Importing a boat from the USA

[mike2020vision]

I am planning to import a new sports boat from the US because of the obvious price advantages.
Can anyone advise me of the do's and dont's, any potential pitfalls, approx delivery costs, Vat etc.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[RobEllis]

Try doing a search. There's been loads posted quite recently on this subject.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Freebee]

High and welcome to the forum,

this idea has been put forward many times, as suggested there is much info on the forum, basically the customs(duty and VAt), carriers and EEC (require new boats to have Ce marking) all conspire to load a lot of costs onto your purchase thus reducing your margin.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[mike2020vision]

Thanks for the replies so far, I have looked at previous posts but cannot find anything very specific, in terms of costs. I feel I need to put some costs down on paper to decide whether the margin makes it worthwhile, or not.
For example, the boat I am looking at is a Bayliner bowrider 175. Its got a basic price of $12,000 for boat engine and trailer package, compared to a uk dealer price of about £13,000.
I need to factor in estimated costs for:
Trailer braking modification, CE marking (and boat mods), delivery, Import Duty (?), Vat at 17.5%, etc etc
Can anyone with experience of this attach some estimated costs to these items?
Many thanks


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[oldgit]

By the time you have added cost of converting pounds to dollars and cost of getting dough to US dealer shipping,ins,vat,import duty etc and then when it goes wrong,how do you get it sorted.
Is it worth it?A bag of cash waved under the nose of the UK agent will achieve a comparable price.

<hr width=100% size=1>Stupid place to leave an island anyway......

 

[PhilF]

and the risk of it going wrong and it getting damaged, not worth it IMVHO
Cash is king, buy local and get back up

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Solitaire]

Simple really! Don't buy a bowrider if you want to use in UK tidal waters. They are lake boats for the sun. You'll pile to many people in it and it won't go. Leave bowriders to the US market.

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[mike2020vision]

thanks, but I really needed some estimated costs to make an informed decision.
In other words, answer the question guys....
<s>


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[boatone]

Good god man........

.....answer the question...thats a novel idea !/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

Seriously, Mike, you have to understand that this forum is the ultimate brotherhood, and helping a guy to get into something thats best left alone really isnt our style!

Truth be told, its quite possible that no-ones got a clue what the serious answers are. As for coming here looking for advice to make an informed decision, well.........

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>

 

[PhilF]

Re: Good god man........

and he's anonomyous, my mum told me not to speak to strangers

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Freebee]

Ok I will try and answer the question easy ones first vat is 17.5%, import duty on parts is something like 2.7% so for a complete craft It could be more. Transport costs to the shipper I dunno, transport costs across the pond depends on size and who does it, but somewhere between £800 -£2000.

CE marking well I presume the craft may need mods to comply with EU code thats not gonna be cheap is it?

try some homework here to see what ce marking means: http://www.ceproof.com/european_recreational_craft_directive_compliance.html
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Mikehorrill on 19/08/2004 19:37 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Kevin]

Hi

heres the answer you want,

you need the total invoice for the boat including C&f into the UK on this is added 1.7% import duty ( if on a trailer the import duty rises on the trailer value as its classed as a vehicle but you dont want a USA trailer they are illegal on Uk roads mainly due to the brake mechanism)) on this total figure is added the 17.5% VAT. this gives the total into the UK

the c&f into the Uk on a 26 foot boat is around £1500 so yours as it will fit into a crate along with other bits and bobs will be lower possibly about £800 mark.

Ce plating is dependent on the particular boat but it can be as much as £2000 for a boat of this size- they find sheds loads to pick on and adapt. If you have a nice company in the States they may be able to provide you with a CE plated boat, but depends on how much they value their UK dealers and dont mind treading on their toes.

thats been the situation whenever ive known somebody to do it and do it succesfully.

If its not CE plated into the states make sure the first port of call in the EU is the UK, many customs in eurpoe will hold the boat and not let it through until CE plating can be provided, really annoying!! Use a reputanle dock side handling company or be prepared to have to visit possibly customs to explain the value etc etc to get it through customs, a reputable handler will get it through within a day and only charge about £150 on this value of boat. Doing it yourself is headaches.

Kevin

 

[David2452]

Firstly no US dealers are supplied with CE marked boats by Brunswick under (legally binding) agreement with European dealer network so that is a non starter.

Now the cost analysis.



VALUE $12,000.00
SHIPPING $1,300.00
TOTAL IMPORT
LIABILITY $13,300.00
@ 1.76 $ TO £ £7,556.82
IMPORT DUTY £302.00
DUTY PAID PRICE £7,858.82
VAT (ON TOTAL) £1,375.29
IMPORTED D & V PAID £9,234.11

TRAILER MODS & CE SAY £600.00
BOAT MODS & C.E. SAY £2,000.00
TOTAL SAY £11,834.11

In other words about the same as a UK sourced CE marked boat with the correct UK trailer and dealer support. An more importantly the full weight of the consumer protection act

David


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jfm]

shipping cost

Obviously depends on size of boat but I would think a one-off "retail" shipping cost (including insurance during shipping) will be 3x the $1300 figure, at least.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Kevin]

Re: shipping cost

Its only $2500 on a 2 ton 26 footer ( Florida to Southampton) insurance is 1% of value so i wouldnt have thought its going to be that high.

Brunswick obviously stand by their european dealers well then because Glastron provide kits for $300 that provide the new boat with CE plate.

Importing is very easy to do and bigger the boat bigger the saving, on a smaller boat your savings will be small , but for the same money you could get a nice bigger boat and import that!

alternatively you could stand by the UK dealer and help the UK marine market, offer them cash and you may well save a few thousand anyway.

importing doesnt seem to help unless your talking about $20,000 and above then you can save as much as 25% of the boat value.



Kevin

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[gjgm]

re trailer, it depends on type of brakes and axle width.. not sure on either on a smaller trailer, but it could be more or less scrap if its for UK roads. that doesnt mean its no use as a marina/launching trailer.
id also think about dealer support, or how good the company is if you have to deal direct with USA. Fraid theres lots of tales of problems with new boats.. damage,engines etc. Shame Happy1 isnt here! And your Uk dealer isnt going to help if its a grey import. Essexboatyards had some small bowriders for sale, have you looked there?
Lastly,there s strong opinions on bowriders. I ll agree that smaller ones are suited to calmer waters,than say a rib, but maybe your not intending going out in rougher conditions anyway. Its also true that for some bizarre reason tiny boats seem to have cabins.Waste of usable space if you ask me, but then you re entitled to make your own choice! Its also possibly true that its easier to sell with a cabin than a bowrider.
Maybe look for a nearly new boat. Price might be closer to import, and any problems probably sorted out by then.
I think the general feeling here is that while its possible to make a saving on importing, it isnt quite as good as it first appears. And at the less expensive end of the market, its alot of messing about for what might end up a not huge amount of money. Too little to cover a warranty problem, for example.
Either way, its getting close to end of the season. they ll be plenty of boats for sale soon!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[mike2020vision]

thanks guys
Some good information for me to consider
I will let you know how I get along. I will persue it a bit further but I rather think I will eventually take your advice and buy in the UK.
I take on board your general comments about the non-suitability of bowriders for uk waters - however its for use in france - mediterranean waters
regards
Mike



<hr width=100% size=1>