David,
From the Seal 26/27 Technical handbook, the mast of a Parker 27 is 399 inches.
As the Seal 26/Super Seal 27/Parker 27 all have the same sail plan, it is a reasonable assumption that the mast of an S26 is also 399 inches. By measurement of both side elevations of the S26 reproduced in the handbook, & calculation of the relative height of the mast to the freeboard, the height from waterline to tabernacle base is 56" = total airdraught 455" = 11.6m [excluding masthead lights, VHF aerials etc].
http://www.parkerseal.org.uk/about/regalia.aspx ].
http://www.parkerseal.org.uk/about/fleet.aspx ], I believe that the greater headroom applies to the Super Seal 27 as well as to the Parker 27, ie from sail number 110. For me the real decider was how difficult it was going to be to get into, and use, the toilet when under sail! So my advice is to try both before you buy!
Another factor to consider is that the settee berths in the saloon are quite low - indeed I find them uncomfortably low, unless I raise my bottom with another cushion - there is headroom to do this in a P27 - there may or may not be in S26.
The whole issue of VAT status for older boats in the EU is a nightmare, and is subject to different interpretation by different authorities in different countries. If you are really, really lucky, the seller may have the original purchase invoice duly receipted to show that it was paid, ie absolute proof of VAT Paid. Otherwise there is neither a simple or a perfect solution.
If you have no VAT Paid proof, but if you have proof that the boat was already in use in the EU on 1st January 1985
AND you can prove that the boat was moored in the EU on 31st December 1992 [even if only for that one day!], then it is possible to claim VAT Deemed Paid status, which is a recognised status under the EU Single Market transitional arrangements.
If not, or the boat was put into service after 1st January 1985, you are forced to fall back on gathering as much evidence as possible to show that the boat was first sold and registered within the EU, and has remained within the EU ever since.
In either case, I recommend that you contact HISWA [the Dutch marine industry's federation] and see what help or guidance they can offer you.
In the UK, Part 1 Registration under the Merchant Shipping Act- if maintained throughout the life of the craft - does provide legal evidence of ownership [but not of VAT paid]. However for pleasure craft Part I Registration is usually only used where high value marine mortgages are involved. Part 111 Registration is much more common, but is purely voluntary, and not always maintained by successive owners.
By this stage, you won't be surprised to hear that if the roles were reversed, I wouldn't buy a used boat in another EU country if it didn't have absolute proof of VAT Paid status.
Geoff Sheddick
Parker 27/146 "Stroller'
Geoff Sheddick
Parker 27/146 "Stroller'