Testimonial: a stress-free international boat purchase project

Yves is French-American. Residing in the United States, he wanted to purchase a 43-foot catamaran in Tahiti, French Polynesia. The team at Bateau-immatriculation.com took charge of supporting him before, during, and after the completion of his project, specifically regarding pre-purchase checks and boat registration procedures.

In this article, discover how our team allowed Yves to avoid an administrative trap and set sail with complete confidence.

A secure transaction from the pre-purchase phase

Yves acquired his 43-foot one-off catamaran in August 2025 in Tahiti.

“I was looking to get informed on the subject of VAT for boats in the European Union. In the search engine results, I came across the website of Bateau-immatriculation.com, and I got in touch with one of the agents: Raphael.

He prevented me from buying a boat I was considering in France by uncovering an anomaly regarding the supposedly paid VAT. That could have cost me 20% of the boat’s price! When I found the catamaran I would eventually buy, Raphael meticulously validated the seller’s documents. It was after that that I decided to entrust him with registering the boat.”

For Yves, this first step of preliminary verification carried out by our teams was decisive. Future buyers, be aware: a mention of “VAT paid” is never enough! Only rigorous expertise truly allows you to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Why choose the British flag for your catamaran?

Once the right boat was found, the question of the flag remained. And in Yves's case, several options closed off on their own:
First, the American flag would have caused difficulties regarding insurance. Next, administrative registration in France was impossible, as the boat was not built according to the ISO standard – also a hurdle for obtaining the DOC (Declaration of Conformity).

Read also: Boat compliance, an important point of regulation

To register the boat, only a few possibilities remained:
· The Polish flag – “easy to obtain, but with an increasingly dubious reputation in some regions,” according to Yves
· An exotic flag – “which often gives the impression that one is trying to hide something from the tax authorities”
· Or the “flag of our English friends,” “which has a good reputation on all the seas of the world.”

For Yves, the choice was made naturally: a British flag, safe and recognized by insurers all over the world.

A registration carried out without a hitch

“For the boat registration, Raphael managed to align the seller and the broker to gather the various documents, then he obtained the identification plates and the MMSI number for the boat,” testifies the owner.

Thanks to the coordination between all parties, the registration proceeded quickly. And Zorba can now sail in full compliance, under a prestigious flag.

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Support that makes all the difference

Carrying out the administrative procedures related to the purchase of a boat, especially when it crosses several jurisdictions, is a real challenge:
“Regarding pleasure craft procedures, the risk and complexity are such that it is better to be supported,” explains Yves.

“Often, we are talking about significant amounts – especially regarding VAT. The discovery of a shaky or illegal registration can cause a lot of harm. The team at Bateau-immatriculation.com allows you to "de-risk" the transaction. The purchase is then made with much more confidence and peace of mind. It’s a luxury!

Then, accompanied by the team, the choice of navigation flag and the registration of the boat are always done without worry, very quickly.”

Read also: Administrative procedures for a boat buyer, owner, or seller

A recommendation for all boaters around the world

“For Europeans or non-Europeans who want to buy a new or used boat internationally, Bateau-immatriculation is truly the safe and comfortable solution,” concludes the boater.

Whether you are based abroad or not, whether you are buying in the European Union or on the other side of the world… you can count on the expertise of our specialists to secure your acquisition and set sail with peace of mind.