Selling a boat in Ireland

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AndyDavies

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I (UK citizen) have an EU-tax paid boat (38' AWB, 10 years old) which I am considering selling next year.
To avoid the language difficulties I have experienced buying and selling boats in Europe, and because Cork and Dublin are easily reached by both me and potential buyers, moving the boat to Ireland sems an option.
Any suggestions for yards and brokers within easy reach of the airports?
 
I've heard good things about BJ Marine, but I have no personal experience. I assume the boat is currently in the EU - moving it just for the purpose of selling seems a bit drastic if you're planning to use a broker. I shouldn't be difficult to find a broker with good English wherever you keep the boat.
 
I've bought and sold boats in non-Anglophone countries and it's not a process I'm keen to repeat. Plus, I'll have no Schengen limits to worry about whilst preparing to sell and Ireland is only 4 days sail away and very easy for me to travel to from home.
Thanks for the heads up on B J Marine.
 
AndyDavies said:
I've bought and sold boats in non-Anglophone countries and it's not a process I'm keen to repeat. Plus, I'll have no Schengen limits to worry about whilst preparing to sell and Ireland is only 4 days sail away and very easy for me to travel to from home.
Thanks for the heads up on B J Marine.
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It is, of course, a much smaller market. Best of luck.
 
Yes, it is a very restricted potential market, although that works 2 ways It really depends on how desirable the boat is in Ireland and the restricted choice because of small number of resident boats works both ways.
 
Tranona said:
Yes, it is a very restricted potential market, although that works 2 ways It really depends on how desirable the boat is in Ireland and the restricted choice because of small number of resident boats works both ways.
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I don't really see Ireland as the market, more the EU. Every keel boat I've ever bought (5) involved travelling outside of the UK for viewings. I bought this boat in the Adriatic and have kept it mostly in Atlantic France. I'll be more than happy to negotiate with a buyer for a delivery by sea to anywhere in W Europe.
The appeal of Dublin is the large number of European destinations served by low cost airlines, its accessibility for me and it's desirability as a city break for potential buyers to combine with a viewing.
 
Sounds like you are making life very difficult for mainland European buyers who I suspect would not see Ireland as a place to look for a boat. Remember they will likely face the language difficulties you are seeking to avoid! You are unusual I suspect in travelling to buy a boat. Most people try to buy a boat close to where they intend using it unless it is something very unusual. Modern AWBs are commodities - try to think what advantage there is for somebody in Atlantic France looking to buy a boat in Ireland with all the hassle of flying to view and then get the boat back to where they want it. Maybe ask the brokers in Ireland how many boats they sell to mainland Europe and how they advertise to reach potential buyers.
 
Tranona said:
Sounds like you are making life very difficult for mainland European buyers who I suspect would not see Ireland as a place to look for a boat. Remember they will likely face the language difficulties you are seeking to avoid! You are unusual I suspect in travelling to buy a boat. Most people try to buy a boat close to where they intend using it unless it is something very unusual. Modern AWBs are commodities - try to think what advantage there is for somebody in Atlantic France looking to buy a boat in Ireland with all the hassle of flying to view and then get the boat back to where they want it. Maybe ask the brokers in Ireland how many boats they sell to mainland Europe and how they advertise to reach potential buyers.
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I mostly agree with all this plus Dublin is a very expensive city to visit, especially accommodation. But don't bother asking the broker - in my experience they tell you exactly what they think you want to hear until the contract is signed, and then all the answers involve snags, negatives and drawbacks.
 
If the boat is 10 years old, the tax situation depends on it's location in B-day, doesn't it?

You may have the VAT and RCD issues if selling in to the EU.
 
AndyDavies said:
I don't really see Ireland as the market, more the EU. Every keel boat I've ever bought (5) involved travelling outside of the UK for viewings. I bought this boat in the Adriatic and have kept it mostly in Atlantic France. I'll be more than happy to negotiate with a buyer for a delivery by sea to anywhere in W Europe.
The appeal of Dublin is the large number of European destinations served by low cost airlines, its accessibility for me and it's desirability as a city break for potential buyers to combine with a viewing.
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I can't see many people in the EU travelling to Ireland to buy. Lots of boats and lots more choice in France.

Then there is the cost and hassle of getting it back.
 
AndyDavies said:
I don't really see Ireland as the market, more the EU. Every keel boat I've ever bought (5) involved travelling outside of the UK for viewings. I bought this boat in the Adriatic and have kept it mostly in Atlantic France. I'll be more than happy to negotiate with a buyer for a delivery by sea to anywhere in W Europe.
The appeal of Dublin is the large number of European destinations served by low cost airlines, its accessibility for me and its desirability as a city break for potential buyers to combine with a viewing.
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The Atlantic France sounds like a good place to sell the boat. In EU and easy to get to,
We bought our boat in La Rochelle, which was a lovely place to visit even if we hadn’t bought the boat.
Can’t see why it should be an issue selling in France. Most brokers speak excellent English, and our purchase contract was in English.
 
dunedin said:
The Atlantic France sounds like a good place to sell the boat. In EU and easy to get to,
We bought our boat in La Rochelle, which was a lovely place to visit even if we hadn’t bought the boat.
Can’t see why it should be an issue selling in France. Most brokers speak excellent English, and our purchase contract was in English.
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Depends on whether the boat is in the EU, or is being imported to the EU for sale. The OP hasn't given enough information to know.
 
dunedin said:
The Atlantic France sounds like a good place to sell the boat. In EU and easy to get to,
We bought our boat in La Rochelle, which was a lovely place to visit even if we hadn’t bought the boat.
Can’t see why it should be an issue selling in France. Most brokers speak excellent English, and our purchase contract was in English.
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I've both sold and bought boats previously in France. Buying was a relatively straightforward experience but selling was most definitely not.
 
Tranona said:
But has not said anything about the boat ever having been in the UK. It was bought in the Adriatic.
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Indeed the original poster was pretty clear.
For me, I know that he had trouble previously selling a boat in France, however I think the market is much bigger there. Speaking French does help however.
 
st599 said:
Not really, a boat in the UK on B-day would have lost it's EU tax paid status - so it depends on it's location at 11 pm on New Year's eve 2020.
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Without diverting the thread I think that is a bit of a nonsense. If the boat has EU VAT paid and was in the adriatic and is still in the EU I can't see anyone asking where it was on a particular day. I am normally in La Trinite and nobody asks where a boat was at 11 pm on new years eve 2020. Even if by chance he had popped into the uk on that day with his boat. Nobody could prove that is where it was.
 
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