Buying a Yacht: 6 Checks That Protect Your Money
A yacht is one of the most emotional purchases there is. These six checks keep the heart in the cabin and the head firmly on the deal.
Buying a yacht is rarely a rational decision in the first hour — and that's fine, because the right yacht should move you. The job of these six checks is to make sure that emotion isn't carrying a hidden bill. Run them on any yacht that survives the first viewing and you'll either confirm a great purchase or save yourself from an expensive lesson.
Pedigree — who built her, and how?
The shipyard tells you almost everything: build quality, resale strength, how she'll age, how easily she's serviced, and whether parts will still be available a decade from now. Respected yards — Feadship, Lürssen, Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Princess, Sunseeker and their peers — aren't a snobbery thing; they're the difference between an asset and a liability.
Check the builder, the model's reputation, and whether the yard still supports her. Pedigree protects your resale.Our founder, on the water
The paper trail — what's her refit and service history?
A yacht is only ever as good as the care she's had. Complete maintenance logs, recent refits, and a meticulous previous owner are worth more than low engine hours on paper. Gaps in the history are gaps in your knowledge — and they almost always become gaps in your wallet.
Ask for the full maintenance log, refit records, and any class society reports. A well-kept yacht tells her story honestly.Our founder, on the water
Never skip the independent survey
Never buy on the brochure. Commission an independent marine surveyor — your surveyor, not one suggested by the seller — to inspect the hull, engines, generators, electronics, rigging and systems. A proper survey includes a sea trial and routinely finds issues the listing somehow forgot to mention.
On a multi-million euro purchase, the survey is the best money you'll spend by a long margin. It either saves you a fortune or quietly confirms you're making a good deal.
Beyond the price — what will she really cost to own?
The purchase price is just the beginning. Crew salaries, dockage, fuel, insurance, classification, refits, and annual running costs typically add up to roughly 10% of the yacht's value every single year — and more on larger vessels with full-time crew.
Budget around 10% of value per year in running costs. The owners who enjoy their yachts are the ones who saw this coming.Our founder, on the water
The crew question — who runs her, and do they stay?
On any crewed yacht, the team is half the asset. A long-serving captain and crew know her every system and quirk — every starter that's been replaced, every quiet leak under the galley sink. Whether they're willing to stay through the sale can make or break your first season.
Meet the crew before you commit, and understand who's planning to stay. Continuity is worth far more than it looks on paper.Our founder, on the water
The fit test — for how you'll actually use her
The most common owner's regret isn't buying a poor-quality yacht — it's buying the wrong yacht for the life they actually live. Long ocean passages or short weekend hops? Big parties or quiet family weeks? Med summers only, or year-round in the Caribbean?
Fit beats specification. A modest yacht used every weekend is a far better purchase than a magnificent one parked in Antibes nine months of the year.
Be honest about how you'll really use her. The right yacht fits your life, not the brochure's fantasy.Our founder, on the water
The best time to find a yacht's flaws is before you own her.
A great purchase isn't the fastest one — it's the one made with eyes open. Do the checks, ask the hard questions, and buy the yacht that fits the life you'll actually live aboard her.
Talk to the FounderQuick answers
How much does it cost to own a yacht per year?+
A common industry rule of thumb is around 10% of the yacht's value per year in total running costs — crew, dockage, fuel, insurance, refits, maintenance and surveys. Larger yachts with full-time crew often run higher.
Do I need a marine survey before buying a yacht?+
Yes. An independent pre-purchase survey, commissioned by you (not the seller), is essential on any used yacht above a small dinghy. It includes hull, engines, systems and a sea trial, and routinely uncovers issues that affect the price — or your decision.
Does the crew usually stay when a yacht is sold?+
Sometimes, but never assume it. Captain and senior crew often have personal relationships with the previous owner. Discuss continuity early — and budget for recruitment if key crew plan to leave.
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