Getting started7 min read
Your first yacht: the buying checklist that comes before the shortlist
Define the mission, realistic budget and non-negotiables before opening the listings.
Read guideGetBoat Advice
Buy, own and sell a yacht with fewer blind spots
Practical decision guides built around the complete ownership journey — from the first brief and market comparison to survey, finance, running costs and resale.
Original GetBoat editorial guidance · Updated 2026-07-20How we create and review adviceRSS feed
Decision toolkit
Move from reading to evidence
Every guide connects to a useful next step inside GetBoat — no dead-end editorial pages.
Six decisions, in the right order
01Define the briefMission, people, cruising area, budget and deal-breakers.02Read the marketCompare listings, reviews, age bands and price evidence.03Verify the yachtOffer conditions, documents, survey and purposeful sea trial.04Structure the dealFinance, insurance, ownership, flag and closing plan.05Operate with controlBerth, maintenance, crew and a whole-ownership budget.06Protect the exitKeep evidence, condition and future marketability intact.
Browse by topic
14 practical guidesAdvice for the complete lifecycle
014 guides
Getting started
Turn an idea into a clear cruising brief before you compare boats.
022 guides
Buying a yacht
Shortlist, compare, negotiate and close with fewer expensive surprises.
032 guides
Finance & legal
Understand funding, ownership structures, registration and tax questions.
042 guides
Survey & safety
Use the survey, sea trial and records to test the yacht behind the listing.
052 guides
Ownership & costs
Plan berthing, insurance, maintenance, crew and the true annual budget.
062 guides
Selling & resale
Prepare the yacht, evidence its condition and protect resale value.
Advice library
Find the decision you need to make
14 guides
Getting started6 min read
New vs used yacht: compare time, certainty and total cost
Compare delivery time, specification risk, depreciation and refit exposure on equal terms.
Read guideGetting started6 min read
How to choose the right yacht size for the way you cruise
Choose space and capability from real use cases, not status or a single length number.
Read guideBuying a yacht8 min read
How to make an offer on a yacht without weakening your position
A strong offer is clear about price, evidence, deadlines and the route to closing.
Read guideSurvey & safety8 min read
Marine survey and sea trial: what each one must prove
The survey inspects condition; the sea trial tests behaviour under load. You normally need both.
Read guideFinance & legal7 min read
Yacht finance explained: prepare a stronger individual application
Finance is assessed around the buyer, the yacht, the jurisdiction and the intended use.
Read guideFinance & legal8 min read
Yacht VAT, registration and flag: map the questions before closing
Tax status, ownership, flag and use are connected — verify them as one structure.
Read guideSurvey & safety7 min read
Yacht insurance: build cover around the real cruising programme
The cheapest premium can conceal the wrong cruising limits, deductibles or exclusions.
Read guideOwnership & costs8 min read
The true cost of yacht ownership: build a budget you can operate
Model the yacht, location and usage plan — generic annual percentages hide the important risks.
Read guideOwnership & costs6 min read
Mooring, berthing and marinas: secure the base before the yacht
The right yacht in the wrong berth can create an immediate operating problem.
Read guideSelling & resale7 min read
How to prepare a yacht for sale and protect the closing price
Remove uncertainty before launch: document the yacht, fix the right defects and make access easy.
Read guideBuying a yacht6 min read
Charter before you buy: turn a holiday into useful due diligence
A focused charter reveals which yacht features matter after the brochure excitement fades.
Read guideSelling & resale7 min read
Yacht depreciation and resale value: buy with the exit in view
Resale value starts at purchase: model choice, records and maintenance shape the future buyer pool.
Read guideGetting started8 min read
How much does a 35–50 ft boat cost per day in 2026?
Motor-yacht medians run €1,038–€1,787 per day across eight destinations; catamarans €424–€2,322. Listed rates, not final bills.
Read guideJargon, decoded
Eight terms worth knowing before a viewing
LOA
Length overall: the yacht’s maximum overall length under the stated measurement method.
Beam
The widest point of the yacht; a key constraint for berths, lifts and handling.
Draft
The depth below the waterline, which determines shallow-water access.
Air draft
Height above the waterline, relevant to bridges, yards and covered storage.
Displacement
The yacht’s weight expressed through the water it displaces, not its interior volume.
Gross tonnage
A regulated measure of enclosed internal volume; it is not the yacht’s weight.
Sea trial
An on-water test of the specific yacht’s operation and systems under agreed conditions.
Flag state
The jurisdiction where the yacht is registered and whose maritime rules apply.
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