Wanting to Buy a Motor Yacht and keep in Zante - Any advice is appreciated

[B19CJP]

Looking for advice please?

Been building up to doing this for a few years.

We have had a holiday home in Zante for 12 years, and we spend about a 3rd of out time there and that is increasing as we get older. Myself and my boys hired a 67foot Azimut for her birthday some years ago out there and got hooked.

Since then we have passed Helmsman & Day Skipper/Radio & now have our ICC, I know you don't need all that for ownership but really wanted to learn about things before looking to buy.

We trained at PMT in the Solent on a 44/46 foot Azimut, 2x cabin fly and that's the sort of size we are looking for, Pre owned to start maybe early 2000's in case its not for us.

It would make sense to me to buy the Yacht nearer Zante and take it down than buy in Uk as cost to take that far makes no sense plus I was told a European spec would have A/con etc

We have been in touch at Zante habour and Mooring seem a fraction of UK.

I understand that if I buy pre 2020/Brexit that works with the European tax as that would have been paid

I came across this forum early hours and found a few links that really helped.

Any info/suggestions is appreciated please?

 

[Irish Rover]

If you're not planning to become a resident of Greece you could save by buying a boat which is not EU VAT paid. You'd just need to take it out of the EU once every 18 months. Depending on how the local customs operate that could just be a trip offshore, or worst case a nice cruise north to Albania.

 

[Tranona]

As suggested if you are not EU resident you can keep a non VAT paid boat in Greece for up to 18 months at a time, renewable. However the chances of finding a used boat of this type that is not VAT paid is vanishingly small. There are no restrictions on non residents owning an EU VAT paid boat and keeping it in the EU.

However finding one at all in Greece is difficult as such boats are not common there. Plenty of sailing boats but few larger powerboats except around the Athens area. You will however find more for sale in Italy, France and Spain which will be EU VAT paid and you can buy and move to Greece. Keeping such a boat in Greece is a challenge as there is little service infrastructure and you will have to comply with Greek regulations on movement of boats which require a Transit Log and payment of Cruising Tax. Mooring costs are low because facilities are poor and few people own large power boats. Zante is also not a particularly good base as there are few places to go to.

 

[Irish Rover]

Keeping such a boat in Greece is a challenge as there is little service infrastructure and you will have to comply with Greek regulations on movement of boats which require a Transit Log and payment of Cruising Tax.

I can't comment on availability of motor yachts in Greece, regardless of VAT status, but I think you may be exaggerating the other aspects. I can't imagine arranging maintenance is any more difficult than elsewhere especially for an older boat where you won't be looking for an authorised service agent. Obtaining a transit log is a straightforward procedure that takes a couple of hours every 18 months. Visiting the port police when you change port is not a big deal, and all boats in Greece have to pay the TEPAI.

 

[Tranona]

I can't comment on availability of motor yachts in Greece, regardless of VAT status, but I think you may be exaggerating the other aspects. I can't imagine arranging maintenance is any more difficult than elsewhere especially for an older boat where you won't be looking for an authorised service agent. Obtaining a transit log is a straightforward procedure that takes a couple of hours every 18 months. Visiting the port police when you change port is not a big deal, and all boats in Greece have to pay the TEPAI.

Zante has very little in the way of infrastructure for boats. nearest would be Levkas/Preveza then Corfu and then very sailing orientated. Yes the transit log is relatively easy in principle, but often problematic with a UK registered EU VAT paid boat. Really the point I was making is that there are very few motor boats of that type in Greece. I can understand having a sportsboat for day trips and the odd overnight but a 45' or so boat like the Azimuth with its emphasis on accommodation does seem a bit odd when the OP already has good shore based accommodation.

Of course I could be completely wrong and the plans are for extensive cruising rather than local trips, but very few people do that with a MOBO in the Ionian compared with the hundreds of sailing boats (even if they don't actually sail very much because of the lack of wind!)

 

[Davy_S]

Most of the bigger mobos that visit Zakynthos and Kefalonia are based at Patras marina.

 

[billskip]

I can understand having a sportsboat for day trips and the odd overnight but a 45' or so boat like the Azimuth with its emphasis on accommodation does seem a bit odd when the OP already has good shore based accommodation.

I've known people buy tents and caravans and keep them in their gardens and use them....what the personal use and way of life is the op's business, not yours.

 

[Tranona]

I've known people buy tents and caravans and keep them in their gardens and use them....what the personal use and way of life is the op's business, not yours.

