An Active Market Doesn’t Make Every Yacht a Good Buy

If you’ve been following the latest industry headlines, you could be forgiven for thinking the brokerage market is on fire.

There is certainly plenty of evidence to support that view. BOAT International recently reported that brokerage sales reached their strongest first half for three years, continuing the momentum built throughout 2025. Buyers are active, quality yachts are changing hands and confidence has returned to many parts of the market.

But the headline only tells part of the story.

Behind the numbers sits a much more nuanced market, one that rewards informed buyers far more than those chasing optimistic headlines.

A Market of Opportunities, Not Certainties

One of the biggest misconceptions in luxury asset markets is that rising transaction volumes automatically mean rising values.

They don’t.

While brokerage activity has strengthened, not every yacht is attracting multiple buyers or achieving asking price. At the same time, some major builders have reported softer new yacht sales, highlighting that different parts of the market are behaving very differently.

That’s exactly why buyers need independent advice.

Every Yacht Has Its Own Story

Two yachts may look almost identical on paper.

Both may be the same model.
Both may be the same age.
Both may even carry similar asking prices.

Yet one could represent exceptional value while the other may become an expensive mistake.

The difference often lies beneath the surface.

Questions experienced buyers ask include:

• Has the yacht been realistically priced or has it been sitting on the market for months?
• How many price reductions has it already seen?
• What comparable yachts have actually sold for, rather than what they’re advertised at?
• What survey issues are likely to emerge?
• Are significant refit costs approaching?
• How easy will it be to sell again in three to five years?

These questions rarely appear in a sales brochure, yet they have a major impact on long-term ownership costs.

Buying an Asset, Not Just a Lifestyle

Luxury yachts are emotional purchases. They should be.

But they’re also substantial financial assets.

The best acquisitions balance emotion with objective analysis, considering not only how enjoyable a yacht will be to own, but also how well it has been maintained, how desirable it will remain and what future buyers are likely to think.

Some yachts become increasingly difficult to sell because of ageing interiors, complex maintenance requirements or limited brand appeal. Others retain strong demand because of proven pedigree, respected builders and sensible ownership history.

Knowing the difference is where independent buyer representation adds real value.

What This Means for Lomond Clients

At Lomond Yachts, we don’t believe in chasing market headlines.

Instead, every acquisition should be built around evidence.

That means understanding price history, analysing comparable sales, identifying survey exposure, assessing realistic refit costs and considering future resale liquidity before making an offer.

An active market creates more opportunities.

It doesn’t automatically create better yachts.

The objective isn’t simply to buy.

It’s to buy well.

Lomond Perspective

The strongest buyers in today’s market aren’t necessarily those with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones making informed decisions based on evidence rather than excitement. Every yacht deserves to be judged on its own merits, because in brokerage, the best opportunities are often hidden behind the headline numbers.

Buy smarter. Sail further.