With a wonderful selection of vessel types, hull colors, engine sizes, and interior layouts and finishes to choose from, what are you waiting for?
Choosing to invest in a built-to-order yacht opens the door to a captivating world of customization, where aspects such as the hull's design or cabinetry finish are seamlessly aligned with your own unique vision. Yet, this decision is a weighty one and demands careful consideration as it involves lots of money, time, and steadfast commitment.
The Basics
In the yacht market, two distinct categories exist: production yachts and custom yachts. Production yachts adhere to standardized model designs with limited personalization options, while custom yachts provide buyers with a wide range of choices for both exterior and interior elements.
Why should you buy a new yacht?
The most compelling reason is the chance to design and style your yacht to your exact liking. Your level of customization depends on the type and size of the yacht, but buying new offers the best opportunity to own your dream yacht.
- Personalization: you get to choose the exact specification
- Warranties: provide peace of mind if a breakdown or a failure were to occur
- Dealer support: knowledge and help at your fingertips
Handover and Warranties
Every new yacht purchase includes a comprehensive handover process along with essential warranties. As the size of the yacht increases, the handover procedure becomes increasingly intricate and may span several days.
This phase of yacht ownership is paramount, providing you or your designated captain with a thorough orientation on operating the vessel. For those who are less experienced in the world of boating, this handover can and should encompass a training period.
During this time, you'll receive instruction on fundamental handling, mooring techniques, and valuable insights into crew management. It's an indispensable aspect of ensuring that you embark on your yachting journey with confidence and competence.
Warranties
While the prospect of a warranty might not be the most thrilling aspect of acquiring a new yacht, it stands as a crucial element of your purchase. No one enters the world of yachting with the expectation of encountering problems, but having the peace of mind that you're protected during the initial years can be a comforting thought.
In most cases, substantial warranties encompass the yacht and its engines for a duration of 3 to 5 years. It's worth noting that you might come across seemingly enticing lifetime hull warranties; however, it's vital to scrutinize them, as they often come with various conditions and restrictions.
When you embark on the journey of purchasing a new yacht, it's imperative that all warranties are diligently established, typically by the dealer or builder. Your responsibility primarily revolves around adhering to prescribed service schedules, particularly concerning the engines, ensuring that your investment remains well-protected.
Typical warranty periods
| Item | Period |
| Hull, deck, and superstructure | 3-5 years |
| Engines | 2-5 years |
| Electronics | 2 years |
| Generator | 2-3 years |
Production Yachts 10-30m (39-98ft)
Production yachts primarily cater to owner-operation, but they do venture into the realm of larger yachts, especially those surpassing the 25m (82ft) mark. With increasing yacht size, the scope for personalization expands significantly.
For instance, a 12m (39ft) flybridge model may provide a couple of additional interior finish options alongside its range of optional extras. In contrast, a 20m (66ft) yacht offers a wealth of interior choices, encompassing various cabin and deck layouts, and an array of finishes to suit your individual preferences.
The primary benefit associated with production yachts lies in their swift delivery and hassle-free transactions. Authorized dealers tend to oversee the entire sales process, ensuring the yacht's delivery aligns with your specifications, while also serving as your main contact post-purchase. Buying a production yacht offers straightforward, well-defined choices, ensuring your experience is smooth and efficient.
At a Glance:
- Fast and reliable delivery
- Simplified buying process
- Limited but defined options and personalization
- Proven designs
Custom Yachts 30m+ (98ft+)
Designing and building a full-custom yacht offers a multitude of advantages for those with a discerning vision of their ideal vessel. Firstly, personalization reigns supreme. With a full-custom approach, you have the opportunity to craft a yacht that is a direct reflection of your unique preferences and needs. Every detail, from the layout to the materials and finishes, can be tailored to your exact specifications, ensuring that the end result is a vessel that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Moreover, full-custom yachts are a testament to craftsmanship and innovation. They often involve collaboration with the industry's finest naval architects, engineers, and artisans, resulting in a yacht that not only meets your aesthetic desires but also boasts cutting-edge technology and top-notch construction.
The pride of ownership is also unparalleled. Knowing that your yacht was built from the ground up from your vision instills a sense of accomplishment that's hard to replicate with pre-made vessels.
While building a full-custom yacht may be a significant investment in terms of time and resources, the result is a yacht that is truly yours, tailored to meet your requirements for years to come.
At a Glance:
- Ultimate choice
- Unique design
- Longer build times
- More owner involvement and decision-making
Personalization and Customization Options
10-20m (39-66ft)
In this size category, we're focusing on production yachts designed for owner-operation. The structure of the exterior decks and interior layout is typically predetermined, with some limited flexibility such as cabin or salon configuration choices and the potential addition of a flybridge hardtop. However, the core design remains fixed.