I did say I might be completely wrong - but it still seems an unusual choice of boat in the situation described.

 

[Hooligan]

I have a MOBO in Greece. Based on Lefkas for past 5 years. My experience is - finding good Greek mechanics and electricians is not difficult. We have always been satisfies with the quality of work and responsiveness. Where you would keep that size boat in Zante is a big issue in my view and I would sort that out before you buy anything. There is no where I have seen in Zante that I would keep my boat. Moreover Zante at least in my opinion is fairly dull boating vs say Kefalonia, Ithaca, Meganisi and Lefkada plus the mainland around there. Admin ie TLs etc is a pain but on the Ionian much easier. Bottom line - if you intend to keep it in Zante, secure the berth first.

 

[B19CJP]

I have a MOBO in Greece. Based on Lefkas for past 5 years. My experience is - finding good Greek mechanics and electricians is not difficult. We have always been satisfies with the quality of work and responsiveness. Where you would keep that size boat in Zante is a big issue in my view and I would sort that out before you buy anything. There is no where I have seen in Zante that I would keep my boat. Moreover Zante at least in my opinion is fairly dull boating vs say Kefalonia, Ithaca, Meganisi and Lefkada plus the mainland around there. Admin ie TLs etc is a pain but on the Ionian much easier. Bottom line - if you intend to keep it in Zante, secure the berth first.

Thanks for that, So far we have been to see the Captain who took us out and he looks after a couple of Yachts, an Azimut 68 & another Bigger Yacht, we picked his brains and he was explaining the Zante main harbor was relatively cheap compared to Uk as it wasn't private, Do you live in Lefkas?
Did you buy in Greece or Uk/Elsewhere,

 

[B19CJP]

I did say I might be completely wrong - but it still seems an unusual choice of boat in the situation described.

Thanks to you both, funnily enough we have had a rethink on that basis, I think because we loved the Azimut 44 fly we trained on & often hire in the Solent we thought we wanted same.

So we thought about what we loved doing the most, though when we have been out we have hired crew and had a few nights away on a Yacht, what we love is touring round the islands and sunbathing, mooring up having some lunch etc, so now looking mid 30's, so we can do the odd night, on board

 

[B19CJP]

I've known people buy tents and caravans and keep them in their gardens and use them....what the personal use and way of life is the op's business, not yours.

Thanks to you both, funnily enough we have had a rethink on that basis, I think because we loved the Azimut 44 fly we trained on & often hire in the Solent we thought we wanted same.

So we thought about what we loved doing the most, though when we have been out we have hired crew and had a few nights away on a Yacht, what we love is touring round the islands and sunbathing, mooring up having some lunch etc, so now looking mid 30's, so we can do the odd night, on board

 

[Hooligan]

Thanks for that, So far we have been to see the Captain who took us out and he looks after a couple of Yachts, an Azimut 68 & another Bigger Yacht, we picked his brains and he was explaining the Zante main harbor was relatively cheap compared to Uk as it wasn't private, Do you live in Lefkas?
Did you buy in Greece or Uk/Elsewhere,

Hi. Worth reading the reports of the port on Navily. I avoided the place. The key about keeping your boat there full time is to have complete confidence that it is being looked after. I personally view cheapness as a relative issue - relative to cost of the boat, safety of the boat and relative to what can go wrong and cost when it does. Btw I assume that there are proper fixed bow lines because in most public ports it is anchor and mooring back. I would never ever be permanently moored like that. I just keep the boat in Lefkas. Bought in UK and got it to Europe pre Brexit thank goodness. Still had issues re the transit log but resolved that so have a UTL. Good luck with how it goes.

 

[Davy_S]

You have to be very careful where you moor, or have someone on hand that can look after the boat. Lefkada is safe, other places are doubtful.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks to you both, funnily enough we have had a rethink on that basis, I think because we loved the Azimut 44 fly we trained on & often hire in the Solent we thought we wanted same.

So we thought about what we loved doing the most, though when we have been out we have hired crew and had a few nights away on a Yacht, what we love is touring round the islands and sunbathing, mooring up having some lunch etc, so now looking mid 30's, so we can do the odd night, on board

That makes much more sense. However it does not make sense to buy in the UK on both financial and practical grounds now we are no longer in the EU. You will find more choice in Greece in the smaller sportsboat range and even more in Italy. You can buy in Italy and move a boat like that to Greece without too much difficulty. Good luck - and as others say make sure your mooring is secure and you nave somebody competent to look after the boat, particularly when you are not there.