Legal protection

[Shroppiegrand]

As the law does not protect a buyer of a boat then ....
if you proceeded with the purchase can you have the seller sign any legally binding documents to protect you the buyer against rightful ownership and outstanding financial penalties on the boat ?

 

[SaltIre]

RYA Bill of Sale document.
Boat buying made easy

 

[jbweston]

It depends where you are buying the boat as the law is different in different countries.

Even in England and Wales, it's an oversimplification to say that the law doesn't protect a boat buyer. If you're buying from a business (acting as principal - that is not as broker or agent) there are some protections. Even when buying privately the law says (in effect) that the seller promises that he owns what he's selling you, and he mustn't make false stements to persuade you to buy.

As SaltIre suggests, a good contract helps by giving you rights.

A major problem is, of course, that none of this is any good unless your seller stays around long enough after the sale, has money to compensate you and doesn't successfully lie and cheat his way out of his legal responsibilities.