What is my boat worth? How brokers price a yacht

Brokers price a boat from comparable listings, age, hours, condition, equipment, VAT status and location. Your purchase price and upgrade bills do not set it.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 2 min read

Key points

Comparable boats for sale show asking prices. Sold prices are lower.
VAT status, hours, condition and equipment move the price.
A price above the market leaves the boat unsold and shows up as price drops on portals.

What a broker looks at

Comparable boats. The same model and a similar year, on the portals and in the broker's own sales records. See How to search for a used yacht in Europe.
Age and hours. The year and the engine hours. See Engine hours, and whether they can be trusted.
Condition. Hull, deck, rig, sails, engine, interior. A recent survey helps. See Pre-listing survey and mechanical audit.
Equipment. Electronics, air conditioning, generator, tender. Fitted extras add less than they cost.
VAT status and flag. VAT paid commands more than VAT not paid. See What does VAT paid mean on a yacht? and Selling a boat with special status: VAT-unpaid, foreign flag, financed or charter-registered.
Location. A boat in Barcelona in spring draws more buyers than a boat in a distant yard in winter.
Papers. A complete pack supports the price. See The seller's document pack: VAT, registration, CE, service history.

Asking price and selling price

Portals show asking prices. Buyers negotiate, and the sale price is usually below the ask. Your broker knows what comparable boats have sold for, and that figure is what a buyer will test your price against.

What does not set the price

What you paid.
What you spent on upgrades, which return a fraction of their cost.
The price of a new boat of the same model.
The number on an insurance policy.

The cost of pricing too high

The first weeks bring the most enquiries. A boat priced above the market gets fewer viewings, sits, and shows a string of price drops that tell buyers it is unwanted. Buyers then offer lower than if it had been priced correctly at first.

A formal valuation

A surveyor can provide a written valuation, which lenders, insurers and tax authorities accept. Ask for one if you need it for finance, divorce, inheritance or a company sale. See What a survey includes, and what a surveyor does not inspect.

Set a plan for price

Choose a launch price with your broker.
Decide the review date, usually after 4 to 6 weeks of viewings.
Agree the lowest price you will accept, and the response to a lower offer.

Also useful at step 7 Listing agreements and the costs of selling

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