Buying Privately

thomas · 28 October 2011, 09:24

Morning all, I'm after some piece of mind here, I'm just about to lay down £16k for a secondhand boat that we're buying privately and just had the survey done that has come up clean.

I know to make sure the VAT is paid and that I have a builders certificate, which I guess if they have then there will be no finance outstanding, I will also complete a bill of sale, but are there any other documents I need.

Lastly, I've viewed it on the hard at the marina but how do I know I'm actually dealing with the owners? are there any check that you do? I've always used a broker so they do all this sort of stuff.

Bern Hanreck · 28 October 2011, 12:59

Are you saying that you have not had a sea trial in her yet ?

PeterM · 28 October 2011, 13:20

What Bern said ....as no 1

Try and find out what dealer sold the boat - speak to them ( most are helpful) - see if the names they sold it to matches who your buying form or if you can find a way to speak to previous owners.

Study every bit of paper possible in complete detail, keys - copies of keys etc . If its been sold on there 'should' be bill of sale for each change of hands... I think most use the RYA template ?

Get the hull & engine number and check it against stolenboats website - maybe again talk to dealer ( or engine) and maker for the hull to see if all is in line with what you expect/ have been told.

A survey make be OK - but take/find someone who really knows about that sort/make of boat - I mean RIBs for starters and 'x make' . (usually someone on here would help- might have even driven/owned or know of that specific boat ! )

Cross fingers - pay money - hope its all OK & enjoy !!!

Ian M · 28 October 2011, 15:47

Post pictures on here; you never know, someone might know your particular boat. At least you will get more information on the type....

Swifty · 28 October 2011, 17:25

Try and get the original invoice to the first owner, it will show the vat paid from when it was new. This is a must for overseas use. Also check if there is an SSR certificate (there may not be). There should also be a VHF license for the boat if it has a radio.

Do not buy without a sea trial.

Caveat Emptor.

thomas · 28 October 2011, 18:08

Thanks, I need to make sure all the paper work is in order before I sea trial otherwise it's a waste of the sellers time and more importantly mine!!

The boat is not very old and I've had it checked over my Mark from MB, he was very complimentary about it and has owned a few Ribtecs himself and the engine checked is in excellent condition and may have a couple of years left on the warrantee, again, need to look at the service records.

Not many pics yet, just some of the hull, will take some tomorrow and post.

CJL · 28 October 2011, 23:34

I always get vehicle registration of who ever I am dealing with and ask to use the toilet so I know they own the house that the boat is parked outside.

If its in a marina ask the marina staff. Do they use the boat regularly, do they recognise the vendor?

If arranging by email check the domain and ask them what they do for a living....see if it tallies.

Get home and mobile numbers and find an excuse to ring both of them to make sure they work.

Arrive early.....catch em pumping up tubes, bailing out water, painting, epoxying etc etc.

Chris

Courageous · 29 October 2011, 08:07

I think everything's pretty much covered here already. The only thing I would add is "instinct". This is particularly prevalent in women from my experience! My Ex wife got it bang on with me every time

Put simply, if it just doesn't quite feel right then walk away. Enjoy your boat, hull looks nice and clean.

thomas · 30 October 2011, 18:51

Everything checked out, just a trim sender problem but the engine is warrantee so will get if fixed and get a service done - Goes really well in the heavy stuff compared to my old Valiant, only problem is I've found myself attached to the old one.

Boats&Outboards · 30 October 2011, 19:02

Looks great - Enjoy!

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

uncle al · 30 October 2011, 19:17

i see its a mecury ask to see the P.D.I. ticket (hopefully the selling dealer printed the PDI and registration of the factory extranet) if no documents get the serial number and phone barrus ask to speak to Rosemary Hicks and ask her if she will check that it is not stolen and all the correct registrations have been done,eg If it hasnt been registered then it starts to get complicated not impossible though.
good luck
uncle al

uncle al · 30 October 2011, 19:21

i forgot to mention a water test as well.if no serial number walk away!! could be stolen, and some spare parts are identyfied by serial number, otherwise it can be by guess and by god

thomas · 30 October 2011, 20:00

I had the engine serial number checked after my first viewing, my engineer followed it up when he surveyed it as it was fitted by a company he knows well, I also now have every manual, scrap plastic bag with some spare thing in it along with hundreds of little bits of paper and bills.

The only discrepancy is the original Ribtec manual shows the max fuel tank capacity as 25l yet I managed to get just over 40 in it so I've either been to a dodgy pump of the manual isn't entirely correct, I expect the latter and it's meant to hold 100l

Vandad · 30 October 2011, 20:06

16k is a bargain for this package, you are getting a very good package at that price.

Others have pointed out very good and important buying tips.

If you are paying 16k, then pay a couple of £100 and get it surveyed, if you want. But don't be too suspicious, and ask the owner to tell you more about the rib, you can tell if something fishy is going on.

Enjoy it!

Poly · 30 October 2011, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas

manual shows the max fuel tank capacity as 25l yet I managed to get just over 40 in it so I've either been to a dodgy pump of the manual isn't entirely correct, I expect the latter and it's meant to hold 100l

25 gal then?

thomas · 30 October 2011, 20:15

Arrr, thanks, that figures, someone put an L instead of a G

I had is surveyed, this is boat number 5 so had a few surveys in the past, the last one I had a thermal scan of the hull done, got some great images of the make up of the hull. This is the fist one I've bought privately, not counting the Valiant as I got if from a very old friend who's had it donkeys years.

Searider · 30 October 2011, 22:15

[QUOTE=thomas;427498

I know to make sure the VAT is paid and that I have a builders certificate, which I guess if they have then there will be no finance outstanding, I will also complete a bill of sale, but are there any other documents I need.
.[/QUOTE]

Builders cert only states that the boat was built by "builder" on "date" for "customer" who may be the original (or other) dealer.
It has no bearing on finance.

VAT invoice onlys shows VAT has been paid by the customer named on the invoice. If that is a company the vat may have been claimed back.

Ideally what you need is every original invoice or bill of sale from new showing the complete history.

Having said that looking at the photo because of it's value it's unlikely to have a mortgage secured against it and if it's relatively new the paperwork should be easy fir the vendor to produce.

Regards