The short answer
- At 72% retention and 7% selling costs, the resale returns roughly half of total outlay across every class we benchmark.
- Selling costs are not a rounding error: €121,398 on the median motor yacht 62-85 ft, or €30,350 per partner.
- The exit is the part of co-ownership that needs documenting first, because it is where a group with no rules loses the most money.
What comes back, class by class
The model sells at the end of year 5 at 72% of the purchase price — the GetBoat index figure — and applies 7% of that for brokerage, survey and transfer costs.
| Class | Purchase | Gross resale share (4) | Selling costs (share) | Net back per partner | Share of outlay returned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht 50-62 ft | €1,111,955 | €200,152 | €14,011 | €186,141 | 44% |
| Motor yacht 62-85 ft | €2,408,700 | €433,566 | €30,350 | €403,216 | 44% |
| Motor yacht 85-110 ft | €5,359,969 | €964,794 | €67,536 | €897,259 | 44% |
| Sailing yacht 62-85 ft | €1,302,000 | €234,360 | €16,405 | €217,955 | 44% |
| Catamaran 62-85 ft | €1,813,500 | €326,430 | €22,850 | €303,580 | 44% |
Original GetBoat data: 415 euro-converted asking prices of 50–110 ft yachts listed for sale by GetBoat and its partners on 2026-09-20, plus the GetBoat market index (8,474 priced sale listings, 85,489 charter listings). Asking prices, not completed sales. Individual listings are never identified. Model: annual running budget 10% of the yacht price growing 3% a year, resale after 5 years at 72% of the price (per-brand depreciation in the GetBoat market index) less 7% selling costs, 40 owner weeks a year. Excludes VAT, financing, personal tax and programme fees. Illustration, not an offer. “Share of outlay returned” compares the net resale share with purchase plus running contributions over the term.
Three exit routes, three different risks
A whole-yacht sale at the end of the term is the cleanest: one buyer, one price, proceeds split by share. A partner selling early needs an approved buyer for the share, which is a thinner market than the market for the yacht. An extension by agreement postpones both and needs a decision rule written in advance.
The financial difference between them is liquidity, not value. A share sold in a hurry trades at a discount that no index can predict.
What protects the exit value
Condition and documentation, in that order. Our value-retention index shows the market paying for age in a smooth curve — 82% at three years, 72% at five, 52% at ten — but individual yachts land above or below it on service history, hours and refit quality.
In a group, that history is a shared responsibility. Agree the maintenance standard, the record-keeping and who signs off deferred work on day one, not in year four when the yacht is going to market.
Decision checklist
- 1Exit date or decision trigger written into the agreement
- 2Valuation method for an early share sale agreed in advance
- 3Right of first refusal and approval rules for new partners defined
- 4Selling costs budgeted, not discovered at the sale
- 5Maintenance and documentation standard agreed and audited
- 6Distribution mechanics and owner-specific adjustments spelled out
What buyers ask next
Can I sell my share before the group sells the yacht?
Usually yes, subject to approval and right-of-first-refusal rules, but the buyer pool for a share is smaller than for a yacht. Price the liquidity risk before you enter, and never assume a quick exit at book value.
Is the retention figure a promised residual value?
No. It is the median of a large set of live asking prices at each age, used here so that the model has a defensible number instead of an optimistic one. The actual sale depends on the yacht, the market and the timing.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, financial, insurance or survey advice. Requirements vary by yacht, provider and jurisdiction; use qualified independent professionals for the transaction. Read our editorial policy.
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