Yacht Sales FAQ – Buying and Selling a Yacht with Aquinox

A yacht broker is your adviser from the first search to the day you take the keys. We find the right yachts, check their history, handle offers and contracts, arrange surveys and manage the closing. You get one person who knows the market and protects your interests.

In most sales, the seller pays the broker's commission. As a buyer, you normally pay no commission to us. You do pay your own costs, such as surveys, lift-out, legal work and registration.

We can help with any make. We work often with VanDutch, Azimut, Sunseeker and Fountaine Pajot, plus Turkish-built gulets and motor sailers.

No. We look at yachts across the Mediterranean, and from the US through our founder's years in Miami. We can also help you bring a yacht to Turkey.

1. Tell us what you need: use, size, budget, where you will cruise.
2. Decide between new and pre-owned.
3. We send a shortlist with our honest notes.
4. You view the yachts, in person or by video.
5. We make a written offer and negotiate for you.
6. You sign a purchase agreement and pay a 10% deposit.
7. Survey and sea trial.
8. Final payment, transfer of ownership and delivery.

A pre-owned yacht often takes 4 to 12 weeks from offer to closing. It depends on survey dates, the seller and the paperwork. New builds can take months or years.

A new yacht lets you choose the layout and finish, but you wait for delivery. A pre-owned (brokerage) yacht is ready now and often better value. Many owners start with pre-owned.

We send a written offer to the seller. Once it is accepted, both sides sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). It sets out the price, deposit, survey dates and closing terms. Most MOAs follow the MYBA standard.

Yes. The 10% deposit is held in a secure client or escrow account, not paid straight to the seller. If the yacht fails the survey under the MOA terms, the deposit is returned.

Yes. Marine finance is available for many yachts. We can introduce you to lenders.

• Motor yachts: flybridge, open, sportfish, explorer and superyachts.
• Sailing yachts: sloops, ketches, schooners and performance cruisers.
• Motor Sailers and gulets: the classic Turkish choice.
• Catamarans: sail and power, stable and spacious.

A superyacht is usually 24 metres or longer. A megayacht is usually over 60 metres. Anything smaller is simply a yacht.

We check the service history and condition before you view it. Then an independent surveyor inspects the hull, engines and systems. A sea trial shows how she runs on the water.

A short trip with the seller's captain to test the yacht at sea. You check the engines, speed, handling, noise and equipment.

The buyer pays for the survey, the lift-out and the sea trial costs. The seller pays for any repairs agreed after the survey.

You can ask the seller to fix them, agree a lower price, or walk away under the MOA terms. We negotiate this for you.

Size, age, builder, engine hours, condition, refit history, equipment, location and demand. We compare recent sales to tell you if the price is fair.

Not always. Every sale has an inventory list. We check it line by line before you sign.

Choose a respected builder. Keep up the maintenance and keep every record. Keep surveys current. Update the interior with care.

The flag is the yacht's nationality. It decides which safety rules, crew rules and taxes apply, and where you can charter. Popular flags include Malta, the Cayman Islands, the Marshall Islands and Turkey.

There are ownership rules for the Turkish flag, and foreign buyers often use a Turkish company. We work with maritime lawyers who set this up.

Yes. Foreign-flagged yachts can cruise and stay in Turkey under a transit log, within set time limits. We explain the rules for your case.

In the EU, a yacht's VAT status affects where it can stay and cruise without extra tax. Always check it before you buy. We ask for proof in every deal.

Yes. Every yacht needs a registered name or number. Renaming is possible after the sale.

Yes, by sea with a delivery crew or by ship with a yacht transport company. We arrange quotes, insurance and paperwork.

A common guide is about 10% of the yacht's value each year. This covers crew, marina, insurance, maintenance, fuel and repairs. Older and larger yachts can cost more.

Yachts under 24 metres can often be run by a licensed owner. We still suggest at least one crew member for safety and upkeep. Larger yachts need a professional crew.

Yes. A good policy covers the hull and machinery, third-party liability, crew, and the tender and toys.

Yes. Mediterranean marinas fill up fast in summer. For a yearly berth, book well ahead. As agents, we can help with berthing in Turkey.

A management company handles the technical side, crew, budgets, safety and paperwork for you. We can connect you with trusted managers.

Yes, if it meets commercial rules and holds the right licences. Charter income can help cover running costs, but it rarely covers all of them. Aquinox can list your yacht in our charter fleet.

No. A yacht needs commercial registration and must meet safety standards. Some yachts need upgrades first.

1. We inspect the yacht and suggest a realistic asking price.
2. You sign a listing agreement with us.
3. We create a professional listing with photos, video and full specs.
4. We market it to our buyers, our partner brokers and online.
5. We handle viewings, offers, the MOA and the closing.

We look at recent sales of similar yachts, the yacht's condition and history, and the market today. A fair price sells faster.

The seller pays a commission, agreed in the listing agreement as a percentage of the sale price. You pay nothing unless the yacht sells.

Proof of ownership, registration papers, builder's certificate, VAT or tax status, service records, the inventory list and any class or survey reports. We tell you what is missing.

Small fixes and a deep clean help a lot. Big work is not always worth it. We advise you case by case.

Any major work on a yacht: paint, engines, interior, electronics, or new equipment. A refit can also change the layout.

There is no fixed rule. Many owners plan work around class surveys, often every five years. Turkish shipyards are known for high-quality refits at good prices.