Yacht Delivery Service and Cost

[DueSouth]

I am looking to buy my first yacht and may need help to move it...unless I find what I am looking for nearby to the marina where I intend to keep her.

Before I look at yachts in far off places, it will be good to get some pointers on delivery service options and cost from this community.

For example, what will it take to move a yacht from North Wales to Suffolk?

Then I see a few options in Europe, but no idea what it will take to move a yacht from South of France to Suffolk for instance...or cross the Channel from the Netherlands...the latter should be fairly straight forward I expect...

Let me know if there are options to do this and where I can get an indicative cost for this.

Many thanks.

 

[V1701]

You'd be liable to pay VAT if you buy in the EU and bring it to the UK so factor that in. Road transport is available as well as delivery by sea but to give you an idea we'd need to know (approx.) size - exceptional loads which are decided on length/width by road will be prohibitively expensive due to necessitating escorts and road closures where necessary, e.g. but smaller loads that can be craned on to a low loader or towed on a trailer will be possibly be your least expensive and best option if it's a smaller boat. You'll likely be looking at several thousand for delivery by sea (whatever the size) for N Wales to Suffolk. You should consider asking for help and doing the trip yourself, e.g. couple of years ago I bought a 26' sailboat in Aberystwyth, 2 of us sailed her to Falmouth where I left her for a few weeks due to weather and work commitments, I then returned & single handed her from Falmouth to Brighton over 4 days, anchoring 2 nights & one night in another marina...

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

If you were to become a member of a sailing club you could make the acquaintance of experienced sailors, one of whom might help you bring the boat back yourself, with the assistance of some other members, perhaps ones who are interested in gaining miles and night hours in order to take a Yachtmaster assessment.
Dependent upon your experience, etc., of which you haven't given details, you might also take a shorebased theory course, followed by a practical course so that you might play a useful part in the delivery.

 

[Tranona]

Just had a yacht delivered by road from S Wales to Poole. £1500 transport, £500 preparation (dropping mast, loading) £150 crane this end, £150 step mast. Transport from Med reckon minimum £8k for truck plus ferry, loading/unloading then customs clearance and VAT (then from end of this year recertification).

If buying in UK reckon up to £4k maximum (say Scotland to S coast) but possible to get back load which can reduce road costs a bit. Buying in EU - even where possible to sail across problematic, although some boats, particularly recent ones sell in Netherlands and Germany for prices that may make the hassle worthwhile - but don't forget viewing and the purchase process is not cost and hassle free.

 

[syvictoria]

When the time comes, and assuming road transport is required, try offering the delivery on Shiply: The Transport Marketplace - Get Delivery Quotes. This is a good way to get a competitive (even cheap sometimes!) rate for the aforementioned back load (when a lorry would otherwise be going empty one way).