over the next few days, There are a few boats on there right now that would interest me, If I go for the storage for the Winter option I will have more to spend on the boat now and I can save up for transport after although there seems to be a few I could afford well within budget. Thanks for the info Warren, I may well be in touch, What are the major airports by the way,
 
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