Metrics for the superyacht market are trending up, with sales and charter revenue up across most brokerage firms in 2019. Yet, owners and buyers are getting increasingly cautious, bracing for an economic slowdown. With yachting still far off its 2008 heights, anxiety grows over whether the sector can sustain another crisis.
A decade ago, the yachting market lost half its turnover. Sales plummeted as American and European markets tumbled, pressuring owners to sell and buyers to hold off, resulting in a drop of nearly 40% in brokerage yacht prices. Abandoned new builds and rare new orders lead to yard collapses that rippled throughout the industry.
Figures now show the market has recovered only 56% of what it lost, before inflation, which puts it at less than half of previous volumes.
Owners and buyers alike are now becoming increasingly cautious as signals of a possible economic slowdown are multiplying. US Government bonds clearly indicate this anxiety in the market with 3-month yields at 2.27% and 10-year yields at 2.1%, an inversion that so far only occurred ahead of a recession.
Indicators of anxiety in yachting are also clear. Speculation builds have returned in the past 18 months, with several small to midsize yards increasingly financing the construction of their own yachts in the hope of finding a buyer along the way. The last time the market saw this at a significant scale was in 2008.
Several new builds over 70-meters have now been sold for more than their construction costs. Another throwback to 2008 when yacht flipping hit scale and completed yachts were selling at 15 to 20% premiums over new build orders.
Ferretti Group, the Italian yacht building conglomerate, is now thinking of going public according to Reuters. The last time the group considered such a move was in 2008.
As the market grows increasingly reminiscent of 2008, some industry players have started heading for the exits, providing an interesting opportunity for capitalists. Whilst M&A talks across yachting have skyrocketed in volume in the past 12 months, some deals have already been closed.
US broker MarineMax acquired Fraser Yachts, a leading brokerage previously owned by the Azimut-Benetti Group, leaving several brokerages still on the market for consolidation. Dutch yacht builder Moonen has also disclosed it is bringing in a new investor, whereas Wider Yachts was acquired by a group involving Zepter, owner of the 50-meter yacht Joy Me.
Global Yachting Group, which went public in 2017 with a market cap of over £50 million, now trades at half that market cap as traders remain skeptical of yachting's performance in the event of a new recession.
Recessions in itself are a normal component of any open markets, cyclical in their nature. Yachting, however, will cruise in unchartered territory as the sector is still far off from having recovered from its 2008 levels and lacks the required capital to sustain a new correction. Despite the recent uptick, many yachting firms remain unprofitable.
A slowdown could also equal opportunity for larger players looking to expand their market share. Combined, the 10 largest yards already account for over 60% of active new builds. History has shown scale and efficiency were amongst the rare factors that could make a yachting organization profitable, even in a recession.
Even if it were to avoid a slowdown, yachting still seems to be poised for deep changes. The private aviation market over the past decade has seen commissions for brokerages rapidly decrease with a liberalization of information and the entry of tech companies.
The latest of which, Central Jets, now lets users subscribe for €199/month and charter any jet direct from its owners with the platform taking only a 3% processing fee, a steep discount from the 50% margins traditional brokers used to charge.
In aviation, the advent of such business models eradicated a large part of small traditional brokerages and slashed earnings for larger groups, handing back savings to the end users. Whilst yachting is still in its early days of seeing such models come in, a restructuring of current 20% charter and 10% sales fees could be hard to process for most organizations.
Royal Hakvoort has signed a construction contract for a 70.1-meter superyacht, designated Project YN258. The vessel, designed for long-range cruising, will be the largest project in the shipyard's history in terms of both length and gross tonnage.Construction will begin immediately at the shipyard's facility in Monnickendam, the Netherlands, with delivery scheduled for 2029. The project involves an all-Dutch team, with Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design responsible for the design and Diana Yacht Design providing the naval architecture. The sale was brokered by 26 North Yachts, with Arrow Monaco acting as the owner's project management company.The yacht will have a beam of 11.6 meters and a gross tonnage of 1,513. Accommodation is planned for up to 14 guests in seven cabins, including two owners' suites – one located on the bridge deck and another occupying the entire owners' deck. Crew quarters will accommodate 20 staff and include a mess hall, a dedicated gym, and technical spaces designed for accessibility on long voyages.Reported features include a touch-and-go helipad, a sports court, and a swimming pool, with a layout emphasizing a balance between indoor and outdoor areas.Royal Hakvoort is a family-owned shipyard. She was founded by Albert Kizn Hakvoort in 1919. The yard is based in the historic Dutch village of Monnickendam. The shipyard is able to guarantee best in class quality for custom built motor yachts and sailing yachts up to 65m in length.Credits: Royal Hakvoort
September 23, 2025
German marine glass manufacturer Yachtglass and Italian manufacturer Hard Glass have established a joint venture named Ocean Glass. The companies will continue to operate independently while using the new entity to develop markets and provide glazing solutions to shipyards internationally.The joint venture will be officially introduced at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show at Stand DS 57 in Darse Sud. Both companies have previously supplied custom glass for yachts, including vessels exceeding 120 meters in length.Silvia Buck, CEO of Yachtglass, stated: “This strategic partnership merges German engineering precision with Italian design expertise. Together, we’re poised to deliver custom, high-specification glass solutions for the most sophisticated superyachts on the market. We’re particularly focused on expanding our presence in Turkey, the Middle East, and Asia - regions where demand for premium European craftsmanship continues to grow.”Fiorenzo Furlan, president of Hard Glass, added: “Ocean Glass represents the fusion of uncompromising quality and refined aesthetics at sea. Our new venture is committed to delivering marine glass systems that meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and design. Partnering with Yachtglass allows us to scale our vision and set new benchmarks for the industry.”The formation of Ocean Glass occurs as demand increases for large-scale glazing solutions on superyachts, where exteriors often incorporate hundreds of square meters of custom glass. The venture aims to combine German engineering and Italian design capabilities to serve emerging shipbuilding regions.Credits: Ocean Glass
