A superyacht tender is one of the few yacht-programme assets where the headline price tells you almost nothing about the total cost. The build is 60 to 75 percent of the lifetime number. Commissioning, transport, refit cycles, and operating cost make up the rest. This page lays out what each component actually costs in May 2026 and where the headline number moves the most.
Build cost by category
Headline budget bands for a new tender, before transport, finance, and operating cost. These are mid-market figures from current builder quotes; bespoke custom can run 30 to 50 percent above the top of each band.
| Category | 7 to 9m | 9 to 11m | 11 to 14m |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIB tender | 80 to 250k EUR | 250 to 500k EUR | 500k to 1.2m EUR |
| Open guest tender | 200 to 500k EUR | 500k to 1.2m EUR | 1.2 to 2.5m EUR |
| Sport tender | 350 to 700k EUR | 700k to 1.5m EUR | 1.5 to 3m EUR |
| Limousine tender | 700k to 1.2m EUR | 1.2 to 2.2m EUR | 2.2 to 4m EUR |
| Beachlander | 600k to 1.4m EUR | 1.4 to 2.8m EUR | 2.8 to 5.5m EUR |
| Catamaran tender | 250 to 700k EUR | 700k to 1.5m EUR | 1.5 to 3.5m EUR |
| Crew/working tender | 80 to 200k EUR | 200 to 500k EUR | 500k to 1m EUR |
Numbers are pre-VAT, pre-options, ex-builder. Add 10 to 25 percent for a realistic delivered cost.
What moves the headline
In the build itself, four cost lines drive the difference between the bottom and top of each band.
- Propulsion. A twin Volvo D6 sterndrive package is around 90,000 EUR. A twin Hamilton or Castoldi waterjet with the same engine pair is 160,000 to 200,000 EUR. A triple Mercury Verado 600hp outboard package is 250,000 to 300,000 EUR. A custom diesel-jet on a 12m boat can be 600,000 EUR alone.
- Hull construction. Hand-laid open-mould GRP is the cheapest. Vacuum-infused composite over structural foam adds 80,000 to 200,000 EUR on a 10m hull. Pre-preg carbon adds 200,000 to 500,000 EUR. The choice affects weight, stiffness, and resale.
- Interior finish. Moulded GRP floor and bench seats with vinyl upholstery is the floor. Painted topsides, leather upholstery, veneer cabinetry, custom headliner and audio fit-out is the ceiling. The gap on a 10m limo can be 150,000 to 400,000 EUR.
- Air-conditioning, audio-visual, and electronics. A full-spec marine A/C with 24,000 BTU, integrated infotainment, two MFD navigation displays, autopilot, and FLIR is 80,000 to 150,000 EUR depending on brand. Stripping it back to a recreational autopilot and a single MFD saves 50,000 EUR.
The total spread between a "plain" and "loaded" version of the same hull is routinely 40 to 60 percent of the build price.
Transport and commissioning
Once the boat leaves the builder it has to reach the yacht, get commissioned, and pass acceptance trials. Allow:
- Road transport in Europe, builder to coast: 8,000 to 25,000 EUR
- Sea freight EU to Med, deck cargo: 15,000 to 40,000 EUR
- Sea freight EU to Caribbean or US East Coast: 35,000 to 80,000 EUR
- Sea freight EU to South Pacific or Asia: 60,000 to 120,000 EUR
- Commissioning, sea trials, garage fitting, crew familiarisation: 15,000 to 50,000 EUR
The transport question is non-trivial and the wrong route can wipe out a year of savings on the build. See tender storage and transport.
VAT, import duty, and registration
For an EU-built tender bought by an EU-flagged yacht and used commercially, VAT is recovered through the yacht's commercial flag. For a private-flag programme, VAT is payable in the country of first import at 17 to 27 percent depending on jurisdiction. US import duty on EU-built recreational craft sits at 1.5 percent under most tariff codes, with state sales tax variable.
We cover the cross-border purchase pattern in detail on tender import and VAT. Get this conversation started before the contract is signed; restructuring afterwards is expensive.
Finance and leasing
Most owners pay cash for tenders. The asset is small enough that financing introduces administrative overhead disproportionate to the saving. Where finance is used, the typical structure is a 5 to 7 year operating lease at 6 to 8 percent on the depreciated asset value, with a 30 to 40 percent residual.
A small subset of charter operators lease tenders through the same vehicle as the mothership. The structure is fine but only justifies itself at scale. See tender finance and leasing.
Operating cost
Annual operating cost runs 8 to 15 percent of build value, dominated by the items below. Numbers are for a 10m semi-custom limo on a Mediterranean charter programme, 250 hours per season.
- Fuel, 250 hours at 80 litres/hour at 1.20 EUR/litre: 24,000 EUR
- Antifoul, polish, valet, between-trip prep: 18,000 EUR
- Engine and drive servicing (annual plus 250-hour service): 8,000 to 14,000 EUR
- Insurance (hull and machinery, third-party liability): 12,000 to 22,000 EUR
- Berthing or storage when not aboard the yacht: 6,000 to 18,000 EUR
- Wear and consumables (upholstery, fenders, lines, batteries): 4,000 to 9,000 EUR
- Reserve for refit and re-engine (annualised, on a 10-year cycle): 12,000 to 25,000 EUR
Total operating budget for a typical year sits between 80,000 and 130,000 EUR. Charter programmes run higher; see tender maintenance.
Refit and re-engine
A composite tender hull is good for 25 to 30 years of useful life if it is properly maintained. The drivetrain, electronics, and interior wear out faster. A typical refit cycle:
- Year 5 to 7: light refit, upholstery, screens, electronics refresh. 80,000 to 200,000 EUR.
- Year 10 to 12: major refit, re-engine, drives or jets serviced or replaced, interior strip and refit. 250,000 to 700,000 EUR.
- Year 18 to 22: hull-only refit, full re-engine, full interior. 400,000 EUR to half the new-build cost.
Beyond year 20 the economics usually argue for replacement rather than refit, unless the hull is from a particularly well-regarded builder where resale value supports the investment. See tender refit guide.
Depreciation and resale
A new tender depreciates 25 to 40 percent in the first three years and 50 to 65 percent in the first seven, against build cost. Resale recovery depends on:
- The builder (Wajer, Hodgdon, Pascoe, Wally hold value best)
- The maintenance record (compulsory annual surveys add value)
- The garage fit (a tender that fits a popular yacht garage sells faster)
- The propulsion hours and the engine model's parts availability at resale
Used pricing for the segment is on used tenders and the live brokerage book is at tenders for sale.
Where the money is well spent
The line items where over-spec almost always pays back at resale: hull construction (vacuum-infused over hand-laid), helm electronics, audio-visual, and propulsion brand. The line items where over-spec rarely pays back: bespoke leather, full custom upholstery patterns, builder-specific paint colours, branded soft furnishings.
Where to go next
For the decision framework, see how to choose a superyacht tender. For the buying process, see tender buying process. For the broader picture, return to the tenders pillar. To run a comparative spec exercise, get in touch.