Importing from US

[danh]

Hi

I am considering importing a Sportsboat from the US to benefit from their lower prices and the current Dollar rate.

I wondered if anyone has any experience of doing this i.e. shipping agents, taxes/vat due etc etc etc. I am looking at both new and 2nd hand boats (i.e. I have a friend in the States who can buy it then use it for a month before selling it to me)!

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice?

Thanks

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[gjgm]

look over on forum MBC.. its a regular question. Some have done it, and can help you through.
Just remember no dealer over heere is going to help with any warranty issue....

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[neale]

You will gets lots of different opinions on this. The fact is that a boat, new or used, has to be CE marked to be imported, used and sold on within the EU. This means that C&E or is it Trading standards, could effectively impound the boat until it has gone thru the CE certification process which may make it uneconomical.

Having said that I have heard on these forums of many people doing just what you suggest and having no problems. I think you would more likely get problems if the boat was new or nearly new. I am not sure when CE marking came into effect but my US sportscruiser from the 80's isn't marked.

Neale

<hr width=100% size=1>When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading

 

[philmayfield]

CE marking on imported boats came into effect from 16th. June 1998.

The following statement comes from the website of the CE Marketing and Product Safety Consultancy.

"Special note regarding used craft"

The "Recreational Craft Directive" require that all used craft being imported and placed on the market in the EEC for the first time, or being put into service in the EEC for the first time, are CE marked. However the requirements of the Directive make no special provision for used craft and are such that it is impossible for used craft to comply with them. This means that used craft cannot be CE marked and therefore cannot be legally imported into the EEC. This anomaly in the directive is well known among member states but there is no immediate plans to rectify it. There are ammendments for the Directive tabled for about 2003, but it is unlikely that these will include any changes regarding used craft. This means that the importation of used craft into the EEC is likely to remain illegal for the forseeable future.
Craft which have been used in the EU prior to the date of full implementation of the Directive are exempt from its requirements.

In the UK the Trading Standards Department is responsible for enforcing the requirements of the Directive. Penalties for infringement of the Directive can lead to a fine of £5,000and/or 3 months in prison.

There's lots of information about the Recreation Craft Directive on the web and I would suggest it be checked out before considering import. All new boats imported by main dealers are CE marked and have a "Certificate of Conformity" but I am not clear about the position regarding new "grey" imports.

Phil

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