Leslie's 'Tardis'
I discovered that Lezlie Henson’s Paradox was for sale at
Kema, Houston, Texas, USA, and I contacted her to explore the possibility of
buying and importing the boat. She made enquiries regarding the costs of
shipping and came back with the sad news that it would be as much or more than
she wants for the boat, that’s in the region of 3,000 US dollars or £1,861.00. I
decided to do my own estimate of how much it would cost to become the owner with
the boat sitting in my garage.
I started my research by contacting a local shipping agent
based at Felixstowe, Essex, England.
They came up with the following figures: Freight, in a
sealed 20’ container from Houston to Felixstowe 2,100 dollars (£1,309);
Transmission Handling fee at Felixstowe £125.00; Import Service payment £25.00;
Port Security charge £35.00; Custom’s Clearance £55.00; LOL (Lift on lift off) £60.00;
and RHD (Removing boat and trailer from container) £155.00. The total of these
amounts come to £1,764.00. To this must be added UK VAT and import duty, plus
the cost of handling the boat before and after she has been shipped. I don’t
know for sure the VAT rate for the boat and trailer, but they are both likely
to be in the region of 17.5% which works out at £326.00 approximately. I think
import duty is 1.7% which equals about £28.00
Furthermore, one must add the price of the boat and trailer,
bringing the grand total to £3,979.00 (6,390 UD dollars).
To learn more about VAT and import duty I did an in-depth
study of the UK Customs and Excise website, but I could not find the answers. After
phoning them I discovered that it would be necessary to know the correct Commodity
Code, without which the correct VAT and import duty cannot be ascertained.
Because ‘Tardis’ is an unfinished, amateur built boat she has be assigned a
particular Commodity Code. After spending several minutes waiting on the phone I
was told I would need to speak to guys at a different department which would
not be open until tomorrow.
The issue is further complicated because the boat comes with
a second-hand trailer which has its own VAT code. This means that both the trailer
and the boat must have separate invoices to determine how much VAT must be
paid. The total figure for buying and importing Lezlie’s Paradox, including the
trailer to the UK would be in the region of £4,000.00.
Remember, ‘Tardis’ is
unfinished; hardware and materials for her windows must be purchased. Shaping
and fitting them and finishing the boom have to be done. That is not the end of
expenses and labour, because I believe she lacks a yuloh, anchors, fenders and the
usual cruising gear, but I think she has a single burner Coleman stove fitted
to gimbals.
If I lived near Houston I would be there in a flash to hand
over the money Leslie wants in exchange. I believe‘Tardis’ must be exceedingly
good value for money.
That’s life!
Links
Leslie’s World (Where details of ‘Tardis’ can be found)
HM Revenue and Customs - Imports and purchases from abroad: paying and
reclaiming VAT
Bill, I too wish you lived closer to Kemah, so you could buy TARDIS. I hate to lose her, but I have the opportunity to go on an open-ended cruise with a couple of friends. This is something I just couldn't pass up. I will be gaining so much more than I am losing. Possessions are replaceable, memories like the ones I am about to make, are not.
ReplyDeleteSomeone will take TARDIS and give her a good home, and enjoy her for years to come.
Bill, how about keeping her out on the East Coast. Just imagine the cruises on the Inland Waterway. Cheap flights. Has to be better than struggling with our weather.
ReplyDeleteGood sailing,
Brian
Well Brian,
ReplyDeleteStrange as it may seem, I would prefer battling with the elements of a British summer while cruising the South Coast.
Cheers,
Bill.