Sailing Q&As
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Are my papers OK? Which switch?
Q
Could you please tell me what’s
required if I decide to sail to
Q
I have a pressurised freshwater
system fitted to my boat
Ostend? My boat is a Westerly Konsort whereby I simply turn on the tap and
of 1980 vintage and I’ve been unable to the pump switches on. Recently the
get any proof that VAT has been paid on pump has started turning itself on
my boat. every hour or so, just for a few
Tony Powell, Medway. seconds. The taps aren’t leaking and
there’s no sign of a leak anywhere else,
A
Since your Westerly was built in so does this mean the pump or
1980 you should not have to prove automatic switch is faulty? Also, I’ve
that VAT was paid when she was new and looked for a switch but can’t find one –
it would be unfair to expect you to do so. any ideas what it looks like?
There’s a vague ruling from HM Customs Mike Warman, email
and Excise whereby they do not keep
records going back before 1985 and that it
would be unfair for us consumers to have A
Pressurised water systems usually
have a pump with an integral
to keep receipts for that long too. This pressure switch that detects when there is
came about when it was asked to provide a pressure above a certain level, then
letter showing that VAT had been given switches off. When the tap is opened the
over to them when the dealer had charged water pressure in the pipe drops, which
the first buyer. activates the switch, turning the pump on.
HMC&E stated that it’s not obliged to When you close the tap, back pressure
keep records older than 1985. The RYA
Original sales invoices can often get lost or mislaid
builds up and switches the switch/pump
then enquired as to why we, as consumers,
over the years and it can be difficult to get a copy if
back off again.
should have to keep receipts going back
the boatyard is no longer in business.
Often, when there is a leak, the pump
further than 1985 as well. can activate at intervals, due to the
Proof of VAT status simply means fact that many boats are purchased new pressure dropping off in the system.
having a copy of the original sales invoice under the name of the owner’s company Sometimes these leaks aren’t obvious. I
from the dealer when the boat was new – no matter how spurious the link to a experienced exactly the same symptoms
– nothing more complicated than that. You marine activity – thus avoiding paying any a few years ago and checked everything
would not have paid VAT on a secondhand VAT initially. possible – or so I thought. Finally, just
boat unless you imported her from outside Sadly, when people sell boats the before ditching the pump in desperation,
the EU or if she was owned by a marine original purchase invoice, which shows the I decided to follow up the small pool
related business and they had claimed amount of VAT paid when the boat was of water that insistently collected in the
back the VAT when they bought her new purchased new, often gets lost. Customs bilge, which I had assumed came from a
(sailing school or charter boat). and Excise are not helpful in my dripping stern gland. It turned out that the
This principle applies to all EU experience and in all the cases pressure relief valve on the hot water
countries – you should not have to prove that I have dealt with have not calorifier was stuck open a fraction,
VAT paid status if your boat was built provided a retrospective letter thereby dripping slowly into the
before 1985. You should be able to prove stating that VAT was paid on bilge and causing the pressure to
date of first purchase from several sources that boat when she was new. drop in the water system – hence
– Trafalgar Yacht Services records, a letter Both Mandy Peters the self-activating pump.
from the Westerly Owners Association (Legal Manager, RYA) and One more tip – your system
(WOA) archivist, WOA membership list Stuart Carruthers (Cruising might include an accumulator (a
showing ages of boat and sail numbers, Manager, RYA), however, pressure reservoir that helps smooth
the Hull Identification Number on the are very helpful and the water flow in systems with
stern showing build date, or a survey knowledgeable on the showers) that looks a bit like
report. You can also do it by proving that subject of VAT on boats a gas cylinder (see pic) and is
the vessel was in use prior to 1985 in the – an issue that I’m sure probably mounted close to the
UK from mooring receipts, insurance they have been asked about water pump. Some of these incorporate
certificates and registration documents thousands of times. a rubber diaphragm, which can weaken
such as a Small Ships Register certificate. Nick Vass BSc MIIMS DipMarSur after a few years, leaking pressure, but not
Another complication arises from the Marine Surveyor necessarily water. DK
62 Sailing Today September 09
ST149 Q&A
RTG.indd 62 17/7/09 15:24:53
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