How to search for a used yacht in Europe

Search the main portals, set filters for VAT status, year and location, and ask brokers for off-market boats. The same boat often appears at different prices.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 2 min read

Key points

The main portals include YachtWorld, Boat24 and Rightboat. The same boat can be listed by several brokers.
Filter on VAT status and location first. They decide whether a boat is practical.
Ask a broker for boats that are not advertised.

Start with a short brief

Write down the length range, the type, the budget including costs, the cabins you need, and the VAT status you accept. Use your mission to set it. See Defining your mission on the Med: day trips, island hopping or extended cruising and How much yacht can you actually afford?.

Where to look

International portals. YachtWorld, Boat24 and Rightboat list thousands of used boats across Europe. Use their filters for length, year, price, engine and location.
Broker websites. Many brokers list their own stock before it reaches the portals.
Builder and dealer sites. Many builders run approved-used programmes.
Marina notice boards and owner groups. Private sales appear there early.

Filters that save time

VAT status. A VAT not paid boat changes the price. See Buying a VAT-not-paid yacht.
Location. A boat in Croatia needs a flight, and a delivery to Barcelona. See Getting your boat home: delivery skippers, road transport and shipping.
Year and engine hours. They give you the boat's wear. See Engine hours, and whether they can be trusted.
Flag and registry. It tells you the paperwork you will meet. See Choosing a flag and registering your yacht.

Duplicates and prices

The same boat can appear on several portals, listed by different brokers at different prices. Match them by the hull details and the photos. The lowest listing shows the real asking price. Portals show asking prices only, and the sold price is not public. A broker with a sales history on that model can tell you the range.

Off-market boats

Some owners sell without advertising. Tell your broker what you need and ask them to call around. A short brief and a stated budget make you easy to work with.

Make a comparison sheet

For each shortlisted boat, record asking price, year, engine hours, VAT status, flag, location, and the date of the last survey and haul-out. Five boats side by side show you which ones deserve a flight. See Questions to ask before travelling to view a yacht for what to ask before you travel.

Also useful at step 4 How to read a yacht listing

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check your own case with a professional or ask us.