Moving the boat to Spain

[citygent111]

Hi all,

Just a little bee in my bonnet at the moment about seeing out the next 12 months in Wales, then towing the boat down to Spain.

Had considered Croatia but it's a LONG way!

It's only a 6m boat, so would be happy to keep it on land and ask the marina to launch when needed. I guess it would be a "holiday boat"?

I read an old thread by @Bigplumbs who was considering the same thing a few years ago and @satman recommended http://www.pdmc.es but that site doesn't work any more so I can't find any details!

Can anyone recommend somewhere reasonably priced, with straightforward access from an airport?

Many thanks!

 

[st599]

What's the import situation when towing a boat.

It's straightforwards for when the boat arrives by sea, but you need to check what the rules are for arrival behind a car. Especially if you plan to return without it.

 

[citygent111]

What's the import situation when towing a boat.

It's straightforwards for when the boat arrives by sea, but you need to check what the rules are for arrival behind a car. Especially if you plan to return without it.

Fair point! I understand it can stay in the EU for a while but then has to leave, although only for a brief period of time. I considered towing the boat up to Andorra for a short break, then heading back down into Spain!

That said, I wouldn't be averse to selling our boat here and buying one in Spain or wherever. I guess that would avoid a lot of the potential problems..

 

[Dellquay13]

Fair point! I understand it can stay in the EU for a while but then has to leave, although only for a brief period of time. I considered towing the boat up to Andorra for a short break, then heading back down into Spain!

That said, I wouldn't be averse to selling our boat here and buying one in Spain or wherever. I guess that would avoid a lot of the potential problems..

Buying locally may also have consequences, such as mandatory registration under the Spanish national flag scheme, licensing of the boat and yourself, and possibly a tax burden, other than the initial VAT.
I have no knowledge of Spanish law, but buying a Greek pleasure boat and registering it locally has in the past been said to make the owner potentially liable for a form of wealth tax (the Greek taxman thinks if you can afford a pleasure boat, you’re probably not declaring all your income).

It’s one of the reasons I quickly unloaded my UK SSR registered holiday speedboat in Greece onto a British ExPat who thought he knew it all, when the referendum happened in 2016. It’s now hidden behind a tyre fitting shop because it’s hard to have a £1000 50yr old uk boat without a full and continuous legal paperwork history permanently in Greece.

 

[citygent111]

Buying locally may also have consequences, such as mandatory registration under the Spanish national flag scheme, licensing of the boat and yourself, and possibly a tax burden, other than the initial VAT.
I have no knowledge of Spanish law, but buying a Greek pleasure boat and registering it locally has in the past been said to make the owner potentially liable for a form of wealth tax (the Greek taxman thinks if you can afford a pleasure boat, you’re probably not declaring all your income).

It’s one of the reasons I quickly unloaded my UK SSR registered speedboat in Greece onto a British ExPat who thought he knew it all, when the referendum happened in 2016. It’s now hidden behind a tyre fitting shop because it’s hard to have a £1000 50yr old uk boat without a continuous and legal paperwork history permanently in Greece.

Hmmm - sounds like that would be more hassle than it's worth!!

 

[Dellquay13]

Hmmm - sounds like that would be more hassle than it's worth!!

I’m no expert on Greece never mind Spain, someone else will know more

 

[colind3782]

I bought a Spanish VAT paid boat in Spain and put it on the UK SSR. No problems at all and it doesn't have to leave. I looked at all options when we bought it and it's by far the easiest way to buy a boat in Spain. I know nothing about Greece.

 

[Ingwe]

I am pretty sure as long as you leave the boat on the SSR there aren't any other big problems in spain apart from the VAT status which you already know about.

The bigger issue for a fairly small boat in mainland spain would be where to keep it as a lot of the coast is fairly boring from a short hop cruising point of view. I have no idea on price but somewhere in the Gulf of Roses on the Costa Brava would probably be quite an interesting area in that size boat, it does get windy there but it's a much more rugged stretch of coast so lots of places to anchor etc.

 

[citygent111]

I am pretty sure as long as you leave the boat on the SSR there aren't any other big problems in spain apart from the VAT status which you already know about.

The bigger issue for a fairly small boat in mainland spain would be where to keep it as a lot of the coast is fairly boring from a short hop cruising point of view. I have no idea on price but somewhere in the Gulf of Roses on the Costa Brava would probably be quite an interesting area in that size boat, it does get windy there but it's a much more rugged stretch of coast so lots of places to anchor etc.

Thats one of the issues in a smaller boat - wind & swell can soon take the fun out of it! Saying that, we're in North Wales now, so if we can cope with that then.......!!

 

[st599]

Fair point! I understand it can stay in the EU for a while but then has to leave, although only for a brief period of time. I considered towing the boat up to Andorra for a short break, then heading back down into Spain!

That said, I wouldn't be averse to selling our boat here and buying one in Spain or wherever. I guess that would avoid a lot of the potential problems..

That's the rules for a temporary importation of a boat arriving by sea. You need to check the rules for arriving by road, I don't think it's the same.

 

[mjcoon]

That's the rules for a temporary importation of a boat arriving by sea. You need to check the rules for arriving by road, I don't think it's the same.

Maybe the way things are going, floods will soon take away the distinction...

 

[wallacebob]

Sheltered sailing Mar Menor, Costa Calida. Connects to med if more adventures needed. Lots of marinas, and swing moorings, but not cheap. Beware of add-ons, like club membership compulsory or yearly checks. Other points to consider: will you remain UK resident, will you tow with UK car, SSR is fine, trailers in spain are regulated, do you have DS or ICC . If Spanish reg,then you need 3 year checks, titulo, insurance, etc. There are storage places (caravan, trailers) as marina storage is dear. Plenty lift sites , and some DIY ramps. That gets tiresome tho’.

 

[st599]

Reading the RYA page, you have to declare the boat as you arrive in the EU with the relevant form and inspection and again as you leave.
There may be a bond required.

 

[Seastoke]

Alicante

 

[Seastoke]

The Welch Med

 

[Tomahawk]

Why not claim asylum? Seems everyone else is

 

[citygent111]

Why not claim asylum? Seems everyone else is

Arrive by boat and claim asylum - but tell them im keeping my hoat...love it!

 

[Graham376]

Reading the RYA page, you have to declare the boat as you arrive in the EU with the relevant form and inspection and again as you leave.
There may be a bond required.

Has anyone had to do that and if so where?

UK flagged, we've crossed into Spain many times from Gib and Morocco pre and post Brexit and only been asked for passport, registration and insurance. Although the boat is based in Portugal, there's nothing on our paperwork stating that and when boarded by Spanish authorities they've never asked how long we've been there.

 

[st599]

Has anyone had to do that and if so where?

UK flagged, we've crossed into Spain many times from Gib and Morocco pre and post Brexit and only been asked for passport, registration and insurance. Although the boat is based in Portugal, there's nothing on our paperwork stating that and when boarded by Spanish authorities they've never asked how long we've been there.

Towing or by sea? The RYA advice is for towing.

 

[Tomahawk]

I took a couple of F18 beach cats to Ireland for a raid. We had to declare temporary import and re-declare export when we left a week later.

Don't know what would have happened if we had simply ignored the regs?