The cost question on a chase boat splits into two: what does it cost to buy, and what does it cost to run. Both numbers vary by an order of magnitude across the category. A used 11 metre Axopar at 350,000 euros is a chase boat. A new 19 metre Vandal 60 at 6.5 million is a chase boat. They are not in the same conversation.
This page sets out current pricing across the four size bands plus the recurring operating model. For specification work that drives cost, see chase boat specifications and chase boat range.
New build pricing
Prices below are current 2026 ranges from quotes we have placed and active builder discussions. Pricing is ex VAT, ex delivery, ex commissioning, in euros. Add 10 to 15 per cent for delivery, owner spec items, electronics upgrades, and yard punch-list completion before the boat is operational.
| Length | Tier | Price band |
|---|---|---|
| 9 to 11 m | Production (Axopar, Boston Whaler) | 350 k to 800 k |
| 9 to 11 m | Semi-custom (Cobra, Protector) | 600 k to 1.2 m |
| 9 to 11 m | Bespoke (Wajer 38 S, Pascoe 11) | 1.5 m to 2.2 m |
| 12 to 14 m | Production | 700 k to 1.4 m |
| 12 to 14 m | Semi-custom | 1.2 m to 2.2 m |
| 12 to 14 m | Bespoke (Wajer 55, Pascoe 12) | 2.5 m to 4 m |
| 15 to 17 m | Semi-custom | 2.2 m to 3.8 m |
| 15 to 17 m | Bespoke (Pascoe 15, Hodgdon 16, Wajer 77) | 4 m to 5.5 m |
| 18 to 21 m | Bespoke (Vandal 60, Windy SLR60) | 5 m to 7 m |
Most current European new-build sales sit in the 1.5 to 4.5 million bracket. The boat-international market overview tracks similar bands, with a note that bespoke yards price most chase boats POA and discussions usually start with use case rather than a sticker.
Brokerage pricing
Used chase boats hold value better than tenders because the buyer pool is wider. Production hulls trade across both yacht and sport-boat markets, which keeps pricing firm.
Typical depreciation curves we observe:
- Year 1 to 2: 10 to 18 per cent off new
- Year 3 to 5: 30 to 45 per cent off new
- Year 6 to 10: 50 to 65 per cent off new
- Year 10 plus: values flatten, condition-driven
Bespoke hulls (Wajer, Pascoe, Hodgdon) hold value better at the top of the curve. A five year old Wajer 55 typically trades at 60 to 70 per cent of its delivered price. A five year old Axopar 45 typically trades at 50 to 55 per cent.
Current stock at tenders for sale and the chase-boat filter.
Acquisition cost beyond the hull
Three add-ons that reliably catch first-time owners.
- Delivery and commissioning. Builder yard to home berth. Trans-Atlantic delivery on a heavy lift carrier costs 80,000 to 150,000 euros. Commissioning by a captain and engineer adds another 30,000 to 60,000.
- Berth deposit and annual fee. Mediterranean prime berth (Antibes, Monaco, Porto Cervo) for a 14 metre hull runs 25,000 to 60,000 euros annually plus deposit.
- VAT. EU-flagged use triggers VAT on import. Path planning at tender import VAT.
Annual operating cost
The all-in operating model runs at 8 to 15 per cent of acquisition cost annually for chase boats in the 12 to 18 metre range. Below 12 metres the percentage rises because fixed costs (insurance, classification surveys) are larger relative to hull value. Above 18 metres the percentage settles around 10 per cent.
For a 12 metre semi-custom chase boat at 1.5 million euros acquisition, expect roughly:
| Category | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Crew (one captain, seasonal) | 75 k to 110 k |
| Berth (Med summer, off-season storage) | 30 k to 50 k |
| Fuel (300 hours/season) | 20 k to 35 k |
| Insurance (hull, P&I, third party) | 18 k to 30 k |
| Maintenance and refits | 25 k to 50 k |
| Survey and classification | 8 k to 15 k |
| Communications and electronics | 5 k to 10 k |
| Total | 180 k to 300 k |
For a 16 metre bespoke chase boat at 4.5 million euros:
| Category | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Crew (captain plus deckhand, seasonal) | 140 k to 220 k |
| Berth | 50 k to 90 k |
| Fuel (400 hours/season) | 50 k to 80 k |
| Insurance | 45 k to 75 k |
| Maintenance and refits | 75 k to 150 k |
| Survey and classification | 15 k to 25 k |
| Communications and electronics | 10 k to 18 k |
| Total | 400 k to 700 k |
Crew is the biggest line and the easiest to misjudge. Coverage at chase boat crew.
Cost of standing versus cost of running
Owners often underestimate standing cost because they assume the chase boat will be used heavily. In reality, the typical chase boat runs 200 to 400 engine hours per season. The standing cost (crew, berth, insurance, depreciation) is roughly 70 per cent of the annual total. The running cost (fuel, consumables, wear maintenance) is 30 per cent.
The implication: doubling annual use does not double annual cost. It adds maybe 20 per cent. Owners who can use a chase boat heavily get the most out of the asset.
Charter offset
Some owners offset operating cost by chartering the chase boat independently. The market exists, particularly in the Mediterranean, but rates are modest. A 14 metre chase boat charters at 4,000 to 8,000 euros per day. Offsetting half the annual operating cost requires 30 to 50 charter days per season, which is achievable but operationally demanding. Coverage at chase boat charter.
Total cost of ownership over 10 years
For the 12 metre semi-custom example above:
- Acquisition: 1.5 million
- Operating (10 years at 240 k average): 2.4 million
- Less resale value at year 10 (35 per cent of acquisition): minus 525 k
- Net 10-year cost: 3.4 million
For the 16 metre bespoke example:
- Acquisition: 4.5 million
- Operating (10 years at 550 k average): 5.5 million
- Less resale value at year 10 (40 per cent of acquisition): minus 1.8 million
- Net 10-year cost: 8.2 million
These numbers exclude major refit (typical at year 7 to 8) which adds 200,000 to 800,000 euros depending on size and condition.
Cost-to-mothership ratio
A working benchmark we use: chase boat acquisition cost typically runs 5 to 10 per cent of the mothership's value. Annual chase boat operating cost typically runs 1 to 2 per cent of mothership operating cost. Owners outside these ratios are usually either underspecifying (and will replace within three years) or overspecifying (and will resell at a loss).
For category context return to the chase boats pillar. For sourcing, chase boat builders and brokerage.