1. Re: Fountaine Pajot 34 Greenland (Marc Massanari)

Good evening, I wrote 10 or so days ago about my experience as a long-time (30-plus years) importer of catamarans into the U.S. (I'm no longer involved with brokerage/sales of new-or-used, foreign-built boats -- so I believe I'm pretty bias-free about what I'm about to write here regarding why importing maybe an ESPECIALLY WORTHWHILE tactic for you to consider.) I've had considerable experience importing cats, which all began when, as simply a "civilian," I imported the first Catfisher 32 catamaran (hull #1, built in the UK) into the U.S. in the early 1980s for my personal use. I liked it so much, I subsequently imported all of the boats they made for the next 5 years . . .and thus began a career as a catamaran broker (again, now retired from). A few years thereafter I became a rep for both Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot (FP) and, to a lesser degree, the (Polish-built) Sunreef catamarans . . .for many years. In those 3 decades I've seen the currency exchange rate between the U.S. and Europe rise and fall. However, for those of you who do not keep track of such things, YOU SHOULD KNOW (! ! !) . . .NOW would appear to be an EXCELLENT time to consider purchasing a European based cat, if that's what you're seeking. As Marc Massanari noted in a very recent post here, although he owns an FP Greenland 34, and likes it, he's seen very few listed in the U.S. I agree; to the best of my knowledge as a long-time FP importer, not many were sold in the U.S. But here's something to consider. For many recent years the exchange rate between the dollar and the Euro has ranged from one Euro equaling $1.38 to $1.45 (U.S.) But the Euro has been falling a great deal lately. For example, I just checked online before writing this, and it appears the the current exchange rate is about 1 Euro for $1.08 (US). What does that mean? That currently -- compared to what you would have paid just a year or so ago -- if you have U.S. dollars, you can "buy" anything priced in Euros at nearly a 25% discount. But note this: the European, who's being paid in Euros, isn't unhappy if he sells his boat for the number of Euros he listed it at, because HIS cost of living, using Euros is about the same as a year ago. The one who saves, again, is any buyer who has U.S. dollars. Suddenly, without doing ANY negotiating, you're getting any boat, priced in Euros, for 25% less today (using your U.S. dollars) than if you'd tried to buy it with dollars just a year ago. FIY: In my experience, it's not uncommon for a used boat to sell for 10% less than the owner is asking. (And, of course, sometimes more.) So factor that into the savings, too. As for import duty, it's almost a joke in the U.S. compared to other countries. Example: I've been told that any New Zealander seeking to buy NON-New Zealand built boats or boating equipment, pays up to a 50% import duty. YOW-zuh! That means a new, $200K boat gets taxed an additional (and WHOPPING BIG), $100K. And that's just he import duty -- NOT the sales tax! By comparison, here in the U.S., the import duty is all of 2% -- yes, only TWO-percent! (Of course, you'll also have state sales tax to pay, too -- which, depending upon which state you reside in, will run you from 0% [hel-LO, Oregon!], to 9.6%...OUCH! . . . one of the lesser appeals of my own Washington State!) As for the shipping, I guesstimate you could find a carrier who could get your Greenland 34 -- or Maryland 37 -- from Europe to the U.S. east coast for about $15K to 20K. (But again, try to pay for that in Euros -- it would be ANOTHER 25% savings for you.) And as long as you get the boat out of Europe fairly quickly, you will not be liable for the usual VAT (Value Added Tax), which runs about 20% for anyone who buys a boat in Europe. (This is critical -- you need to have that addressed BEFORE the used-boat leaves Europe. But a skilled broker can hand-hold you through this. It's relatively easy if the person involved knows what they're doing.) Which leads me to my next point -- perhaps the most important bit of advice I can give you regarding the above: 1. Find a trustworthy and knowledgeable U.S. broker -- one with beaucoup experience in importing foreign-built boats into the U.S. (This is likely to be any U.S. broker who, as a matter of course, represents any line of new, foreign-built boats. [Obviously, select a broker who's knowledgeable about catamarans.] Because if they already import NEW cats into the U.S. on a regular basis, they're already highly familiar with the delivery process, AND the paper-work involved with importing foreign boats -- new or used.) a. -- For anywhere in the southeastern or Gulf states, it'd be hard to beat The Catamaran Company, out of Florida. b. -- In New England you could call The Multihull Company. c. -- Along the west coast I'd try Don Margraf at West Coast Multihulls. 2. Remember: you (the buyer) do not pay the boat broker; it's the seller who pays the broker. So, getting good, experienced help is a no-brainer of a decision for this type of moderately complex transaction -- his or her assistance doesn't cost you anything. 