Selling a Yacht or Catamaran in the Pacific

Selling a Yacht or Catamaran in the Pacific: How YOTI Markets Your Boat to Australia and Beyond

I have just returned from another productive visit to Fiji, where I listed two exceptional Nautitech catamarans: a 2014 Nautitech 40 Open and a 2023 Nautitech 44 Open. I also met several clients on the rounds who are interested in selling soon, so please get in touch to see what is coming up!

This trip prompted me to put together a proper summary for owners in a similar position and explain how YOTI can assist in selling your boat.

Selling in the Pacific is a Different Process

Selling a yacht or catamaran located in the Pacific initially requires a much different approach from selling one already sitting in Australian waters. Understanding the boat, inspecting her, and meeting her owners in person are vital parts of the selling process.

Selling a yacht or catamaran is a challenging job at the best of times, and without firsthand knowledge and a thorough run-through by the owner or her skipper, it becomes much harder to communicate what makes a particular vessel special to build a successful sales campaign around it. I find this interaction invaluable. When selling a vessel of the quality that YOTI do, the owners and their approach to ownership can be just as important as the yacht herself. They are often the best indication of how carefully a vessel has been maintained and enjoyed.

Whenever possible, we travel to the yacht or catamaran – whether that’s Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti or elsewhere in the Pacific – inspect her in detail, and spend time with the owners. When an in-person visit is genuinely impossible, I arrange a comprehensive video call and guided walkthrough.

How We Present and Market Your Yacht or Catamaran

A Pacific sales campaign must be on target and accurate from the start, and the first step is presenting the vessel properly to the market. Once appointed, we travel to Fiji—or the vessel’s location elsewhere in the Pacific—to meet the owners, inspect in detail and coordinate the photography and video required for the campaign.

The key is to combine a strong, professional presentation with international reach, YOTI’s established Australian buyer network, and clear, regular communication and practical support in the Pacific.

And the best part: all marketing and advertising costs are covered by YOTI.

YOTI then produces and manages the complete marketing campaign, including exposure through:

• yoti.com.au
• YachtWorld
• BoatSales
• YachtHub
• BoatsOnline
• Yacht and Boat
• Boats.com
• YOTI social media – Facebook & Instagram
• YOTI YouTube channel
• YOTI InSight e-newsletters
• Our database of more than 7,000 clients
• Our Australian and international broker networks

Our objective is to make the vessel easy to discover, easy to inspect and survey, easy to buy, and YOTI easy to reach throughout the process. We manage the campaign from Australia while personally supporting the vessel on location whenever it matters.

If the vessel remains on the market when she reaches Australia, YOTI also has offices in New South Wales and Queensland and can assist with haul-out and storage options. We can also help owners and buyers navigate local tax requirements and import logistics, which can quickly become complicated without the right knowledge.

My Boat is For Sale in the Pacific – Where Are Our Key Markets?

Australian Buyers

We actively promote the yacht or catamaran through YOTI’s established network of buyers, brokers and marine-industry contacts. Our database of more than 7,000 clients gives us direct access to people already looking for quality yachts and catamarans, including buyers who may be prepared to travel for the right vessel.

International Buyers

YachtWorld is a major focus of the campaign, providing exposure to buyers and brokers throughout New Zealand, Asia, Europe, the United States and the wider international market. This global reach is particularly important for distinctive, well-equipped cruising yachts and catamarans that may appeal to buyers well beyond Australia.

Buyers Already Cruising the Pacific

For the right buyer, a yacht or catamaran already positioned in the Pacific is an opportunity rather than an obstacle. It may provide an ideal platform from which to continue cruising without first relocating a vessel from Australia, Europe or the United States. We actively market this advantage to buyers who understand the value of the vessel’s location. The obvious hurdle here is that this client may already have a vessel, but we can still help with this!

Managing Buyers from Australia to the Pacific

Generating enquiries is only part of the job. Our role is to qualify prospective buyers, provide detailed and accurate information about the vessel and her location, and give buyers the confidence to engage with us and the process further.  All enquiries are managed centrally; none are missed, and we maintain regular communication with both the owner and prospective buyer.

Thinking of Selling?

If your yacht or catamaran is based in Fiji or elsewhere in the Pacific and you’re considering selling, get in touch — we’d love to help you put together a campaign that reaches the right buyers, wherever they are.

– Tim Vine

Additional Reading

Setting Sail in the Pacific

Thinking of buying a yacht or catamaran in the Pacific? YOTI helps with sourcing, survey, delivery and importation into Australia — start here.

Spotlight in Nawi Island Marina

Nawi Island Marina is a relatively new, high-end marina in Savusavu Harbour on Vanua Levu, Fiji. It’s particularly interesting if you’re cruising the South Pacific because it combines serious yacht infrastructure with a resort-style marina complex - Read more here