Cruisers and yachts
Buy a cruiser with someone on your side of the table
An express cruiser, cabin cruiser or motor yacht is a hull, a drivetrain and a small house full of systems. Each can hide a large bill. We represent the buyer from offer to closing.
The sequence
A cruiser purchase runs in a set order
Each step protects the next one.
Written offer with contingencies
The purchase agreement makes the deal subject to a survey and sea trial you find satisfactory. We read every line before you sign.
Deposit into escrow
The deposit sits in an escrow or trust account, and the agreement says exactly when it comes back to you.
Survey, haul-out and sea trial
Your surveyor inspects the boat in and out of the water, and a mechanic goes through the engines. The findings belong to you.
Accept, renegotiate or walk
Signing the acceptance of vessel ends your contingencies. Until then, findings are grounds for a price adjustment, repairs or an exit.
Title search and closing
Ownership and liens are verified, then funds and documents change hands together.
The listing broker is paid by the seller
Most cruisers and yachts are sold through a yacht broker. That broker signed a listing agreement with the owner and is normally paid a commission out of the sale proceeds. A higher price means a larger commission. The broker may be knowledgeable and honest, and still not be working for you.
That matters at this size, because the buyer has real decisions to make between offer and closing: which surveyor, which findings to press, when to accept the vessel. We take the buyer's seat for all of it. Our flat fee is agreed in writing before we start, and we take nothing from the seller, the broker, the lender or the surveyor. See the full buyer's agent process.
The listing broker earns more when you pay more. Your representative should earn the same at any price.
Two surveys, not one
The standard at this size is a condition and valuation survey of the vessel plus a separate engine and mechanical survey. The hull surveyor is rarely an engine specialist, and the engines are usually the most expensive thing aboard. Insurers and lenders commonly ask for a recent survey on older or larger boats anyway.
The two main accreditation bodies for marine surveyors in the United States are SAMS and NAMS. Accreditation is the starting point. Independence is the other half: choose and pay the surveyor yourself. Our page on the marine survey and sea trial covers what the report includes.
The sea trial is an inspection, not a pleasure ride. The engines should run at wide-open throttle long enough to confirm they reach rated RPM and hold normal temperatures. Lab oil analysis can show coolant, fuel or metal that nobody can see on a dipstick.
Bottom and running gear
Hauled out, the surveyor looks for osmotic blistering, old repairs, worn cutless bearings, bent props or shafts, and tired bottom paint.
Decks, stringers and transom
Moisture readings and percussion sounding find wet core that looks perfect from above. Leaking deck hardware is the usual entry point.
Engines and drives
Computer data where available, oil analysis, risers and manifolds, mounts and leaks. Twin engines should show similar hours and behavior.
Generator and air conditioning
The generator has its own hour meter and service needs. Each air conditioning unit gets run under load, pumps and strainers included.
Electrical and corrosion
Heat damage at shore power inlets, the bonding system, and rapid anode loss, which points to galvanic or stray current corrosion.
Heads, tanks, canvas
Sanitation hoses that have started to smell, holding tank function, fuel and water tanks, and canvas with clouded or cracked isinglass.
The drivetrain changes what ownership costs
Two cruisers of the same length can carry very different propulsion, each with its own failure points and service bills. Our guide to boat engine hours explains how to read hour meters alongside service records.
| Sterndrive | Inboard or V-drive | Pod drive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical on | Smaller express and cabin cruisers | Mid-size and larger cruisers, motor yachts | Newer mid-size and larger cruisers |
| Main things to inspect | Bellows, gimbal bearing, drive corrosion, trim rams | Shaft seals, cutless bearings, alignment, transmission. V-drives add a gearbox. | Seals, drive oil, steering actuators, fault codes, corrosion |
| Service profile | Regular drive service. Salt water storage is hard on them. | Simple, durable underwater gear | Scheduled specialist service, usually hauled out, at higher cost |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Documentation, title and liens
Larger boats are often federally documented with the US Coast Guard instead of carrying a state title. For a documented vessel, an abstract of title shows the recorded chain of ownership and any recorded mortgages or liens. Marine liens can follow the boat, not the person who ran up the debt, so this check happens before closing. The hull identification number on the transom should match every document. Titling and tax rules vary by state.
Financing adds the lender's own survey and documentation requirements. Our boat financing page explains the loan side, and we make nothing on your financing.
After the closing
The purchase price is only the first bill
A cruiser costs money every month whether it leaves the dock or not. Get local quotes for each of these lines before you settle on a length.
- Slip or storageUsually billed by the foot, every month.
- InsurancePriced on value, age, location and your experience.
- Haul-outs and bottom paintBoats kept in the water need periodic hauling, antifouling paint and anodes.
- Engine and generator serviceTwo engines means two of everything, plus the generator.
- Winterizing and layupIn cold climates, every engine and water system needs protecting.
Cruiser questions
What cruiser and yacht buyers ask us
Do I need a survey on a newer cruiser?
Yes. Newer boats still have groundings, poor repairs, deferred service and unclaimed warranty items. Your insurer or lender may ask for one regardless.
Who pays for the survey and the haul-out?
By custom the buyer pays for the survey, the mechanical inspection and the haul-out. That is why the report is yours alone. We help you arrange independent inspectors and take no referral money from any of them.
Can I work with you if the boat is listed with a yacht broker?
Yes. The listing broker keeps representing the seller and we represent you on price, contingencies, survey findings and closing terms. You can also send us a quote you already have for a free review.
What if the survey finds serious problems?
With a proper survey contingency you have three choices: ask for a price reduction, ask the seller to make repairs, or reject the vessel and recover your deposit under the terms of the agreement. This is where the contract wording earns its keep.
Next step
Found a cruiser you like? Talk to us before you sign.
Tell us about the boat. We will look at the listing, the asking price and the draft agreement from the buyer's side.