What yacht deliveries cost: pricing for captains and owners
How yacht delivery captains actually price their work — per-mile rates, day rates, and the real costs hidden in the small print.
Yacht delivery pricing is one of the most opaque parts of the industry. Owners get quotes that vary 3× for the same passage. Captains undercharge their first deliveries and resent it for the rest of the season. Here's what the numbers actually look like.
Three common pricing models
Per-mile rate. The simplest. Captain quotes a number per nautical mile sailed (typical range: €3-€8/NM for monohulls under 50ft, €5-€12/NM for catamarans and larger boats). Owner pays the rate × the rhumb-line distance.
Day rate. Captain quotes a daily rate (typical range: €250-€500/day for an experienced captain). Owner pays for expected days plus a daily buffer for weather holds.
Flat fee. Captain quotes a total package for the whole delivery, all-in. Riskier for the captain (weather delays eat the margin) but cleaner for the owner.
Most professional captains end up on a hybrid: day rate plus a percentage uplift for ocean passages, plus all expenses.
What the owner actually pays for
A "€5,000 delivery" is rarely a €5,000 delivery. The full cost typically includes:
- Captain's fee (day rate or per-mile rate)
- Crew fees (typically €150-€300/day per crew)
- Captain's travel to and from the boat (flights, hotels)
- Fuel for any motoring (massive variable)
- Marina fees along the route
- Provisioning (food and water for the crew)
- Mooring/dockage at the destination during handover
- Repair budget for any underway breakdowns
For a typical Atlantic crossing, expect total costs of €15,000-€30,000 for monohulls under 50ft, €25,000-€50,000 for cats and larger boats.
What separates a fair quote from a bad one
A fair quote will include:
- A clear scope: route, expected duration, crew count
- An itemised expense list, not just a lump sum
- A clear cancellation / weather hold policy
- Owner's insurance verified before departure
- Captain's certifications stated
If a quote is just "€8,000 to deliver the boat", ask for the breakdown. If the captain won't provide it, that's a red flag.
For captains: how to quote without leaving money on the table
A common mistake among new delivery captains: quoting only the days at sea. You should be paid for:
- Boat preparation (typically 1-2 days pre-departure)
- The passage itself
- Boat handover at destination (typically 1 day)
- Your travel days back to home base
A "fifteen-day passage" is often a twenty-day job once you count the boat work either side. Quote accordingly.
Insurance and liability
Whatever the pricing model, get the agreement in writing. The standard delivery contract should cover:
- Liability for damage to the vessel during the delivery
- Liability for injuries to crew
- Cancellation terms (who pays what if the gig falls through)
- Force majeure (weather, equipment failure, port closure)
Boat Gigs doesn't currently provide standard contracts but most professional delivery captains will have their own template. Always sign one before slipping lines.
Get a feel for the market
Browse open gigs at /gigs — many posters share their budget or compensation in the description. It's the fastest way to calibrate your pricing for the current market.
Ready to find your next gig?
Browse open deliveries — no commission, no middleman.