Toutvabien
Well-Known Member
Also posted on MOBO Chat.
I spent this afternoon checking out the motor cruiser that the brother wants to buy. Initial thoughts were that it seemed like a reasonable boat for the money, needed a clean but has twin diesel engines and reasonable upholstery, gel coat in good condition and no obvious signs of it having a hard life.
It is being sold directly by the dealers, who say that they have bought it in from another dealer to sell. Looking at the boat I was concerned that it was a direct import from the US that has not necessarily been through the RCD process. The boat stiil has a US 110v shorepower set up and US 110 sockets. When I questioned them on it's CE status they could not evidence the fact that it was imported from the US, where it was built, before 1998. They agreed to make some enquiries and seek to clarify the position for Barry. As a humble Raggie I found it difficult to accept that anybody would have used a Motor Cruiser for 10 years, the age of the boat, with 110v shorepower, but was told tha this was common in US manufactured power boats that were imported to the UK prior to the RCD coming into force in 1998. Are there really many boats still in use with 110v shorepower systems?
I did not think that they are legally able to sell a boat where the RCD status was unclear. Am I wrong?
So the next issue that I sought clarification from them on was the VAT status. The brokers/dealers agreed to provide us with a VAT receipt if the sale proceeds, would this be acceptable to the Customs and Excise? Sounds too easy to me, given the VAT complexities that I went through to establish VAT status when buying my sailboat last year.
We have agreed that the dealers will sort try and sort out both of the issues that we raised before Barry agrees to proceed with the sale. I would not be happy to buy a boat without both the VAT and RCD status being established.
Am I being overcautious in my advice?
I spent this afternoon checking out the motor cruiser that the brother wants to buy. Initial thoughts were that it seemed like a reasonable boat for the money, needed a clean but has twin diesel engines and reasonable upholstery, gel coat in good condition and no obvious signs of it having a hard life.
It is being sold directly by the dealers, who say that they have bought it in from another dealer to sell. Looking at the boat I was concerned that it was a direct import from the US that has not necessarily been through the RCD process. The boat stiil has a US 110v shorepower set up and US 110 sockets. When I questioned them on it's CE status they could not evidence the fact that it was imported from the US, where it was built, before 1998. They agreed to make some enquiries and seek to clarify the position for Barry. As a humble Raggie I found it difficult to accept that anybody would have used a Motor Cruiser for 10 years, the age of the boat, with 110v shorepower, but was told tha this was common in US manufactured power boats that were imported to the UK prior to the RCD coming into force in 1998. Are there really many boats still in use with 110v shorepower systems?
I did not think that they are legally able to sell a boat where the RCD status was unclear. Am I wrong?
So the next issue that I sought clarification from them on was the VAT status. The brokers/dealers agreed to provide us with a VAT receipt if the sale proceeds, would this be acceptable to the Customs and Excise? Sounds too easy to me, given the VAT complexities that I went through to establish VAT status when buying my sailboat last year.
We have agreed that the dealers will sort try and sort out both of the issues that we raised before Barry agrees to proceed with the sale. I would not be happy to buy a boat without both the VAT and RCD status being established.
Am I being overcautious in my advice?
