Yacht Buyer's Guide
NGY · The Buyer’s Guide & Ownership Playbook
Everything you need to buy — and own — a yacht.
The complete lifecycle in eight parts: search and evaluate, finance and purchase, insure and register, operate and maintain, track costs, and exit.
The Playbook
Eight parts, from first idea to final sale
Each part is a chapter you can work through with your broker, captain and advisors.
Strategy & Search
Define what you need, model what it truly costs, and learn where to look.
- Define your needs
- Total cost of ownership
- Budget & financing
- Where to look
- Search & screening
Market Intelligence
Know the number before you make the offer — powered by BoatValuePro.
- Why market data decides the deal
- BoatValuePro engine
- Buyer Market Analysis
- Comparative Market Analysis
- Market reports & deal boards
Due Diligence & Purchase
Survey, records, title and contract — where a good deal is proven or abandoned.
- Survey & sea trial
- Records review
- Legal & title
- Offer strategy
- Purchase agreement
- Closing & transfer
Finance & Tax
Structures, rates and the depreciation questions every buyer asks.
- Financing structures
- Tax & depreciation
Insurance, Flag & Compliance
Cover that pays, a flag that suits your plans, a calendar you can trust.
- Coverage types
- Policy terms that matter
- Risk management
- Registration & flag
- Ongoing compliance
Operations & Maintenance
How she is run decides both your experience and her resale.
- Operating procedures
- Crew
- Scheduling
- Maintenance programme
- Budgeting
- Choosing yards
Costs, Value & Exit
Track what she costs, protect what she is worth, and leave well.
- Track all costs
- Performance measures
- Depreciation & residual
- Exit options
Answers & Checklists
The questions we are asked most — and the lists to work from.
- Search & selection
- Finance & tax
- Insurance & legal
- Pre-offer checklist
- Due diligence checklist
- Closing & first 90 days
Know Your Vessel
Eight ways to meet the water
The right category is the first decision that shapes every other. Browse live inventory in each.
Super Yachts
View yachts 12–40mMotor Yachts
View yachts 12–60mSailing Yachts
View yachts 12–30mCatamarans
View yachts 25m +Expedition
View yachts 12–25mPower Catamarans
View yachts 9–25mSportfish
View yachts 6–16mCenter Console
View yachts60-second fit finder
Not sure which category is yours?
Answer five quick questions and we’ll point you to the type of yacht that best fits how you’ll actually use her — then show you what’s on the market.
Your best-fit category
NGY Market Intelligence · BoatValuePro
Know the number before you make the offer
Asking prices are opinion. Closed sales are evidence. Everything we advise is anchored to real transaction data.
Buyer Market Analysis
Every comparable yacht worldwide for your brief, with a recommended offer range built on closed sales.
Comparative Market Analysis
A defensible fair-value band built from adjusted closed transactions.
Market Reports & Deal Boards
Supply, pricing trends and days-on-market — so you know whether to move or wait.
Offer positioning
Free Buyer Market Analysis
A confidential, no-obligation analysis of what comparable yachts are genuinely selling for — with a recommended offer range built on real closed sales.
Request received
Our team will prepare your confidential Buyer Market Analysis and be in touch shortly.
The Real Figure
What she costs to keep
Move the slider for an indicative annual breakdown.
Cost of ownership
Budget 8–12% of value per year. An honest starting point before we build a precise budget.
The Library
The yacht buyer’s library
20 expert guides across the whole journey — choosing, buying, financing and owning.
Getting Started
Motor Yacht, Sailing Yacht or Catamaran?
The right hull and platform depends on how you actually intend to use the boat — not on what looks best at the dock.
Read the guideChoosing the Right Size of Yacht
Bigger is not always better. The right length balances comfort, cost, crewing and where you want to go.
Read the guideNew, Used or New-Build: Which Route?
Each route has a very different cost, timeline and risk profile. Choose the one that fits your budget and patience.
Read the guideUnderstanding Yacht Specifications
Length, beam, draft, tonnage, range and headroom tell you more about a yacht than any brochure photo.
