Buying a boat

Your first considerations when buying a boat should be:

what you plan on using the boat for
what type of boat you want
what size boat you want

Boat use

There are generally 2 uses for boats:

inshore use (usually refers to operating within clear sight of land)
offshore use (often refers to extended distances from shore where land may not be visible for several hours during passage)

Some boats are only suitable for 1 of the above uses. Many are suitable for both.

Type of boat

There are a few different types of boats that you may want to consider (depending on what you want to use it for):

open / day boat for fishing / recreational / inshore use
sports boat / RIB for water skiing / wakeboarding / diving
motor boat with cabin for overnight / weekend trips away
sail boat / yacht for learning to sail or racing

Size of boat

The size of boat that you choose will depend on its use but also on what you’ll feel comfortable using. Boats usually fit into 1 of the following size ranges:

5 metres or under
5 – 6 metres
6 – 8 metres
8 – 10 metres
over 10 metres

Courses and training

Highlands College runs a range of courses aimed at people who are thinking of buying a boat or people with boats who want to increase their knowledge.

The following courses are being run by Highlands during the summer term (beginning in April):

so you’re thinking of buying a boat (including buying the boat, insurance, and harbours / marinas and moorings)
RYA theory courses (covering topics such as basic navigation and safety, VHF radio, and day skipper / yachtmaster theory)
practical sailing courses (including start yachting, and competent crew / day skipper / yachtmaster – coastal or offshore)
marine leisure (covering pilotage, coastal navigation and passage planning)

More details are available in the Highlands Summer 2010 Adult Education Prospectus.

GST

If you’re contemplating purchasing and importing a boat into Jersey, then you must ensure that you comply with the local importation, duty and GST regulations.

Keeping your boat ashore

If you decide to keep your boat ashore rather than on a mooring, you’ll need to consider the following:

will it be on your own property?
do you need to find somewhere to store the craft?
will the storage area be safe / secure?
will the vessel be on a trailer?
do you have the correct category licence to tow a boat trailer?

Keeping your boat on a trailer on private property

Once you have decided on the type and size of the boat you plan to buy, you’ll be able to work out whether the vessel can be kept on a trailer or not.
If you plan to keep the boat on a trailer and store it on private property, then you only need to register the craft once purchased. Registration can be done at the Marine Leisure Centre.

You will have a legal obligation to ensure the craft is insured with a minimum third party indemnity prior to launch or use.

Keeping your boat on a mooring

If you’re planning on keeping your vessel on a mooring, you’ll need to consider the following:

do you already have a mooring?
is the mooring suitable for the craft?
do you need to apply for a mooring?
where will you keep the vessel whilst you wait for a mooring?
can the vessel remain on a mooring all year round?
has anybody offered you use of a mooring?
has the mooring been serviced / inspected?

Types of mooring

If your craft cannot sit on a trailer and needs to go on a mooring, you will have to decide which type of mooring you will need. There are 3 types of mooring:

drying mooring – for craft with bilge keels, legs, flat bottomed hulls
wet mooring – a deep water mooring where the craft will stay afloat at all states of tide
marina mooring – similar to a wet mooring in that the craft will remain afloat permanently, however most marinas have restricted times of access due to the retaining sill gates that are used to keep a minimum depth of water at all times

Once you have decided which type of mooring you would like, you will need to decide which harbour / marina you would like to moor your vessel in.

Information about harbours and marinas is available on the berths and moorings page.