Steel boat surveyor in Vancouver Is. and buying 1/2 a continent away

[48d north]

We are considering a boat in the Vancouver Island area and being in the middle of the continent makes it challenging to plan how to check this vessel out before we invest time and money to travel to see her. Any recommendations and experience on how to approach this would be welcomed. We have done an internet search for surveyors and there are a bunch so please recommend some one you may know that has solid steel boat skills. It has been recommended to use a buyers agent but will any one be interested if it is a lower priced boat?(<40k) We would also value any ones experience on what taxes/fees etc for a US buyer with a Canadian boat.

Thank you!

[rbk]

Personally I'd identify a few boats in and around the area (Vancouver area, Island and down to Seattle is a good start) and make an initial trip out to look at a couple. With purchase surveys running close to 1000cnd this could save you lots of money if there are obvious deal killers for you. Most surveyors will take an initial look and credit that time towards a full purchase survey as well. Either route; Then look at getting a mechanical survey and oil analysis done as they are about half the cost of a purchase survey. It is a good idea to make the trip out for the purchase survey for your own info and anything serious that comes of it you do have he option of calling it off early to save some cash. As for purchasing in Canada specifically BC make delivery to US waters a condition of sale. This will avoid a 12% sales tax but cost 400-500 for delivery. You'll probably have to pay the import duty and tax which I believe is around 9% (which you will pay anyways if taking to the US waters) and have 45 days to remove the boat from Washington or pay local sales tax. If you're looking for steel I remember seeing a few listed this fall in the Sunshine Coast area (Gibson's into think) and looked to be a good bargain. All in all I'd bite the bullet and make an initial 'shopping trip'. Fly into Vancouver with a list, rent a car and spend a good long weekend looking. Keep a list of surveyors in the area available as you might be able to convince one to come look as it's still the slow season but will get busy quick.

[48d north]

Thanks RBK, We have kinda settled on this boat. Of course it's 2nd nature I think for sailors to always continue looking at boats. We have not seen many other steel boats available via YW, Sailboat listing or the local craigslist. If you have other sources for that area thanks in advance for sharing. The tax info and bringing the boat to US waters is invaluable. For some reason the brokers don't like to share that info. We have become intrigued with sailing the inside passage up to Alaska before we head off south. (or north and east) Beautiful area there, a lot like the north shore of Lake Superior with massively overgrown mountains.

[rbk]

There were a couple 40ish foot steel S/V in the Gibson's area as I mentioned. Sometimes brokers will pull them off YW and leave them on local sites to avoid them going 'stale'. Google yacht brokers BC and search each brokers listings. You might find a gem. If considering The inside passage also look in SE Alaska craigslist and Prince Rupert Craigslist or Kijiji for private sales. AK has a 1.5% sales tax which might apply if you stay all summer, but maybe not as AK is pretty relaxed when it comes to things like that. I would also consider emailing the dozen or so brokers in the area and tell them what you're looking for. They may have someone ready to sell but not listed yet. Good luck. Where on the island. There are 2 SAMs surveyors on the island and maybe another associate or two but only one out of Campbell River was available, as the other out of Victoria area was off for medical. Also haul out facilities are limited in certain areas, namely Victoria (second hand info from local seller, can't verify) and may require relocating 4-6? hours to Sidney to do below the water survey. Best to make it a condition to have boat located at haul out facilities by the seller.