Divemaster1
Well-known member
This whole thing started last year when we started to look at boats again… this time seriously. SWIMBO agreed and everything seemed to fit, daughter enjoyed the sea and the whole thing looked great. We mentally settled for something about 40 ft, GRP, flybridge etc., and what we relatively easily could manage our self.
Past experience and after looking around a bit, told me that second hand boats in France and Italy were considerably less expensive than in the UK, so we started our search for suitable alternatives in these two countries. Of course, this also meant that we had to do some research on the manufacturers and the various shipyards and broaden our vision a bit. Guy Couach, Raffaelli, Ferretti, Piantoni, ItalCraft etc., and it became clear that Italy did have a wider range of boats manufactured, and the financial climate in Italy did mean that there probably were more opportunities for a buyer to get a good deal. Besides this, I am from a generation who remember the time when the British boat industry looked up towards the Italian counterparts, and as such have always had a soft spot for Italian design which does stand out a bit...
To cut the story short … in the end we did find a suitable boat at what looked to be a very good price indeed. We were told that she was stored under roof the majority of the year (Less UV rays to wear down the Gelcoat etc) and was in a very good condition for her years (one owner from new). So I went to have a look, and she did turn out as the broker had explained.
To buy a boat in Italy does actually feel relatively ”safe”. Boat ownership is treated very much in-line with a house, with a duty to register the vessel, the ownership properly signed off and notarised and all economic ties to the boat are also required to be registered and notraised. All this is recorded and as a potential buyer, you can request a transcript of these papers "Estratto dei Registrati delle Imbarcazioni da Diporto". This is an official document confirming the ownership and if there are any financial ties to the boat.
In Italy, the boats are also subject to a three or five years check for seaworthiness, pending the use of the boat. This is to ensure that fuel systems, fire fighting systems, electrical systems are in compliance with the current EU and Italian legislation. This check also records structural integrity of hull and superstructure and leads to the issue of a Safety Certificate ”Attestato di Idoneita” for the boat. This means that all hull details and through fittings are checked, and if any damage is found, this will be recorded and a certificate will not be issued until a certified repair has been carried out (it also includes a check for Osmosis by the way… but ask specially for a separate Osmosis check certificate, which will be issued by the certifying body).
Well, enough about all this and on to issues around the brokers. I have heard so many stories about brokers in the UK, that I had little respect for these and did not have any doubts in not using a UK based broker. I did however worry about what the language differences would throw up for me and were prepared to go in heavy handed with a solicitor to hand. My concerns were completely wiped away, after spending a day with Giovanni Marrazzo of Parisi & Partners in Salerno. Giovanni picked me up from the airport and drove me to Salerno and got me into a hotel that he had booked for me (Yes, he arranged this). In the morning he picked me up and we went to see the boat. He gave me full access to all the boat and helped me lift hatches, remove carpets, open cupboards, switch lights and never did I feel rushed. We spent about two hours onboard the boat at that time, went to have a look at a few others, had lunch and met with some of his other customers. I was then allowed to spend as much time onboard the boat as I wanted to decide if this one could be for us. I did go back to Salerno to have another look and sea trial later on, and the same courtesy was given ... no rush, no pressure, just friendly help and advice. Giovanni had actually spent time onboard himself sanding and oiling one of the teak tables and cleaned the aft deck and the rest of the boat into a very nice, clean condition, as he thought it looked somewhat sad, and needed a spruce and this would make less work for me when I took over the boat. Giovanni also instigated additional negotiations with the owner, leading to reduction in cost for me, after the discovery of a slight imbalance in the water circulation pump on the starboard engine. This in itself I fund remarkable, as any reduction in the price, does have a direct impact in the brokers fees for him. In general terms, I cannot fault Giovanni in any way. He has given me advice and help, which is far beyond what anyone could expect from a broker, and I got the distinct feeling that he simply loves boats and the sea, and as such will do his outmost to make a customer happy, which at the moment I am.
If anyone would ask me if I’d go back to Italy and buy another boat from Giovanni, I would not hesitate to say yes. If I at some time in the future am to look at buying another boat, I will not hesitate to go back to Giovanni, whom I also can recommend to anyone considering buying a boat.
