surveyor

[superchip]

its looking like I may be buying a motor boat in southern Spain.
can anybody advise or recommend a good surveyor in the region
of Gibraltar
also any advise relating to making a secure payment for the deposit
would be gratefully received
many thanks
superchip

 

[Whitelighter]

I would fly a UK surveyor out there. Someone you know - and easyjet flight out and back is peanuts in the scheme of things.

Deposit wise, I wouldn't pay a cent to a broker. I would agree the deal and pay the whole lot at handover. OK< your risk is they sell to someone else but no deal is that good - no matter what you tell yourself.

Make it clear you will pay for the lift, skipper, fuel etc for the seatrial/survey and then you go to the office, check ALL the papers and once happy pay the money.

DO NOT PAY A DEPOSIT

 

[MapisM]

any advise relating to making a secure payment for the deposit would be gratefully received

Secure and deposit don't belong to the same sentence.
I'd rather do as WL suggested, he doesn't say that for nothing...

 

[steve930]

Regarding deposits, does this advice only apply for overseas or would you take this stance with UK brokers as well?

 

[Whitelighter]

Regarding deposits, does this advice only apply for overseas or would you take this stance with UK brokers as well?

In the UK you are playing on a more level field. You have the small claims court etc which you can use cheaply, plus the BMF etc. You still have the risk of the broker going bust (although they may use a nominated client account but that doesn't provide much protection in reality) but in terms of them just deciding to not return your deposit I would be more relaxed with a UK based business.

The problem with a foreign broker is undoubtably the contract and therefore the jurisdiction is the foreign state, so if (as in my case) a broker decides to just keep your deposit it's not significant enough to go to court over. Bearing in mind going to court means going to court in a foreign system where you need local legal experts and there is likely no small claims process.

Ultimately I would try to avoid paying a deposit in any circumstance. Make it clear you are paying for lifts and fuel and skipper which is likely to be a significant amount of money and should show commitment enough

 

[steve930]

OK thanks for the advice

 

[Nautorius]

I have Used Neil 3 times in 7 years. Very fastidious and does a great Job. British qualified and operating. Has done two large sailing yachts and a Sunseeker for me.
NEIL A WILKINSON MI Diag E, YBDSA
MARINE SURVEYOR
Gibraltar office
SUITE 201B
MARINA BAY
NEPTUNE HOUSE
PO BOX 604
GIBRALTAR
Tel + 34 670 658448
Email neilalanwilkinson@gmail.com

 

[superchip]

thank you nautorius
i have been given one name by the broker to use and he is the same one as you used.
i was told of this surveyor by the broker and wondered if he was thinking of the seller
rather than me the buyer,but perhaps he may be the right man for the job
many thanks
superchip

 

[Hurricane]

I know that Jim Pritchard will survey boats in Spain
http://www.jimpritchard.co.uk/
He is very well respected.

 

[Hurricane]

In the UK you are playing on a more level field. You have the small claims court etc which you can use cheaply, plus the BMF etc. You still have the risk of the broker going bust (although they may use a nominated client account but that doesn't provide much protection in reality) but in terms of them just deciding to not return your deposit I would be more relaxed with a UK based business.

The problem with a foreign broker is undoubtably the contract and therefore the jurisdiction is the foreign state, so if (as in my case) a broker decides to just keep your deposit it's not significant enough to go to court over. Bearing in mind going to court means going to court in a foreign system where you need local legal experts and there is likely no small claims process.

Ultimately I would try to avoid paying a deposit in any circumstance. Make it clear you are paying for lifts and fuel and skipper which is likely to be a significant amount of money and should show commitment enough

But the UK is in the EU - is it not???
Sorry - sarcastic comment/drift

 

[Whitelighter]

But the UK is in the EU - is it not???
Sorry - sarcastic comment/drift

Oh it worked like that. The UK may well be in the EU but when it comes to law everyone still operates as very independent states.

There is a European small claims service but it's aimed only at consumers and is pretty useless, defaulting to national law at the drop of a hat

 

[Portofino]

just to balance the thread ---

I guess it all depends ___Look at it the other way from the seller and brokers perspective
its a two way street
when I sold my sunseeker via Sunseeker .Fr they used a EU med broker association contract with the buyer ,who paid 10 % deposit in the usual way.
Flying into SoF from Germany -I let the broker and potential client take the boat out for spin one W/E in the Bay of Cannes , in my absence.
No obligation .
Buyer - paid his deposit on Monday -to the Broker . They both organised a lift /survey Wednesday -broker taking it to yard for lift .
haggled weds afternoon - buyer paid the settlement Thur -boat trucked to Baltic Friday .
Sunseeker arranged the removal /storage of all my personal stuff .
Wham Bam Slam----- gone in not quite 60 seconds ----but it felt like it .
Two "potential " other buyers were turned away -------

You can worry yourself into doing nothing quite easily or hindering the process --loosing out in the end ---- it all depends if its a reputable broker and what contract they use --I guess.

At the other end when rebuying in another boat in the Med I happily paid 10 % after a sea trail in Naples of all places -it all turned out fine in the end .
I,am on the brokers Christmas card list