Where your personal touch can shine is in the yacht's finishes. You'll have the freedom to select from various interior cabinetry and upholstery options, hull colors, and the type of teak decking that suits your taste. Additionally, you'll be presented with a choice between at least two engine installations, including the possibility of an uprated horsepower option. This flexibility allows you to tailor certain elements of the yacht to your preferences while working within the established design framework.
- Interior finish
- Hull color
- Engine size
20-30m (66-98ft)
Still very much in production yacht territory, is the semi-custom yacht category, a realm with more extensive choices in terms of finishes and layout. These yachts, unlike their full-production counterparts, may lean towards being crew-operated.
With a significantly expanded array of interior furnishings and meticulous details, you'll find the layouts to be more flexible, potentially offering options like four or five-cabin configurations as well as variations in salon and dining arrangements. The primary constraint often lies in the fixed bulkheads, but you'll still have ample room for personalization within these designated sections.
On the exterior, you may have the option of incorporating drop-down balconies, particularly in certain designs. Flybridge or two-deck yachts within this category often provide customizable deck layouts to suit your preferences. As with production yachts, you can also anticipate choices regarding hull color, deck furnishings, and engine horsepower.
- Interior layout and finish
- Deck layout
- Hull color
- Engine options
30m+ (98ft+)
We now move between semi and full-custom yacht cultures, the main difference being the level of interior customization offered by the builder, as well as the ability to alter physical exterior elements.
For GRP yachts, the exterior will be largely standardized, but for steel or aluminum vessels builders can fabricate new sections. This starts to become the norm at around 40m (130ft) when GRP construction tends to stop. From 40m upwards, steel or aluminum construction starts to offer far more flexibility inside and out. Bulkheads can be moved, so now owners can really start to explore interior options. Exterior design is now completely open to modification, albeit only with certain builders. Others may offer so-called platform builds, with only minor exterior design changes available.
As the yacht size increases, swimming pools, beach clubs, sky lounges, entire owner decks, helipads, and multiple decks all become options.
- Bespoke interior layout and finish
- Bespoke exterior design
- Bespoke deck configuration and finish
- Multiple engine options (including hybrid options)
- Swimming pools and beach clubs
- Helipads
- Crew quarters
Yacht and Hull Types
Opting for a new or custom-built yacht offers not just the freedom to select the design and finish but also extends to the choice of yacht type. The world of yachting encompasses a diverse range of yacht types, each tailored for distinct purposes and unique on-water experiences.
On your journey, you'll discover an array of models thoughtfully crafted to cater to a multitude of lifestyles and demands. These models typically prioritize spacious interiors, swift cruising capabilities, expansive social deck areas, and a generous dose of luxury, ensuring they meet the multifaceted expectations of today's discerning yacht enthusiasts.
While the design aspects above the waterline are certainly significant, it's also crucial to consider the diverse hull types available, with each serving a distinct purpose. For a deeper dive into the various hull types, be sure to read our 'Yacht Hull Types Explained' article linked below.
Find Out More
In the meantime, remember that there's a wide variety of styles within the world of yachts, so take your time to explore and discover what truly resonates with your preferences and needs.
Lead Times and Availability
While the waiting period for any built-to-order yacht, whether production or custom, is an inevitable part of the process, the duration can vary significantly.
In general, as the yacht's size increases, so does the build time, and the availability tends to decrease. For instance, in the realm of production yachts, a builder might schedule the production of twenty 12m (39ft) models but only a handful of 20m (66ft) models. If those limited slots are already taken, accommodating your order may necessitate a longer wait.
Availability is intricately tied to demand. Builders or models that are particularly popular may entail extended lead times. Therefore, it's wise to inquire about delivery dates early in your yacht selection process. If the build slot for your preferred yacht is unavailable for a considerable duration, it's a factor that may influence your decision-making.
Typical built-to-order delivery times
| Yacht length | Delivery time |
| 12-15m (40-50ft) | > 12 months |
| 20-40m (66-100ft) | > 24 months |
| 40m+ (100ft+) | 36 months+ |
In Summary
When it comes down to deciding whether to purchase a built-to-order yacht or not, several key factors come into play.
Customization is a defining feature, allowing you to design a yacht tailored to your exact preferences. While production yachts offer a quicker transaction process, larger yachts provide more bespoke interior and exterior options. The choice also extends beyond design to yacht type, each promising different on-water experiences. Furthermore, understanding the delivery timeline and availability, which may be influenced by demand and popularity, is essential.
In essence, the decision to buy a built-to-order yacht hinges on your desire for personalization, your specific preferences, and your willingness to invest in a yacht that aligns with your dreams and lifestyle.
