Buying an Australian Boat in Thailand, Registering it in Langkawi

[Gone2long]

Threadmates ...

I am considering buying an Australian registered yacht which is residing in Thailand, along with its Australian owner.

After the sale I would need a bill of sale, a copy of the previous owner's registration, and a certificate of de-registration in order to register the boat in my name in Langkawi.

Does anyone know how long it will take for the owner to get a de-registration certificate from the Australian government? How much would it cost, and would any unpaid fees or liens make getting the de-registration certificate any more difficult or expensive?

Also, would the Thai harbor officials clear me out with only the above documents and no current registration in my name? Would the Langkawi officials clear me in under such circumstances?

I am asking such questions to the owner's broker, but I would like to hear other opinions.

On a related note, does anyone know if there are limits as to how long a foreign owned boat can stay in Thailand without leaving for a while? If a boat overstays, can there be serious financial consequences to the current or any new owner?,

Any related experience or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

G2L

[bvimatelot]

Originally Posted by Gone2long

Threadmates ...

....I am considering buying an Australian registered yacht which is residing in Thailand, along with its Australian owner.......
G2L

Do you have to buy the previous owner as well

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by bvimatelot

Do you have to buy the previous owner as well

I certainly hope not. It's a "he", and he's kinda old a fat too boot : 0

Now, if we could get some serious responses ....

G2L

[savoir]

Could be a bargain if he can cook.

[Boracay]

Assuming you're not a Malaysian, or an Aussie!

Maybe it depends on your Malaysian residency, and the privileges that come with it.

I can't imagine they'd be happy about a foreigner registering a boat in Malaysia at the best of times.

Can you register the boat in your home country?

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by Boracay

Assuming you're not a Malaysian, or an Aussie!

Maybe it depends on your Malaysian residency, and the privileges that come with it.

I can't imagine they'd be happy about a foreigner registering a boat in Malaysia at the best of times.

Can you register the boat in your home country?

Finally, a sensible reply. Thank you Boracay. You have been a great help on various threads.

I'm not a resident of Malaysia, but you don't have to be one in order to register your boat there. That is one of the key reasons I came here.

In fact, where I intend to register it is in Langkawi, and the boat does not even have to be present there to register it there. The registration is rather inexpensive and straight forward with no inspections or yearly fees except for a tonnage fee of about $130 US.

The only issue is the Thai and Langkawi customs folks. I am in contact with these folks through an "agent", and I don't think there will be a problem, but I always like to inquire of old hands before I make a move.

Thanks for your note,

AB

[JohnInBKK]

G2L,
I am in the process of exactly the same thing - buying an Australian flagged and owned vessel which is based in Phuket.

I am British with no UK address - i.e. non-resident, so cannot go on SSR (PLEASE no one start with "why dont you give friend's address" etc. because that don't work no more unless all the friend's utility bills are in your name).

Please let me know if everything worked out for you as I am not really struggling to get onto the Part I of UK Ships Registry, due to not finding a "Tonnage Measurement" surveyor. So, after reading that Langkawi wanted yachts to register, I googled "Langkawi" and hit your thread...

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Gone2long

I am considering buying an Australian registered yacht which is residing in Thailand, along with its Australian owner.

Long shot here, and no help at all, but it's not that red Swanson 42 I keep seeing advertised over there is it? If so I would love to know more about it.

Matt

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Gone2long

Does anyone know how long it will take for the owner to get a de-registration certificate from the Australian government? How much would it cost, and would any unpaid fees or liens make getting the de-registration certificate any more difficult or expensive?

It may or may not be relevant, but if you are talking about the AMSA register of ships, they processed my change of ownership and change of home port application in a matter of days. Honestly, I was startled by how quickly the paperwork came back to me after I completed it. Taking into account postal times, it could not have been on their desk for more than three days.

I think I paid around $500 - $600 to transfer ownership, change home port AND to have a new certificate issued as the previous owner had lost the original.

Matt

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Gone2long

I'm not a resident of Malaysia, but you don't have to be one in order to register your boat there. That is one of the key reasons I came here.

Oh, sorry, just figured out you are NOT going the AMSA path. Ignore me.

Matt

[JohnInBKK]

Matt - are your messages to me or G2L? Because G2L may well been gone a long time - his posting was in 2011. I responded to him because he may have done exactly what I am planning - hence my wanting to understand his experiences with Langkawi registration.
John

[GILow]

Oops, I feel silly! The were to G2L. Didn't notice the thread date.