Paperwork for a second-hand yacht

A used yacht or motor cruiser comes with its papers as well as the boat itself. The papers show where the boat is registered, the rules it was built to and where it can be used. A buyer can ask to see them before any money changes hands.

The UK Ship Register

GOV.UK says a boat used at sea needs to be on the UK Ship Register. The register has four parts, and the owner's use of the boat decides which one applies.

Part 1 is for commercial boats other than fishing boats, and for pleasure vessels, which earn their owner no money. Part 3, the small ships register, is for pleasure vessels under 24 metres, owned by someone who lives in the UK for at least 185 days a year. Businesses cannot use Part 3. Registering on Part 3 lets an owner prove the boat's nationality when sailing outside UK waters.

Registration and marine mortgages

An owner who registers on Part 1 can get a marine mortgage against the boat. A buyer of a boat on Part 1 can ask the seller whether there is a mortgage on it.

To register, the UK Ship Register asks for papers including the bill of sale, the builder's certificate and any safety certificates. A buyer can ask which of these come with the boat.

How the boat was built

The Recreational Craft Regulations 2017 set duties for the builders, importers and sellers of recreational craft. A builder placing a boat on the market in Great Britain must make sure a declaration of conformity goes with it. The builder must also supply instructions and safety information in English.

The Recreational Craft Regulations 2004 still apply to boats placed on the market or put into service before 3 August 2017.

Buying a boat from abroad

A buyer in the UK who imports a boat from outside the UK for their own use is a "private importer" under the 2017 Regulations. The boat may not have been on the GB market before, with no conformity assessment from its builder. In that case the private importer has to arrange a post construction assessment.

The private importer must also make sure the technical documentation, the declaration of conformity and the markings are in place.

Rivers and canals

A boat kept or used on rivers and canals usually needs a registration or licence from the navigation authority for that waterway. The owner must renew it each year.

The Boat Safety Scheme says that on most of the UK's inland waterways, a boat also needs insurance and a valid BSS certificate before it can cruise. It asks owners to check with their navigation or harbour authority.

Before you sail

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency publishes advice on the regulations for pleasure craft. It covers safety and life-saving equipment, fire protection and navigation. The Royal Yachting Association runs courses for beginners and experienced sailors.

Useful links