Used Sailboat Market Study – Caribbean Region

caribbean_market

Used Sailboat Market Study – Caribbean Region (July 2025)

1. Context & Methodology

Covered area: Eastern Caribbean
(Trinidad – Grenada – St Vincent – St Lucia – Martinique – Guadeloupe – Antigua – St Martin – Sint Maarten – BVI – USVI)

  • All sailboat sizes and brands included

  • Special focus on 3-cabin catamarans and the 38–50 ft range

This data is sourced from BoatWizard/YachtWorld, which aggregates listings from all major second-hand yacht sales platforms, particularly relevant to the Caribbean region.
While not exhaustive, these listings provide a reliable statistical sample for market analysis.

2. Inventory as of July 30, 2025

942 sailboats for sale, including:

    • 362 catamarans

    • 76 in 3-cabin layout

In the 38–50 ft range:

  • 503 sailboats for sale

    • 263 catamarans, of which 61 are 3-cabin models

Boats under 10 years old (built since 2015):

  • 373 sailboats for sale

    • 258 catamarans (69%)

    • 207 catamarans < 50 ft

    • 39 in 3-cabin layout

👉 These figures confirm the strong presence of newer catamarans on the current market.

3. Sales Trends (2018–2025)

 

⚠️ Disclaimer: Not all sales are reported by BoatWizard brokers. Estimates suggest that 25–30% of transactions go unreported.

Despite this limitation, the trends remain reliable.
In 2025, the volume of sales remains below pre-COVID levels.

4. Supply vs. Sales Ratio

Current inventory represents 3 to 4 times the annual sales volume for 2024–2025, depending on boat type.

5. Focus on Recent Boats (<10 years)

Boats under 10 years old account for nearly half of current listings.

Among them, catamarans clearly dominate (approx. 70%), mostly in the sub-50 ft segment.

6.Global Market Snapshot

  • 1,400 catamarans under 10 years old currently listed for sale

  • 1,050 of these are 38–50 ft models

The estimated annual global market for catamarans 38–50 ft and under 10 years old is around 300 units, with increasing demand for 3-cabin “owner” versions.

 

Market Analysis

The post-COVID boom triggered a surge in boat purchases:
Hundreds of individuals sought new lifestyles on the water. Prices soared, and shipyards ramped up production.

That period is now clearly over.
We’re seeing a return to pre-COVID market conditions:

  • Demand has dropped significantly, while inventory has never been higher.

  • In the Caribbean region, catamarans still make up a large share of listings and demand—but the dynamics have shifted:

Key Factors:

  • US buyers, historically the majority in the region, now have a strong domestic supply of late-model, well-equipped boats—already tax-paid and listed in USD.

  • The weakened dollar against the euro, combined with import duties, discourages American buyers.

  • Changes to EU VAT regulations for boats sailing outside EU waters add complexity (see our article on VAT).

  • Hurricane season insurance requirements are increasingly restrictive and costly.

  • Major builders, facing lower demand, are offering deep discounts—to the point where a new model can directly compete with a 2–8 year-old boat.

💬 Conclusion:
This is now a buyer’s market.  

Selling Strategy: What You Should Know

Many boats will struggle to find a buyer, and owners may be forced to hold onto their vessels for months, or even years.

🎯 Our approach at Caraïbe Yachts:

  • Over 25 years of experience in used boat sales in the Caribbean

  • We deal exclusively in pre-owned boats: your listing won’t be used to attract buyers for new builds

  • We only accept listings we believe can be sold efficiently

👉 Even with a deliberately limited inventory, we’re among the leaders in used boat sales in the French West Indies.

Thinking of selling your boat?

Let’s talk.
We’ll provide you with a clear, motivated market analysis and a strategy tailored to today’s highly competitive environment.

REQUEST A MARKET STUDY.

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