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26-11-2024, 09:06
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 45
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USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
I have a few sailing friends, and we are US citizens considering buying and keeping a boat in Europe for 3-7 years. I have read about Shengen and similar arrangements and it seems there are travel plans that can be made to move from one country to another and be able to stay nearly indefinitely in Europe. I have a few questions.
Is there a country that would be the best place to buy the boat?
Is there a country that is the best place to register the boat?
Does having three owners help our visa issues or would it be better for the boat to have one owner and two other users?
Thanks
Christian
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26-11-2024, 09:50
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#2
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 31,274
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Three owners would be preferable, this would allow any of you to move the boat with minimum possible complecations.
__________________

You can't oppress a people for so many decades and have them say.. "I Love You.. ".
"It is better to die standing proud, than to live a lifetime on ones knees.."
Self Defence is no excuse for Genocide...
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26-11-2024, 10:09
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 21,171
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
This will depend on what coast you want to explore up first.
I would think somewhere in Portugal may be a fine base - decent services, airports, and access to both UK and Nordic cruising areas and the Mediterranean ones.
An alt will be to buy in say UK, expolre there first, then sail on after one or two seasons go Soutgh to explore the Atlantic coast, and then the last year or two for the Med.
b.
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26-11-2024, 10:37
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#4
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 31,274
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Buy.. Denmark or Nederlands.
Register.. Poland.
__________________

You can't oppress a people for so many decades and have them say.. "I Love You.. ".
"It is better to die standing proud, than to live a lifetime on ones knees.."
Self Defence is no excuse for Genocide...
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26-11-2024, 11:17
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 45
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
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26-11-2024, 11:19
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 45
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Also, any general idea on insurance cost for a year with a 40k valued boat about 36 feet long? Say a Catalina 36 MKI or similar.
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26-11-2024, 11:52
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#7
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 31,274
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ketchcng
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Boats tend to be hauled out every year for 6mths, often kept under cover and well/better maintained overall..
1992 example here.. https://www.scanboat.com/en/boat-mar...ey-36-17501042
Polish registration easiest to get for non EU citizens, one time fee and accepted worldwide.
__________________

You can't oppress a people for so many decades and have them say.. "I Love You.. ".
"It is better to die standing proud, than to live a lifetime on ones knees.."
Self Defence is no excuse for Genocide...
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26-11-2024, 17:09
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 21,171
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Obligatory about 100 EUR covers the third party issues.
Casco from 5 to 8% depending on the issuer.
Less, if boat new.
b.
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08-01-2025, 07:12
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 5
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ketchcng
I have a few sailing friends, and we are US citizens considering buying and keeping a boat in Europe for 3-7 years. I have read about Shengen and similar arrangements and it seems there are travel plans that can be made to move from one country to another and be able to stay nearly indefinitely in Europe. I have a few questions.
Is there a country that would be the best place to buy the boat?
Is there a country that is the best place to register the boat?
Does having three owners help our visa issues or would it be better for the boat to have one owner and two other users?
Thanks
Christian
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Portugal imo. Faro has an international airport and also in Portugal boat storage is one of the cheapest in Europe.
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09-01-2025, 06:46
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 45
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
We both are US citizen's, if we share the boat with another US couple, does this make the visa and length of stay rules easier to navigate? Does the boat need to leave the country every so many days or is it just the people?
In general, could the two of us live on this boat nonstop for two years if we were moving as far as the Baltic to the Balkans with the visa and length of stay rules?
Thanks
Christian
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09-01-2025, 07:20
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 45
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Do most sailors just use a Schengen Visa or is preferable to get a retirement visa?
Thanks.
Christian
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09-01-2025, 11:01
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,972
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Boat ownership has absolutely nothing to do with visas or residency.
As these are separate concepts, thinking of them separately will probably help with decision-making.
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09-01-2025, 14:55
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,041
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ketchcng
We both are US citizen's, if we share the boat with another US couple, does this make the visa and length of stay rules easier to navigate? Does the boat need to leave the country every so many days or is it just the people?
In general, could the two of us live on this boat nonstop for two years if we were moving as far as the Baltic to the Balkans with the visa and length of stay rules?
Thanks
Christian
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If the boat has paid VAT, it can stay up to 18 months in an EU country. I think that can be maxed out to 24 months if the boat is getting work done but requires more paperwork.
To stay in Schengen countries, you only have 90 days out of 180 before you have to leave. One can sail over to Ireland and the UK when one's hits the 90 day limit in a Schengen country. Depending on nationality, and the country, one might be able to get a longer stay visa but then one needs to consider the tax implications. Some of the visas I looked into limited one from leaving the country so sailing around would be problematic.
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09-01-2025, 15:07
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: Denmark
Boat: Maxim 380 (catamaran)
Posts: 15
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dannc
If the boat has paid VAT, it can stay up to 18 months in an EU country. I think that can be maxed out to 24 months if the boat is getting work done but requires more paperwork.
To stay in Schengen countries, you only have 90 days out of 180 before you have to leave. One can sail over to Ireland and the UK when one's hits the 90 day limit in a Schengen country. Depending on nationality, and the country, one might be able to get a longer stay visa but then one needs to consider the tax implications. Some of the visas I looked into limited one from leaving the country so sailing around would be problematic.
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EU VAT paid boats can stay indefinitely in the EU, which is why a VAT paid boat can be a major advantage for someone intending to cruise within EU waters for a few years.
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09-01-2025, 17:57
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Boat: Catalina 350
Posts: 150
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Re: USA citizens, where to buy and keep a boat in Europe?
Quote:
Originally Posted by boatman61
Boats tend to be hauled out every year for 6mths, often kept under cover and well/better maintained overall..]
Polish registration easiest to get for non EU citizens, one time fee and accepted worldwide.
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I would have thought that hauling a boat every year and all the covering and ice/freezing etc, would be worse? I guess the east coast USA is comparable temperature wise and a very large and mostly free market. Does anyone know how a Florida boat compares to the NY area boat?
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