September 23, 2025
Northrop & Johnson has listed the 23.86-meter expedition yacht Vanguard for sale at $3,980,000. Yacht Broker Mike Finnegan is representing the vessel, which was delivered by Naval Yachts in 2023.The XPM 78 platform yacht is designed for long-range cruising with a focus on efficiency and system integration. Vanguard recently completed a 7,000-nautical-mile voyage along the U.S. Atlantic Coast and into Greenland's High Arctic waters, conducted with two ice pilots onboard.Propulsion is provided by a diesel-electric Praxis hybrid system with an integrated energy management network. The yacht cruises at 9 knots with a reported fuel consumption of 3.5 liters per nautical mile, providing a range exceeding 7,000 nautical miles. Technical features include an ice-reinforced hull, DMS Magnus Master stabilizers, and a commercial-grade dynamic positioning system.The interior, designed by Arista Marine, follows an open-plan layout with the galley, helm, and salon located on the main deck. Finishes include pale timbers with dark contrast elements. The helm station is equipped with dual high-back chairs and a multi-display dashboard.Accommodation is provided for six guests in three en-suite staterooms, with a convertible salon that can accommodate two additional guests. The full-beam owner's cabin contains a king-sized berth and lounge seating.Exterior areas are configured for operational functionality, featuring a tender crane and storage on the aft main deck with L-shaped guest seating. The flybridge helm seats two persons, with dual stairways leading to the swim platform. All exterior spaces are designed for low maintenance and expedition readiness.Credits: Northrop & Johnson
September 23, 2025
Luca Dini Design & Architecture has entered into an agreement with Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy to explore the development of a national maritime strategy. The initiative aims to position Albania as a sustainable yachting hub in the Mediterranean.The proposed strategy involves creating a network of interconnected marinas designed to share resources and infrastructure rather than compete. The approach intends to improve logistical efficiency, support regional economic growth, and reduce environmental impact. Albania’s geographic position near established yachting destinations such as Greece and Montenegro, along with its undeveloped coastline, is seen as a foundation for attracting seasonal boaters and superyachts.The project envisions the development of service facilities including repair yards, refit stations, and fueling areas to meet international standards and accommodate larger vessels. The plan emphasizes adopting sustainability principles in new marina construction and diversifying specializations across different locations to reduce congestion and environmental pressure. Intermodal transport connections with road and rail networks are also part of the proposed strategy to link coastal and inland regions.The concept aligns with European Union initiatives such as the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), focusing on integration with continental trade and logistics systems. Luca Dini Design & Architecture will contribute expertise in architecture, yacht design, and master planning to the project. The firm indicated that the next 15 years represent a critical period for Albania to establish itself as a competitive maritime destination through coordinated planning.Credits: Luca Dini Design & Architecture
September 22, 2025
Camper & Nicholsons has listed the sailing yacht Imagine for sale at €17,800,000, with VAT paid. The 44.18-meter vessel is represented by Sales Advisor Maël Fiolet and was available for viewings at anchor during the Monaco Yacht Show, which opened on September 18.Built in 2010 by Alloy Yachts to a design by Ed Dubois, Imagine remains under its original ownership. The yacht was designed for worldwide cruising and has never been chartered. It complies with LY2 regulations and completed its Lloyd’s 15-year survey in 2025 alongside an extensive refit. In 2011, the yacht received the Best Sailing Yacht award at the World Superyacht Awards.The yacht accommodates nine guests in four cabins. The full-beam master suite is located aft and includes an en suite bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, study, and vanity area. Additional accommodation consists of one double guest cabin, one twin cabin with a Pullman berth, and a fourth cabin configured as a single with a Pullman. The main saloon sofa can convert into two additional bunks if required.The interior offers 242 square meters of living space finished with white oak joinery, Loro Piana fabrics, and alpaca carpets. The raised salon features panoramic windows and a split-level arrangement with a lounge area to port and a navigation station to starboard. Custom features include an automated sliding companionway door, opening portholes in the master suite, underfloor freezers, and a firearms safe for Arctic voyages.Deck areas include a forward cockpit with dining space and sunpads, a boom awning for shade, and a foredeck tender well that converts to a heated spa pool. A crow's nest is positioned on the mast for observation.The yacht is equipped with a 61.9-meter Southern Spars mast, carbon fiber rigging, and a furling boom. The sail plan includes 895 square meters of upwind sail area managed by captive winches built by Alloy Yachts. A lifting keel allows operation in both shallow waters and open ocean conditions. All sails have been upgraded over time, with a new North Sails jib installed in 2025.Power is provided by a single Caterpillar C18 engine. The yacht carries a diesel-powered tender, which eliminates the need for separate refueling arrangements. The vessel is maintained for serious cruising with systems designed for extended autonomous voyages.Credits: Alloy Yachts
September 22, 2025