Journal · Yachting
How much does a yacht cost to buy and run?
Purchase price: dated asking examples by size
These named examples show why size is not a price list. The two roughly 30-metre yachts have different builders, build dates, construction and specifications. Three listings do not establish a market range, median or achieved sale price.
| Yacht and length | Builder and listed build/refit | Asking price | Listing source |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUMMINGBIRD · 30.4 m | Couach · 2007 / 2025 refit | EUR 1,800,000 | Burgess |
| EBYSHINE · 30 m | Blaundus · 2023 | EUR 7,900,000 | Burgess |
| ELA · 50 m | Heesen · 2021 / 2026 refit | EUR 29,500,000 | Fraser |
Source: Passion Asset Advisory compilation of the Burgess and Fraser listings linked above, recorded September 28, 2026. Prices and availability can change; these are historical observations, not today's offers. The listings are the evidence for the asks and specifications, not proof of surveyed condition, title, tax treatment or the price a buyer ultimately paid. No relationship with the listing brokers or availability through this publication is implied.
For a purchase comparison, verify builder, year, gross tonnage, class status, machinery hours, refit work, condition and tax/import position. A new-build contract also needs a defined specification, payment stages, change-order rules and delivery terms. Review the buyer-broker comparison criteria.
Annual running cost: test the 10% assumption
For an illustrative $30 million yacht, an assumed 10% annual rate gives $3 million per year. That is arithmetic, not a quote, observed fleet average or rule tied to the named listings above. A lower purchase price does not necessarily reduce crew, yard work or fuel in the same proportion.
Build the real budget from crew contracts, berth and insurance quotes, the intended itinerary, service schedules and the survey's work list. Keep capital costs, finance, tax and major upgrades separate. The yacht running-cost calculator lets you change the planning assumptions.
| Line item | Assumed share | Illustrative amount | Replace with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 35% | $1,050,000 | Staffing, salary, rotation, training and crew-cost plan |
| Maintenance and yard reserve | 25% | $750,000 | Service schedules and survey/yard estimates |
| Dockage | 10% | $300,000 | Home-berth and itinerary quotes |
| Fuel and consumables | 15% | $450,000 | Hours, speed, machinery use and fuel quotes |
| Insurance | 5% | $150,000 | Vessel, use and cruising-area policy quote |
| Other operating costs | 10% | $300,000 | Management, communications, administration and contingency plan |
Source: Passion Asset Advisory worked scenario reviewed September 28, 2026. The percentages are chosen assumptions applied to the $3 million total, not observed fleet averages or quotes for the listed yachts.
Refit, survey and closing costs
A low ask may reflect work that is due. Inspect machinery, hull and systems; review class and maintenance records, paint, teak, safety equipment and interior condition. Ask specialists to price identified work and schedule downtime before deciding whether a discount is sufficient.
Survey, sea trial, haul-out, legal, escrow, tax, registration, delivery and financing costs need their own scope and quotes. Negotiating a repair allowance is not guaranteed. A clear survey does not remove every future risk.
Broker fees: separate purchase and seller terms
Ask each appointed broker to state the represented side, commission, payer, co-broker treatment and authorised expenses. A seller-funded arrangement is different from a buyer's separate advisory fee. No single commission is a statutory or universally fixed industry rate.
Agree what is due on completion, whether any costs are payable without a sale and how conflicts are disclosed. Surveyors, counsel, tax advisers and other specialists have separate scopes and charges. This reference page does not offer a brokerage mandate.
Charter income and charter cost are separate questions
An owner's charter income is not guaranteed. Test booked revenue, commissions, tax, additional crew and operating costs, wear, downtime and owner-use restrictions. Compare net income with the costs it actually offsets rather than assuming charter will fund ownership.
A guest's charter quote is usually structured around a base charter rate and the contract's expenses and taxes. Ask what the advance provisioning allowance covers and how actual spending is reconciled. No universal weekly rate or expense percentage is asserted here. This page is cost guidance, not a charter-booking, brokerage or vessel-management offer.
How Passion Asset Advisory separates asks and assumptions
Reviewed September 28, 2026. Purchase examples are the broker asks recorded at that review, not current offers. The dollar running-cost example is an explicitly chosen scenario, not a cost estimate for those yachts or an audited operating dataset. No assumed currency conversion, completed sale, tax status or charter profit is presented as fact. Editorial policy.
FAQ
Yacht cost questions
How much does a 30-metre yacht cost?
Passion Asset Advisory's comparison shows why length alone is not enough. Listings recorded September 28, 2026 asked €1.8 million for 30.4-metre HUMMINGBIRD and €7.9 million for 30-metre EBYSHINE. These different yachts are examples of asking prices, not a verified market range or completed-sale comparison.
Does a yacht cost exactly 10% of its value each year?
No. Ten percent is a planning assumption here. Applied to an illustrative $30 million value, it gives $3 million annually. Replace it with a vessel-specific budget based on use, crew, service schedules, survey findings and supplier quotes.
Do the listed asking prices include all purchase costs?
Do not assume so. Verify the seller's price basis and the tax/import position, then budget agreed survey, sea-trial, legal, escrow, registration, delivery, finance and brokerage costs separately.
Can charter income pay the ownership costs?
It is not guaranteed. Test documented revenue against commissions, additional operating costs, tax, wear, downtime and owner-use limits. Gross charter revenue is not the owner's net contribution to the budget.
Which brokerage fees should a buyer or seller confirm?
Confirm the represented side, payer, total commission, co-broker treatment and any separate buyer fee. Ask what happens if no sale completes and which third-party expenses need approval. The written engagement, not a generic industry percentage, sets the agreed charges.
Is a pre-owned yacht always cheaper overall than a new build?
No. Compare the actual purchase price, work due, operating plan and delivery terms. A lower asking price can be offset by refit costs or downtime, while a new-build specification can add cost through options and changes.
Yachting
Price the yacht and the work it needs.
Define the acquisition or sale scope, then review the records, survey plan and transaction costs.