selling an American Vega in Britain

[tlochhaas]

To Steve Birch, British Vegans, and others in Europe,

Can anyone advise me on the possibility of my selling my 1972 Vega in
Great Britain (or elsewhere in Europe) if I were to sail it over there
from the U.S.?

I've been wanting to make the transatlantic crossing for quite some
time, but my main problem is that although I can take time off from work
and family for the 4-6 weeks needed to get there, I can't take enough
time off to sail the boat back via the southern trade route. The costs
of having the boat delivered or shipped back home are just too
prohibitive. After wrestling with this issue for over a year, I've
tentatively concluded I might try planning to sail over and leave the
boat with a broker or other individual/agency to be sold. Then buy
another boat here later on. I don't have time to make the plans for
this summer but am thinking of crossing early summer 2005.

I don't know anything about the legal or tax implications involved in
selling an American-owned boat in the UK or elsewhere, so it's time to
start researching this. Does anyone have any knowledge about this or can
direct me to a broker I could contact?

Thanks! I've been wanting to do this for years, and have been
continually upgrading the boat to prepare for an eventual crossing, and
for the first time it's looking actually possible!

Tom Lochhaas
Vega 1240 Allegro
Milbridge, Maine, US

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi Tom

You will get a better price in the UK but you will aso be liable for VAT
(17.5%). Brokers charge about 6 - 8% plus VAT of the final selling price. The
VAGB can sell your Vega but you must be a member and donate £50 to club funds.
This is refunable if we do not sell your Vega. Donations are totally voluntary
but.......

I am sure there are plenty of Vega owners this side of the pond that could
accomodate you when you came over.

Another big problem is the cost of moorings. A marina berth on the South Coast
will cost you up to £3000 per year. A swinging mooring about £500 but if you
went to the SE Coast (The Medway) you could get a swinging mooring for about
£200 per year. Something to consider.

There is a thriving market for Vegas in the UK and the prices are higher than
in the USA but there are hidden costs as detailed above.

Kind Regards

Steve Birch

At 20:04 04/03/04 -0500, you wrote:

 

[tlochhaas]

Thanks for this, Steve. I did assume the taxes would be higher, and I'd
have to pay for storage either on or off the water as well. I'm also
assuming I'd have to turn the boat entirely over to a broker or other
individual since I wouldn't be there--all of which would lead to lower
net price received, although these things (except the VAT) would be true
selling in the US also. So I guess the main issue is finding someone
willing to take all that on. (When I was shopping for my Vega many years
ago I happened to look at a British-owned boat at a broker here in the
States; the owner had done the reverse, sailed it over here and had to
sell, and the broker kept it on jackstands in the boatyard the brokerage
was associated with and arranged as needed for the boat to be put in the
water for sea trials--here, that's a buyer's cost in such cases, just as
removing a boat from the water to check the hull moisture etc. is a
buyer cost--but if that is not true in GB, I'd obviously agree to that
cost too.) Of course I would be thrilled to have the VAGB handle this,
though it seems a lot to ask of anyone who is not a broker--I'm willing
to pay costs, of course, plus commission. Do you happen to know any
brokers or anyone who might be interested?
Thanks again,
TomStephen Birch wrote:

 

[papasbackhoeinc]

Dear Tom,

Albin Vegas still sell very well in Holland. In my yachting harbour in
Naarden there is a yachting broker who is selling 2nd hand sailing boats
all the time.
The trouble is that you would have to moor the boar in the Naarden yachting
harbour.
The brokers has a special place in the large marina.

If you are interested in will put you in touch with these people.

Regards,

Henk Jansen