The purchase of a boat or a yacht is always an important and beautiful event. But it marks the end of a very long decision-making process. So take the time to get an overview of what's on offer and take advantage of the advice offered by the companies that are members of the federal association water sports industry (BVWW).
Buying a new boat A good offer must combine product quality, service and price. This ranking is not chosen randomly. The price alone is not decisive. You will only enjoy your boat in the long term if you buy a high-quality product and if you can rely on the service of your dealer.
Focus on quality and service The specialist supplier from whom you purchase your boat is your direct contact for all questions relating to the boat. So find out whether maintenance and repair work and, if necessary, warranty or guarantee work can be carried out in a qualified manner. After all, you want to spend the most beautiful days of the year without worries and expect immediate help in case of problems. Reliable support from qualified service personnel therefore pays off. It's a truism, but services cost money. The cheapest provider will hardly be able to offer the best service.
EU Declaration of Conformity (CE) Boats between 2.5 m and 24 m in length that are placed on the market and put into operation in the EU for the first time must comply with the 10th Regulation of the Equipment and Product Safety Act (GPSG). In plain language, this means that the yacht must comply with the EU-wide harmonized construction and equipment regulations. This regulation applies to both new and used boats. This is documented by the declaration of conformity signed by the manufacturer or importer. The Declaration of Conformity must be included in the "Handbook for Boat Masters". Please make sure that the manual in German language is handed over to you with the declaration of conformity and make sure that your boat has a CE mark before you buy it.
Attention! Do not buy a boat without a declaration of conformity (CE). According to § 4a of the Inland Waterway Vessels Safety Ordinance you are not allowed to put a boat into operation without a declaration of conformity. In case of violations, the boat can be put on the chain and severe fines may be imposed. In the event of damage, the insurance company may refuse to settle the claim. Resale of boats without CE mark is difficult. A trade-in by a retailer is as good as impossible.
Contract of sale It happens that traders with headquarters in a non-EU country offer new boats and yachts for sale. Often these yachts, which were not originally intended for export to the EU, also do not have the necessary EU conformity. (Please read the explanations under 2.5. Case 2 and 2.6. The explanations there regarding used boats apply analogously to the purchase of new boats). A written sales contract protects buyer and seller. The purchase contract should describe the boat and the equipment supplied as precisely as possible. The place and date of delivery should also be specified.
The companies that are members of the federal association water sports industry usually use the sales contracts and general terms and conditions recommended by the association. With these forms you can assume that the interests of seller and buyer have been taken into account equally. When the yacht is delivered, we recommend an acceptance protocol signed by the buyer and the seller. Both contracting parties can then be sure that the boat has been handed over in the contractually guaranteed condition.
