Buying a Yacht

Buying a yacht is a dream of many. It conjures up images of serenely sailing into the sunshine, free to explore exciting new places from a yacht with all the mod cons. Owning your own yacht might seem expensive and unachievable.

Buying a brand new luxury yacht is obviously unaffordable for most people. If you stretch to the top of your budget, you might not be able to afford training, insurance, fuel, crew and maintenance. A smaller sailing yacht, however, may be more affordable than you first thought. Browsing broker’s websites will give you a rough idea of how much a yacht is going to cost - some are just £16,000. This may seem expensive at first, but consider the money you will save on holidays, travel and hotels. And the experience of freedom to explore the seas at your own pace and from the comfort of your own surroundings is much more rewarding.

If you are interested in buying a yacht you will need to speak to a broker who will find you a yacht for sale. The advantage of owning a sailing yacht to a motor yacht is that sailing yachts rely on a cheaper and more relaxed form of fuel: the wind. Sailing also allows you to put your true captaining skills to the test.

The main types of yachts are day sailing, weekender, cruising and luxury yachts. Sailing is generally a day-long act, and sailing yachts often do not have a cabin because of this. Weekender yachts are under 9.5 metres in length, usually have a cabin or two and are intended for use for no more than 3 days. Cruising yachts are larger, usually between 7 and 14 metres long, and are equipped for long journeys. Luxury yachts tend to be over 25metres long, with even more space and luxurious finishings.

The process of finding a yacht for sale begins with the broker. You should have a rough idea of your budget and what type of yacht you require before speaking to a yacht broker. The size of the yacht often depends on your budget, but remember you may be able to charter your yacht out to earn some money to cover costs while you are not using it.

You are likely to need to speak to a broker to buy your yacht, particularly if this will be your first. They will share their expertise into the different types and brands available, answering any questions which you may have. Decide on your requirements before talking to a broker. Will you be spending weeks sailing the world, or sailing the coast of Britain on the odd day at the weekend? Source a place to keep your yacht too. Dockage can be difficult to find in some areas, so talk to the people at marinas about available space before you buy your yacht. If you will be chartering your yacht out think carefully about where you will want to dock it. Crowds hit the Caribbean each winter and the Mediterranean each summer so this is when you will be able to make most money chartering your yacht out.

You will only truly be able to know if you like the feel of a boat by spending time on board, and your yacht broker will explain whether this is a possibility.