Buying in Martinique from Australia - Tips and Tricks Please

[piejukes]

I'm looking to buy a second hand boat (~$130k) in Martinique. It flys a French flag and I'm from Australia.

Does anyone have some experience in the purchase and export/import process?

My plan would be sail her over to this side of the world some time in the future (in a year or so).

I'm looking for a heads up on the fees, taxes, scams, traps and red tape I'm going run into so I can plan, avoid or prepare for the impact.

Thanks heaps. Enjoy.

[downunder]

try this link. All here

Somewhere in the thread is link to a specfic site someone set up.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...a-3346-35.html

Also Australian Customs website

[Kojiro]

Originally Posted by piejukes

I'm looking to buy a second hand boat (~$130k) in Martinique. It flys a French flag and I'm from Australia.

Does anyone have some experience in the purchase and export/import process?

My plan would be sail her over to this side of the world some time in the future (in a year or so).

I'm looking for a heads up on the fees, taxes, scams, traps and red tape I'm going run into so I can plan, avoid or prepare for the impact.

Thanks heaps. Enjoy.

I bought in Greece but imagine similar things that you'll need to pay for as part of the purchase process...the purchase price (including or excluding VAT?), cost (legal fees) of getting the boat off (deleted from) the French ship registry, Australian registration ($1190AUD), plus various charges for getting bill of sale documents notarised.

Your broker should be able to tell you about the costs associated with purchasing in Martinique.

When you get to Australia you are up for 10% GST, and 5% duty all based on
the value of the boat....there is a whole thread ('Importing a boat to Australia'....I think) about this subject as what is meant by value and what's included is a bit confusing and sounds like it can be arbitrary depending on who you bump into when you get to Australia.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

[downunder]

here

http://www.importayacht.com.au/

[piejukes]

Thanks heaps for your help everyone. Thanks for the link Downunder ... I was working through the discussion (ALL 70+ pages!!! ) so I really appreciate the direct link to the page ... hehehe ... I'll check it out.

Enjoy. P