Selling my boat overseas

[sean_03]

I just took a new job that does not allow use of my boat during the winter months due to sunlight. I don't want to sell my boat but figured I would put it out there and if for the right price I would sell it. I have a buyer who seems very interested calling me from England. However due to taxes he must pay going back to his country wants me to produce a receipt for less that the cost and he will pay the rest in cash in hand. I can't remember but seem to recall warnings of a scam by people saying they are taking the boat back to Europe and that they somehow get the title and the seller basicly gets screwed without full or any payment.

I don't really want to sell my boat (of course). And I definately don't want to get scammed. Any truth to this or advice would be great. Thanks.

[SGY]

RE: Selling my boat overseas

As an attorney for now way longer than I care to admit, I'll give you some free advice. If a deal looks squirrelly, it usually is. A deal that starts squirrelly stays that way. I don't know anything about taxes in England but I do know that is his problem, not yours. If he does not want to do the deal straight, I would be very wary. There are lots of folks here in the States that would buy your boat.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[mrese]

RE: Selling my boat overseas

More often than not, many items have one price listed on the bill of sale or title much lower than the actual cash transfer. Even on a stateside transaction, the bill of sale may indicate $1000 simply to provide the buyer with a cheaper sales tax, and the remaining $10,000 is not recorded. Not advocating the practice, but I understand sometimes it happens between even good upright citizens. I would ensure I was actually paid in full at the time I relinquished the boat. I can't imagine handing over the title without the money paid in full. There are probably several members on this site that have done the same squirrelly deal with their boat but would not admit it on CNN.

[b2]

On a slightly different note. The buyer who brings the boat to England or any European country must then ensure that the boat meets the European RCD and carries CE certification. This will add aditional cost of approximately £2,500. This directive aplies to any boat brought into Europe after July 1998 regardless of the age of the boat.

Failure to comply with the RCD can result in a large fine or even inprisonment.

Also American road trailers are not legal within Europe.

[BASC]

If b2 represents who I think, then READ and take in what has been written. Being in the business of importing themselves for a lot of years, they are not often wrong.
Good to chat to you at the show earlier this month, thanks for the advice.

[Mikeski]

Personally I would avoid the hassle/headache of a european transaction. Unless you have met the guy in person it's likely there is some kind of scam involved.

Reduced bill of sale - illegal. However I understand the argument that it's not right that some government agency sticks it's hand out every time the boat changes hands is not right either, double taxation? In California it's called "use tax", some politician's wordsmithing to make it sound logical. So we pay sales tax, annual registration, property tax, and the poor guy buying the boat when I am done with it pays use-tax.

[ssaxet]

I sold a bmw scooter recentally... over at ibmwr.org they have some info about overseas scams...
basically it runs, they send you a ceritified check for boat + shipping, taxes ect.... you cash the check, pay to ship the boat, transfer title and taxes ect.... several weeks later the bank finds out you passed them a phony check, nail your account for the ammount tendered.... result is you paid to send your boat to the dude that stole it... I would be very carefull.... only a cash deal, no wires ,cks or transfers....