Tips for Buying a Boat in Germany: A Step-by-Step Guide

When planning to buy a boat in Germany, we recommend following these steps. First, you should visit the boat in person to get an idea of its general condition, equipment, interior, and other details. We also suggest discussing with the seller whether they would be willing to offer a discount if you were to purchase the boat. This will indicate whether the seller is open to negotiation or if they are set on their asking price.

To obtain an accurate third-party assessment of the boat, you should involve a German yacht surveyor. Their findings will help you negotiate the price with the owner. Often, owners are not aware of deficiencies in their boats. The surveyor should provide a to-do list of what is necessary to bring the boat up to a safe standard. The list should be calculated using average shipyard prices, and can be used as a bargaining tool when discussing the purchase price.

The next step is to agree with the seller on a contract. Once both parties have signed the contract, a handover of the boat should take place. During the handover, the seller should show and explain all items on board, and a sea trial should be conducted under both engine and sail. Any deficiencies or changes that have arisen since the initial visit should be documented in a protocol. If new issues come to light, further discounts or resolutions should be discussed. Final payment and handover should proceed accordingly, step by step.

As a foreign buyer, it is important to note that privately used pleasure boats in Germany are not required to be registered in the shipping register if their length is less than 15 meters.