Length overall
LOA, or length overall, is the headline measurement and often affects berth pricing, regulations and handling. It does not tell you interior space by itself. A modern wide-beam yacht may feel far larger than an older narrow yacht of similar length.
Beam
Beam is the yacht’s width. It influences interior volume, stability, marina fit and transport options. Catamarans are especially wide, which creates excellent living space but can make berthing more expensive or limited.
Draft
Draft tells you how far the yacht extends below the waterline. Deep-draft yachts may be excluded from shallow anchorages or marina entrances. In the Bahamas, draft can shape the entire cruising plan.
Engines and hours
Listings usually name engine manufacturer, model, power and operating hours. Hours need context: service history and loading matter more than a simple low-versus-high judgment. Ask for maintenance records and use specialists during survey.
Speed and range
Maximum speed is not the same as comfortable cruising speed. Range estimates depend on speed, fuel capacity, sea conditions and reserve assumptions. A yacht advertised with transatlantic range may achieve it only at an economical displacement speed.
Accommodation and refit history
Count real guest cabins, crew cabins, bathrooms and bed sizes. Then look at build year and major refits. A twenty-year-old yacht with a thorough recent mechanical and interior refit can be more attractive than a newer yacht with deferred work.
Displacement tells you something about character
Displacement is the yacht’s weight and, combined with hull type, helps explain how it moves and how much power it needs. Heavy full-displacement yachts are generally optimized for efficient lower-speed cruising and range. Planing yachts trade fuel efficiency for higher speed. Semi-displacement designs sit between them. These categories are simplified, but they help a buyer understand why two yachts with identical length and engine horsepower can have very different missions.
Specifications need verification
Listings are marketing documents and can contain old information, rounded measurements or equipment that has since been removed. Refit dates may refer only to cosmetic work and may not represent a complete technical overhaul. Use the listing to decide whether the yacht deserves inspection, then verify important specifications against build documents, survey and onboard checks. Range, speed and guest capacity are especially easy to misunderstand when the assumptions behind the number are not shown.
Look for what the listing does not say
Missing information can be as useful as specifications. If there is no mention of engine service, stabilizers, refit scope or VAT status, ask. If photographs avoid the engine room, crew area or one side of the hull, request more. A listing designed for marketing will naturally emphasize strengths. The buyer’s job is to identify the unanswered questions and use the viewing, document review and survey to fill them in. A polished PDF should start due diligence, not end it.
A final note on how to read yacht listing
Save the original listing before negotiations. It provides a useful record of how the yacht was represented if equipment, refit claims or included items later become disputed.
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