Of course there were some last minute delays and issues, as there will be with banks, solicitors, notaries etc., involved, but as the boat now is about to leave the harbour in Salerno and head towards France, I will ignore these and will post progress notes here.
<hr width=100% size=1>Alf
Past experience and after looking around a bit, told me that second hand boats in France and Italy were considerably less expensive than in the UK, so we started our search for suitable alternatives in these two countries. Of course, this also meant that we had to do some research on the manufacturers and the various shipyards and broaden our vision a bit. Guy Couach, Raffaelli, Ferretti, Piantoni, ItalCraft etc., and it became clear that Italy did have a wider range of boats manufactured, and the financial climate in Italy did mean that there probably were more opportunities for a buyer to get a good deal. Besides this, I am from a generation who remember the time when the British boat industry looked up towards the Italian counterparts, and as such have always had a soft spot for Italian design which does stand out a bit...
To cut the story short … in the end we did find a suitable boat at what looked to be a very good price indeed. We were told that she was stored under roof the majority of the year (Less UV rays to wear down the Gelcoat etc) and was in a very good condition for her years (one owner from new). So I went to have a look, and she did turn out as the broker had explained.
To buy a boat in Italy does actually feel relatively ”safe”. Boat ownership is treated very much in-line with a house, with a duty to register the vessel, the ownership properly signed off and notarised and all economic ties to the boat are also required to be registered and notraised. All this is recorded and as a potential buyer, you can request a transcript of these papers "Estratto dei Registrati delle Imbarcazioni da Diporto". This is an official document confirming the ownership and if there are any financial ties to the boat.
In Italy, the boats are also subject to a three or five years check for seaworthiness, pending the use of the boat. This is to ensure that fuel systems, fire fighting systems, electrical systems are in compliance with the current EU and Italian legislation. This check also records structural integrity of hull and superstructure and leads to the issue of a Safety Certificate ”Attestato di Idoneita” for the boat. This means that all hull details and through fittings are checked, and if any damage is found, this will be recorded and a certificate will not be issued until a certified repair has been carried out (it also includes a check for Osmosis by the way… but ask specially for a separate Osmosis check certificate, which will be issued by the certifying body).
Well, enough about all this and on to issues around the brokers. I have heard so many stories about brokers in the UK, that I had little respect for these and did not have any doubts in not using a UK based broker. I did however worry about what the language differences would throw up for me and were prepared to go in heavy handed with a solicitor to hand. My concerns were completely wiped away, after spending a day with Giovanni Marrazzo of Parisi & Partners in Salerno. Giovanni picked me up from the airport and drove me to Salerno and got me into a hotel that he had booked for me (Yes, he arranged this). In the morning he picked me up and we went to see the boat. He gave me full access to all the boat and helped me lift hatches, remove carpets, open cupboards, switch lights and never did I feel rushed. We spent about two hours onboard the boat at that time, went to have a look at a few others, had lunch and met with some of his other customers. I was then allowed to spend as much time onboard the boat as I wanted to decide if this one could be for us. I did go back to Salerno to have another look and sea trial later on, and the same courtesy was given ... no rush, no pressure, just friendly help and advice. Giovanni had actually spent time onboard himself sanding and oiling one of the teak tables and cleaned the aft deck and the rest of the boat into a very nice, clean condition, as he thought it looked somewhat sad, and needed a spruce and this would make less work for me when I took over the boat. Giovanni also instigated additional negotiations with the owner, leading to reduction in cost for me, after the discovery of a slight imbalance in the water circulation pump on the starboard engine. This in itself I fund remarkable, as any reduction in the price, does have a direct impact in the brokers fees for him. In general terms, I cannot fault Giovanni in any way. He has given me advice and help, which is far beyond what anyone could expect from a broker, and I got the distinct feeling that he simply loves boats and the sea, and as such will do his outmost to make a customer happy, which at the moment I am.
If anyone would ask me if I’d go back to Italy and buy another boat from Giovanni, I would not hesitate to say yes. If I at some time in the future am to look at buying another boat, I will not hesitate to go back to Giovanni, whom I also can recommend to anyone considering buying a boat.
Of course there were some last minute delays and issues, as there will be with banks, solicitors, notaries etc., involved, but as the boat now is about to leave the harbour in Salerno and head towards France, I will ignore these and will post progress notes here.
<hr width=100% size=1>Alf
