The Market

[roa312]

Although the large yacht upwards of 24 meter market is still interestingly good. For example March was a record in brokerage sales according to Boat International data.
I also think that upwards of 24 meters the demand curve is still a bit over the capacity of build, especially for the strong desired names in the market.
New Sanlorenzo SD132 sold in six units before delivery of first, Pershing X70 sold 5 hull#1 just launched, and they are already at ten units of the X80 which arrived in 2024, new Ferretti 940 also sold in five units before the first was delivered etc etc.

I understand that Sunseeker is also investing in the large yacht market with the introduction of the new 120 Yacht, 135 Yacht, and Ocean 460. Out of curiosity, do you happen to know about the preliminary sales figures for these models as well?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I’m not in that market but I don’t know what’s driving Sunseeker to pitch the 460. Good luck to them if they can sell enough, but IMHO a buyer in the market for a 40m plus boat seems unlikely to want the Sunseeker brand rather than the established builders in this sector say SL or CdM or Lurssen or Feadship or whatever. Going big proved a terrible decision for Princess, I don’t have Sunseeker down as materially different.

 

[Fire99]

Tricky one.. I'm sure the margins on a 138ft motor yacht must be pretty decent however as you say we're in Superyacht territory here and that brings a number of bespoke players into the game. That said, Sunseeker know how to engineer very fine craft so it's possible their product may be comparable or even better than some I've seen in this category..

I still think Sunseeker, Princess and Fairline are fine brands with produce fine motor yachts and they're working with a very challenging UK manufacturing environment. I want to see them prosper.

 

[oldgit]

My you are out of touch.

£15-17k more like if you are on the Hamble.

Did wonder as to why a monster Fairline Sqn was casting a shadow over half the boats in our local MDL marina along with a shiney shiney gorgeous new V58, would be flinching at that bill after mooring in St Kats last week.
Did notice his "significant other " ? was banished outside to a rather windy and chilly swim platform either for the fag or vape.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

I understand that Sunseeker is also investing in the large yacht market with the introduction of the new 120 Yacht, 135 Yacht, and Ocean 460. Out of curiosity, do you happen to know about the preliminary sales figures for these models as well?

I was told that they have an order for a 120 Yacht currently in build arriving 2026, and they are building a 135 for 2027 currently on speculation.
The Ocean 460 has no order and is so far offered as a project, as are the other larger builds.

I think the 135 Yacht should sell okay, what is the 40M/131 Yacht platform.

Project: Sunseeker 135 Yacht

I think Sunseeker needs a daddy (like Eddie Jordan) to go into larger sizes (even though they never made any money directly from his builds), which helped a lot in expanding them into bigger super yacht sizes. Although as management goes I think at the moment they have a formidable team to go into bigger yachts.

 

[benjenbav]

Popular / Desirable is in the eye of the beholder. We get people constantly telling us how desirable their Porsches are, they aren't always, in our humble opinion right.

I would buy some cars without hesitation, others I would only sell on behalf of the owner.

Yes, there are times when pretty much anything sells although those moments are few and far between. I see lots of people who are convinced they are the only buyer in the world and who never purchase. For truly desirable stuff it's a case of not usually being able to find one for sale and so when they do come on the market they find a home quite easily.

I think people's ideals vary such a lot with boats as well. You might not want what I want and visa versa.

Particularly as a boat gets older I think there are fewer buyers prepared to take on the ownership responsibilities.

I think boats are quite hard to value as they sell in relatively small volume. Sometimes asking price is the selling price, other tines the difference is massive.

Henry

It’s probably fair to say that what is a popular and desirable boat today may or may not be so in five/ten years time.

 

[henryf]

It’s probably fair to say that what is a popular and desirable boat today may or may not be so in five/ten years time.

A very valid point. As a buyer I’m quite conservative and hopefully that pays dividends down the road.

Henry

 

[Parabolica]

The market is very poor at present. Anyone telling any of you otherwise is deluded (or a dealer).

We boat in Mallorca and this year i have seen many of the smaller brokerages closing or moving to WFH.

This market woes started with overpriced new boats continually being over ordered by dealers when the reduced interest in ‘23 should have shown them that the Covid buying hiatus was well and truly gone. This oversupply has hit residual values and that unfortunately just trickles down.

