Yachts: buying or chartering and how to get good offers
Buy or charter for a day
People look for a yacht for two reasons. Some want a boat of their own, others want a few hours or a week at sea on a charter. These are different requests with different questions and budgets, so on BlaBlaPrice say right away which one you mean. For a charter, give the date, duration, number of guests and port. For a purchase, give the type of yacht, length, condition and papers.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You create a request and describe what you need. It is checked, and you get hints about what is missing. Owners, brokers and charter companies reply with the yacht, the price or what it depends on, the terms and photos. Sellers see where their offer stands and compete. Your phone number stays hidden. More on the “How it works” page.
What to put in your request
- Buy or charter — this shapes the whole request.
- Type of yacht — sailing, motor or sailing catamaran.
- Length — in metres or feet.
- Model, if you have already chosen one.
- Capacity — number of guests and cabins.
- Date and duration — for a charter: a day, a few hours or number of nights.
- Technical condition — ready to sail, refitted or needing restoration.
- Port — the marina or stretch of water.
- Budget, if you want to name one.
Example for a charter: “I need a sailing yacht with a skipper for one day, 8 guests, leaving from Woodlands, on 18 December. No overnight stay on board. Please say what the price includes: fuel, skipper, port fees. Budget up to $760.”
What to check when buying
It is best to hire an independent marine surveyor to inspect the yacht. They will check the hull, keel, rigging, engine, electrics and the condition of the sails. Ask separately about papers: proof of ownership, vessel registration, no encumbrances, and permission to sail in the relevant waters. Find out the cost of a berth in the marina and of storage during the rainy season, because these are yearly costs. For motor yachts, engine hours and fuel consumption matter. For sailing yachts, look at the mast, rigging and sails.
What to check when chartering
Ask what is included in the price: skipper, fuel, port fees, bed linen, insurance, water, cleaning. Ask about the deposit and the cancellation terms if the weather is bad. Compare offers on equal terms: some quote a yacht with a crew, some without. Find out whether there are life jackets for every guest and whether the skipper knows your route.
Common mistakes
Buying a yacht without a survey because the owner “knows it well”. Ignoring running costs. Agreeing to a charter without written terms. Ignoring the weather and the season. If a yacht is too much, look at simpler options: speedboats or catamarans. For a general overview, see the “Boats & watercraft” section.
