Importing a boat from the US east cost to the UK

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mctaggart

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Hi

I am looking to import a Bayliner 288 from the US East coast to the UK in Southampton. Hopefully I plan to do a roll on roll off method of transport. I was wondering if anyone from across the pond would be able to answer a few of my questions.

I am totally aware of the process involved to do it, tax/VAT to be paid, CE marking once in the UK, converting from 110v to 240v, differences in trailer legality, but what i don't know is what is the best way to go about doing it.

Its seems to be a bit of a logistical mountain to climb to organise it all, for example how much should i be paying for RO, RO transport to the UK via ferry, any suggestions on companies to use to ferry my imported boat across and which area is best to buy a Bayliner 288 on the East coast.

I will no doubt have to catch a flight over to come check over the boat, in addition to a survey report but ideally I want to be putting the boat on the ship while i am there before i go back home for peace of mind.

What i need ideally is contact with someone who has actually imported a boat before, she is too big to go in a container at 28", it would be great if i can get contacts of recommended companies to use, fixers, boat transport, ferry companies, CE marking certification etc.

If anyone can help that would be brilliant!


Thanks

Craig
 
Unless the boat is seriously cheap its not worth the trouble. As you explain there's a lot of charges and work to do once it arrives. If you are looking for a boaty bargain to use in the UK have a look at boats for sale in Italy - some serious bargains and easy to move around europe on a truck/trailer.
 
Hmm I disagree, I have looked in Italy and while I agree they are cheaper than the UK the prices, they are no where as cheap as the states, maybe 10-20% less, the prices I see in the states are more like 60% cheaper.

As a cost exercise for me to get on the water, I can buy my self a boat that I wouldn't dream of owning in the UK due to the prohibitive cost.

I'm looking at a 55k for a 2006 Bayliner 288 in the UK and I can pick up one up in the states for 20k for the same year. Even with all the taxes and conversion work lets say 10k to get it over and legal on UK waters. That's still 25k less than what I would have to pay here in the UK, at that discount I would be prepared to put in the leg work.

I know the resale values are not as much on grey imports but like I said this is a cost exercise for me to get on the water.

So back to my original questions, can anyone point me in the correct direction with agents, shipping company etc to use it would be greatly appreciated.

Or in case I am missing anything feel free to comment :)

Thanks

Craig
 
Yep, the flow of used boats from the US to Europe has dried up due to $ strength and glut of cheap boats in the med. Unless it's a giveaway you're likely to find a better deal closer to home
 
mctaggart said:
Hmm I disagree, I have looked in Italy and while I agree they are cheaper than the UK the prices, they are no where as cheap as the states, maybe 10-20% less, the prices I see in the states are more like 60% cheaper.

As a cost exercise for me to get on the water, I can buy my self a boat that I wouldn't dream of owning in the UK due to the prohibitive cost.

I'm looking at a 55k for a 2006 Bayliner 288 in the UK and I can pick up one up in the states for 20k for the same year. Even with all the taxes and conversion work lets say 10k to get it over and legal on UK waters. That's still 25k less than what I would have to pay here in the UK, at that discount I would be prepared to put in the leg work.

I know the resale values are not as much on grey imports but like I said this is a cost exercise for me to get on the water.

So back to my original questions, can anyone point me in the correct direction with agents, shipping company etc to use it would be greatly appreciated.

Or in case I am missing anything feel free to comment :)

Thanks

Craig
Click to expand...

Your £10k is wild underestimate of the costs. Freight will be £8-10k. VAT at 20% on top of your boat cost plus freight. So your £20k boat has on costs of at least £16k before you do the necessary mods to get a CE mark. Your US trailer will be illegal in UK so you will need a new trailer. An imported older boat has low value in the depressed UK market.

As already suggested the flow of boats, particularly used boats from US has dried to nothing in the last few years because it is simply not worth it. The only way it might be worth doing is if you are a returning resident and eligible to bring a boat in as personal chattels which means you may escape VAT. However there are restrictions, particularly on what you can do with the boat when it is here.
 
mctaggart said:
Hmm I disagree, I have looked in Italy and while I agree they are cheaper than the UK the prices, they are no where as cheap as the states, maybe 10-20% less, the prices I see in the states are more like 60% cheaper.

As a cost exercise for me to get on the water, I can buy my self a boat that I wouldn't dream of owning in the UK due to the prohibitive cost.

I'm looking at a 55k for a 2006 Bayliner 288 in the UK and I can pick up one up in the states for 20k for the same year. Even with all the taxes and conversion work lets say 10k to get it over and legal on UK waters. That's still 25k less than what I would have to pay here in the UK, at that discount I would be prepared to put in the leg work.

