Worth Avenue Yachts is a yacht brokerage and sales company based in Palm Beach, Florida
Worth Avenue Yachts buys, sells, and brokers luxury yachts, primarily in the South Florida market. The company operates as a traditional yacht broker — meaning it represents buyers or sellers in transactions rather than owning inventory itself. If you are looking to buy or sell a yacht in the Palm Beach area, Worth Avenue Yachts is one of the established brokerages you may encounter during your search.
The company's name comes from Worth Avenue, the famous shopping and business district in Palm Beach where the brokerage maintains its office. Like other yacht brokers, Worth Avenue Yachts handles the logistics of yacht sales: listing vessels, showing them to potential buyers, negotiating terms, and coordinating inspections and sea trials.
Key Takeaways
- Worth Avenue Yachts is a yacht brokerage in Palm Beach that represents buyers and sellers in yacht transactions rather than selling boats it owns.
- The company specializes in the luxury yacht market in South Florida, where most of its listings and client base are concentrated.
- As a broker, Worth Avenue Yachts earns a commission on completed sales, typically paid by the seller, which is why the service is often free to buyers.
- The brokerage handles the full transaction process: listing, showing, negotiating, arranging surveys and sea trials, and coordinating closing documents.
How yacht brokers like Worth Avenue Yachts make money
Yacht brokers earn a commission on each sale they complete. In most transactions, the seller pays the commission, which is typically split between the listing broker (the one who represents the seller) and the selling broker (the one who represents the buyer). This split is usually negotiated at the time the yacht is listed.
Because the seller pays the commission, buyers often work with brokers at no direct cost. However, the buyer's broker's commission comes out of the sale price, so the buyer indirectly bears part of the cost. Commission rates vary but typically range from 5 to 10 percent of the sale price for luxury yachts, depending on the vessel's size and the market conditions.
Worth Avenue Yachts, like other brokerages, may also earn money by listing yachts for sale. When a yacht owner lists with the company, Worth Avenue Yachts becomes the listing broker and receives a share of the commission when the boat sells.
What to expect when working with a yacht broker
If you contact Worth Avenue Yachts to buy a yacht, a broker will listen to what you are looking for — size, type, price range, features — and show you available listings that match your criteria. The broker may show you yachts listed by Worth Avenue Yachts itself or yachts listed by other brokerages. Most brokerages have access to a shared listing system, so a broker can show you nearly any yacht on the market.
Once you find a yacht you are interested in, the broker will arrange a showing and a sea trial (a test run of the boat). Before you make an offer, the broker will typically recommend that you hire a marine surveyor to inspect the yacht thoroughly. The surveyor's report is crucial — it details the condition of the hull, engine, systems, and interior, and can reveal expensive problems that might not be obvious during a showing.
After you make an offer and the seller accepts, the broker coordinates the closing process. This includes arranging title transfer, coordinating with the yacht's insurance company, and ensuring all documents are signed and filed correctly. The broker does not handle the legal or financial paperwork directly — that is the job of a maritime attorney and your bank or lender — but the broker keeps the transaction moving forward.
Why location matters for a yacht broker
Worth Avenue Yachts' location in Palm Beach is significant because South Florida is one of the largest yacht markets in the United States. Many yacht owners keep their boats in the area year-round or seasonally, and many buyers are based in or visit South Florida. A broker based in Palm Beach has direct access to this concentrated market and relationships with local marinas, surveyors, and maritime service providers.
If you are buying or selling a yacht in South Florida, working with a local broker like Worth Avenue Yachts can be an advantage because they know the market, the available inventory, and the typical prices for different types and sizes of yachts. However, you can also work with brokers in other locations if you are buying or selling a yacht elsewhere.
How to learn about Worth Avenue Yachts has what you are looking for
Worth Avenue Yachts maintains a website and listing database where you can search for yachts by type, size, price, and features. You can also contact the brokerage directly by phone or email to describe what you are looking for and ask if they have any listings that match your criteria.
If you are serious about buying, the broker will ask you about your budget, the type of yacht you want, and how soon you are looking to purchase. This information helps the broker narrow down the search and show you only yachts that are realistic options for you. Be prepared to discuss your experience with yachts — whether you plan to captain the boat yourself or hire a professional crew — because this affects which yachts the broker will recommend.
What documents and inspections you will need
When you buy a yacht, you will need several documents and inspections to complete the transaction. A marine surveyor will inspect the hull, engine, electrical systems, plumbing, and interior. The surveyor produces a detailed report that you and your lender will use to decide whether to move forward with the purchase.
You will also need a title search to confirm that the seller owns the yacht free and clear (or that any liens will be paid off at closing). A maritime attorney typically handles this and prepares the bill of sale and other closing documents. Your lender, if you are financing the purchase, will require proof of insurance and may require additional inspections or documentation.
Worth Avenue Yachts will coordinate these steps but will not perform them directly. The broker's job is to keep all the parties — you, the seller, the surveyor, the attorney, and the lender — on the same timeline so the closing can happen smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay Worth Avenue Yachts if I buy a yacht through them?
Not directly. The seller pays the broker's commission, which is split between the listing broker and the selling broker. However, the commission comes out of the sale price, so you indirectly bear part of the cost. The exact commission rate depends on the listing agreement and the sale price.
Can Worth Avenue Yachts help me sell my yacht?
Yes. If you own a yacht and want to sell it, you can list it with Worth Avenue Yachts. The brokerage will market the yacht, show it to potential buyers, and handle the transaction process. You will pay a commission to the brokerage when the yacht sells, typically paid from the sale proceeds.
What if I want to buy a yacht that is not listed by Worth Avenue Yachts?
You can still work with Worth Avenue Yachts. Most brokerages have access to listings from other brokerages through a shared system. The broker can show you any yacht on the market and represent you in the negotiation and closing, even if another brokerage listed the yacht.
How long does it take to buy a yacht through a broker?
The timeline varies depending on the yacht's condition, your financing, and how quickly you and the seller agree on terms. A typical transaction takes two to four months from the time you make an offer to the closing date. If the yacht needs repairs or if financing takes longer than expected, the process can stretch longer.
What happens if the marine survey finds problems?
If the survey reveals significant issues, you can renegotiate the price, ask the seller to make repairs before closing, or walk away from the deal. The survey report gives you the information you need to make an informed decision. Your broker and attorney can advise you on how to proceed based on what the surveyor found.