Yachts for Sale

Yachts: what to know

Once a boat is big enough to live aboard, everything about buying one changes. It is berthed rather than trailered, it has systems rather than switches, and it is bought with a surveyor and usually a broker involved.

What to check before you buy

• Never buy without a survey and a proper run on the water. At this size neither is optional.
• Ask for the maintenance log. A boat without records is a boat with a history somebody would rather not discuss.
• Engine hours, generator hours and the age of the electronics are three separate questions with three separate answers.
• Find out where it has been kept. Salt, strong sun and a berth with unreliable shore power all leave their marks.
• Work out the running costs before you settle on a purchase price. Berth, insurance, haul-out and servicing add up to real money every year.

Common questions

How much does a yacht cost to run?

A common rule of thumb is ten per cent of the purchase price a year once you have counted the berth, insurance, haul-out, servicing and the things that break. It varies a great deal, but it is never a small number.

Do I need a captain?

It depends on the boat and on your experience. Plenty of owners run boats into the fifties themselves. Your insurer may have a view, and it is worth asking before you buy rather than after.

Should I pay for a survey?

Yes, always. A survey on a boat this size costs a fraction of any single thing it is likely to find.