Buy in the UK, Sail Across the Channel

[rush]

So I've found a lovely East Coast Full Keel 24 footer for sale in the UK. Now, I'm Belgian. Tried reading all possible literature regarding legal procedures but seem to be stuck in a circle regarding registering this boat in order to sail it across the Channel.

Would anyone be so kind as to provide a few pointers for me to try and see what my chances are here?

Thanks a lot. Cheers!

[goboatingnow]

why do you need to register it to sail across the channel. If you really must then put t on your own ( belgian ) register

[rush]

Hi, thanks for your reply; thing is, you can't just pay for your boat and sail away across the border. Insurance is one thing. Having to call on the French side is another, where you don't want to be caught without VAT proof, which the boat may not have since is post-war, ICC...

So registration is the starting point, but i can't do it until it is in Belgian waters...

[goboatingnow]

QUOTE]you can't just pay for your boat and sail away across the border[/QUOTE]

err yes you can, if its UK flagged

Insurance is one thing.

Insurance can be got on the vessel, without it being registered

where you don't want to be caught without VAT proof

This is a big subject, but there isnt any official form of VAT Proof, A letter of indemnity and a sale agreement stating VAT has been paid in the UK from the seller is as much as you can get anywhere.

which the boat may not have since is post-war

ehh.. whats the war got to do with it.

So registration is the starting point, but i can't do it until it is in Belgian waters

You can part1 register it in the UK. ( as a Belgian national).

[Roaring Girl]

Presumably it's already on the UK register. Just register your name and adress as new owner, get the insurance (not dependent on registration, at least in the UK), the sellers statement as goboatingnow says, and go. Then change it to belgian if you want to. (Interesting to note here in Italy that many boats are UK registered, because, their Italian owners say, the regulatory regime is so much lighter that they regularly take that route.)

Don't forget that registration (on Part 1) is not proof of title in the UK. You need the Bill of Sale for that.