I know the resale values are not as much on grey imports but like I said this is a cost exercise for me to get on the water.

So back to my original questions, can anyone point me in the correct direction with agents, shipping company etc to use it would be greatly appreciated.

Or in case I am missing anything feel free to comment :)

Thanks

Craig
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll bite.

On yachtworld, the cheapest UK 288 is £46k asking price. The cheapest available US 288 is £22k. Add £8k shipping = £30k. Add vat = £36k. Add import duty (I think 1.7%) = £36500. Add a trip to the US to supervise shipping (personally I'd budget for two trips, for viewings, but let's assume you're doing this as cheaply as possible) say £1k flying economy, on your own, and only staying a couple of days = £37500. So now it's all gone swimmingly, you've bought the first boat you saw, it's (improbaby0 a minter and you've successfully imported it to the UK. Chuck away the trailer and buy a replacement - say £2500 = £40k.

So you've got £6k left to convert the electrics and get it CE marked. Well, that's possible, if a bit squeaky - but you're going to end up with a grey import that's arguably going to be worth 20% less than a straight UK boat, in the eyes of the picky UK buyer. And ... this all assumes that the brokers photos don't lie. You're talking about 10 year old boats here - which really in any other context you'd want to inspect personally before committing.

For me, the numbers just don't work. You'd be better off trying to buy that £46k UK boat for £40k.
 
I do not know about the current situation and how financially viable it is.................

But some years ago when the £/$ was very advantageous about 1.9$/£ I bought a Trophy sport fishing boat in Virginia and had it shipped over, on its trailer, as RO-RO cargo to Liverpool. The boat was two years old and spotless as it had been a dealers demo boat.

After paying the shipping and import taxes the cost was about 60% of a similar boat in the UK....If you could have found one as nice.........Having been dry stored, it was not anti fouled and looked like new.

I found a really good shipping agent who regularly brought in quite a few boats, SUVs, RVs and 5th wheel caravans. The dealer delivered the boat to the dock and the agent did all of the paperwork / admin. It made it very easy. I just had to collect the boat from Liverpool docks.

The trailer was far better than the UK equivalents but not strictly UK road legal (slightly too wide, I believe, had hydraulic brakes and the lighting was wrong) It needed a 2" tow ball as opposed to our 50mm standard. I got a tow ball from Landrover and used a trailer light board. I did not tow it much after the initial Liverpool to Oban run but it towed beautifully and no one ever queried its width.

It had no mains electrics, so no conversion issues there.

My insurers were happy with a US imports as the identical boat was sold in the UK.

I decided not to bother with the CE.

Not sure if any of that helps you............my main recommendation would be, if the numbers work for you and you find a boat you like DO try to find a good shipping agent - they were the key to the success of my import.

Good luck with what you decide.
 
Hi,
I don't want to comment on weather you should or shouldn't import but i can give you some facts.

My Bayliner 2855 was imported to Southampton from Jacksonville Florida in 2005.
It was on a trailer and was towed to the port by the guy that imported it. He towed it with a 1995 Jeep Cherokee.
The whole lot was boarded onto a ship and he imported 3 items. Boat, trailer and car.
He collected all 3 at Southampton, paid the fees and just drove the lot to Yorkshire!!!!

The costs were a total of £7099. this is without the CE mark.
I have the receipt in my paperwork. The Shipping company was 1st Move International LTD.

I don't suggest that you drive an American registered car with a 40 foot tow that is 12 foot wide the length of England.
 
Duster said:
No it's just a regulation, like so many others with no enforcement then..............and little more now.

It;s main effect was to prevent a growing business (at that time) of companies importing used boats, as a business, better and cheaper cheaper than UK dealers were selling.
Click to expand...

Iirc what you're not supposed to do is sell the boat without the CE markings, but as you say, who will ever check or be bothered by that?
 
I have imported a number of boats over the years. Bayliners in particular can very easily and cheaply converted to exact UK specification i.e. no transformer, no 110v or US frequencies. Transport was as low as $1000 for me, if you bypass the multiple agents and middlemen who take 30+% each. Plus loading, dock costs, cradle, wrapping etc - none of which are significant. Of course VAT and something like 1.7% duty assuming I/O Adrive. CE around £600-900 for that size boat. I paid someone £1000 to show me the way, first time. If you expect an one stop shop to do the lot, clearly costs will be different. A bit less work, bit more cost, contact Gunnar Bohrmeister of Mayday Watersports in DE, usually on boatshop24.co.uk. If you need help converting to UK spec, IM me. There is a lot less cost than you think, if you know what to do.
 
