Yacht Haulage

[ElEm30]

I'm arranging road haulage of my yacht from Greece to Scotland. Its UK tax paid and we sailed her down from UK. Can't do the return trip due to family health. Anyone got any tips about paper work into UK by road or known issues with border crossings. Haulier will no doubt advise but just touching base with experienced yachties. Thanks

 

[aitchem]

Sealand boat deliveries do all this and take all the strain.
http://www.btx.co.uk/sealand

(no connection)
Except being a very satisfied customer



Howard

 

[Cloven]

I went the other way with John Shepherd who is based in Ayrshire.

http://jsboattransport.co.uk/

Oban to France and absolutely no issues of paperwork at all - or if there were, John dealt with it all. From my point of view it was boat loaded one day, next day in transit and following day it arrived - superb service.

 

[Tranona]

I brought my boat back from Greece two years ago - part sea, part road. Don't know how far you have got with your arrangements, but think you will find all road very difficult to arrange. The main options are ship from Piraeus to Southampton - weekly service. PSS or Peters and May can arrange, but make sure you are sitting down when you get the price! Next to sail up the Adriatic to Slovenia and road from there to a Channel port - very common as there is regular traffic shipping new boats the other way. Avoid Italy because the costs of escorted transport are high.

Finally, sail to southern France or Spain and road from there. You stand a good chance of getting a back load for the same reason - traffic in new boats the other way. From Marseille easiest to La Rochelle and sail back, or Channel port using French haulier, or back to UK using UK based haulier. Southern Spain also convenient as regular traffic to UK. I sailed (well rather boring motoring most of the way) to Sant Carles and road from there.

For road transport, you need to arrange for the mast to be taken down and well packed. The haulier will deal with all the paperwork - you just need to leave all this sips papers on board - including the VAT invoice if you have it. My haulier says they are rarely checked.

You don't say what boat, but mine is 37ft and the truck would have taken up to 45ft, but there are height restrictions so you need all dimensions before you ask for quotes. The road bit is likely to be in the £5-6k range plus lifts and masting each end - plus of course getting the boat to the mainland port.

The other alternative is a sea delivery with a professional crew. Although the basic delivery quotes may look attractive, the final cost once you have paid flights, fuel, berthing costs etc will not be substantially cheaper than road - plus of course it takes 4-6weeks and there is 2000 mile+ wear and tear on the boat.

Hope this helps.

 

[onesea]

I'm arranging road haulage of my yacht from Greece to Scotland. Its UK tax paid and we sailed her down from UK. Can't do the return trip due to family health. Anyone got any tips about paper work into UK by road or known issues with border crossings. Haulier will no doubt advise but just touching base with experienced yachties. Thanks

http://www.boattransporter.co.uk/CONACT US.htm

We only went from Humber to Solent but prices where excellent, the driver was a good guy.

He did not only he knew a little about boats to...

Only link satisfied customer..

 

[ElEm30]

Many thanks