Sometimes the boat you are looking for is in another country. The process is the same. What changes is that the inspection is done from a distance, the documents are drawn up under another country's law and the boat has to be brought to where you will use it.
Why look abroad?
Looking abroad widens the choice. The model or the equipment you want is sometimes found only in another market. Prices vary between markets too. One boat is listed with tax paid and another without, and the price differs accordingly. The climate a boat has lived in shows in its condition: years in sun and salt water leave different marks from winters spent under cover. We talk these differences through before a boat is chosen.
Inspecting from a distance
The first inspection is a live video tour, with the owner or the captain showing the boat. Extra photographs and videos, the engine hours record and the maintenance invoices fill in the rest. When you reach the point of deciding, the survey is carried out by an independent surveyor who works in the area where the boat lies. You, or someone you trust, can attend the sea trial. If you can't, we ask for a video recording of the trial and a written summary. When you buy from a distance, the decision leans more heavily on the written report and the documents.
Documents and payment
In sales abroad the agreement is usually in English and is governed by the law of the seller's country or of a country chosen in the agreement. We read the English text with you before you sign. The bill of sale, the company documents and the powers of attorney often need to be notarised and carry an apostille. Some registers won't accept scanned copies, and the originals have to go by courier. International transfers can take longer when the bank asks for extra documents or a public holiday falls in between, so we plan the payment days in advance.
Handover
Handover takes place where the boat lies, once the balance is paid and the completion documents are in order. If you can't be there, a representative or a captain you have authorised in writing takes delivery. Beforehand we confirm that the marina and fuel bills have been settled. At handover the inventory is checked item by item on board. The new registration and the insurance are also in place before the boat sets off.
Bringing the boat home under its own power
If the distance and the season allow, the boat is delivered under its own power by an experienced captain and crew. The route, the fuel, the accommodation and the captain's fee are set down in writing. If the boat has been idle for a long time, we check beforehand that it is ready for a long passage. The formalities at the port of departure and the rules of the countries on the way are prepared before the boat leaves. This is the boat's first long trip with you, and the small jobs noticed on the way become a maintenance list on arrival.
Shipping the boat
If the distance is long or the season is wrong for a passage, the boat travels on a cargo ship. The freight is worked out from the boat's dimensions, so its length, beam and height above the water have to be declared correctly. Ship schedules can slip. We plan the loading day together with the completion timetable.
The boat's entry into the country of arrival follows that country's customs and registration rules. A local agent or customs broker handles those formalities, and we speak to them before the boat sets off.
Distance adds a few steps to the timetable, but the process itself stays the same.
