If you are shopping for a boat away from your home territory you will need to be very careful about the ownership rights of the person selling the boat. You would be wise to deal through a local broker with a good reputation; better still would be a broker who has affiliations in your home country. To buy a boat dockside from some unknown owner would be the height of folly as many have discovered to their cost.

   If you plan extensive European cruising there is a good argument for either building or buying in Europe. You will need to explore the VAT ( European sales tax ).  From January 1 1993 when the EU single fiscal area came into being, boats can be transferred and sold freely between residents of EU countries without duty being levied provided that evidence is produced hat VAT has been paid on the particular vessel. The best proof of VAT paid status is the ‘green flimsy’ the EU standard document that is issued when VAT is paid on a new boat. When building in Europe there are several ways to keep the VAT to a minimum.

   There is a quirk in the VAT laws the rule being that if you purchase a VAT paid boat outside the EU and then bring it back into EU waters then you will have to pay the VAT. If you are considering buying a VAT paid boat that is currently located outside EU waters, make sure it is returned to an EU country and check the VAT status before you make the purchase.