Yachts will be given away????

[Poignard]

Have you seen this? Get your boat back to the UK now to avoid post-Brexit import duty, say RYA and British Marine - Sailing Today

Thanks for that.

Even if I wanted to, bringing her back by that deadline would be impracticable.

In any case, she is old and was built before 1985 so if I did have to pay duty I could put a good case for it being assessed at a very low rate (I think!)

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Have you seen this? Get your boat back to the UK now to avoid post-Brexit import duty, say RYA and British Marine - Sailing Today

How many people who actually own boats in the EU would bring them back and not just sell on in the EU? I don't know the answer but wonder if many who own in the EU have bought in the EU, while the number who have bought in the UK and moved to the EU is low, therefore the numbers who miss the boat could be insignificant.

 

[Iliade]

Heck, the way it is going people will be buying boats as an insurance against the forthcoming social breakdown!

Only half joking... A mate of mine still in the industry said sales have never been better. As I recall from the 1990's crisis, boat sales increased as people decided to just admit defeat and go sailing. Certainly we have filled our order book for flying training and are now turning customers away!

 

[newtothis]

Heck, the way it is going people will be buying boats as an insurance against the forthcoming social breakdown!

A friend of mine grew up in apartheid South Africa in the 70s. Wasn't unknown for wealthy whites to have something seaworthy ready to go if the shooting started.

 

[Achosenman]

The local brokers are doing a brisk trade from what I‘ve heard.

My neighbour has just put his 41’ motor boat up for sail. He has just purchased a bigger boat. His boat is not even listed yet and there’s a steady stream of viewings already. The 3 modern 40 foot-ish sailing boats adjacent to him have all been sold. Talking to the broker, the story is the right type of boats are going like hot cakes.

Family holidays on the water seem to be the idea. If you have a tatty old day boat, you are out of luck. Something modern with decent accomodation seems to be the sweet spot atm.

 

[AndrewB]

Thanks for that.

Even if I wanted to, bringing her back by that deadline would be impracticable.

In any case, she is old and was built before 1985 so if I did have to pay duty I could put a good case for it being assessed at a very low rate (I think!)

So, on the one hand the govt won't let you go to France to collect your boat. (FO advises against 'all but essential travel').
On the other, they intend to fine you (because that's what it amounts to) if you don't.
.

 

[Poignard]

So, on the one hand the govt won't let you go to France to collect your boat. (FO advises against 'all but essential travel').
On the other, they intend to fine you (because that's what it amounts to) if you don't.
.

Yes, you're right!

 

[newtothis]

As I recall from the 1990's crisis, boat sales increased as people decided to just admit defeat and go sailing. Certainly we have filled our order book for flying training and are now turning customers away!

One difference in this crisis is that there is still a lot of state support going on so there is money circulating. And while I don't doubt the crisis to come, there are still plenty of people in work.
For those with money, however, the options to spend it have reduced. Weekender in Paris? Pass. Night at the theatre? Pass. Expensive restaurant meal... you get the picture.
But, as witnessed by the number of delivery trucks on the road and soaring containerised freight rates, money formerly spent on services is now being spent on goods. And yachts are good.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I appreciate that people spend their money buying a yacht instead of spending money on holidays abroad., but I am wondering whether people have made quick and impulsive decisions without the full appreciation of the real cost of keeping a boat. The bigger the boat the bigger the maintenance and marina cost; so, when reality hits them because of the lack of income as the jobs disappear and because of the high upkeep costs for the boat, people may end up giving up their boats cheaply in the very near future. Next summer, the job situation may be very different and not very good; naturally, we all hope that things turn out well for everyone, eventually.

 

[newtothis]

I appreciate that people spend their money buying a yacht instead of spending money on holidays abroad., but I am wondering whether people have made quick and impulsive decisions without the full appreciation of the real cost of keeping a boat. The bigger the boat the bigger the maintenance and marina cost; so, when reality hits them because of the lack of income as the jobs disappear and because of the high upkeep costs for the boat, people may end up giving up their boats cheaply in the very near future. Next summer, the job situation may be very different and not very good; naturally, we all hope that things turn out well for everyone, eventually.

That's a bit of a piece of string issue tho, isn't it. Depends on whether you go for a bells-and-whistles marina on the south coast or a patch of mud in Suffolk. I'm sure annual boat-owning costs range from 'less than a couple of weeks in the Med' to 'how much have you got'.
Remember, the holiday cost=yacht price is a one-off expense; next year it is holiday=mooring fees and maintenance. If people aren't travelling.
I've worked through every recession since 1981. There have always been times of boom/bust/crisis but the world seldom ends. In balance, I think this will be good for prices for the next year or so.

 

[ProDave]

Our next door neighbour bought a quite new expensive caravan "because he could not have any other sort of holiday this year"

He had never been caravanning before and did not particularly like the idea. they had one 4 day holiday in it quite local i believe and now it's parked on their drive for the winter.

In a year or 2 I suspect there will be a lot of caravans, and probably boats for sale. About then we will be looking for a new caravan so hope to get a bargain. I would not buy one now and pay top price.

 

[Birdseye]

Its a two tier market for second hand boats. The newish mainly continental brands are selling well but hings like old Westerlies and Macwesters often cant even be given away. Certainly we have had to put the chainsaw through several old boats that no one would take.

 

[sailaboutvic]

If you have any plain to sell your boat in the uk get on and do it , as if HMC get their way the only people interested in will be local uk sailor .

 

[Juan Twothree]

Its a two tier market for second hand boats. The newish mainly continental brands are selling well but hings like old Westerlies and Macwesters often cant even be given away.

Sadly it's the same at the bottom end of the market, at least for boats in good condition.

I went to view an elderly, but well maintained, Westerly last week. Made an offer there and then for the full asking price, subject to survey, which was accepted.

Phoned the owner the next morning, to be told that he'd sold it to someone else, who didn't want a survey.

It's dog eat dog out there at the moment.

 

[James W]

More doom mongering. The market is stronger than ever and brokers can’t get enough boats. Sold mine in a couple of weeks.

 

[Zagato]

More doom mongering. The market is stronger than ever and brokers can’t get enough boats. Sold mine in a couple of weeks.

Your Folkboat? Edit... wrong bloke, that was JamieN!