Selling Your Boat Through Worldwide Catamarans – How to Get It Right First Time
Sometimes you only get one real chance to sell your boat, so let’s make it count.
There’s never a buyer around when you need one the most, which is why every effort must be made to make your boat the easiest, most attractive option on the market. Selling successfully is a joint effort between you, the seller, and us as your broker. You know your boat from stem to stern – every mark, blemish, upgrade, and quirk. The more information you give us, the better chance we have of getting you the right buyer at the right price.
The Listing Agreement – Why Speed Matters
Until the brokerage listing agreement is signed and the full inventory is completed, we cannot properly advertise your boat. At best, we can say it’s “arriving shortly” on social media. Once the paperwork is in place, we can get to work immediately – and timing really does matter. A buyer may be about to purchase another boat this afternoon and yours could have been the one.
The agreement comes in two parts: the brokerage terms and the inventory. The inventory becomes part of the sales purchase agreement, so if an item is listed, it is included in the sale unless clearly stated otherwise. This means listing everything – right down to the last deck brush. Engine hours, recent upgrades, sail replacement dates, electronics models and serial numbers all matter. If safety equipment like liferafts or flares are out of date, say so clearly now rather than letting it become a negotiation problem later.
If there is a known issue with the boat, disclose it early. It’s always better to deal with it upfront than have a surveyor discover it later.
Paperwork – The Number One Deal Killer
The biggest reason yacht sales fall through is missing or incomplete paperwork.
Before a buyer appears, gather all original or notarised documents. Photocopies help, but originals are usually required. This includes:
- Previous bills of sale
- Proof of VAT payment if applicable
- Registration certificates
- Build certificates
- Radio licences
- Conformity certificates
If the boat is owned by a company or SPV, additional corporate documents will be required. Missing paperwork is not the end of the world – it can often be tracked down – but it’s far easier to solve before there’s a buyer waiting.
Photos Sell Boats – Bad Ones Kill Interest
Good photographs are not optional. They sell boats.
Clean the boat thoroughly before taking photos and take far more than you think you need. Photograph everything: engine compartments, cabins, heads, lockers, sails, mast, tender, electronics, anchor gear, and hulls. Lifestyle photos help too – people enjoying the cockpit or sailing under way shows buyers what life on board could look like.
Remove clutter, cleaning products, laundry, and personal items. If photography isn’t your strength, hiring a professional is often money very well spent.
Clean Like Your Sale Depends on It – Because It Does
This may sound obvious, but many boats are shown dirty. Not “hosing it down” clean – properly clean. Inside and out. Stainless, teak, glass, lockers, bilges, engine bays, heads. If it smells clean and looks cared for, buyers feel confident. If it doesn’t, they start looking for problems.
If you’re leaving the boat for a while, it’s worth having someone check and tidy it regularly. First impressions matter more than most sellers realise.
De-Clutter Ruthlessly
Liveaboards especially tend to accumulate things. Collections of spares, jerry cans, tools, ropes, memorabilia, and personal items don’t help sell a boat. They make it look smaller, tired, and overloaded.
Remove what you can, store it ashore if needed, and list spares properly on the inventory. Buyers want to imagine their life on board – not yours.
Location Matters More Than Romance
An idyllic, remote mooring may be cheap, but if buyers have to take multiple flights, ferries, taxis, and possibly a donkey to reach your boat, they simply won’t bother.
Easy access near an international airport massively increases viewings. Sometimes moving the boat costs money, but it often saves months of delays and price reductions.
Make Viewing Easy
Leave clear instructions and permission with the marina for access. Ensure keys are available. If you’re not around, having someone local who can open the boat helps.
If you live aboard, it’s often best to meet buyers briefly, then step away while they view. Be available for questions, but give them space. And if you have a dog – please arrange alternative care during viewings.
Sea Trials – Do Them Properly
Sea trials should be a condition of sale, not a casual viewing option. For safety, insurance, and liability reasons, trials are usually conducted by a commercially endorsed skipper and organised through the broker. They are often carried out as part of the survey process.
Final Thoughts
Selling your boat isn’t just about listing it online and waiting. It’s about preparation, honesty, presentation, access, and timing. Done properly, it can save you months of stress and a great deal of money.
Sometimes you really do only get one good shot. Let’s make it count.
Graham Stimson
Worldwide Catamarans