Moving to Sweden with a boat

[badadim]

Moving to Stockholm, Sweden with a boat.

- moorage, marinas, clubs in area
- local rules keep in mind
- customs and taxes
- insurance
- local cruising destinations
- live aboard
- winter
- shipping the boat to Sweden from PNW
- local marine industry and yards

Any practical advise and local knowledge is appreciated.

[chrisr]

we have family in sweden and visit frequently

one thing we have noticed is that 90% of boats are lifted out for winter, and stored in large 'hangers' scattered around the forests (usually heated i think)

another is that the archipelago of islands outside stockholm is without doubt one of the best cruising areas in the world...in summer

cheers,

[badadim]

looks like a fun archipelago to navigate at night...

[leecea]

We had fun watching Ran Sailing's YouTube channel when they were cruising around Sweden.

You may be able to see some good places to go if you have the patience to watch them. They also showed a lot of mooring that's kinda like Med mooring but the other way around - bow to the shore and stern anchor.

Around Episode 200 is where they start around Sweden.

[cruising_ollie]

Originally Posted by badadim

Moving to Stockholm, Sweden with a boat.

- moorage, marinas, clubs in area
- local rules keep in mind
- customs and taxes
- insurance
- local cruising destinations
- live aboard
- winter
- shipping the boat to Sweden from PNW
- local marine industry and yards

Any practical advise and local knowledge is appreciated.

https://www.sxk.se/english Swedish Cruising Association

[chrisr]

https://www.thelocal.se/

english language website for expats resident in sweden. really useful...well worth becoming a member. the membership manager is a very experienced yachtie

cheers,

[kish]

Originally Posted by badadim

looks like a fun archipelago to navigate at night...

Even in daytime, a white knuckle ride in a rock strewn tide less archipelago.

[sepharad]

My boat was in Denmark. Like everyone else the boat was stored on the land. In Denmark moorages are plentiful as they are around the Kattegat and Skagerrak. They are either actual boat yards or small park like arrangements with docks.



BUT


Since covid full season spaces are hard to impossible to find. At my Marina (Egaa), There were no available seasonal spaces and none in the Aarhus area. When you pulled into a marina there were little red and green markers that were flipped to indicate temporary vacancy.


The sailing is amazing but generally restricted to 4 months a year. There are virtually no tides. In Denmark moorages are typical finger docks. In Norway and Sweden Bow-on moorage is the norm where you tie up at land because the water is frequently deep and the land face sheer. You will see open bowsprit arrangements to tie up. I saw NO ONE living aboard out of the 4 months season. Understand that the water has lower salinity and FREEZES. The first year our docks wintered, the water froze and destroyed the dock. Year 2 full-time bubblers are located along all dock fingers to avoid deep freeze.



Winters in DK are on land. Full seasonal prepping of the boat is typical with the boat covered. Norway and Sweden is more severe. The boat is fully prepped and the mast and boom down and the boat indoors 1) unheated barn-like structure, 2) Unheated with light or 3) Heated, water, power etc.


Services looked amazing. Moorage was amazingly inexpensive when compared with the US, UK and certainly the Med. Nothing else is inexpensive. Chandlerys are excellent but not cheap. expect 21-25% Value added tax on everything but food (in a store). Expect much higher cost on items from the UK and US. Buy local/E.U. High quality services are reliable.



Locals are avid and highly capable sailors. They also are hands-on self servicers. They are not afraid of hard work and do as much on their own boats as they can.



The entire Kattegat, Skagerrak and Baltic Is sailing PARADISE, except for the short season. Bold folk can extend the season but only if they like foul weather/thermal gear. The entire Baltic is one ongoing series of destinations.



Covid ruined my access, so I moved to Spain. Moorage cost is about the same, but lesser quality. I have never seen facilities like in Norway.


If PNW is the Pacific Northwest, I cannot imagine the shipping costs. Just trucking a 27' boat from DK to Spain was 10,000 Euros.


Sweden is part of the EU. as are MOST of the surrounding countries. This raises the issue of your nationality and your ability to remain in the Schengen zone as well as taxation on your VESSEL if it remains in the zone.

[goldenhind]

First thing you need to check is that the Boat is certified from manufacturer for sell/stay in EU! Some of the EU Countries will not even let you pass custom if the vessel is not documented/E-marked.

[Flod]

Originally Posted by badadim

Moving to Stockholm, Sweden with a boat.

- moorage, marinas, clubs in area - in the Urban areas it can be waiting time to get a slip but there is usually possible to get one for shorter time
- local rules keep in mind - you usually Moore bow to the dock with anchor from the stern
- customs and taxes - No customs but you might have to pay the VAT to get the boat into EU. But this depends on the age of the boat and other things
- insurance - no problem. This is easy in Sweden just call a insurance company and register
- local cruising destinations - the west coast from
Gothenburg up to the Norwegian border, Stockholm archipelago, Göta kanal. These three will keep you busy for the rest of your sailing career
- live aboard - possible year around (there are a few that does this) but not very comfy oct-April and really cold in the winter
- winter - freezing
- shipping the boat to Sweden from PNW - don’t do it. Buy here, there are plenty of boats in the second hand market
- local marine industry and yards - there are a lot but many do smaller things themselves. Service is expensive in Sweden

Any practical advise and local knowledge is appreciated.

Look above for my comments

[badadim]

Originally Posted by goldenhind

First thing you need to check is that the Boat is certified from manufacturer for sell/stay in EU! Some of the EU Countries will not even let you pass custom if the vessel is not documented/E-marked.

How and were?

[badadim]

Originally Posted by sepharad

Sweden is part of the EU. as are MOST of the surrounding countries. This raises the issue of your nationality and your ability to remain in the Schengen zone as well as taxation on your VESSEL if it remains in the zone.

Moving there as permanent resident with Canadian flagged vessel

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by badadim

Moving there as permanent resident with Canadian flagged vessel

Then you need to complete a EU “ Transfer of Residence “ you can bring all your assets including your boat in VAT free and have then designated as EU VAT paid. You are then feed to keep them in the EU as long as you are resident.

You are only allowed one TOR process per residency so get your ducks in a row.

This assumes you have a CE marked boat. If not you face a problem registering it but you can still bring it in under TOR.

[badadim]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

This assumes you have a CE marked boat. If not you face a problem registering it but you can still bring it in under TOR.

Thank you! How do I find out if it is CE marked? I tried a quick web search but got lost.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by badadim

Thank you! How do I find out if it is CE marked? I tried a quick web search but got lost.

Your boat will have a builders plate that will state it.

It is possible to do a post construction CE certification but it’s not cheap or easy.

Note if you become a resident of Sweden you cannot avail of the the 18 month vat exemption so you will have to use the TOR process. It would be then wise to re register into a European flag.