Martin Yachting
Make your yacht earn its keep
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Make your yacht earn its keep through charter

What can your yacht actually earn in charter? Owner-net projection, break-even by size, charter VAT regimes — no fantasy numbers.

01

Owner-net projection

Bespoke study for your boat, area and availability. Gross charter, running costs, commissions, taxes — we model real owner net, not a promise.

02

Break-even by size

18 m: 6-8 weeks to cover operating cost. 30 m: 10-12 weeks. 50 m: 14-16 weeks + owner contribution. Beyond that, charter generates net cash.

03

Flag and VAT regime

Flag, charter VAT regime (French Commercial Exemption, Italian leasing), holding structure. We work alongside your tax advisor to optimise without risk.

Monetise without giving up private use

A yacht placed in charter-management typically generates 8-15% of its value in gross annual charter revenue — 60-90% of operating costs (seasonal crew, berthing, insurance, maintenance). The realistic goal isn't profit, but cutting net cost of ownership by 2 or 3x.

You keep 4-8 weeks of annual private use depending on the formula, ideally positioned in June and September — windows where the sea is best and charter pressure remains moderate.

Typical economics of a 30m yacht in the Med

Weekly charter fee: €90,000-130,000. Average programme: 14-18 charter weeks per season. Gross revenue: €1.3-2.3M. Charter costs (15% MYBA commission, reinforced seasonal crew, fuel premium): 35-45%. Net owner revenue: €800k-1.4M.

Annual operating costs of a 30m (Riviera berth, insurance, maintenance, reduced permanent crew): €800k-1.2M. Net balance after charter: break-even to mildly positive on good seasons.

Choosing the right operator

We exclusively recommend MYBA-recognised operators with physical Mediterranean presence: booking, legal support, seasonal-crew quality, APA tracking, quarterly reporting. We avoid purely commercial structures without nautical expertise.

Our role: present your yacht to 3-5 fitting operators, compare terms (split commission, exclusivity, calendar), and defend your clauses (guaranteed private-use weeks, wear & tear level, APA cap).

« First charter year on our 28m: 16 weeks booked, net revenue €720k, covering operating costs and our amortisation share. The yacht now only costs us our own use fuel. »
T. HartmannOwner since 2023

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FAQ

How many charter weeks are realistic in the Med?+

8-14 actual weeks over May-October, depending on area and boat. More isn't realistic without sacrificing private use and accelerating wear.

What's the break-even on a charter yacht?+

Highly size-dependent. A well-positioned recent 25-30 m typically covers operations from 10-12 chartered weeks. Cost of capital sits separately.

What are the recurring costs?+

Permanent crew (40-50% of annual budget), insurance, marinas, preventive and corrective maintenance, cyclical refit, 15% central agency commission.

How does VAT on charter revenue work?+

In France, exemption possible (FCE) if conditions are met. In Italy, leasing regime with reduced effective VAT. We point you to the right structure for your profile.

Does charter wear the yacht prematurely?+

Yes — 30-50% additional wear. The charter-management contract foresees an enlarged maintenance/refit budget and a yearly restoration obligation. To be priced into the net calculation.

Does the flag affect profitability?+

Strongly. Commercial flag (Malta, Marshall Islands, Cayman) enables international charter with VAT recoverable under certain regimes. Private flag limits or forbids charter.

How long to place a yacht in charter?+

3-6 months between operator signing and first charter: flag transfer, commercial certification (MCA if >24m), photos, MYBA file, booking integration.