Is boat swapping possible?

[tudorsailor]

My yacht is based in the Ionian. I have a friend with a similar yacht based in Antigua. What would be the hurdles to swapping boats? I assume that I would need a notarised copy of authority to use the boat from the owner and an assertion that this was not a commercial transaction. I would also agreement from the insurers. Would this work????

Tudorsailor

 

[Tranona]

In principle yes, although you may well have difficulty with the Greek authorities as the paperwork as I understand it is issued in the name of the owner(s). so perhaps best to clear with the Port Police first. Same the other end in Antigua although I don't know of any specific restrictions but best to ask first.

 

[jordanbasset]

Are you talking about swopping for a couple of weeks or permanently?
If the former I suggest keep it simple, you are a friend of the yacht owner and he allows you to use it for free. Similarly for him and your yacht, do not see the need to link the two. You will need to ensure it is okay with your insurer to let a friend use your yacht and vice-versa

 

[RichardS]

Ensure that any important local rules, such as sitting whilst peeing, are well documented.

Richard

 

[Caraway]

Not knowing a lot about this subject. If there are problems in a straight boat swap, could you sell and buy the boats between yourselves so there is a paper trail as in any other transaction?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Are you talking about swopping for a couple of weeks or permanently?
If the former I suggest keep it simple, you are a friend of the yacht owner and he allows you to use it for free. Similarly for him and your yacht, do not see the need to link the two. You will need to ensure it is okay with your insurer to let a friend use your yacht and vice-versa

There could be a good reason NOT to explicitly link the transactions - by doing so you are exchanging value, and a jobsworth could say that counts as a form of charter. Better to keep is (on paper) as two independent things.