Free Boat Bill of Sale (UK — Part 1 / Part 3 / Unregistered)

BILL OF SALE — DEED OF TRANSFER

MSF 4705 Rev 1118  ·  Merchant Shipping (Reg Of Ships) Regs 1993 SI 1993/3138  ·  UK Ship Register Part 1  ·  England And Wales

THIS BILL OF SALE is made on 18 June 2026 between:

(1) Christopher James Hartwell of 17 Quayside Mews, Hamble-le-Rice, Southampton SO31 4QA (the "Seller"); and

(2) Margaret Helen Foster of 42 Beech Grove, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9DT (the "Buyer").

WHEREAS the Seller is the absolute owner of the vessel Sea Whisper (Official Number 914278) more particularly described in clause 1 (the "Vessel");

AND WHEREAS the Seller has agreed to sell the Vessel to the Buyer for the Consideration set out below;

NOW THIS BILL OF SALE WITNESSES that, in consideration of the sum of 87,500.00 GBP paid by the Buyer to the Seller (the receipt of which the Seller acknowledges), the Seller hereby transfers, assigns and conveys to the Buyer all of the Seller's right, title and interest in the Vessel on the terms set out below.

This Bill of Sale is a prescribed-form transfer under the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993 SI 1993/3138; the parties acknowledge that complete legal title does not pass to the Buyer until this Bill of Sale has been recorded with the Registry of Shipping and Seamen and a new Certificate of Registry has been issued. It is executed and delivered as a deed under LP(MP)A 1989 s.1 (or, in Scotland, in compliance with the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995).

The Seller transfers and the Buyer acquires the following vessel (the "Vessel"), described in compliance with Sale of Goods Act 1979 s.13 (correspondence with description):

2.1 Consideration. The Buyer has paid (or shall pay on the date hereof) to the Seller the sum of 87,500.00 GBP (the "Consideration") as the agreed price for the Vessel.

2.2 Receipt. The Seller acknowledges receipt of the Consideration in full. No further sum is payable in respect of the Vessel.

3.1 Title warranty. The Seller warrants under Sale of Goods Act 1979 s.12 that the Seller has the right to sell the Vessel and that the Vessel is free from any charge, lien, mortgage or other encumbrance not disclosed in writing to the Buyer before the date hereof.

3.2 Quiet possession. The Seller further warrants that the Buyer shall enjoy quiet possession of the Vessel free from any interference by the Seller or any party claiming under the Seller.

3.3 UK Ship Register mortgage. The Seller warrants that there is no mortgage registered against the Vessel on the UK Ship Register under Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.16 save as expressly disclosed.

4.1 Risk passes. Risk in the Vessel passes from the Seller to the Buyer on the date of this Bill of Sale (or, if later, on delivery — clause 4.2).

4.2 Delivery. The Seller shall deliver the Vessel to the Buyer at the location and on the date agreed between the parties. The Seller shall hand over all keys, manuals, certificates of registry, Recreational Craft Directive / UKCA declarations of conformity, service history and original VAT-paid evidence in its possession.

5.1 Private sale presumption. Where this is a private sale (Seller is not a trader), the implied terms as to satisfactory quality (Sale of Goods Act 1979 s.14(2)) and fitness for purpose (s.14(3)) do NOT apply (these apply to B2B sales only).

5.2 Inspection. The Buyer acknowledges having had the opportunity to inspect the Vessel (and, where appropriate, instruct a marine surveyor) before purchase, and accepts the Vessel in its present condition, save in respect of any misrepresentation as to material fact (Misrepresentation Act 1967).

5.3 Trader-to-consumer sale. Where the Seller is a trader and the Buyer a consumer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 Part 1 Chapter 2 applies — the Vessel must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described; the Buyer has the short-term right to reject within 30 days and other CRA 2015 remedies.

6. MSF 4705 SUBMISSION TO REGISTRY OF SHIPPING AND SEAMEN.

(A) FORM AND PRESCRIBED CONTENT. This Bill of Sale is in the prescribed form MSF 4705 Rev 1118 (Bill of Sale — Deed of Transfer), prescribed by the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993 SI 1993/3138. The form must contain: (i) Vessel name and Official Number; (ii) Port of Registry; (iii) Seller and Buyer details; (iv) Consideration; (v) prescribed transferor declaration; (vi) signatures and witness attestation per jurisdiction (clause 7 below).

(B) SUBMISSION ADDRESS. The completed MSF 4705 is submitted to the Registry of Shipping and Seamen, Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The form itself prints the address as PO Box 165, Cardiff CF14 5FU; the current MCA correspondence address for the UK Ship Register is Anchor Court, Keen Road, Cardiff CF24 5JW (telephone +44 (0)333 399 0039; email uksr@mcga.gov.uk). Submit by post / courier with the original Bill of Sale together with the existing Certificate of Registry.

(C) 30-DAY TRANSFER FEE WINDOW. The parties confirm that the change of ownership is being submitted to the Registry WITHIN 30 DAYS of the date of this Bill of Sale. The Registry will accept the lower "transfer fee" rather than treating the submission as a fresh registration.

(D) RESPONSIBLE SUBMITTER. Submission shall be made by the BUYER's solicitor. The submitter shall provide the parties with copies of the new Certificate of Registry on receipt from the MCA.

(E) FEES (UK SHIP REGISTER 2026 RATES). Pleasure Vessel Part 1 registration / change of ownership — £105 (five-year validity). Small Ships Register Part 3 registration / change of ownership — £35 (five-year validity). Tonnage survey (if required for first registration) — separate charge.