Last edited:
Duster said:
Correct .....and several businesses had sprung up importing very attractively priced used boats and it did stop them.
Click to expand...

And then many businesses sprung up offering cheap CE certification... especially when they knew that "official" boats were compliant i.e. they had little effort or risk. And things continued while the pound was strong.
 
EugeneR said:
And then many businesses sprung up offering cheap CE certification... especially when they knew that "official" boats were compliant i.e. they had little effort or risk. And things continued while the pound was strong.
Click to expand...

Well that is good..............I did point out that my import was some time ago, at that time the CE certificaters were rip off merchants charging silly money.

The market and CE certification has obviously moved on since then.
 
mctaggart said:
Hi

I am looking to import a Bayliner 288 from the US East coast to the UK in Southampton. Hopefully I plan to do a roll on roll off method of transport. I was wondering if anyone from across the pond would be able to answer a few of my questions.

I am totally aware of the process involved to do it, tax/VAT to be paid, CE marking once in the UK, converting from 110v to 240v, differences in trailer legality, but what i don't know is what is the best way to go about doing it.

Its seems to be a bit of a logistical mountain to climb to organise it all, for example how much should i be paying for RO, RO transport to the UK via ferry, any suggestions on companies to use to ferry my imported boat across and which area is best to buy a Bayliner 288 on the East coast.

I will no doubt have to catch a flight over to come check over the boat, in addition to a survey report but ideally I want to be putting the boat on the ship while i am there before i go back home for peace of mind.

What i need ideally is contact with someone who has actually imported a boat before, she is too big to go in a container at 28", it would be great if i can get contacts of recommended companies to use, fixers, boat transport, ferry companies, CE marking certification etc.

If anyone can help that would be brilliant!


Thanks

Craig
Click to expand...
Don't take any notice of scare stories regarding importing boats from USA, especially Bayliners. As they are readily available here from dealers (UK) you will find that only minimal changes need to be made to obtain CE markings. I am currently trying to buy a 2855 in Florida and have been quoted £2700 to ship it back to UK so I don't know where they get the £8000 price from. As to resale prices. A friend who is a boat dealer says that if its legally imported with correct paperwork it should not make a great deal of difference to value. Good luck with your project and let me know of any problems/pitfalls you come across please. cheers Simon PS shipping co is Ship Overses and the price is from Jacksonville to Southampton.
 
Please tell us its diesel ! :)
Having bought Harleys in from Florida in the past when the pound was much much stronger by the time you added up all the expences you could make a profit...most of the time.
However much of the stuff we bought over was in very poor condition compared to a UK machine of the same age...secondhand stuff simply was not worth anything on home market so was simply neglected... you went out and bought a new one and if an english mug was prepared to pay you cash money for your 3 year old wreck :)
A quick look at 288 on yacht market fails to produce anything under 35.000 US.Anything cheaper would raise suspicions about condition or provenance ?
 
Last edited:
Duster said:
I do not know about the current situation and how financially viable it is.................

But some years ago when the £/$ was very advantageous about 1.9$/£ I bought a Trophy sport fishing boat in Virginia and had it shipped over, on its trailer, as RO-RO cargo to Liverpool. The boat was two years old and spotless as it had been a dealers demo boat.

After paying the shipping and import taxes the cost was about 60% of a similar boat in the UK....If you could have found one as nice.........Having been dry stored, it was not anti fouled and looked like new.

I found a really good shipping agent who regularly brought in quite a few boats, SUVs, RVs and 5th wheel caravans. The dealer delivered the boat to the dock and the agent did all of the paperwork / admin. It made it very easy. I just had to collect the boat from Liverpool docks.

The trailer was far better than the UK equivalents but not strictly UK road legal (slightly too wide, I believe, had hydraulic brakes and the lighting was wrong) It needed a 2" tow ball as opposed to our 50mm standard. I got a tow ball from Landrover and used a trailer light board. I did not tow it much after the initial Liverpool to Oban run but it towed beautifully and no one ever queried its width.

It had no mains electrics, so no conversion issues there.

My insurers were happy with a US imports as the identical boat was sold in the UK.

I decided not to bother with the CE.

Not sure if any of that helps you............my main recommendation would be, if the numbers work for you and you find a boat you like DO try to find a good shipping agent - they were the key to the success of my import.

Good luck with what you decide.
Click to expand...

The above is exactly what I wanted to read also.
 
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