|
Explanatory Notes
Agreement for Joint Ownership of a Boat
INTRODUCTION This Agreement is designed for use by the joint owners of a boat including a yacht, canal boat, cruiser, dinghy etc. when it is to be used by them for leisure activities. It should not be used if the boat is used as a business asset or for other commercial purposes. The joint owners may already be the owners or they may be planning to buy a boat together. It also covers the ownership of any equipment belonging to the boat, but which is not part of it. It deals with the terms of ownership and how the boat is to be operated with reference to regulations. It includes provisions for a formal meeting of the owners to deal with important matters, but you may think that this is not required and that an informal discussion is acceptable. In this event, the relevant provisions should be deleted. There is a pre-emption right so that, if one of the owners wishes to sell a share, then the others can purchase it. This would involve the exercise of a veto. There are also provisions for an option so that, if certain events occur in respect of one of the owners, then the others could purchase his share. The Agreement deals with how the price should be determined in both cases. If one of the events did occur, then it could well result in the sale of the boat as a whole unless the option were to be exercised. The family, for example, of a deceased owner would want to realise the value of the deceased's share and so they could insist on a sale in any event. However, the provisions for the option would prevail to prevent this. In the unlikely event of there being a dispute between the owners, then there would be a reference to an arbitrator to find a solution. The Agreement may well require some adaptation to deal with individual cases. If you are members of a Club or Association or if the boat is moored at a marina, then there may be rules or a code of practice which should be incorporated in some way to make them binding on the owners. You may also want to refer to the British Waterways and similar bodies for guidance. THE FORM OF THE AGREEMENT The parties and ownership The full name of the owners and their addresses should be given in the Ownership Schedule along with their percentage shares as to ownership. If the equipment is owned in different shares, then clause 5.1 should be amended and a separate note should be made in the Ownership Schedule. The boat may, of course, be registered in the name of one or more of the owners. In some cases, perhaps it is registered in the name of just one owner with the others being mentioned as owners. However, this Agreement should be completed on the basis that all the owners are mentioned in the Ownership Schedule. Definitions All these should be checked and blanks completed. You may want to refer to an appropriate Association in clause 1.2 and a Club in clause 1.3 so that they can be referred to later in the Agreement. You will also need to complete the details in the Equipment Schedule as well or, in the alternative, you could attach an inventory to the Agreement Terms of ownership of the boat and the equipment. These are what most owners will want, but you may want to adapt them to any particular case. Operational Regulations These are set out in clause 6 and there is also the Operational Schedule. Additional requirements can be added to the Schedule. You may want to cover such matters as how the use of the boat is to be shared and under what conditions it can be taken away for extended periods. There are also the obligations set out in clause 12. You will need to complete clause 12.1.4 to deal with what you have all agreed. Monies There will no doubt be a bank account with all the owners perhaps paying into it a regular subscription to cover costs. The account may be in the name of just one or two of the owners. You will need to complete the blank in clause 7.2. The Pre-emption Right and Option Clauses 9 and 10 will ensure that the owners can in effect block an unacceptable outsider becoming an owner. At the end of the day, you will want to ensure that you can enjoy your leisure activity with others you get on well with. Clause 12 sets how the purchase price of a share being purchased by the others would be determined. Owners' liability and Insurance It may be that unfortunately one of the owners accidentally causes damage to the boat or equipment. In this event, should that person have to pay for the repairs and other losses? If there is an insurance claim, then the premium may be increased on the next renewal and the no claims bonus may be lost. You will have to decide if the person concerned should pay for the increases. There are options in clause 11.5 which you may want to use.
Back to top | 