With older brokerage boats, the issue is that it is now a buyers market and it doesn't matter how perfect your boat is, or how fairly prices it is, every buyer will come in with a low blow offer which the broker will encourage you to take as they can only earn if you agree to sell and dropping a £100k or so of of an already well prices £1M boat doesn’t really affect them whereas no sale does.

I am only really speaking of the Med based market and of the bigger well known brands but believe me, it ain't pretty right now and will be a wee while yet before overstocks are cleared and demand is balanced with supply to help the market get back to a healthier place.

Just my t’uppence worth as i see it from a manufacturing perspective (i’m in it), and an ownership perspective (i am one).

 

[volvopaul]

Just sat looking through listings , I’m looking if the price is right .
Many listings advertised with an available mooring , just shows that sellers have no intention of trading up or down , I just hope that the above post doesn’t filter through to the rest of Europe.
I know it’s quiet in the uk for some sellers , but the price always affects the sale .

 

[Hot Property]

At the lower end of the market, I bought a 20ft sports cuddy last September. AMT 200 DC.

Made in Finland by the guys that produced Yamarin hulls as a sub contractor, the quality is significantly higher than other brands I've seen.

Prices have dropped and sales stalled in the smaller boat world, I'm sure I would have paid less for the boat if I bought now.

However, it ticked all my boxes (large cockpit Vs small cabin, great for socialising).

It was also the only one on the market so take it or leave it.

I'm glad I took it and am enjoying boating regardless of any "paper" loss.

 

[Martxer]

We have had ours advertised for 10 months, lots of competition none seem to have sold, boat is as new and priced competitively.
Feedback from the broker is buyers are interested but have boats to sell.
The weather last year must have had a part to play, let’s hope the good start to this season gives the market the kick up the arse it needs.

 

[Pinnacle]

We have had ours advertised for 10 months, lots of competition none seem to have sold, boat is as new and priced competitively.
Feedback from the broker is buyers are interested but have boats to sell.
The weather last year must have had a part to play, let’s hope the good start to this season gives the market the kick up the arse it needs.

With all due respect, if you have not sold after 10 months, your boat is not priced to sell. Sorry.

 

[Martxer]

With all due respect, if you have not sold after 10 months, your boat is not priced to sell. Sorry.

Raised that with the broker in August last year he seemed to disagree looks on the face of it you are right and the broker is useless.

 

[oldgit]

At the lower end of the food chain, folks are still sitting on their hands.
Only one boat "recently" sold, a venerable 30 ft smallish twin screw sedan from a Italian builder, the seller is now suffering from sellers remorse , nothing out there his money will buy.
Covid FoMo still haunting the market, lethargy has set in.

 

[Obi]

A 20m Jongert just sold at auction (De Valk/Brightauctions) for only a little more than my old Oyster 39 cost me circa 2009.

There is a 17m Jongert up in a few weeks with a lower opening bid than the 20m, De Valk again.
M

Edit: Link added. Jongert 17 DS

 

[Mr Googler]

Raised that with the broker in August last year he seemed to disagree looks on the face of it you are right and the broker is useless.

I think the broker may have a change of heart now. I’m on the search and one broker told me the boat was over priced…one took forward an outline figure 30% under asking which the owner indicated they would accept and one literally said…please make any offer.

I sold my rib within 5 days on Facebook 2 weeks ago. Well presented and not over priced. That’s always been the recipie for selling boats…just a case of owners and brokers needing to align their market expectations to the current reality which for anyone who purchased at top of the market is a bitter pill I’m sorry to say.

 

[j24jam]

We have had ours advertised for 10 months, lots of competition none seem to have sold, boat is as new and priced competitively.
Feedback from the broker is buyers are interested but have boats to sell.
The weather last year must have had a part to play, let’s hope the good start to this season gives the market the kick up the arse it needs.

Assuming you have a MF895(?) there are at least 32 for sale in the UK right now, and 10 have sold in the UK this year already. Find a new broker.

 

[Martxer]

Assuming you have a MF895(?) there are at least 32 for sale in the UK right now, and 10 have sold in the UK this year already. Find a new broker.

You are correct and I do need to find a new broker. I raised the issue with price last year, in fact I told him I did not want to mess about if I was listing the boat I wanted to sell.
I think the broker is more interested in making YouTube videos.