Ownership
What owning a yacht in India really costs
Berthing, crew, insurance, monsoon layup and the ten-percent rule.
30 May 2026 · 1 min read
Buyers research the purchase price, yet it's the smallest part of the decision.
The ten-percent rule
Plan on annual running costs of about ten percent of the boat's value, so a two-crore boat costs roughly twenty lakh a year. Spending less usually means deferring maintenance, and that compounds quickly.
Where the money goes
Roughly in order of size, for a crewed motor yacht in Mumbai or Goa:
- Crew salaries
- Berthing or mooring fees, which vary widely
- Insurance, based on value, use and crew qualifications
- Monsoon haul-out, layup and recommissioning
- Antifouling, anodes and annual survey
- Engine and generator servicing
- Fuel, often lower than expected
A fixed monsoon cost
For four months the boat can't be used but still costs money. Budget twelve months of cost for eight months of use.
Ways to reduce it
Buy smaller, charter the boat out (planning commercial registration before purchase), or buy a share. Cutting maintenance isn't a saving, since you pay it back in resale value.
