Importing a new boat from the USA

[Boomshanka]

Decisions, decisions. I'm trying to decide between a West Wight Potter 15 or a Montgomery 15, both supplied by manufacturers in the USA (are there no more UK-based builders of small cabin 'dinghys' that would fit in a garage??). The West Wight Potter has a UK agent, they have been great in replying to questions etc. The Montgomery though have never exported and they don't look too interested judging by their minimal response.

I like the look of the Montgomery, but how much hassle/cost is it to ship something like that over here? I know about VAT on the total value, but anything else, paperwork, customs, EU regs, etc? Are there any dealers here who import from the USA who might like to tack one of these on to an order?

I'm going to have a look round SIBS, then make my mind up. At least the WWP15 would have a UK agent to sort things out, but the Montgomery does look rather nice.

 

[Twister_Ken]

"but anything else, paperwork, customs, EU regs, etc?"

Yup. Especially the Recreational Craft Directive. Your boat will have to comply with it. Lots of hoops to jump through. If the Monty people don't seem to be interested in exporting, that maybe why.

 

[bitman]

best thing is to work with a shipping broker.

In Southampton you find Peters & May, these guys can take care of it all;

Shipping
Insurance
Duty
VAT
Port handling & Clearance costs

 

[Elessar]

I've done an import from the USA and have helped a friend do so.
CE marking is a pain and cost about £1k, with the work needed to make it comply being done free (by me).
However it was £1000 only because it was a hull design that was imported to the EU and thus stability information was available, and the engine was stock (yanmar) so the emissions and noise specs could be obtained from the manufacturer.
If you had to prove compliance of an individual boat in these 2 regards I think it would be very difficult.
All the other things were details like an extra bilge pump, cocks in the scuppers, labelling, covering the foam soundproofing with non absorbent stuff, CE marked fire extinguishers and blankets etc.
And I think the noise specs have got tighter since I did it with a sail by being needed, not sure about that though. I'd suggest getting a quote for the CE marking before committing to the boat.

[edit just realised it is outboard engined so no need to worry about noise, just stability. Buy your outboard in the EU]

Another point to note is that the CE plate, which to comply must be prominent on the boat, will have your name and home address on it as the importer. You may not want this once the boat is sold, but you have no option but to leave it there.

As stated, VAT and import duty is handled by the shipping agents. However I'd sort my own insurance. In the case of my friend's boat it was dropped somewhere en route causing significant damage. Someone had antifouled over the damage to hide it, threw dust at the wet antifoul to weather it, and we didn't spot it until launch, where it leaked so fast it would have sunk in about 2 minutes. Fortunately we never took the hoist straps off. As he had different contractors at different points in the chain liability was never proved and he lost out.

 

[Bajansailor]

Just a few ideas re other trailerable boats, although they are all probably a bit bigger than what you are after.

Catalina 22 - http://windwardyachting.co.uk/windward/default.htm
Catalina also build 16' and 18' boats, as mentioned on their website at http://www.catalinayachts.com/ - maybe the UK agent could import one of these?

Com-pac Yachts - they used to have an agent in the UK, maybe they still do?
http://www.com-pacyachts.com/

Hawk 20 - http://www.hawk20.co.uk/

Red Fox 20 - http://www.redfox200.co.uk/

Swift 18 - http://www.swift18.org/

 

[Sybarite]

You are not limited to the UK and America. When one thinks 'France' one tends to think only Bénéteau and Jeaneau. However there is a multitude of small specialist builders who build real beauties. Here is a selection :

http://www.plasmor.fr/
http://www.nauticexpo.fr/prod/escapade-marine/voilier-day-sailer-21210-54614.html
http://transportable.free.fr/spip.php?article198
http://transportable.free.fr/spip.php?article161
http://www.espace-vag.com/#~
http://www.billie-marine.com/asp/univers2.asp?idU=8
http://www.cnfranckroy.com/
http://www.lignesdeau.fr/plaisancecroisiere.htm
http://transportable.free.fr/spip.php?rubrique2

Good luck - and you don't have the hassle of duties, and the RCD.

John

 

[Tranona]

Decisions, decisions. I'm trying to decide between a West Wight Potter 15 or a Montgomery 15, both supplied by manufacturers in the USA (are there no more UK-based builders of small cabin 'dinghys' that would fit in a garage??). The West Wight Potter has a UK agent, they have been great in replying to questions etc. The Montgomery though have never exported and they don't look too interested judging by their minimal response.

I like the look of the Montgomery, but how much hassle/cost is it to ship something like that over here? I know about VAT on the total value, but anything else, paperwork, customs, EU regs, etc? Are there any dealers here who import from the USA who might like to tack one of these on to an order?

I'm going to have a look round SIBS, then make my mind up. At least the WWP15 would have a UK agent to sort things out, but the Montgomery does look rather nice.

