02 July 2025
How Much Are Boats for Sale?
When many of you are thinking about getting a boat, there is nothing that concerns you more than ‘how much are boats for sale?’ This question. The price of different types of boats varies greatly, ranging from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars. Not only do you need to consider the cost of purchasing a boat, but you also need to consider the ongoing costs of daily maintenance, registration and insurance. As a one-stop service platform focusing on yacht pricing consulting, trading, transport and maintenance, Yachttrading is here to help you analyse in detail the approximate cost of owning a boat, helping you to get a clearer picture of the true cost of a boat.
How Much Are Boats for Sale?
There are a wide variety of boats, and prices for different types of boats span a wide range. For example, the price of a new sailboat typically starts at $10,000 and can go up to $1 million or more. This is because sailboats come in a huge range of sizes, designs and brands, from tiny catamarans to luxury mega yachts.
In contrast, fishing boats are more affordable, with most new fishing boats selling for around $10,000 to $100,000 for fishing enthusiasts and recreational players.
In-cabin cruisers, on the other hand, are more focused on living comfort, with full kitchen, bedroom and bathroom facilities, and are relatively expensive, with new boats generally priced in the US$50,000 to US$1 million range.
Alternatively, those who enjoy the thrill and speed of the water may be more interested in personal watercraft, which are relatively inexpensive and tend to sell in the $5,000 to $20,000 range for new models.
What is the Initial Price of Buying a Boat?
In addition to the cost of buying the boat itself, there are additional expenses such as registration fees, sales tax and closing costs after the boat is purchased. Let's help you figure out the approximate range of initial costs, using four mainstream boat models as examples:
Sailboats cost around $10,000 to $100,000 to purchase, plus a few dozen dollars in registration fees and sales tax of 6% or more, for a total cost between $10,635 and $106,000 or more.
For fishing boats, boats cost $15,000 to $30,000, plus $50 to $200 in registration fees and $1,000 to $2,500 in taxes, for a total of $16,050 to $32,700.
In-cabin cruisers cost about $30,000 to $100,000, with registration fees and 7 percent sales tax bringing in additional thousands of dollars for a total cost of roughly $32,200 to $107,500.
Personal watercraft, on the other hand, have relatively low initial expenses, costing $10,000 to $20,000, a few dozen dollars in registration fees, and 6 percent tax to consider, for an overall cost of about $10,620 to $21,300.
Ongoing Ownership Costs After Boat Purchase
Buying a boat is the beginning; subsequent maintenance, berths, insurance and fuel costs are long-term expenses that cannot be ignored. These expenses vary greatly from year to year depending on the type of boat:
Sailboats cost from $4,600 to over $28,000 per year. Berth fees range from about US$200 to US$1,000 per month, insurance costs average US$500 to US$2,000 per year, and maintenance costs typically range from 10 to 15 per cent of the price of the boat, plus fuel costs of about US$1,500 to US$3,000.
Fishing boats have lower average annual overheads of about US$2,400 to US$9,000, including berthing fees of US$600 to US$2,500, insurance and maintenance of US$400 to US$1,500, and fuel costs of about US$1,000 to US$4,000.
In-cabin cruisers, due to their size and complex equipment, also have higher maintenance costs and require a provision of $7,500 to $17,500 per year. Berthing fees are around US$2,000 to US$5,000, insurance US$1,000 to US$3,000, maintenance US$1,500 to US$3,500, and fuel costs between US$3,000 and US$6,000.
The annual cost of a personal watercraft ranges from $2,000 to $12,500 and consists mainly of $1,200 to $6,000 in berthing fees, $300 to $1,000 in insurance, $500 to $1,500 in maintenance and $1,000 to $4,000 in fuel.
How much are boats for sale? The answer depends on the type of boat you choose, how new it is, and how often you use it. The cost of getting a new boat can range from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars, and ongoing annual investment can take thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Maintenance and berthing costs, especially for sailboats and cabin cruisers, should not be underestimated.
If you are looking to buy or upgrade your watercraft, it is advisable to fully consider these hidden costs and plan your budget well. yachttrading platform provides yacht price consulting, and also assists in closing the deal, shipping, and post-maintenance, helping you to easily own your ideal boat and enjoy your time on the water.

Netizen comment
Comments

Leave the comment
Relevant Recommendation
Yacht Guide
Most Recommended