Read the guideThe Buying Process
The Yacht Buying Process, Step by Step
From first brief to handover, here is the path a well-managed purchase actually follows.
Read the guideYacht Brokers & Buyer Representation
Why the broker you choose — and who they actually work for — is the most important decision of your purchase.
Read the guideMaking an Offer & Negotiating
A strong offer is built on evidence, structure and calm — not on a number plucked from the asking price.
Read the guideSurvey & Sea Trials
The survey and sea trial are your due-diligence — and your best lever to renegotiate before you commit.
Read the guideBuying at Boat Shows
Shows are the fastest way to compare yachts in person — but the show floor is designed to sell, so go prepared.
Read the guideMoney & Legal
Financing a Yacht
Marine finance can preserve capital and improve returns — if you understand deposits, terms and how lenders view a yacht.
Read the guideYacht Insurance
Cover is about more than a premium — cruising area, crew and agreed value all decide whether a claim is paid.
Read the guideLegal & Contracts
The purchase agreement, deposit, survey allowance and title are where a deal is won, lost or made safe.
Read the guideVAT, Tax & Ownership Structures
How and where you own a yacht affects tax, VAT status and liability — get it right at purchase, not after.
Read the guideResidual Value & Depreciation
What decides a yacht’s second-hand value — and how to buy so depreciation works for you, not against you.
Read the guideOwnership & Admin
Flag & Registration
Where and how a yacht is registered affects tax, crewing, cruising and resale — decide before you close.
Read the guideDelivery & Handover
The deal is not done at signing — a proper delivery and handover is what gets you cruising with confidence.
Read the guideBerthing & Marinas
A berth is part of the true cost of ownership — and in prime harbours, the hardest thing to secure.
Read the guideYacht Crew: Roles, Hiring & Costs
Above a certain size, crew define the ownership experience — and a large slice of the running budget.
Read the guideThe True Cost of Yacht Ownership
A useful rule of thumb: annual running costs often land around 10% of a yacht’s value. Here is where it goes.
Read the guideRefits & Upgrades
A well-judged refit can transform an older yacht — but only some upgrades add more value than they cost.
Read the guide
Free 61-page playbook
Take the whole playbook with you
Every part, every checklist and every formula — in one designed PDF, including the market-intelligence chapter and ready-to-use checklists.
- 8 parts across the whole ownership lifecycle
- Cost, offer-positioning and reserve formulas
- Pre-offer, due-diligence and closing checklists
Good to know
Questions we are asked most
Not strictly — but a good buyer's broker earns their fee many times over through market access, honest assessment and disciplined negotiation, while representing only your interest. On most brokerage sales the seller pays the fee, so it often costs you nothing.
A new build offers a bespoke vessel and full warranty but typically takes two to four years. A well-kept brokerage yacht delivers immediately, often at a considerable saving. We help you weigh both against your timeline.
From a clear brief to keys in hand, a brokerage purchase usually completes within two to four months, depending on survey findings, finance and flag arrangements.
An independent inspection of hull, machinery and systems, usually with a sea trial and haul-out. It is the single most important safeguard in any acquisition — and your strongest re-negotiation tool.
Many owners offset costs through charter. We advise on which vessels, flags and ownership structures make charter viable without compromising your own use.
As a rule of thumb, budget 8–12% of the yacht's value per year across crew, berthing, insurance, maintenance and fuel. Use the calculator above for an indicative breakdown, then we prepare a precise budget for any vessel we present.
Let us find her for you
Tell us how you dream of using the water. A broker who works only for you will be in touch — discreetly and without obligation.
NGY · Buyer Representation
Book a consultation
Tell us what you’re looking for and a broker who works for you will be in touch. No obligation.
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Free download
The Yacht Buyer’s Playbook
8 parts across the whole ownership lifecycle — choosing, buying, financing and owning. Tell us where to send it.
Free Buyer Market Analysis
See how a yacht is priced versus the live market for its model. We’ll build your analysis and email you the link.
Request received
We’ll build your Buyer Market Analysis and be in touch shortly.





