Importing Speed Boat from USA - Florida / New York

[Snowysniper]

Hello All, In 2008 there was a forum on this subject of importing a craft from the states. However there was little information on there, some spoke about knowing somebody that had done it but no other detail and others spoke about their experience of a shipping company.

Well i would like to try my luck and buy a Sea Ray Bow Rider from Florida and ship it over as they are so much cheaper in the USA.
Does anybody have any knowledge on how to go about this and is willing to share their experience.???
Regards Snowy.

[Snowysniper]

Oh right, so if you own it in the USA for a period of time then you dont pay the tax, sounds good to me. would that info be on a .gov web site somewhere??

[Nickyboy]

I think you have to own and register something in the US for a minimum 12 months before bringing it over here duty free

[Saleen836]

Nickyboy said:

I think you have to own and register something in the US for a minimum 12 months before bringing it over here duty free

You also have to prove you lived there i.e utility bills in your name

[B3Svert]

We’ve done it a few times from US to Singapore, either from Florida or New York. Key is to get a good local surveyor, and factor in all costs including land transport, preparation (proper cleaning, emptying engine of fluids, taking down Bimini, bow rails etc to fit in a 40’ container etc.
Think the max beam can be 8’6” from memory to then go at 45deg angle into a container.
Upon landing (in Singapore anyway), just need to commission, license, service, pay VAT and you’re away. Definitely used to be cheaper to buy from US but now not so much as there are more boats on the market here.
I would be very careful about buying a Florida boat. Smaller bow riders may be ok as most should have been trailered and kept on a drive way, but many boats are severely damaged in hurricanes and then sold on overseas using old photos so do make sure there’s a decent survey done along with a sea trial with plenty of videos.

[B3Svert]

Sorry, should also have said make sure you check with U.K. authorities on any age restrictions on importing boats. Not sure if there are any there.
If this is your first boat, I’d recommend buying locally so you have a much better idea before you buy from overseas. Just my opinion.

[The Moose]

B3Svert said:

We’ve done it a few times from US to Singapore, either from Florida or New York. Key is to get a good local surveyor, and factor in all costs including land transport, preparation (proper cleaning, emptying engine of fluids, taking down Bimini, bow rails etc to fit in a 40’ container etc.
Think the max beam can be 8’6” from memory to then go at 45deg angle into a container.
Upon landing (in Singapore anyway), just need to commission, license, service, pay VAT and you’re away. Definitely used to be cheaper to buy from US but now not so much as there are more boats on the market here.
I would be very careful about buying a Florida boat. Smaller bow riders may be ok as most should have been trailered and kept on a drive way, but many boats are severely damaged in hurricanes and then sold on overseas using old photos so do make sure there’s a decent survey done along with a sea trial with plenty of videos.

Many is a bit of an over exaggeration! Hell - since 2005 there have been only 2 hurricanes that made landfall here if I'm not mistaken. Irma passed straight over the top of us here and most of the boats here that were left outside sustained minor damage. Ironically the ones that were damaged the worst were not directly because of the wind, but because the lift they were on failed.

I am based in SW FL and if something is local to me, I could swing by and check it out if you like? I'm not an expert or surveyor as such, but could certainly confirm that the boat in the photos is the boat you're talking about!

[hutchst]

Just point East and go.

And take a few sandwiches and a couple of bottles of water. You'll be fine.

[Some Guy]

Unless the boat has a CE mark and is compliant with European Recreational Craft Directive, then its not going to happen (legally). Some USA manufacturers build CE compliant boats (often at extra cost for export to Europe) but if its more than 10 years old, then that is highly unlikely. You will need to do some serious research before you drop the dollars.

[Snowysniper]

I dont know how to reply to an individual so irll just say thank you to you all for all your comments and advice. I think its clear irll have to combine this with a holiday to Florida, CT or New York area in the spring to make sure the craft is ok and not damaged etc. Irll also keep looking in the UK. Thanks again to you all..

[mikef]

Saleen836 said:

Nickyboy said:

I think you have to own and register something in the US for a minimum 12 months before bringing it over here duty free

You also have to prove you lived there i.e utility bills in your name

If it’s the same as cars, of which I have brought in 2 duty free from the US, then it’s 12 months residence there backed up by utility bills and six months ownership while resident in the US, backed up by purchase receipt, registration and gas receipts

You get the tax free concession when repatriating your personal belongings afer living in the US for > a year, within 6 months before or after the date on which you can prove that you have moved domicile from US to UK

Otherwise you pay import duty and VAT, which pretty much doubles the purchase price

[K50 DEL]

mikef said:

Saleen836 said:

Nickyboy said:

I think you have to own and register something in the US for a minimum 12 months before bringing it over here duty free

You also have to prove you lived there i.e utility bills in your name

If it’s the same as cars, of which I have brought in 2 duty free from the US, then it’s 12 months residence there backed up by utility bills and six months ownership while resident in the US, backed up by purchase receipt, registration and gas receipts

You get the tax free concession when repatriating your personal belongings afer living in the US for > a year, within 6 months before or after the date on which you can prove that you have moved domicile from US to UK

Otherwise you pay import duty and VAT, which pretty much doubles the purchase price

This matches my experience when I repatriated my car from Dubai a couple of years ago... think the UK rules are generally the same no matter where you're importing from?

[Arnold Cunningham]

I know loads of boats that have come in outside of the Recreational Craft Directive - everyone seems to turn a blind eye unless you're doing it commercially.
That said, you'll almost certainly have to pay VAT and duty.