Buying a Yacht in Thailand

Most of the boats we sell go to buyers who live outside Thailand. This guide explains how a purchase works here, from the first message to the day you take the keys, and the questions to settle before you commit.

The steps, from first message to handover

Shortlist. Tell us your budget, the size of boat and where you want to cruise. We send boats that fit, with full photos, specifications, engine hours and whether the boat is duty-paid in Thailand. A video walkthrough or a live video call can save you a flight.
Viewing. We arrange viewings in Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Jomtien and elsewhere in Thailand, often several boats in one day.
Offer and agreement. When you find the right boat, you make an offer. Once the price is agreed, both sides sign a Sale and Purchase Agreement and you pay a deposit to secure the boat.
Survey and sea trial. Your own independent surveyor inspects the boat, usually with a haul-out, and you take her out on a sea trial. If the survey finds something significant, it can be negotiated under the agreement.
Acceptance and payment. When you accept the boat, the balance is paid, usually by bank transfer in US dollars.
Handover. The seller delivers the bill of sale and the registration documents, and you take the keys. We help with registration, finding a berth and the first weeks of ownership.

Survey and sea trial

Always have a pre-owned boat surveyed by an independent surveyor you appoint. The buyer normally pays for the survey, the haul-out and the sea trial costs. In the tropics, pay particular attention to engines and generators, the hull below the waterline, the age of the rigging, electronics, air conditioning and anything made of canvas or cushions, because heat and humidity are hard on all of them. We can recommend surveyors who know boats in Thailand, or you can bring your own.

Flag and registration

How a boat is flagged decides how long she can stay in Thailand and what you pay to keep her here. There are two broad routes.

Keep a foreign flag. A foreign-flagged yacht can stay in Thailand under temporary import. Since February 2021 the allowance has been up to 2 years and 6 months. After that, the boat has to leave or be imported permanently. Many owners choose this route if they cruise the region.
Register the boat in Thailand. A boat that will stay in Thailand without a time limit needs Thai registration, which means importing her permanently and paying the customs duty and VAT that apply. A foreign individual can register a boat in their own name with proof of a Thai address. A company can only register a boat if at least 70% of its shares are held by Thai nationals.

If the boat you are buying is already duty-paid and registered in Thailand, that can save a large amount. Every listing on our site tells you the boat's status, or we will confirm it for you. Chartering a boat commercially in Thailand needs separate licensing. There is more detail in can a foreigner buy a boat in Thailand.

Rules change. Before you commit, confirm registration, duty and tax with a licensed customs broker or a marine lawyer in Thailand. We can introduce you to the right people.

Costs beyond the price

Survey, haul-out and sea trial
Registration and agent fees
Customs duty and VAT, if the boat is imported permanently
Berthing or a mooring
Insurance
Annual maintenance, antifouling and, on larger boats, crew

For any boat you are seriously considering, we will give you a realistic annual running cost based on what owners here actually spend. See what it costs to own a yacht in Thailand for published marina rates.

Paying safely

All payment terms are set out in the Sale and Purchase Agreement. You normally pay a deposit when you sign and the balance once the survey, sea trial and other agreed conditions are met. Payments are made by bank transfer, and funds can be held in an agreed client or escrow account until completion. Never pay a seller directly without a signed agreement.

Where the boats are

Most pre-owned yachts in Thailand lie on the Andaman coast around Phuket and Krabi, or in the Gulf of Thailand around Pattaya, Jomtien and Koh Samui. You can browse boats for sale in Phuket, boats for sale in Pattaya, catamarans for sale in Thailand or every boat we have for sale.