importing a bayliner from USA

[Nick_H]

A friend of mine bought a 1999 Glastron 249 for what he thought was a good price from a well known US importer. He has so far spent £8,000 getting it mechanically up to scratch, even before he deals with the torn canopies and worn upholstery. As you say though, if you are able to view it first that's not such a concern.

My tips on buying a boat for a good price in the UK:

1. try to be a bit flexible on the boat you want, so you can find at least 5 suitable boats for sale
2. consider web sites / private sales, as sellers using brokers will often add the brokers margin to the minimum they will accept for the boat
3. make a low offer on your prefered of the 5 boats, which will probably be rejected.
4. do the same in turn on the remaining 4 boats, and there's just a chance someone will accept. More likely you will get 5 rejections, but a couple will significantly drop their price somewhere between their price and yours
5. Get into discussion with at least two of the best deals, and let them know that you have another boat or boats you are considering
6. Keep negotiating until you get the best deal and snap it up.

It can all be done in quite a friendly way, as most people realise you're spending a lot of money and need to make sure you get the best boat for it. In my experience at least one of the five will be a motivated seller, often because they have found the new boat they want and become emotionally attached. I would expect to get 10 - 15% below the market price (which may be a lot more below the asking price).


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[Chris_d]

Umm not sure, think a petrol would be 20-25K here anyway, certainly 20K will get
you a very nice 22-25footer if it doens't have to be 3 years old and a bayliner. Are you sure your not applying car buying logic here, a newer boat is not neccesarliy better than a well sorted older one, doesn't pay to be too singleminded when choosing boats in my experience.

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[duncan]

Re: like for like - ?

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatamerica.com/classifieds/AddDetail.asp?Boat=9022>http://www.boatamerica.com/classifieds/AddDetail.asp?Boat=9022</A>
this is delivery hours (well say a years use at 150) , kept out the water and so loaded it's obscene (air-con/fridge freezer) let alone fully instrumented. Better boat that the 2455 for UK waters (hard top). Even with 8k for vat, shipping and electrical switch to 220/240 you are quids in if, IF, it's sound - but quite frankly you wouldn't even need to go over to estabish that for this type of craft.

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[Chris_d]

Re: like for like - ?

Have look at Essex boatyards again, they have the same boat with a new 5.7merc
for an asking price of 23.9K, that'll probably be sub 20K in a couple of months when it aint sold, still don't see how all the importing hassle is worth it.

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[dobsy]

Well i'm up for the challenge if you want to point out some nice 25 footers for £29 k in the uk!

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[Divemaster1]

< Well i'm up for the challenge if you want to point out some nice 25 footers for £29 k in the uk! >

Not in the UK, but within the EU and nearer than the US ... just drive down and tow back .... threw in a fast Cigarette as well ....just for fun ...... (I bought a 45 footer from these guys a month ago ...).

http://www.parisibroker.com/scheda.asp?scheda=1411

http://www.parisibroker.com/scheda.asp?scheda=818

http://www.parisibroker.com/scheda.asp?scheda=1562

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[Chris_d]

Blimey I really can't be arsed, its not 'ard you know, some quick examples;

http://www.essexboatyards.co.uk/ loads of em...

http://www.nationwideboatsales.co.u...?Article=1085236607527&salestype=1&boattype=1

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F45711/

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/WAL057/

and many more, all should be negotiated down at least 5-10%.



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[duncan]

Re: like for like - ?

I agree that this is close, and if both craft were 'as advertised', would represent a equivelence.

I would expect the essex one to have gone / go for around 22k pretty quickly if the engine really is new and the drive is sound against a budget of 27k for the US one, so you have made your point well.
New for new it's $ for £ on list prices which represents a signiificant saving unless you put a value on warantees! You will be ok on the engine / drive system if you register it with a UK authorised dealer quickly but are unlikely to get much out of a Bayliner UK dealer on the boat!

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[duncan]

OK - here's a 28ft ciggy with twin mercruisers and a triple axle trailer for around 7k! <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatamerica.com/classifieds/AddDetail.asp?Boat=10099>http://www.boatamerica.com/classifieds/AddDetail.asp?Boat=10099</A>

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[Chris_d]

Re: like for like - ?

Yes new boat might be a bit different but then there is still the CE marking and a diesel option would be difficult. I did look into this back in January, was thinking about a Bayliner 2855 via the Global Traders' Mark Carrol (Florida) route, savings can be made but it is very close. Also I think you would be foolish to buy unseen so a trip over is essential to view more than one boat, SWMBO wouldn't allow me to do this without her + small person, isn't worth it for just a couple of days so becomes 2 weeks, so it becomes a holiday as well, then you have go to Disney,
shopping in Miami etc... before you know it you've spent 5K and your saving is wiped out. More interesting than trudging around essex though I spose..

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[petebrown]

Re: like for like - ?

Dobsy,

I've just gone through the whole deal with Global Trade partners and my boat arrived last Thursday and goes into the water tomorrow. I've ended up with a 27' Bayliner 2655 with a 5.7 l V8, low hours and toys incl A/C. Externally the boat is in very good condition indeed and below decks almost looks like it has never been used with the hob and mircowave as new. Just to top it off the full camper hood is as new. I did go throught the butterflies before it arrived and actually there is a little crazing of the fibreglass by the cockpit which came as a nasty shock but when I contacted Mark at Global Trade and he simply said 'Get it sorted and I will pay'. At the end of the day his reputation could be rubbished on a chat room like this and his trade to UK would dry up and so he cannot afford to cheese his punters off.

Anyway the money side of this for me has broken down roughly as follows:
Boat 22.5K
Import Taxes 3K as part of the 22.5 was brokerage service and transport to Southampton.
CE Proof do post build assessments to ensure boat reaches CE requirements and have history on Bayliners like mine at 1K for assessment and 1 K likely remedial work.
Altering shore supply to 240 V about £ 350
So all up costs 27.85K for a boat with a street value of ~ 30-35K. Now I did some simple sums and yes I have a gas guzzler but I need to do about 3250 miles before the difference in fuel costs sting against having a diesel boat.

Incidentally, I nearly went to have a look at the Bayliner 245 at Esex Boatyards but was put off by the fact that in addition to the damage which has been made good there is further work required.

At the end of the day I believe I have made a significant saving, have a boat which is bigger than I might have got here and I think that with the choice of boats in the States Global Trade ought to be able to sort out a decent one for you. One minor word of caution is that CE Proof haven't done every boat under the sun so a new boat assessment from scratch is more expensive and they might find somthing that cannot be sorted. They seem a very friendly bunch and should send you their database of boats they have assessed to date if asked. I only have a hard copy version so cannot attach.

If you do go with Global Trade please mention my name as they might slip me a fiver!

Happy motoring whatever you decide.

Pete B

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