3. Absolutely, WITHOUT QUESTION, get an experienced surveyor to check out the used yacht beforehand. (The buyer always pays for the survey.) And it's probably worth the money to have someone who JUST surveys engines to check out the cat's twin diesels . . .unless the owner is that particular type who can show you receipts for every oil-change, and proof of timely, scheduled-maintenance check-ups of the engines. In the latter case, the surveyor's inspections of the engines (along with the boat) may be enough. (But I'd consider having the engine oil tested separately by a laboratory, too.) Engine hours are also important. Even a well-maintained diesel is apt to need some expensive work (or replacement) as of about 6,000 hours -- and considerably less if the boat's been in charter, or NOT well maintained. (In my experience, you have to be especially alert if a boat's been in charter for very long. Having a long list of skippers who may be of quite differing skills-and-experience can be . . . "trying" when it comes to the boat being well treated at all times. On the other hand, you can often pay a lower price for a boat that's been in charter . . .again, a GOOD (and honest) broker can be your best friend in this type situation.) 4. Before I spend too much time "reinventing the wheel" as regards trying to explain all of this "buying-a-foreign-based-boat" process, I know that The Catamaran Company's brokers usually offer a quite detailed (and free) explanation of WHAT to anticipate when buying a used, foreign-based boat, and the CHRONOLOGY of when to engage in each phase of the purchase. I'd be surprised if The Multihull Company and West Coast Multihulls don't offer the same. 5. Should you go SEE the boat if the initial photos and the survey are promising? Well, that'll be one of your first "command decisions." Yes, flying to Europe IS more than a few-hours commute. But hey, combine it with a 4-to-7 day vacation and surprise your wife or partner! Keep in mind: during my decades as a broker I never got completely used to how even rather "ratty-looking" boats could look much better in photos. And only YOU knows what is truly "acceptable" when it comes to the wear and tear of a used vessel. Example: I found a GREAT buy on a particular brand of sailboat I'd been seeking for a couple of years in the early 1980s. The boat in question was in the Caribbean. I decided to combine a bit of "R&R" with going to see the boat myself. Man, was I glad I did. They photos weren't anything LIKE the boat I visited. The all-chain anchor line was BADLY corroded, the boat had mildew throughout, and much of the boat was plain beat-to-hell. (I later learned it was a "hurricane deal." That is, it had been sunk in a hurricane, the owner got his money from the insurance company, which then sold it (maybe for 10-cents on the dollar), and this fly-by-night brokerage on the island, had spent (maybe) $1,000 of hasty, cosmetic attention on the vessel, then listed it . . with GREAT-LOOKING photos. I was truly annoyed with the small-time broker that "worked" that little island, and asked him WHY he'd been so misleading? His answer was pretty darn simple: "I knew you'd never consider buying the boat if I told you honestly what it was like. I almost told you when, at the last minute, you alerted me that you were going to fly down here. But I also figured you might either switch to some low-ball offer (which, he added, "we'd still be willing to consider" -- except that I was NOT looking for a year-long "project purchase"), or, he added, "I figured, since you were already here, you might like one of the other boats we've got listed." There's a man with brass -- also a "high weasel quotient" . . . (smile) 6. Anyway, a good broker will have contacts in most established boating areas, and -- these days -- quite likely be able to get you some much more revealing video footage about the boat in question. So, my point in going on about this is that for folks seeking a foreign-built power cat -- especially one currently lying in Europe, and thus being sold for Euros -- you, as someone holding those "semi-magic" (at this moment) U.S. dollars, could get quite a DARN GOOD deal at this time. And if your preference is for one of the Fountaine Pajot used power cats (of which there aren't a lot in the U.S.), there ARE many more listings in Europe than in the U.S., and with the current exchange rate what it is, your "green-backs" (compared to just a year or so ago), will MORE than cover all of the shipping costs, and import duty, shipping insurance, "re-flagging" the vessel as a now U.S. boat, etc. Good huntin' ! Rod Gibbons, mngr/founder Eco-SeaCottage.com (206) 297-1330 On 3/8/2015 8:59 PM, power-catamaran-request@lists.trawlering.com wrote: > Send Power-Catamaran mailing list submissions to > power-catamaran@lists.trawlering.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/power-catamaran_lists.trawlering.com > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > power-catamaran-request@lists.trawlering.com > > You can reach the person managing the list at > power-catamaran-owner@lists.trawlering.com > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Power-Catamaran digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Fountaine Pajot 34 Greenland (Marc Massanari) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2015 20:11:42 -0400 > From: Marc Massanari <marc.massanari@gmail.com> > To: power-catamaran@lists.trawlering.com > Subject: Re: [PCW] Fountaine Pajot 34 Greenland > Message-ID: > <CABOc1pL_gPdju2xWrOEDNfFJATA0JMrPwH0CqPEyauN52vQQwg@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > We use our 34 FP Greenland mostly for weekend trips. Sometimes for a week > or more but not very often. It is plenty big enough for what we need. > Mostly cruising up and down west coast of Florida from Tampa Bay to > Sanibel. We do plan for a longer trip soon going south to Key West and but > to Miami; back thru Okeechobee Canal. Probably 2-3 weeks. > > Never any slap we have noticed. I read the book on catamarans and FPs have > great bridge deck clearance and thus less slam. Handling is excellent. > Little hobby horsing. > > It seems not many Greenlands were brought to the US (I have not seen many > listed for sale). > > Regards > Marc >