What is yacht delivery?
Yacht delivery means a professional skipper, usually with one or more crew, takes your boat by sea from where it is to where you want it. It is the most common way to move a seaworthy sailing yacht or motor boat, whether that is a day's hop from Hamble to Brighton, a week from the south coast to Scotland, or a passage to the Mediterranean.
Owners use delivery skippers after buying a boat, when changing home port, to get the boat to the start of a cruise or race, to return it afterwards, or to take it to a yard for work.
What's included
- A qualified skipper and the crew the passage needs.
- Passage planning, including tides, weather windows and safe stopping points.
- Pre-departure checks of the engine, rig, safety kit and systems.
- Handover at both ends and progress updates on the way.
Expenses such as fuel, marina fees, food and crew travel are usually charged at cost on top of the fee. Some skippers include them in a fixed price. Check every quote so you compare like with like.
Typical costs
Based on real skippered deliveries in 2025–26, the skipper and crew fee before expenses typically comes to:
| Trip | Example | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Short coastal hop, under 70nm | Brighton to Southampton | £450 – £700 |
| Coastal, 70 – 150nm | Dartmouth to Hamble | £700 – £1,250 |
| 250 – 450nm | Southampton to North Wales | £1,800 – £2,750 |
| 450 – 700nm | South coast to the Clyde | £1,800 – £3,000 |
| 1,000 – 1,700nm | Solent to Gibraltar or Spain | £5,400 – £6,600 |
How long it takes
A sailing yacht averages about 5 knots and a motor yacht about 10 knots. In practice a 100 mile coastal delivery takes one to two days, the south coast to Scotland about a week, and the Solent to Gibraltar around 12 days. Skippers build in spare days for weather, and the skipper always has the final say on when it is safe to go.
Which boats suit delivery by sea?
- Sailing yachts of most sizes, especially from about 25ft upwards, that are seaworthy and in commission.
- Motor yachts with the range and equipment for the passage. Fuel makes long trips expensive, so compare with shipping for long distances.
- Catamarans, which are often too wide to go by road without major permits.
Boats that are not seaworthy, small trailer boats and boats going inland are better moved by road.
How to prepare your boat
- Make sure the engine has been serviced and there is fuel, water and spare filters on board.
- Check safety equipment: an in-service liferaft, in-date flares, fire extinguishers, man overboard equipment and a boat hook.
- Make sure the autopilot, navigation lights, VHF and instruments work.
- Leave manuals, keys, and any notes on quirks or known faults.
- Tell your insurer the route and dates and confirm a professional skipper is covered.
- Have the boat's papers on board, especially for trips abroad.
How it works on BoatMove
- Tell us about the move. Your boat, where it is, where it's going and when. It is free and there is no obligation.
- Vetted partners quote. Delivery skippers and companies approved for sea delivery send you quotes with the price, timing and what's included.
- Compare and choose. Compare quotes side by side, message partners with questions, and accept the one you want.
Every partner is approved by a person, service by service. Insurance is checked before approval, and independent skippers must provide a certificate of competence such as a Yachtmaster.
Not sure sea is the right option? See all three ways to move a boat on our boat transport services page.