Why 40–60m yachts are the sweet spot for buyers right now

The brokerage market's most sought-after segment

When looking at the data, it’s immediately clear that the 40–60m segment is the most attractive. With the amenities of larger yachts (think beach clubs and wellness areas) without compromising ease of ownership, they offer owners the most variety, space and facilities at the optimal cost.

Contributing to this market’s popularity is the demographic shift we’re seeing, with a transfer of wealth trickling down to younger generations who are now exploring what the superyacht industry can offer them. While many will enter yachting via charter, there is undeniably an increase in younger clients who display different purchasing motivations compared to the buyers of old. They’re interested in travelling and exploring beyond the usual paths, they prioritise wellness and they want their routines to travel with them – from fitness and recovery to quiet spaces for work and downtime.

That’s why this segment is great for these owners – there’s enough space on board and enough capability to facilitate these demands. Where a yacht was a status symbol or just somewhere to be at sea with loved ones, today’s buyers need more from a yacht than just lounges and deck spaces.

What today's buyers are looking for from a superyacht

Yacht owners of today are increasingly looking for lifestyle-first ownership. In practice, this means defining exactly how they want to spend their time on the water before looking at hull sizes or engine specs. When they speak to their brokers, they’re not just considering an asset purchase but a bespoke, highly personal experience. Our teams are seeing this come across in the demand for things like wellness areas, beach clubs and office setups with Starlink, enabling owners to get exactly what they want out of their boat.

But sitting at the top of nearly every priority list is efficiency – operational, fuel, crew and yacht maintenance-related. Buyers want a yacht that is going to be reliable and is engineered for redundancy and quiet operation, especially for the increased buyer pool interested in adventure cruising and transoceanic crossings.

Modern yacht owners are also looking for a vessel that is easy, particularly when it comes to crew management. A mid-range yacht typically has between eight and 12 crew – enough to service all your needs, yet few enough to be easily managed and not too expensive.

40–60m yachts are also the most in-demand on the charter market, so your yacht will be most successful. Putting your yacht on the charter market while not in use is an excellent way to offset running costs. A study by our sales, charter and management teams, covering 100 yachts from 30–100m (98–328ft), found that ownership costs rise by 15 percent every 5m (16ft), while charter revenues rise by 22 percent. But something interesting happens between 50m (164ft) and 60m (197ft). From 55m (180ft) to 60m we see a 66 percent list in charter rates, while running costs remain at the usual 15 percent increase. For charter-focused owners interested in a dual summer-winter campaign, this 60m sweet spot could cover costs for the year.

It’s worth noting that yachts of different specifications, crew numbers and volumes will have differing running costs and charter revenues, but these patterns around 40–60m running costs versus potential charter income are clear.

Why 40–60m yachts for sale offer the perfect balance

40–60m yachts offer the ultimate superyacht balance: they provide high-level luxury, spacious decks and room for up to 12 guests without crossing the threshold into massive, regulatory-heavy gigayachts. This ‘sweet spot’ maximises comfort while keeping operating costs, crew sizes and marina accessibility manageable. Within this range, sub-50m yachts boast shallower drafts for anchoring in secluded, shallow bays and much closer to the shoreline. 40–60m vessels also have an easier time securing berths in exclusive, highly coveted marinas across the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Speaking to sales broker Thibault Roi, he describes 40–50m yachts as a ‘people vessel […] It’s a vessel that remains private and personal but offers a lot, which is important for people moving to a crewed yacht from owner operation. Around 10 crew keep things personal you know everyone’s names. It also keeps costs down, with crew being a big part of a yacht’s operational budget.’

At this size you are usually still sitting below 500GT which brings with it a wealth of advantages – from more flexible crew qualifications to fewer certifications required. Beyond that, things can escalate quickly – as the yachts get bigger so do the crew, running costs, access to certain marinas and administration.

For life on board, 40–60m yachts offer a good number of well-sized guest cabins including flexible arrangements – from VIPs to dedicated owner’s areas. Elsewhere, swimming pools, cinema rooms, bars, multiple jacuzzis and even dedicated gym and spa areas can all be found on yachts in this category.

How luxury lifestyles are shaping acquisition decisions in yachting

Luxury travel today is defined by privacy, personalisation and access to experiences that feel genuinely one of a kind. As mass tourism grows and social media is exposing the world like never before, yachts offer UHNWIs something increasingly rare: control over where they go, who they travel with and how visible they want to be.

For yacht buyers, this is changing the way acquisition decisions are made. They are no longer starting with technical specifications alone, but with a clear idea of the lifestyle they want to support – whether that means extended family cruising, remote working from sea, wellness routines, adventure travel or complete seclusion away from crowded destinations.

In this context, the 40–60m segment is especially appealing because it offers the flexibility, comfort and capability to deliver that lifestyle without the scale and complexity of much larger yachts.

What the future looks like for the brokerage market

The future is strong for the brokerage market, and for 40–60m yachts in particular. There are more shipyards entering this market and more models coming through. In Italy – responsible for half of all brokerage builds – we’re see the traditional players increasing model lines and new yards coming in, while Turkey is becoming more competitive with high-value propositions. And, of course, Northern Europe continues to build superb vessels in this category. The result is a larger choice for buyers with many different designs, capabilities and purchase prices.

As the great wealth transfer continues over the next decade, the proportion of younger yacht owners will increase, and with them interests in sustainability and technology grow in importance. Recent deliveries have proven groundbreaking technology can be effective, and we anticipate that the strong demand for green yachts with hybrid propulsion, alternative fuels and sustainable materials will continue.

Beyond the 40–60m segment, we anticipate the superyacht fleet continuing to trend upward in size. A few decades ago, a 40m boat would be the largest in a brokerage’s fleet, but today owners are building bigger than ever before, with more 100m+ yachts joining the market and no sign of this slowing down.

Within the 40–60m range, there is significant variety for buyers – and at Burgess, our role is to guide clients through those options and to perfectly match the yacht with their specific requirements. To explore what’s available and discuss the market or your requirements, just get in touch. Our brokers are on hand to answer any questions and match you with your ideal yacht.