Why does every thing cost more over here?

[kghowe]

Finally got all the paper work sorted and went to holiday on new boat. Took everything with us that you need to equip said boat, plates, bottle opener, life jackets and including dinghy and outboard. We were 50 kg's over weight allowance but good old BMI let us on with nothing to pay! (Only 16 people on flight!! Guess Easy jet took the rest but we got free flights through Sainsburys so we were VV happy)

Heres my point. Just spent 2 weeks in S of France on new boat. Staggered at price differences in Chandlers (Chantier Naval) compared to here. Bought 3 years worth of zinc anodes for outdrives at a fraction of the price of here. (Duo prop ring Euro11.50, bar 7.50 euro). Even if they last six months still bloody cheap. I'll let you know if they fall off or my outdrives disappear! Eeek! I know someone will say false economy etc etc but the french use them all the time so we'll see.

General deck fittings and bits same numbers as here but in euros, so things like pump ITT toilet about 38 euro. why is this. Price for living as an island race. the only rub was that diesel was of course not duty free so costed 1.00 euro per litre (65p ish). Why is it we have to pay so much more?

For those that are interested weather was very iffy first week, cloudy and Heavy rain by PM, second 10 days much more what you'd expect, blue sky through the forward hatch every morning and thats the way it stayed. Not much trouble with Mistral or Tramortain winds either.

regards

 

[Steve_Harrison]

The U.K mentality goes along the lines of; if you use the word "boat" as a prefix or suffix you can double the price!

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Ah yes...this is the unfortunate side of UK boating. As Steve says on this post, using the word "boat" increases the cost of all you buy. It gets worse if you dare to use the word "marine".

I'm interested in your exploits in the S of France. Are you going to keep your boat there? Would you motor back round to the UK? Whats the whole experience like?

Madoc Yacht Club
www.madocyachtclub.co.uk

 

[kghowe]

Dave,
Prompted by not being able to find the boat we wanted in the UK, cheaper prices abroad and too many evenings surfing the net, we bought through a UK broker dealing with a French broker. We would never, sorry, NEVER, deal with the UK broker again but the French one was excellent. In the past having bought boats through brokers in the UK, it seems as soon as the money hits their bank they don't seem to want to know. not so in France. After sales has been great, sorting out numerious problems for us and all with a smile.

French process of buying boats is the same as ours so you need a mechanical and hull survey but there are a few things you need to be aware of. They might want a second hefty deposit, 30 or 40%, before realeasing French registery (similar to Lloyds) some do some don't, and make sure have someone can speak French or English is spoken. Its very difficult explaining that the ball valve and elbow on the toilet is broken!

We thought long and hard about what to do with the boat but have decided to bring it back (not least because we negotiated new stripes, PVC seating to cockpit, and new canopies in the buying price!) We are the type of people that like to go out when the mood and weather take us and we just wouldn't be able to do that with it being 900 miles away even with cheap flights. We used Easyjet Ryanair and BMI without any problems and cheap too.

The buying price also included trucking back. Boat shows at Cannes and Southampton have made trucks a bit thin on the ground at the moment so this may be a couple of weeks yet.

We reckon on using the French broker again for our next boat, only we'd deal direct next time.

Its worth looking into though if you can't find what you want here. Besides everything is so much cheaper out there as I indicated. We went to the SBShow today and saw exactly the same passerelle for 998 pounds, we got ours for 499 euro's. Thats just taking the p***.

Good luck

 

[oldgit]

There is what appears to be a definate two tier pricing system in the UK,Being fortunate enough to have contacts in the boating world, the disparity between prices quoted in the normal chandlery and those which can be obtained outside the golden marina triangle can be considerable.
Most towns have a shop in a less "fashionable" part of town that will give better prices.You can usually identify these places by the fact the staff are wearing painty overalls not blazers with in house company logo.

Just hold tight dear it will not be so rough when we get round the corner,trust me.