Yachts

Yachts in South Africa: what they cost and how to buy one

Updated 4 November 2026

A yacht in South Africa costs from about R 444,455 for a used 24 ft boat to more than R 11 million for a large new motor yacht, according to listings we found in November 2026. Charter listings start from about R 65,076. The quickest way to current prices for your exact boat is a request on BlaBlaPrice, where the AI looks through local price lists and asks for the details it still needs.

Rules that apply to yachts

Commercial operations in South African waters are regulated by SAMSA, the South African Maritime Safety Authority, under the Merchant Shipping Act. A SAMSA marine notice sets mandatory safety and certification requirements for yachts built in South Africa. Visiting pleasure boats do not need South African boating safety certification, but they must comply with a reasonable standard. Boat-building standards follow ISO norms adopted as SABS standards.

Season and location

November is late spring. The sailing and charter season runs from December to February, when the weather is warmest. June to August is winter, with shorter days, so fewer trips are planned then. Durban, Cape Town and Gqeberha are on the coast, where yachts are kept and handed over. Johannesburg and Pretoria are inland, so a buyer there must arrange transport to a port before the first trip.

How yachts are priced and bought

Prices are quoted in rand, and listings give length in feet or metres, so convert before you compare. Many of the listings we found are abroad, in the United Kingdom, Greece and the United States, so ask where the boat is kept and who pays for transport to a South African port. Large new motor yachts are a different market from used cabin boats, so compare them only with each other.

What to put in your request

Say whether you want to buy or charter, the yacht type, the length you need, the model if you have one, the number of people it must carry, the date and duration for a charter, the condition you accept, your budget and the port you prefer. The more of these details you give, the closer the offers will match what you want.

Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice receive your request and reply in the chat with their own offer, including price, terms and delivery. Your contacts stay hidden, and you decide with whom to exchange them, so no one calls you unasked. You can also send your request link to yacht sellers you already know. Start with a request on BlaBlaPrice, read how BlaBlaPrice works, or compare with speedboats and cruisers.