Why are boats so much cheaper in Europe?

[epiic]

When comparing at the EXACT same make/model, boats are always significantly cheaper and more to choose from when compared to North America.

Any ideas why?

Also, how difficult would it be to convert the 220v power to 110v so that it can be brought over to North America?

My plan would be to buy boats in Europe, sail them across the Atlantic and sell them in North America for a profit. Rinse and repeat until I am tired of doing it...

[sailorboy1]

hope you have a lot of cash and are willing to lose it

Good Luck!

[Kenomac]

Simple. The US dollar is currently strong against the euro. There are more ex-charter boats here on the market.

Before you get too excited, most prospective buyers don't want a boat set up for charter.

The dollar to euro exchange rate can change at any time and there are other transaction fees involved when you try to buy European stuff using dollars. Expect to loose up to and around 5% to bankers, exchange rates and wire fees, unless you plan to board the plane with a suitcase full of dollars.... Which can also be problematic... when it gets confiscated.

It's really only cheaper, if you plan to buy a Euro boat and then use it over here.

I just noticed you're from Canada.... Bring twice as many dollars.

[epiic]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

hope you have a lot of cash and are willing to lose it

Good Luck!

Could you elaborate on that?

[TurninTurtle]

IMPORT/LUXURY TAXES

Guess what? As a dealer you'll need to pay em.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by epiic

Could you elaborate on that?

sure, spend some time researching buying costs as in lost fees, transportation costs including repairs and upgrades to get across the ocean, storage and selling costs, true selling cost fees, sales prices compared to listed prices

then see if you can truly say you have some new business model money making idea

[exMaggieDrum]

Changing wiring and systems to go from 220v to 110v will be expensive. You best look in to that before going forward. You didn't mention whether you were looking at new or used boats. New French boats over there may be cheaper because (a) no import duties to get in to the US and (b) no shipping/delivery costs.

[Lepke]

Importing a used boat for personal use into the US is relatively cheap for a US resident. Especially to a non-sales tax state. Importing for resale is completely different.
My current boat was US built but Canadian registered. It cost about $12 to import because my residence is Oregon (no sales tax). In California (a socialists wonderland) it would have been about 10% sales tax.
Foreign built to be US documented may need an admeasure. Because Canada had the registration on this boat all screwed up (wrong builder, year) I had to have a $3000 admeasure by ABS. Even though I got the Canadians to admit their mistake and had documents from previous Canadian owners and could document US owners back to the original owner.
It's never simple dealing with any government.

[hsi88]

I'm certainly no authority on this, but perhaps this only applies to "newer" boats. I see cheap boats all the time in the US. Let's face it, you can't get much cheaper than "free". And although these boats might not be in their prime, they are watertight, have running engines and serviceable sails and rigging. But then again, my standards are probably much lower than most. And the amount of money I'm willing to spend is probably much less too.

[epiic]

Originally Posted by exMaggieDrum

You didn't mention whether you were looking at new or used boats. New French boats over there may be cheaper because (a) no import duties to get in to the US and (b) no shipping/delivery costs.

Looking at 2013 or newer Jeanneau's in the 37-41ft range

[Lantau]

It really depends on the boat you are looking at. Many boats have much higher asking prices in Europe, in part due to the high taxes there. We are selling our 2004 Pacific Seacraft 37 and the exact same boat (same model, same year, but that one is not as well equipped as ours) has an asking price almost $90K more than ours (but I don't know if that boat is tax paid in Europe; probably it is not).

[sailpower]

Best way to make a small fortune in the boat business is to start with a large one and get out as quick as you can.

[Dave22q]

Originally Posted by sailpower

Best way to make a small fortune in the boat business is to start with a large one and get out as quick as you can.

What he said! Your odds would probably better in renovating and flipping houses. They might improve all the way to 'a slight chance of success'.

[Ardbeg]

Forget it. When the dust settles you will pay a lot more to buy in Europe and bring to North America. It is called tax. If you want to play that game there are boats you can buy in North America that are tax free. Just look at Canadian registered boats on Lake Champlain in NY.

[bobnlesley]

Originally Posted by epiic

...boats are always significantly cheaper...when compared to North America...buy boats in Europe, sail them across the Atlantic and sell them in North America for a profit...

Yet I know two people who for many years have - small scale/under the radar - been doing exactly this, but buying in the US/Caribbean and reselling in Europe.