Buying a Yacht from Overseas: A Guide for International Buyers

Buying a yacht from overseas can be a smart move. You get access to a wider market, more models, and sometimes better-kept boats. This article is written for Hong Kong buyers looking overseas, and also for international buyers considering a yacht located in Hong Kong.

Done properly, buying internationally is smooth and rewarding. Done badly… well, let’s just say boats are not lottery tickets you want to lose on.

1. Your Broker Is Not Optional (And Definitely Not Your Cousin)

Let’s start with the most important point.

A trustworthy, professional yacht broker is your best asset when buying from overseas.

Not:

A friend “who works in shipping”
Someone from another industry
“My cousin owns a boat, he’ll help me”

Unless you are very, very familiar with yachts, you should always use a broker who does this for a living. A professional broker understands contracts, surveys, documentation, registration, shipping, and—most importantly—where deals go wrong.

This alone can save you far more money than the brokerage fee ever costs.

2. Stick to Known Yacht Brands (There’s a Reason They’re Popular)

If you’re buying internationally, this is not the time to experiment.

Well-known brands:

Princess
Sunseeker
Fairline
Silverton
Bertram

These yachts are:

Built to consistent standards
Easier to survey
Easier to insure
Easier to register
Easier to resell

They also hold their value better.

What you should avoid (unless you really know what you’re doing):

A random “custom-built” 50-footer
Unknown shipyards
Boats with unclear origin or documentation

If you don’t know where it was built, who built it, or how it will be registered, you are buying a problem, not a yacht.

3. Technology Has Made Buying Easier (Some of You Won’t Remember This Part)

There was a time — late 1990s — when digital cameras were new.
Before that, we used Kodak film rolls (yes, the ones with 36 photos per roll).

Photos had to be:

Developed
Put into plastic albums
Physically shown to clients in an office

Half the younger generation reading this won’t even know what we’re talking about.

Today?
We take videos, walkthroughs, engine start-ups, sea trial clips and send them instantly.

This has made international buying much easier.

4. Travel Less, But Don’t Trust Blindly

In major markets like Hong Kong, Singapore, and well-known Western cities with established brokerage firms, trust is reasonable.

But let’s be honest:

There are people who hide problems
There are people who misrepresent boats
And there are people who are not selling a boat at all

If you trust blindly, you become the lottery ticket.

Best approach:

If possible, visit once and see the boat
Even a short visit gives you a huge advantage
A survey and sea trial are still essential, but seeing the boat first helps you understand what you’re buying

An independent surveyor is there to find machinery issues, structural concerns, and hidden faults — not to replace common sense.

5. Check for Loans, Liens & Encumbrances (Non-Negotiable)

Before money changes hands, make sure:

There are no outstanding loans
No liens or mortgages
No finance that could transfer to you

The yacht must be free of encumbrances.

Yes, this is handled through a professional agreement — but it must be checked properly.

6. The Bill of Sale: This One Matters More Than You Think

For international buyers, always insist on a notarized Bill of Sale.

In Hong Kong, this means:

Contacting a Notary Public
Usually through a reputable (and yes, expensive) law firm
Ownership documents and identities are verified
The Bill of Sale is signed, stamped, and legally certified

This document carries legal standing in many countries.

Some American clients even request notarization through the US Consulate, which is also acceptable. The principle is the same:
verification before a seal is applied.

7. A Broker Who Knows the Product (Not Just the Price)

Yachts are used differently in different regions.

For example:

Hong Kong owners may maintain yachts differently from Western owners
Some maintenance is done by large firms, some by trusted freelance mechanics
Records may be detailed — or informal

None of this is “good” or “bad”.
It just needs to be understood and explained properly.

A good broker prevents panic when a buyer can’t find an oil-change invoice and assumes the worst.

8. What Comes with the Yacht (Avoid Last-Minute Arguments)

To avoid uncomfortable surprises:

Clearly list all equipment included
Tenders, toys, electronics, tools, loose items
What stays, what goes

Clear lists now prevent emotional arguments later.

9. Registration, Compliance & Country Rules (This Is Where Pros Matter)

Registration is not simple — and rules differ by country.

Examples:

In Hong Kong, diesel engines must be IMO emission compliant
Shipping to Australia requires pest control certification
Even wooden cradles used during shipping must be pest-treated

If you’re unsure, use:

A local broker in your country
Or an international broker who has done this many times

Guesswork is expensive here.

10. Shipping: This Is Not a Place for Inexperience

A proper broker coordinates:

Shipyards for cradle construction
Transport and shipping companies
Correct lifting slings and spreaders
Experienced crew controlling the lift
Proper lashing on the ship

If no one is accountable, things get rushed — and accidents happen.
When something goes wrong at sea or in a shipyard, the buyer pays.

The right broker manages everything A to Z, hands the yacht to the ship’s captain, and ensures responsibility is clear on both sides.

11. Sometimes, You Go the Extra Mile (Literally)

In some cases — like when we first shipped a yacht to Vietnam years ago — we:

Flew with crew
Managed offloading personally
Ensured correct slings and lifting
Reassembled flybridge controls and radar arches
Delivered the yacht safely to the buyer’s marina

Yes, the client paid for this.
And yes, the second time, they knew exactly what to do.

That’s experience — and that’s value.

Final Thought

Buying a yacht from overseas doesn’t need to be risky, stressful, or complicated.

With:

The right yacht
The right broker
And the right process

It can be one of the most rewarding ways to find a good boat.

I hope you found this Article useful.

Baggy Sartape
Asia Boating Ltd, Hong Kong.