- A yacht costs a lot more than the price its owner bought it for.
- There are additional expenses, like yacht crew, dockage, fuel, and maintenance, that many people don’t think about.
- Even many yacht crew wouldn’t own a superyacht if they could afford it because they’re so much money and work.
If there’s one thing I took away from spending three years writing for the yachting industry and attending the Monaco Yacht Show, it’s that buying a superyacht is the absolute pinnacle of indulgence for the 1%.
You see, these behemoths of the sea cost a lot more than the price tag they come with thanks to the upkeep they require – it’s a series of neverending expenses. There’s what I like to call the Big Four that will easily wear down an owner’s black AmEx: yacht crew, dockage, fuel, and maintenance, among a host of other eye-popping costs.
Just ask the crew who work on yachts.
I once spent a day running up and down the docks at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show asking crew one question: Would you buy a boat if you were rich? The answer, overwhelmingly, was no. Those that said yes were new to the industry – my guess is that they just didn’t know better yet.
Because, really, yachts are just floating money.
Here's how much it really costs to own a superyacht, which is generally defined as a boat at least 80 feet in length.
Generally, yachts over 100 feet cost $1 million per 3.3 feet — and that's not counting costs for upkeep.
Source: Forbes
Some older yacht models around 80 feet may sell for six figures, but a superyacht will most likely set you back by at least a few million. An 84-foot yacht can cost $1.74 million, while a 295-foot yacht can cost $45 million.
Source:Fraser Yachts, Burgess
But that's just the beginning — owners can expect to spend about 10% of the purchase price annually on operating and maintaining a yacht. That's $1 million a year for a $10 million superyacht, although it varies.
Source:Business Insider
The bigger the boat, the more crew — and salaries — you need. A 130-foot boat with five crew members can cost $32,500 a month. Deckhands earn an average of $3,083 to $3,574 a month, depending on the boat size. Captains get paid more, earning an average of $7,750 to $19,961 a month.
Source: Freedom Yacht Services, Dockwalk
Yachts in Florida's Broward County, a hub for for yachting, account for $3 billion yearly in wages and earnings, reported Kate Lardy of the Sun Sentinel, citing a survey by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida. That's not counting yachts based internationally.
Source:The Sun Sentinel
And don't forget payment for dayworkers, who are hired temporarily for onboard services. A captain of a 178-foot yacht told Lardy he spent $14,255 on dayworkers during the yacht's two-month visit in Fort Lauderdale.
Source:The Sun Sentinel
There are also other crew costs, like medical and liability insurance, training, and uniforms, the latter of which the captain told Lardy he spent $11,190 on over two months.
Source:The Sun Sentinel
In the two-month span, the captain also spent $50,000 on provisioning for the upcoming charter season, including bounty for the yacht's wine cellar.
Source:The Sun Sentinel
When owners aren't busy yachting in the Maldives or cruising to the Seychelles, they need a place to dock the boat — and fuel to get there. The captain also told Lardy he spent more than $100,000 on fuel and dockage during the two-month visit.
Source:The Sun Sentinel
Fuel and docking can get even more expensive during an event like the Monaco Grand Prix.
Source: Business Insider
Fuel can cost roughly $400,000 a year — and that's not just for the boat, but the toys that go along with it, like Jet Skis.
Source:Florida Yacht Management
Dockage varies on how big the boat is and how desirable the marina is. An 80-foot boat can run $1,200 a month, while a bigger boat in a more coveted slip can cost as much as $6,000 monthly. A superyacht owner can expect to spend $350,000 on dockage a year.
Source: Freedom Yacht Services, Florida Yacht Management
Like many things, yachts get wear and tear — they require regular maintenance and repairs. Routine maintenance can cost roughly 2% of the boat value after the yacht's first year, and around 7.5% of the boat's value when the yacht is 10 years old.
Source: Freedom Yacht Services
The captain of the 178-foot yacht takes the yacht to Fort Lauderdale twice a year, where it always gets work done. In the two-month period, he spent $142,746 on repair and maintenance, which he told Lardy is "typical."
Source:The Sun Sentinel
And regular maintenance doesn't include the cost for periodic refits. One owner told Superyacht News he refitted his 98-foot yacht for more than $1.1 million.
Source:Superyacht News
There's also insurance, which can cost roughly $240,000 a year, according to a report by Towergate Insurance.
Source: Towergate Insurance
And don't forget miscellaneous expenses, such as communications (like navigation and Satellite TV) and administration (mail and office supplies, to name a few). The captain told Lardy he spent more than $6,000 on admin costs during the two-month stay.
Source:The Sun Sentinel
Overall, he spent $643,164 during his stay in Florida. That's nothing compared to the $1.5 million he anticipated to spend for the yacht's next stay in Fort Lauderdale, during which the yacht would undergo a condition inspection.
Source:The Sun Sentinel
All of this doesn't count the cost of fun — superyacht owners love to throw soirees, especially during events and boat shows. During the Cannes Film Festival, Paul Allen traditionally throws a party on his yacht, Octopus, complete with guests like Kate Moss and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Source:Boat International Media
With superyacht parties, you can usually count on costs for food (or hiring a celebrity chef), alcohol, a DJ, and décor.
Source:Boat International Media
Owners can recoup some of these expenses by chartering their yacht. A 205-foot yacht with a $3.5 million annual operating budget can charge $425,000 a week. The price can vary on season and yacht size and includes costs for food and drink, fuel, harbor fees and dockage, and delivery fees.
Source:Forbes, Boat International
