For yacht owners
Buying a superyacht: the questions to ask before you sign
Chris Stokes ·
Before signing a superyacht purchase agreement, separate three questions: does the yacht suit your plans, is its condition acceptable, and can ownership and operation be arranged as intended? A beautiful presentation does not answer all three. Build a small team of independent specialists and ask for evidence rather than reassurance. This is general guidance, not legal or tax advice; the right answers depend on the yacht, its location and your circumstances. Keep a written checklist of unresolved questions, with a responsible adviser and a deadline for each answer. Share it across the team so assumptions do not quietly become accepted facts.
Does the contract protect your checks?
Ask your maritime lawyer which conditions cover the survey, sea trial, title checks and documentary review. Understand the deadlines, the deposit arrangements and the consequences of rejecting the yacht or requesting repairs. A familiar contract form still needs transaction-specific review. Do not assume that a conversation with the broker has become a binding condition unless it is properly recorded in the agreement.
Confirm exactly what is included in the sale: tenders, equipment, spares, furnishings and any exclusions. Ask where completion and delivery will take place, who bears risk at each stage and what happens if schedules slip. Establish a single document list early so the seller, broker, lawyer and buyer know what must be available before money changes hands.
What will the survey and sea trial actually cover?
Appoint a surveyor with relevant experience of the yacht's construction, machinery and systems. Discuss the inspection scope, access, haul-out arrangements, exclusions and whether specialist engineers are needed. A general condition survey may not answer every question about engines, electronics or previous structural work. Ask for maintenance records and investigate significant gaps, recurring defects and evidence of repairs rather than relying on a polished interior.
Agree a sea-trial plan that reflects intended use and the yacht's operating limits. Ask which machinery and systems will be tested and who records the results. Survey findings should be explained in terms of safety, required work and uncertainty, not simply a long defect list. Have your advisers assess unacceptable findings against the contract before any rejection or renegotiation deadline passes.
Is the title clear, and does the flag fit?
Ask your lawyer to verify ownership, the seller's authority and any mortgages, liens or other claims that could affect clean title. Registration paperwork is important but should not be treated as the entire investigation. Establish what releases and closing documents are required, who obtains them and how their validity will be checked. A representative can coordinate this work but should not substitute for legal verification.
Choose flag and registration arrangements around the intended ownership structure, cruising areas and private or commercial use. Eligibility, safety requirements, inspections and crew obligations need specialist advice. A flag suitable for the current owner is not automatically suitable for you. If charter is part of the plan, review the additional operational and regulatory implications before assuming the yacht can begin earning income.
Can you prove the VAT and import position?
Request the documents supporting the yacht's claimed VAT and customs status. Ask a maritime tax or customs adviser to check them against the proposed transaction, delivery location and future cruising plans. A broker's statement that a yacht is 'VAT paid' is not a replacement for documentary review. Past ownership, movements and changes of use can matter, and requirements vary between jurisdictions.
If the yacht will enter the European Union from elsewhere, establish which import or temporary-admission rules might apply to your particular situation. Do not rely on a general time limit or another owner's experience. Clarify who will make declarations, retain supporting records and monitor compliance. Resolve material uncertainty before completion rather than discovering it when the yacht arrives at its first destination.
What will ownership require after handover?
Build an operating budget with a captain or suitable management adviser. Include crew employment, insurance, berthing, maintenance, fuel, compliance, communications and planned works. Consider the cruising programme and periods out of service, not just the purchase price. Ask what the current expenditure excludes and which maintenance has been deferred. Avoid treating a generic percentage of the purchase price as a reliable budget for a particular yacht.
Finally, establish who represents whom. Understand broker commissions, surveyor appointments and any supplier relationships affecting recommendations. Arrange handover of records, keys, inventories, warranties and operational knowledge, with named responsibilities for unresolved items. An independent owner's representative can keep these strands together and flag decisions needing your approval. The aim is not to eliminate every uncertainty, but to know which uncertainties you are accepting before you sign.