Selling a Yacht Safely

Selling your yacht should be a straightforward process, but it's important to stay alert when communicating with prospective buyers. Online marketplaces can occasionally attract scams or fraudulent enquiries.

Protect your personal information

Avoid sharing unnecessary personal, financial or identity information with prospective buyers. Never provide online banking passwords, verification codes or other security credentials.

Be cautious of unusual enquiries

Be wary of buyers who are unwilling to inspect the yacht, provide vague information, create unnecessary urgency, or propose unusual payment arrangements.

Watch for overpayment scams

Be suspicious if someone offers to pay more than the agreed price and asks you to refund the difference, pay a transport company or transfer money to another party.

Be careful with links and payment requests

Don't enter banking or account credentials through links sent by prospective buyers. Be particularly cautious of messages claiming you need to pay a fee before receiving money.

Confirm payment independently

Before handing over the yacht, keys, equipment or ownership documents, confirm through your own bank that the agreed funds have cleared. Don't rely solely on screenshots, emailed receipts or payment confirmations supplied by the buyer.

Take care during inspections

Arrange inspections at sensible times and locations. Don't leave an unfamiliar person unattended aboard the yacht or with keys unless you're comfortable doing so.

Use clear sale documentation

Record the agreed sale price, vessel details, included equipment and relevant terms in writing. Keep copies of documents relating to the transaction.

Provide accurate listing information

Describe your yacht as accurately as reasonably possible. If you're unsure about an important detail—such as the vessel's age, engine hours, standing rigging or maintenance history—it's better to say that it's unknown than to guess. Where appropriate, provide supporting documentation for significant claims.

Trust your judgement

If an enquiry or payment arrangement seems unusual, don't feel pressured to proceed. Take time to verify the buyer and the proposed transaction.

Report suspicious activity

If you receive a suspicious enquiry through Sailing Life, please report it to us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.

Sailing Life provides a platform for connecting yacht buyers and sellers. We don't handle or guarantee payments between buyers and sellers. Sellers are responsible for taking appropriate precautions when completing a transaction.