How much is a yacht?

How Much is a Yacht?

What is a Yacht?

What is a Yacht?

 

Yachts are as fancy as they sound. These vessels are primarily used for leisure and entertainment. There are sailing yachts, which do not have a motor and then there are the more traditional motor-powered yachts. This article focuses on motor-powered yachts. A yacht has a standard length of about 36 feet but can get up to hundreds of feet in length. They typically come with 2 or more diesel engines. Yachts make great travel boats for families or groups of people looking to venture from location to location via water.

 

If your vessel is less than 36 feet in length, it is typically considered a cabin cruiser or cruiser, not a yacht – so the length is an important distinction. Currently, the largest yacht on the water is 738 feet long and there is sure to be even bigger yachts in the future, so the sky’s the limit on yacht length.

 

How Big are Yachts?

Yachts can range in size drastically. As far as terminology goes, any boat over 36 feet in length qualifies as a yacht. These smaller yachts are somewhat affordable and manageable boats. They don’t require a crew or captain to run and can fit in most regular docks. However, there are still yachts that get into the mega-yacht or super-yacht category. This is when you break the 100-foot category. Believe it or not, there are plenty of mega-yachts out there well over the 100-foot mark. These yachts can house upwards of 20 people and require huge crews and staff to run. 

 

Why are Yachts Associated with Luxury?

There is a distinction between a yacht and a luxury yacht that is often not made very clear. The fact of the matter is that yachts are associated with luxury because they are big and expensive. Think about the maintenance required for a superyacht (think a yacht over 100 feet). You need a trained captain, a first officer, deck mates, deckhands, an engineer, a chef, a cleaning crew, a steward/ess, etc. All these people need to be paid. Then, think of the gas consumption of a yacht of that size. All things considered, not only is buying a yacht expensive, but the upkeep, maintenance, and usage of a yacht is also expensive. 

 

What Brands of Yachts are There?

Although we’ve already touched on the super-yachts, there are some more reasonably sized and priced yachts on the market. Most of the 100 ft+ superyachts are custom commissioned and made specifically for a customer who requested the vessel. These brands have a more traditional business model, offering a few models and floorplan variations.  

  • Afina
  • Back Cove Yachts
  • Beneteau
  • Carver Yachts
  • Cruisers Yachts
  • Formula Boats
  • Jeanneau
  • Leopard Catamarans
  • Marquis Yacht
  • Nordic Tugs
  • Ocean Alexander
  • Prestige Yachts
  • Regal Boats
  • Sabre Yachts
  • Sea Ray Boats
  • Tiara Yachts
  • Viking Yacht Company
  • Yamaha Boats

 

How Much is a Yacht?

You will be hard-pressed to find current pricing on yacht models for most of the brands listed above. However, here’s pricing data on the under 100-foot yachts. Prices range from $150,000 to well over a million dollars.

Brand

Model

Length

Price

Jeanneau

Leader 40

40 feet

Starting at $419,400

Jeanneau

NC 14

45.8 feet

Starting at $604,100

Jeanneau

NC 895

29.9 feet

Starting at $138,570

Jeanneau

Jeanneau 51 (Sailboat)

50.6 feet

Starting at $433,900

Jeanneau

Sun Odyssey 389 (Sailboat)

38.7 feet

Starting at $192,900

Beneteau

Monte Carlo 52

53.7 feet

Starting at $1,075,700

Beneteau

Gran Turismo 50

51.9 feet

Starting at $885,500

Beneteau

Swift Trawler 41 Sedan

44.1 feet

Starting at $551,500

Beneteau

First Yacht 53 (Sailboat)

56.2 feet

Starting at $672,000

Beneteau

Oceanis Yacht 62 (Sailboat)

62.1 feet

Starting at $1,049,300

Formula

45 Yacht

45 feet

Starting at $1,461,640

Carver

C37 Coupe

37 feet

Starting at $487,985

Carver

C43 Coupe

43 feet

Starting at $713,670

Carver 

C40 Command Bridge

40 feet

Starting at $624,160

Carver

C52 Command Bridge

52 feet

Starting at $1,175,555

 

If you are interested in some more detailed pricing data on other types of boats, take a look at our article on How Much a Boat Costs.

 

Celebrity Yachts and More

We know how exciting the superyachts are so we’ve compiled some of the best celebrity yachts around for your entertainment.

 

Ann Walton Korenke’s Yacht

Ann Walton Kroenke, of the Walmart corporation, owns the Aquila, which is estimated to be worth $150 million and is 281 feet in length.

Ann Walton Korenke's Yacht

 

Paul Allen’s Yacht

The late Paul Allen, one of Microsoft’s co-founders, owned a 414-foot yacht, known as the Octopus that was estimated to be worth over $200 million.

 

J.K. Rowling’s and Johnny Depp’s Yacht

J.K. Rowling and Johnny Depp have both owned the Amphitrite yacht, which was sold again in 2017 for a cool $17.5 million.

J.K. Rowling and Johnny Depp

 

Steve Jobs’ Yacht

Steve Jobs had commissioned the Venus yacht before his death in 2011, but sadly it was not finished until he passed. The boat is still in the Jobs’ family. The boat is 256 feet in length and estimated to be worth over $137 million.

