Yacht depreciation: how much value does a yacht lose each year?

The general rule: a steep drop, then a slowdown

A new yacht loses around 15% of its value in the first year, as it goes from "new from the yard" to "one owner". It then loses 6 to 7% a year for about ten years, after which the decline slows markedly: between 10 and 20 years, depreciation falls to 3 or 4% a year, and beyond 20 years value stabilises at around 12 to 20% of the new price, determined almost entirely by condition.

In practice, a production motor yacht is worth about 60% of its new price at 5 years, 45% at 10 years and 30% at 15 years. A sailing yacht or catamaran depreciates slightly more slowly, as does a semi-custom from a leading yard.

Three worked examples

Value retained as a percentage of the new price, and the corresponding market value, for a yacht in good condition, VAT paid. These are the curves used by our estimator.

Why the yard's segment changes the curve

The rarer and more recognised the yard, the slower the depreciation. Three reasons: buyer demand exceeds used supply (Riva, Pershing, Swan), owners maintain more expensive yachts better, and new prices rise every year, which pulls used prices up. Conversely, a high-volume production boat competes with dozens of identical units for sale at the same time, which weighs on prices.

Sailing yacht, catamaran and motor yacht

A sailing yacht depreciates roughly one point a year less than a motor yacht of comparable value: no heavy engines to replace, slower wear, and buyers who accept older boats more readily. Catamarans have enjoyed ten years of very strong demand, notably from charter, which has held their values up; be careful with ex-fleet units, which are often heavily used.

Five levers that slow depreciation

• Refit. Overhauled or replaced engines, paint, electronics, teak: a major refit lifts value by 8% if under three years old, 4% up to seven years, 2% beyond. It never pays for itself, but it sells the yacht faster and avoids a 15% negotiation on "work to be done".
• Maintenance records. A complete history (invoices, survey reports, consistent engine hours) is the first thing a serious buyer asks for. Its absence costs more than any option.
• Engine hours. For a motor yacht, 150 to 250 hours a year is the norm. Above 400 hours a year, the buyer anticipates a major overhaul and deducts it from the price.
• VAT status and flag. A VAT-paid yacht in Europe sells for more and faster than one under a commercial regime or temporary admission, whose market is narrower.
• Use. A chartered yacht has more hours and more interior wear, but often better technical follow-up. All in all, depreciation is slightly higher than for private use.

From value to asking price

Market value is a range, not a number. We recommend an asking price around 6% above the middle of the range: high enough to leave room for negotiation, low enough to show up in buyers' searches and avoid successive reductions, which tell the market that a yacht "isn't moving". The final sale price usually lands in the lower half of the range.

A correctly priced yacht sells in 4 to 9 months in the Mediterranean. Beyond a year without a serious offer, the problem is almost always the price.