What documents should a boat have?

[lukecsmith]

Hi all. Im in the slightly unusual position that I didnt buy my boat - rather I rescued it. It was sitting on a mooring in Motril, Spain, a little harbour in Andalucia. It was floating but not really sailable, with untold problems due to years of neglect. It was mine for the taking but I had to ship it back to the UK on a lorry. Ive spent the last few years getting it back to a useful state again and now happily its there - safe and reliable at least, with all major repairs complete.

The thing is I have no documentation for it. Previous owner was extended family living in Spain. He gave me a bill of sale - handwritten stating that he gave ownership to me. Theres various other bits and pieces of documents with it, but old and Im not sure whether they are valid or useful in any way.

So Im wondering - what documents should I have as the legal keeper in the UK? Do boats have license or ownership documents like cars do? What documents would a buyer expect to see to feel safe when buying it from me?

(In case its relevant, the boat is a 30ft Doug Peterson 1/2 ton class, built 79 by Sunship in Holland.)

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Tranona]

The simple answer is none. There is no formal requirement to register a boat, nor licence to use it. In theory you should have evidence of when it was built (to determine whether VAT was paid or not) but in reality nobody will ever check. Your proof of title is your Bill of Sale. I ntheory the boat should have been registered in Spain (where it is compulsory) and de-registered when it was transferred to you, but I doubt anybody has ever checked.

Presumably you have managed to get it insured - can sometimes be a problem if you don't have documented history. The only other thing you might want to do is register it on the SSR to confirm that it is a British Ship. Only necessary if you want to take it abroad. The application is a self declaration and there are no checks on the background. However it is not evidence of ownership.

Excellent information on documentary requirements on the RYA site and on the MCA site for registration.

Enjoy your boat!

ps You may find potential buyers are suspicious of the lack of background documentation, so, as you can't create one you will just have to be honest and they can either accept the situation or walk away.

 

[lukecsmith]

Right great, thats what I wanted to know.

Ive got a potted history I suppose, the original sale documents etc., so that should suffice.

Thanks for the help.

 

[bbg]

It might help to start creating documents that suggest that all is well. I don't mean forge them - I mean register on SSR, get a VHF licence, insurance documents, anything that relates to the boat and your possession of it. Even marina receipts, if you spend a night in a marina.
When it comes time to sell, the more documentation you can provide - even if it isn't perfect - the better it will look.

 

[jwilson]

Hi all. Im in the slightly unusual position that I didnt buy my boat - rather I rescued it. It was sitting on a mooring in Motril, Spain, a little harbour in Andalucia. It was floating but not really sailable, with untold problems due to years of neglect. It was mine for the taking but I had to ship it back to the UK on a lorry. Ive spent the last few years getting it back to a useful state again and now happily its there - safe and reliable at least, with all major repairs complete.

The thing is I have no documentation for it. Previous owner was extended family living in Spain. He gave me a bill of sale - handwritten stating that he gave ownership to me. Theres various other bits and pieces of documents with it, but old and Im not sure whether they are valid or useful in any way.

So Im wondering - what documents should I have as the legal keeper in the UK? Do boats have license or ownership documents like cars do? What documents would a buyer expect to see to feel safe when buying it from me?

(In case its relevant, the boat is a 30ft Doug Peterson 1/2 ton class, built 79 by Sunship in Holland.)

Thanks in advance for any help.

Keep every bill and receipt for anything you buy for or spend on the boat, along with your receipt and bill of sale from Spain. As others have said, register on SSR. When you do come to sell, be honest about the boat's provenance.

 

[joeh]

as an aside
is it possible to clear a boat in and out of a country as an "unregistered vessel " without a licence or ssr etc ( which is only a local, national requirement ) but witha bill of sale only ?
is there somewhere where we can cite international maritime law / procedure to this effect ?

 

[Tranona]

as an aside
is it possible to clear a boat in and out of a country as an "unregistered vessel " without a licence or ssr etc ( which is only a local, national requirement ) but witha bill of sale only ?
is there somewhere where we can cite international maritime law / procedure to this effect ?

That is a very big question and the simple answer is that it depends entirely on the country(ies) involved.

The "law" covering the international movement of ships (and yachts) is the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which lays down the rights of ships in international waters and a protocol for visiting other states (referred to as Coastal States). It assumes that ships are registered in a State referred to as a Flag State and carries documentation to demonstrate registration.

However if you are doing any more than visiting a Coastal State there may be all sorts of constraints on what you can or cannot do with the ship. Many states have detailed registration requirements and limitations on how boats can be used - others like UK have none (up to a certain size). Some countries place constraints on who can skipper boats in their territory. Boats are often subject to import duties, taxes such as VAT or minimum construction requirements before they can be used. In practice little of this applies to visitors, but may apply if you want to keep your boat in another state other than your original flag state - and may involve re-registering locally.

So, the requirement for registration is just about universal. In general other countries are not in the least bit interested in ownership per se, so a Bill of Sale has little meaning in this context.

There is a much fuller explanation of UNCLOS and documentary requirements on the RYA website if you want to know more.

 

[Kwik Decision]

Ive got a potted history I suppose, the original sale documents etc., so that should suffice.

If I have interpreted this correctly and you've got the original sale docs, as well as the bill of sale from the Spanish family to you, then you have a far better paper trail than a lot of owners of older boats, me included. Do the original sale docs mention VAT, or whatever the Spanish equivilent is?

As has already been said, you don't need any paperwork for use in the UK. An SSR number and cert is required if you want to go cross channel, but you get this just by filling in a form and sending some cash (£25 in 2007), no other paperwork required.

 

[GeorgeLlewellin]

VAT problem

The boat was imported into the UK (on the back of a lorry) and presumably you did not pay any VAT at the point of entry. Do you have any documentation to prove this happened, if so it could be important.

 

[Tranona]

The boat was imported into the UK (on the back of a lorry) and presumably you did not pay any VAT at the point of entry. Do you have any documentation to prove this happened, if so it could be important.

If it came from Spain there would be no need to pay VAT. EU and all that.

 

[lukecsmith]

If it came from Spain there would be no need to pay VAT. EU and all that.

Well thats a bloody relief! Because I didnt. I did some paperwork for the company that brought it over, Coast to Coast I think they were called. Very quick and professional they were too.

Thanks all for the comments. I need to collect all my receipts together for money spent etc., good suggestion.