Steve Jobs' Yacht

Steven Spielberg’s Yacht

Steven Spielberg, one of the most popular and successful filmmakers in recent history, owns the Seven Seas yacht. The 282-foot boat can accommodate up to 12 guests and is estimated to be worth $200 million.

Steven Spielberg's Yacht

 

Jeff Bezos’ Yacht

Jeff Bezos, one of the world’s richest people and CEO of Amazon, was rumored to own the Flying Fox yacht estimated to be worth over $400 million. However, the rumors that Bezos owned the yacht are false, but it’s still one of the most impressive boats around! The yacht is 446 feet long and can sleep 22 guests with a 54 person crew. Like, what?!

Jeff Bezos' Yacht

 

Tiger Woods’ Yacht

Tiger Woods is infamous in his own right, which might be the inspiration for his yacht’s name. Privacy is a 154-foot yacht purchased in 2004 and estimated to be worth over $20 million.

Tiger Woods' Yacht

 

Nicole Kidman’s Yacht

Nicole Kidman’s Hokulani is 74 feet in length and ran her about $4.5 million when she bought it in the early 2000s. The yacht boasts a large master suite along with additional guest cabins.

Nicole Kidman's Yacht

 

Sean Combs’ Yacht

Sean Combs – AKA P. Diddy owns a $65 million 177 foot yacht which takes over 10 crew members to run on a daily basis. Constructed in 2008, the Maraya can house 12 guests in 6 luxury suites.

P. Diddy's Yacht

 

The Azzam

One of the biggest yachts in the world is the Azzam. It clocks in at 590 feet. Yes, you read that right. The mega-yacht is owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nayan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi. The boat is well known for its over-the-top defense systems and as one of the fastest mega-yachts in the world, reaching speeds of up to 35 mph. Now the question you’ve all been waiting for. The Azzam tops our list with a price of $600 million.

The Azzam Yacht

 

What is a Yacht Club?

Now, let’s bring our head back out of the clouds and focus on some of the questions we still have about yachts. Whatever type of yacht you decide to purchase, you might consider joining a yacht club. So what is a yacht club and why would you want to join one? You can join a yacht club even if you don’t own a boat. If you are planning a purchase or rent a boat, you can still become a member. A yacht club is not like a sailing club where you pay a monthly fee to use the club’s boats. A yacht club is for boat owners, previous boat owners, or those who plan to become owners. 

 

Why Join a Yacht Club?

  1. Access to a boat slip or dry storage in a prime location
  2. U.S. Sailing-sanctioned racing access
  3. Access to facilities like a dining room, exercise room, meeting room, pool, etc. 
  4. Access to programs for kids to learn to sail and socialize 
  5. Access to organized events, activities, or cruises

 

Many people join a yacht club for the socialization aspect. They want to meet like-minded people who enjoy doing the same activities as they do. For someone who is land-locked or less familiar with boating, maybe you have encountered a country club for golfers. I would certainly compare a yacht club and a country club. 

 

How Much Does a Yacht Club Cost?

Membership pricing varies widely based on location, expertise, offerings, size, and many other factors. You will need to visit each Yacht Club in your area and get specific details on amenities, activities, offerings, and pricing. 

 

How to Rent or Charter a Yacht

If you are interested in experiencing the luxury and excitement that comes with cruising on a yacht without the long-term commitment, you might consider renting or chartering a yacht. There are a few factors that will influence the cost of your yacht rental. 

  1. Time of year
  2. Location
  3. Type of boat
  4. Size of boat
  5. The notoriety of the boat (does a celebrity own it?)
  6. Crew needed
  7. All-inclusive or not
  8. Taxes
  9. Insurance
  10. Gratuity 

 

All these are expenses you will incur if you are renting or chartering a yacht. Some boats will cost $10,000 a week while others might cost upwards of $150,000 a week, depending on the above items. 

 

If you are interested in renting a yacht for you or your family, there are multiple companies that will help you find a yacht in your desired location and book the boat. 

American Yacht

LateSail Crewed

Fraser Yachts

The Moorings

 

How Much Does a Yacht Captain Make?

If you are on the other side of the coin and are interested in working on a yacht, that is entirely possible! There are dozens of jobs available that require working on a private yacht. Yacht captains make money from chartered cruises and from the owner’s use of the boat. Most yacht captains will make somewhere in the $60K – $150K range, plus any tips from passengers. The wide range in salary depends on the captain’s experience and the size and complexity of the boat. 

 

Conclusion

Yachts might seem luxurious and out of reach, but there are some affordable yachts on the market. Whatever your budget, we hope this article answered some of your most burning questions about yachts, what they are, who uses them and how to use them. Yachts vary vastly in size and price, but no matter how you shake it, they are big boats that require a lot of maintenance and care. If you are ready to purchase your first (or second) yacht, you might want to investigate getting a loan to help cover the cost of the boat. If so, our Guide to Financing a Boat is a great first step to getting the lay of the land, err…water?

 

If a yacht doesn’t seem like your speed, you should take a look at our Boat Buying Guide to see some details on other types of boats. 

 

GoRollick Buying Experience

When you’re ready to find your perfect boat, be sure to check us out at Gorollick.com. You can:

See nationwide inventory, specs, and incentive information:

  • Get an upfront, transparent price on your desired boat
  • Receive special offers on both the boat, as well as additional accessories
  • Shop at one of our Certified Dealers who are committed to providing an exceptional buying experience

 

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