(F) LEGAL TITLE PASSAGE. The parties acknowledge that, although this Bill of Sale transfers equitable title and operates as evidence of the sale between Seller and Buyer, complete LEGAL title to the Vessel under the UK Ship Register Part 1 regime does NOT pass to the Buyer until the Bill of Sale has been recorded with the Registry of Shipping and Seamen and a new Certificate of Registry has been issued in the Buyer's name.

MSF / Registry narrative:
The vessel "Sea Whisper" (Official No. 914278) is registered on UK Ship Register Part 1 (Pleasure Vessel) and the parties intend to submit the MSF 4705 within 30 days of the date of sale to attract the transfer fee. The Buyer's solicitor (Foster Marine Law, Lymington) handles the submission: original MSF 4705 + existing Certificate of Registry are posted to the Registry of Shipping and Seamen at PO Box 165, Cardiff CF14 5FU (the address on the form). On receipt the Registry will check title chain, retire the existing certificate and issue a new Certificate of Registry in the Buyer's name. The parties acknowledge that complete legal title under the UK Ship Register Part 1 regime does not pass until the new Certificate of Registry has been issued — the Buyer accepts the risk of any limited interregnum (typically 2-4 weeks). Insurance has been arranged from the date of sale to bridge the gap.

7. JURISDICTION-AWARE EXECUTION.

(A) ENGLAND AND WALES. This Bill of Sale is executed under the law of England and Wales. Where a party is a corporate body, execution complies with Companies Act 2006 s.44: A SINGLE DIRECTOR signing in the presence of a witness who attests the signature (Companies Act 2006 s.44(2)(b)). Where a party is an individual executing as a deed, signature is given in the presence of a witness who attests the signature (LP(MP)A 1989 s.1 — deed execution by individuals).

(B) WITNESS REQUIREMENTS. The witness must: (i) be 18 years or over; (ii) not be a party to this Bill of Sale; (iii) print their full name and address legibly beside their signature; (iv) sign in the presence of the signer.

(C) ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE. Electronic execution of this Bill of Sale is permissible under the Electronic Communications Act 2000 s.7 (and, in Scotland, RoW(S)A 1995 s.10A as inserted by the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012). HOWEVER, the MSF 4705 prescribed form is typically submitted to the Registry of Shipping and Seamen in WET-INK original; check current MCA practice before relying on electronic execution.

(D) FORM OF EXECUTION. This Bill of Sale is executed and delivered AS A DEED (12-year limitation period under Limitation Act 1980 s.8).

Execution narrative:
Both parties are individuals (not companies) so CA 2006 s.44 corporate-execution provisions do not strictly apply. Execution as a deed under LP(MP)A 1989 s.1 — Seller and Buyer each sign in the presence of the same witness (Andrew Peter Conway, a Hamble-based marine surveyor instructed by neither party — independent). Witness signs, prints full name and address, signs in the presence of the signers. Chosen as a deed rather than simple contract for the 12-year limitation period (Limitation Act 1980 s.8) — given the value of GBP 87,500 and the prescribed-form MSF 4705 nature, the deed format gives the parties (especially the Buyer) longer to pursue any claim against the Seller for breach of title warranty.

8. TITLE, MORTGAGE AND LIEN DISCLOSURE.

(A) FULL TITLE WARRANTY. The Seller warrants that the Seller is the absolute owner of the Vessel and has full power and authority to sell. The Vessel is sold with FULL TITLE GUARANTEE (Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 ss.2-4 — where applicable to vessel sales).

(B) NO MORTGAGE. The Seller warrants that there is no mortgage registered against the Vessel on the UK Ship Register (Part 1 vessels — MSA 1995 s.16) and no bill of sale chattel mortgage in respect of the Vessel under the Bills of Sale Acts 1878 and 1882.

(D) NO MARITIME LIENS. The Seller warrants that, to the best of the Seller's knowledge after reasonable enquiry, no maritime lien (crew wages, salvage, tort claims, master's disbursements) attaches to the Vessel.

(E) BUYER'S SEARCHES. The Buyer's solicitor or marine surveyor should perform: (i) UK Ship Register search (Part 1 vessels — registry of mortgages); (ii) Bills of Sale Register search at the Royal Courts of Justice; (iii) Admiralty Registry search for liens; (iv) HPI / equivalent leisure-vessel check; (v) VAT-paid status verification.

(F) SELLER'S INDEMNITY. The Seller indemnifies and holds harmless the Buyer against any claim, cost or expense arising from any breach of the warranties in this clause 8.

Title disclosure narrative:
The Seller (Christopher Hartwell) purchased Sea Whisper new from Hythe Marine in 2014 and has been the sole owner since. No mortgage has ever been registered against the vessel; no Bills of Sale Acts 1878/1882 chattel mortgage has ever been granted. No maritime liens — the vessel has been used for private pleasure only, never commercially, never crewed, never engaged in any towing or salvage incident. The Buyer's solicitor (Foster Marine Law) performed: UK Ship Register search (clear — no mortgage); Bills of Sale Register search at the Royal Courts of Justice (clear); Admiralty Registry lien search (clear); VAT-paid evidence confirmed (UK VAT paid 2014 on new-build sale; receipts retained). The Seller indemnifies the Buyer against any pre-completion claim that subsequently emerges.

(a) Entire agreement: this Bill of Sale constitutes the entire agreement between the parties in relation to the sale of the Vessel.
(b) Variation: no variation is effective unless in writing and signed by both parties.
(c) Severability: if any provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in force.
(d) Third-party rights: no person who is not a party has any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
(e) Governing law and jurisdiction: this Bill of Sale is governed by the law of England and Wales; the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
(f) Execution as a deed: this Bill of Sale is executed and delivered as a deed on the date first written above.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date indicated.