Turkey - boat sales

[Danny_Labrador]

I have heard it mentioned on these austere - sorry ......... august ! - forums that it is possible to buy a boat in Turkey cheaper than in the rest of Europe ?

Any there any truth in this rumour ?

If there is any mileage in the idea where would one go - a quick drag on the internet brings up nothing.

 

[mikehibb]

We bought in Turkey considerably cheaper than in EU however it was an ex-charter boat and non EU Tax paid hence cheaper.

We got a very good condition ex-charter boat and sail in Turkish waters.

If you intend to keep the boat there then no probs, if venturing into EU waters then VAT to be paid.

Lots of American imports too in Turkey, Delaware allows foreign registration through companies I believe ( or something similar) so lots of Turks have a Delaware registered boat in Turkey exempt from the local taxes that Turkish Nationals would have to pay if they registered it as a Turkish boat. As you know USA boats are cheaper but not necessarily have RCD, so again if you wanted to import to EU again more costs. But keeping it in Turkey again no probs if foreign flagged.

You can renew your transit log every year for up to 5 years total time in Turkey, then you have to take it out and bring it back in again. Clock starts again for another 5 years.

We will have to do this in two years time (keep all our old transit logs etc)

It has been said to me that this process can take the form of informing port control (at one of the designated ports of entry, plenty of them) that you are off to foreign waters, but might be back in a day or so. Log out, go for a sail, next day come back and politely inform them that you have returned and clock is reset. No one has actually admitted how far they actualy went for that "day or two sailing" however words like do not be so stupid to return to your regular berth when you have declared yourself as out of Turkey have been mentioned.

Also there are some modern styled local turkish built boats from small manufacturers, however these can be of varying quality. We saw a fantastic looking new boat (well, nice design) but had a gel coat problem from new, was out and being planed down in the first season.

Sure plenty of others who have been in Turkey longer than myself will have some more and perhaps better information to add.

Forgot to add all the above was mainly about med type AWBs and American boats (sail and Mobos)

Turkey is quite well known for its teak work etc, so a boat that needs new decks etc could be bought quite cheaply and redone in Turkey at a good cost saving over EU yards.

as I said earlier key factor is if you are intending to keep it in Turkey or buying to import to EU , if the latter costs will soon accumulate.

 

[BobnLesley]

Boat Buying in Turkey

From our observations, there are moderately priced yachts to be had throughout the eastern-Med, some ex-charter yachts look good value, but the real 'bargains' are amongst the older heavy-displacement 'Bluewater' yachts.

We put it down to vendors wanting to offload them there, rather than go to the effort of sailing back to N Europe where the market for such is perhaps stronger, whilst the majority of potential buyers out there only need/want a more Med friendly AWB, so aren't interested in paying even a small premium for one of these ocean-crossers.

With regard to buying in Turkey, we've recently met two people (EU Citizens) who bought secondhand yachts there, which were already EU registered/owned. In both instances, they and the vendor sailed the boat to Rhodes and undertook the transaction there - recording the sale/location with a solicitor/notary-public? present. As I understood it, if these deals had been done in Turkey, then the boat would've been liable for VAT again when it returned into EU waters under its new ownership.

 

[mikehibb]

As I understood it, if these deals had been done in Turkey, then the boat would've been liable for VAT again when it returned into EU waters under its new ownership.

That sounds true, what we heard too. But obviously our circumstances were different.

Regarding the Blue water type heavier boats mentioned above, yes again rings true. Your post reminded me of a couple that do not appear to have left the marina in the last year. Not the type that sell too well over here for some one looking for a med type boat. But as you mentioned could be a bargain to be had if you want to take back to UK, however I guess that the owners already worked out the costs and decided to leave in Turkey on the hope etc.

OP did not mention his intentions regarding buying to use in the region or to take somewhere else. That would be the critical fact.

Here in Bodrum we now have West Marine Chandlers, so you can get hold of anything if you needed a bit of a refit , some items can cost a bit, but a lot less than the hassel and costs of importing equipment.

Barton Marine also have a registered agent in Istanbul too (just found that out myself this week).

Ahhh all this talk about boats inTurkey. Fly to Azerbaijan for a week tomorrow, then back to Georgia for another week. Then off to Yalikavak and the boat for two weeks.

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Ahhh all this talk about boats inTurkey. Fly to Azerbaijan for a week tomorrow, then back to Georgia for another week. Then off to Yalikavak and the boat for two weeks.[/QUOTE]

I may still be in Yalikavak on the 19th of May hope to see you.

 

[Norman_E]

Where would you go? Try Marmaris and Gocek. In Marmaris talk to Sunbird & Gino Marine, who are the two biggest brokers there. I bought my boat directly from Suncharter (A German owned charter company), their boats have the advantage of being VAT paid, so that you can sail to Greece or other EU contries. To preserve the VAT status the boat actually has to be sailed to Greece (Rhodes will do) and the paperwork signed and dated there, and you should keep the harbour receipt.

 

[Artic Warrior]

vat

We did just that and may be the couple that you talk about..
we sailed to rhodes at xmas 2009 to do the vat paper work..
and was all fine and dandy,,,,