Buying a Yacht: Costs, Process, and What the Brokers Don’t Tell You

A used 30–40ft cruising yacht sells for roughly €86,000–257,000 depending on age; a new 40-footer starts around €257,000, and a catamaran costs about double the equivalent monohull. Owning her adds 10–15% of the boat’s value every year — berth, insurance, maintenance — before a single charter week is booked. The pages below take those two sentences apart line by line.

Costs

How Much Does a Yacht Cost in 2026? (By Size and Type)

New and used prices across every size band, 30 feet to 50-plus.

What It Really Costs to Own a Yacht

The annual bill after the purchase: berth, insurance, maintenance.

New vs Used Yacht: The Real Trade-offs

The depreciation curve and which models hold their price.

Process

How to Buy a Yacht: Step-by-Step

Offer to handover in eight steps — and what goes wrong at each.

Yacht Brokers: Fees, Roles, and How Not to Overpay

Who pays the ~10%, and when a buyer’s broker is free.

Yacht Survey and Sea Trial: What to Check and What It Costs

The inspection that decides the negotiation.

Strategy

Buy-to-Charter: Owning a Yacht That Pays for Itself

The honest math of charter management programs.

Yacht Financing in Europe: Loans, Leasing, and Cash

What the money actually costs in 2026.

VAT, Flags, and Registration When Buying in the EU

The paperwork that changes the price by a fifth.

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