Not sure you are right about lack of boats of this type in the UK. Have a look in this months PBO. However, many of them are home build because the cost of building and then getting them a CE mark pushes the price up above what people are prepared to pay.

IMHO not worth importing from the US. Poor exchange rate, high shipping costs plus the cost and hassle of complying with even Category D is against the idea. If you do buy a WWP15 from the importer, make sure that the CE documentation is complete and that all the changes in equipment required are actually done.

 

[Boomshanka]

Thanks for all the replies and links, much appreciated. I knew about the RCD thing but a) didn;t think is was an absolute requirement and b) that it was so much hassle, so that's a really useful 'heads up' and I'll definitely be quizzing the WWP15 folk on that. Com-pac in the USA came back with positive sounds about acting as my agent, but they didn;t mention RCD (but I didn't ask to be fair). I had thought about a home build (particularly John Welsford's designs), but time constraints would be an issue. The French designs were interesting (why oh why are their not more UK manufacturers like that ), but ultimately the whole package including trailer has to go in my double garage, at least for part of the year, to try and limit mooring fees for the time being. Off to SIBS next week so will have a good look round, then probably go and try out a WWP15 as they do a daily charter deal, which I though was another good point!

 

[planteater]

http://www.theleisureboatcompany.co.uk/potter15L/foto7.jpg

The guy at the helm must be tiny.

 

[Boomshanka]

http://www.theleisureboatcompany.co.uk/potter15L/foto7.jpg

The guy at the helm must be tiny.

Spaghettification at the singularity perhaps (we're doomed) ... or else someone didn't lock the aspect ratio when posting the image on the website... ooorrrrr... it could be a really big 15 foot boat! Yeah, I prefer the last option.

 

[Bilgediver]

Thanks for all the replies and links, much appreciated. I knew about the RCD thing but a) didn;t think is was an absolute requirement and b) that it was so much hassle, so that's a really useful 'heads up' and I'll definitely be quizzing the WWP15 folk on that. Com-pac in the USA came !

I would speak to the RYA RDC compliance section because if this baot is outboard powered and asyou describe would be RCD C or D then I believe the work is minimal and can be done by the owner...

 

[nmunnery]

Importing-Bringing a Canadian registered boat to the UK.

I have been following these exchanges on boat import with interest. May case is a little different. I own a boat registered in Canada and I am living in the UK for the next two to three years. I would like to ship my boat over here as I find boats in Europe very expensive and I cant find the kind of boat I like. I own an 85 BABA 31, a long keeler built by Ta Shing with lots of wood down below.

Could I bring it to the UK under Canadian flag and sail her here for the two/three years without all the import/CE business? Or will I have to import her? It would help me keeping her under Canadian flag as all my sailing and radio qualifications are Canadian and at 65 years of age I don't want to do them all again.

Any advice or pointers to advice would be very much appreciated.

Norman

 

[Tranona]

I have been following these exchanges on boat import with interest. May case is a little different. I own a boat registered in Canada and I am living in the UK for the next two to three years. I would like to ship my boat over here as I find boats in Europe very expensive and I cant find the kind of boat I like. I own an 85 BABA 31, a long keeler built by Ta Shing with lots of wood down below.

Could I bring it to the UK under Canadian flag and sail her here for the two/three years without all the import/CE business? Or will I have to import her? It would help me keeping her under Canadian flag as all my sailing and radio qualifications are Canadian and at 65 years of age I don't want to do them all again.

Any advice or pointers to advice would be very much appreciated.

Norman

If you are a visiting non-EU resident then you can apply for temporary importation which will allow you to use your boat personally in the EU for normally 18 months. Nobody else except you family can use it and you cannot sell it in the EU. The boat must leave the EU at the end of the period.

If you become an EU resident (citizenship is not relevant) - and the test of residence is normally for tax purposes, although the actual rules are a bit more complicated, temporary importation is not available to you.

There are no requirements for qualifications to use a boat in the UK, and if you are a UK resident you can register your boat in the UK which will allow you to take it anywhere without qualifications, except in some countries an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) is either required or useful. You will need to get an operators certificate for your radio, and you will probably need a new radio that meets UK standards.

To be honest, you will probably find the hassle and cost not worth it even if you can get temporary importation. Better to buy a boat in the UK and sell it when you go back home. You can use it in the uK but to go outside the UK it would need to be registered and for that you have to be UK resident.

Suggest you look on the RYA site as it has sections on taking a boat abroad and the rules on importation and tax in the EU.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If you want to buy here, I think you'd find a Vancouver (28 or 32), a Vindo (30 or 32), a Saltram Saga, a Rustler 31 or a Victoria 30 would be very much the sort of thing you are used to.

 

[goboatingnow]

You should be able to transfer your possessions under a TOR regime ( transfer of residence) and that includes your boat. This would allow it to be transferred to teh UK free of any VAT or customs as long as you reside there.