Voyage 500 Catamaran For Sale
How the Sale Works
Sale Pending
Tropicalia is currently under contract. The buyer has signed a purchase & sale agreement, and we are moving through the survey, sea trial, and closing process described below.
You are still welcome to reach out with questions or to express interest — we are happy to keep your information on file and let you know if anything changes.
Buying a Boat Directly from the Owner
Private boat sales are common and straightforward. The process follows the same steps as a brokered transaction, but without the broker commission. Here is exactly what to expect.
- 1
Initial Contact
Reach out to us. We are happy to answer questions, provide additional photos and videos, or schedule a video call to walk through the boat in real time. We encourage you to ask anything.
- 2
Offer & Deposit
When you are ready to move forward, you submit a written offer using a standard marine purchase and sale agreement, much like you would do if you were making an offered on a brokerage boat. Once we reach agreement on terms, a refundable deposit (typically 10%) is placed into a licensed marine escrow account. This secures the boat and takes her off the market while you arrange a survey.
- 3
Marine Survey
You hire a licensed marine surveyor of your choice. We will make the boat fully available for haul-out and inspection. The survey is your opportunity to have an independent professional assess every aspect of the vessel.
- 4
Sea Trial
A sea trial is usually included as part of the survey process. You and your surveyor will be able to experience the boat under sail and power, test all systems, and get a feel for how she handles. We will be aboard to answer questions and demonstrate systems.
- 5
Acceptance of Vessel
Once the survey and sea trial are complete, and if you are completely satisfied with what you find, you formally accept the vessel. If you are unsatisfied with the survey results, then you can walk away, and the escrow agent refunds your 10% deposit.
- 6
Closing
The closing agent runs an abstract of title and lien search, prepares the bill of sale and USCG paperwork, holds the signed documents in escrow, confirms any prior liens or mortgages are satisfied, files the transfer with the USCG, and issues a new 5-year USCG Certificate of Documentation in the buyer's name. The buyer wires the balance of the purchase price into escrow, where it is held until the title transfer is confirmed and then released to the seller. Keys, manuals, and maintenance records pass to the new owner.
We have closed two boats through All Yacht Registries — the purchase of Tropicalia and the private sale of Nethermead — and were very satisfied with their professionalism on both transactions. Their services and typical closing fees are outlined here: $750 base for a pleasure vessel, which we would split with you. They are our default recommendation, but the buyer is welcome to use any comparable closing and documentation service they prefer.
Why FSBO Works
Buying directly from the owner is not unusual in the marine world. Many experienced cruisers prefer it because they deal directly with someone who knows the boat intimately. There is no telephone game through a broker, and the savings on commission can be significant for both parties.
Questions?
If you have any concerns about the process, we are happy to discuss them. We want you to feel confident every step of the way.
Sales Forms & Resources
If you want to read through the standard paperwork ahead of time, YachtSite's Sales Forms page is a useful public resource — downloadable PDFs of the same templates a broker would walk you through, with a plain-language summary of how each step works. The forms most relevant to a sale like this one:
Offer Phase
None of this is legal advice — it is a starting point if you want to see what the documents look like before we talk.
Ready to get started?
Reach out anytime. We are happy to answer questions, share additional photos, or set up a video walkthrough.
Contact Us