Buying a second-hand boat

Second-hand boats: the criteria

A boat which isn't new at the time of sale is what's called a second-hand boat... In the majority of cases a boat is bought and then used : the market can present many and diverse examples of this, from older boats – to more recent models, whether they be privately owned or rental boats... Very occasionally, a boat may be new at the time of resale, having never been used but having been registered... However, such a boat cannot be sold as new, it would thus be put up for sale as second-hand but would be called "a recent first-hand second"! To take a concrete example some showroom boats are new but have been used as demonstration or sales models, so are sold as second-hand.

The origin of our second-hand boats

Some of our second-hand boats have had one previous owner having been bought new, and can be either recent or older models; they are known as first-hand seconds. A large number of our second-hand boats have had more than one owner. Currently there are a considerable number of second-hand boats from the Antilles which come from rental or charter fleets and which are sold on after five years of service or sooner if a private owner is found.

Looking for your boat

You've looked at our internet site boats-caribbean.com and found the boat that meets your requirements. You've found out all you need to know about it from us and are ready to make an offer for her.

Visit and purchase offer

You need to come and see and inspect the boat – or authorise someone to do this for you. If the boat meets your requirements you are then ready to make an offer for her. Equally, a purchase offer can be signed by you before you travel anywhere and incur any extra expenses; this offer is signed by you, the buyer, and the owner /seller, (either by e-mail or by fax).

Sale / purchase agreement

If the seller / owner accepts your offer, we will draft a sale / purchase agreement which will be signed by both parties (by e-mail or by fax ). This agreement contains several suspension clauses, such as : assessment of an authorised maritime expert's report on the boat, receipt of a financing arrangement, any other particular conditions that might arise, etc. Once signed by both parties, this agreement prohibits the sale of the boat to any other party during its validity period, therefore the boat is removed from all sales sites. This agreement will be accompagnied by a deposit of 10% of the purchase price, and is thus validated for both parties.

Expert's report

An expert's report is strongly recommended for three reasons:

You will not be able to obtain insurance for the boat without an expert's report;
If any serious faults are revealed, an expert's report will enable you to withdraw from the agreement and recover your deposit;
An expert's report will provide you with reassurance of your choice of boat.

The expert's report and removing the boat from dry dock are both at the expense of the purchaser. The purchaser will choose his or her expert and the expert's report can be made either before or during his / her visit.

List of authorised maritime experts

The purchase takes place after the expert's report has been submitted and after the suspension clauses have been removed from the agreement, and not later than the date which features on the purchase agreement. The 10% deposit will be entirely refunded to the purchaser and the purchase agreement will be rendered null and void if the purchase is not completed, (either because of the non-obtention of a financial arrangement or due to a serious problem concerning the boat's seaworthiness brought to light by the expert's report).

The purchase

This consists of the signing of the purchase / sale agreement in person together with the final payment of the balance due on the purchase, either by the purchaser or by his / her financial backers. This figure will take account of the deduction of sums already paid and the final payment will only take place after A&C Yacht brokers have verified that the boat is neither already pledged to a third party or that it is already the subject of a loan. The keys will be handed over and the boat will be delivered to the purchaser once the seller has confirmed receipt of the payment; the boat will now become the property of the purchaser.

Transfer of ownership

This stage of proceedings is organised by A&C Yacht brokers who will oversee : the drafting of the purchase agreement, the signing in person by both parties and the assembling of all documents necessary for the transfer of ownership from the purchaser. This procedure may be subject to modification (depending on the boat's country of registration, whether this is European or otherwise, if there is a transfer of registration...)

After the purchase

Delivery and handing over of the keys

A&C Yacht Brokers will provide the owner with a comprehensive exploration of the boat whilst in dock as well as a handover and explanation of all manouvers at sea.