Marine Guides
Marine Guides for Buyers and Sellers
Straightforward guidance on buying and selling boats, plus plain explanations of the boat types you meet while searching the marketplace. Every guide links through to real boats for sale on OpenSea24.
Buying a Boat
What to check, what to ask and what to budget for before you commit to a hull.
How to Buy a Used Boat or Yacht
The full acquisition path — brief, comparables, offer, survey, sea trial, finance, flag and closing.
Read guideBrowse boats for sale · yacht brokers
Used Boat Inspection Checklist
Hull, engines, systems and paperwork: what an independent surveyor looks at, and what you can check yourself.
Read guideBrowse boats for sale
Buying Your First Yacht
The ten decisions that decide whether a first boat is a joy or a burden.
Read guideBoat and Yacht Finance Explained
How marine mortgages are structured, what lenders require and what they cost.
Read guideBrowse marine finance brokers
Selling a Boat
Presentation, pricing and process — how good listings sell faster.
How to Sell a Boat Online
Preparing the vessel, writing the listing and handling enquiries through to survey and closing.
Read guideBrowse sell your boat
How to Price a Used Boat
Building a comparables table, reading days-on-market and setting an asking price that moves.
Read guideBrowse sell your boat · boats for sale
Private Sale or Broker?
Where a brokerage earns its commission, and when a private sale makes sense.
Read guideBrowse yacht brokers · sell your boat
Yacht Guides
Comparisons and cost realities for larger vessels.
In preparation
These guides are being written by our editorial team and will appear here once published.
- Boat Buying Checklist
- Questions to Ask Before Buying a Boat
- How to Prepare Your Boat for Sale
- How to Take Better Boat Listing Photos
- What Is a Motor Yacht?
- What Is a Sailing Yacht?
- What Is a RIB Boat?
- What Is a Catamaran?
- What Is a Sport Cruiser?
- What Is a Cabin Cruiser?
- What Is a Center Console Boat?
- How Much Does a Yacht Cost?
- Motor Yacht vs Sailing Yacht
Frequently asked questions
- Where do I start when buying a used boat?
- Define how you will actually use the boat first — cruising area, nights aboard, crew and berth — then shortlist types that fit. Only after that compare listings, arrange an independent survey and a sea trial before agreeing a price.
- Do I need a broker to sell my boat?
- No. Private owners can list directly on OpenSea24 and deal with buyers themselves. A brokerage is useful when you want the marketing, viewings, negotiation and escrow handled for you, and is more common on larger yachts.
- How are OpenSea24 guides written?
- Guides are written editorially and reference the boat types, brands and markets that actually appear in OpenSea24 listings. We do not publish manufacturer marketing copy as guidance.