Buying a boat involves a lot of money. It is therefore important that you don’t make any mistakes so that the boat purchase doesn’t turn into money pit and you can still enjoy the boat years later.
Buying the wrong boat for the job
Before making a purchase, you should think carefully about what kind of boat you need. Don’t just go for looks. It is more important to match the yacht to the planned sailing area, the planned crew size and your own preferences in terms of comfort, safety and sportiness. This can be particularly difficult for beginners, as at first glance all boats look the same. But similar to cars: an Audi A6 and a Land Cruiser both have 4 wheels, but completely different purposes.
Going to viewings on your own
The boat of your dreams has gone online and you’re in love with it? It’s advisable not to go to the viewing alone. Four eyes see more than two and six see more than four. During a viewing, it is helpful to have someone with you who knows about boats. However, if this is not an option for various reasons, it still helps to take a layperson with you who will at least come to the boat inspection with a neutral view. He or she will inspect the boat more objectively and perhaps assess the general condition more realistically than someone with rose-tinted spectacles.
Would you have seen it? Water in the bilge.
If you go on a boat tour alone, sometimes important things are forgotten in the excitement.
Buying without a survey
Osmosis with pronounced blisters, rust on the steel boat, a smoking engine: even the most novice can recognize certain defects themselves. So you can judge for yourself whether it is worth appointing an expert at all. I always recommend hiring an expert when buying a boat! A good surveyor will almost always find something wrong (especially with new boats) and as the repair of these defects is normally at the seller’s expense, the surveyor is often free of charge for you. But beware: surveyor is not a protected term. Anyone can call themselves one and there are many charlatans. In my previous job as a boat broker, I saw a lot of terrible surveyors. I can give you tips from all over Europe for surveyors with whom I have had good experiences and whose working methods I can recommend.
Even a beginner can recognize osmosis bubbles
A surveyor should always check the hull of a GRP yacht for increased moisture
Pay too much
Unfortunately, those who have fallen madly in love with a sailing boat often turn their brains off as soon as the decision has been made to buy the boat – but it is not yet clear on what terms. It can help to talk about the upcoming negotiations with someone who isn’t enfatuated with the boat and can evaluate it and its condition more objectively. You should also be aware of any hidden costs that may be passed on to the buyer, which should also be budgeted for.
Not informing yourself about the conditions in the country of sale
Once you have decided on a boat, you should find out about the general conditions of sale and typical procedures in the country of sale. Who pays the broker’s commission, the seller or the buyer? Who pays any deregistration fees if the boat is entered in a register? Will there be a surveyor before the contract is signed or at the handover? Questions like these should be asked before submitting an offer, as the buyer may be faced with unpleasant additional costs that were not anticipated.
Not dealing with the papers
The seller claims that the boat is EU-taxed and digs out the original invoice from 1985 during the inspection? Unfortunately, this is not sufficient proof that the EU VAT has been paid. Before signing a purchase contract, it is essential to familiarize yourself with this complex matter and, if in doubt, consult a professional to avoid having to pay VAT at a later date.
VAT paid for the boat?
The police or customs regularly check the papers of the yacht and crew
Do not ask questions
No matter how good the boat ad is, you should always ask questions. Especially for newcomers, it is sometimes difficult to think of clever questions, because it is often the things that are not mentioned in the ad that are decisive. On the one hand, you should ask questions to gather complete information about the boat, and on the other hand to find out how the seller reacts to questions and to be able to assess what type of person you are doing business with.
Not taking a close look at the seller
You should not only look at the boat you want to buy, but also at the person you are buying it from. This refers to the owner himself or the broker who is coordinating the sale. Does the person make an honest impression or is he a slob? Does he talk about his boat as his “baby”, but it was last serviced 5 years ago? Then something doesn’t add up. If you think you have found your dream boat but the seller gives you a bad feeling, then you should listen to your gut feeling and walk away.
