The Real Cost of Owning a Sailing Yacht
When looking to purchase a sailing yacht in the UK, there’s a number of things that you’ll need to consider before buying the boat of your dreams. Whether that be the manufacturer, age of the yacht, the components of the sails and the maintenance costs after buying the vessel, the sailing yacht cost can vary from as little as £5,000 right up to £5,000,000 (excluding super yachts).
In this sailor’s guide, we outline exactly what a sailing yacht is, factors that can influence the purchase cost, maintenance fees and where you can buy a sailing yacht in the UK.
Contents:
- What is a sailing yacht?
- Factors that influence the purchase price of a sailboat
- Maintenance fees
- Where to buy a sailing yacht?
How much does a sailing yacht cost – quick summary
When purchasing a sailing yacht in the UK, make sure to consider factors like brand, model, age, size, location, and demand. A typical yacht price can range from £5,000 to £5,000,000, dependent on your specific requirements. Maintenance fees, including insurance, mooring, and equipment, can be 5-10% of the yacht’s value annually so is a vital factor to consider when you weigh up the costs of buying a sailing yacht. There is a range of expert yacht brokers at Clipper Marine that can assist you during your search for the perfect sailing yacht.
What is a sailing yacht?
A sailing yacht or sailboat is a boat that’s main power source is the wind, which is captured by the mainsail and headsail to propel the boat forwards. The sails consist of the mainsail, headsail and spinnaker.
Sailing yachts can be typically measured at 10m in length, however some vessels can come in longer.
Factors that influence the purchase price of a sailboat
As with everything sailors buy, sailing yachts and sailboats are no different in that they can vary greatly in price.
Location and demand
Sailing yachts are often linked to the rich and famous who harbour their vessels off the coast of luxury harbours and whilst this has some truth to it, they are easily accessible for ‘ordinary’ people who want to explore a new hobby or pastime. Some sailing yachts are more expensive in certain locations across the globe (such as Monaco and Dubai) because of mooring costs, the desirability to store and buy boats in certain marinas and sometimes the exchange rate.
For example, those in the UK will be paying an average global rate for sailing yachts, whereas those in the Middle East will be buying their boat at a premium rate.
Brand and model
Sailing yachts and sail boats from leading brands such as Bavaria and Bali are always in demand and with newly released models each year, prices can go up and down depending on what brand and model you choose to purchase. Sailing yachts from industry-leading manufacturers like Beneteau can fetch anything up to £1,000,000 brand-new, whereas a used sailboat from a lesser-known brand such as Sabre can be as little as £5,000 so the purchase price can hugely differ depending on what manufacturer you choose to go with.
Age and size of the sailing yacht
Another factor that can influence the cost of a sailing yacht is the age and size of the vessel. Typically, new sailing yachts fetch a higher value than their used counterparts simply due to the age of the vessel, so you’ll need to consider whether you’re desperate to buy a new or used sailboat.
In addition to the age and condition of the yacht, the size of it can influence the cost too. A smaller boat like the Bali Catspace Sail will typically cost less compared to a larger vessel such as the Bavaria C57. The size of a deck, how many cabins there are on-board, the living space, condition of the sails and other features on the yacht can push the price up as these tend to be more desirable among sailors.
Maintenance fees
Whilst the initial purchase price of a sailing yacht is a one-off payment, there are ongoing costs to keep your vessel in the best condition it can be. As a ball-park figure, it can cost 5% – 10% of the yacht’s total value each year to maintain, store, insure and run.
Typical yacht maintenance costs
- Insurance
- Mooring costs
- Maintenance costs of the yacht, equipment and sails
- Travel costs
- Wintering and dry dock
- Surveys
- Extras and contingencies
- Paying a fixed monthly fee
Where to buy a sailing yacht?
Here at Clipper Marine yacht brokerage, we have sales offices across the UK and Spain so you’re never far from purchasing your dream sailing yacht. The team here at Clipper Marine can help find the perfect sailboat for your exact requirements, whether that be from a prestigious brand like Bavaria and Bali, we have stock of sailing yachts across the UK and Spain.
If you’re considering buying a new or used boat, speak to one of our yacht brokers who can help further.
