91% of August Sales Were Pre-Owned. Is Your Yacht Ready to Compete?

Buyers are shopping the pre-owned market. Here are six ways to make sure your yacht gets their attention.

If 91% of boats sold in August were pre-owned, there’s an important takeaway for sellers:

The buyers are there. But so is the competition.

Today’s buyer can compare yachts, prices, equipment and condition before ever stepping aboard. Getting listed is only the beginning.

If you’re considering selling, here are six things that matter.

1. PRICE

Price for today’s market—not yesterday’s.

Buyers have access to more information than ever. An unrealistic asking price can cause them to move on before they ever inquire.

Your broker should know the competing inventory and help position your yacht accordingly.

2. CONDITION

The first showing happens online.

Declutter. Detail. Repair the little things you’ve learned to overlook.

If the photos show stained cushions, cluttered countertops or tired finishes, buyers notice.

3. UPGRADES

Don’t bury your investment in the specifications.

New electronics? Seakeeper? Starlink? Upholstery? Recent engine service? New batteries?

Highlight them.

A buyer needs to understand what the previous owner has already spent—and what they may not have to spend after closing.

4. PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEO

You’re competing for attention before you’re competing for an offer.

Professional photography gets someone to stop scrolling.

Video helps them imagine owning the yacht.

Both should show the boat honestly, but at its absolute best.

5. EXPOSURE

Don’t depend on one marketing channel.

MLS platforms matter, but so do Google, brokerage websites, email databases, social media, video and direct-to-consumer marketing.

The objective isn’t simply to be listed.

It’s to be found.

6. BROKER NETWORK

Sometimes the right buyer isn’t searching at all. Their broker is.

Broker-to-broker relationships still matter.

Your broker should be actively communicating with the people who may already represent your next buyer—not simply waiting for an online inquiry.

One Final Question

Before listing your yacht, ask your broker:

“If a buyer is comparing my yacht against three others today, why would they choose mine?”

If the answer isn’t immediately clear, that’s where the marketing strategy should begin.

Exposure gets your yacht seen. Positioning gives the buyer a reason to choose it.

And you don’t have to navigate that process alone.

At Yachting Experts, we look beyond simply listing your yacht. We help position it for today’s buyer—from pricing and presentation to digital marketing, broker outreach and the story that makes your yacht stand apart.

Thinking about selling? Engage Yachting Experts before you go to market. Let’s make sure your yacht is positioned to compete.

Pictured is ”Fair Dinkum” 55’ Silent Yachts 2019–Click For Full Listing