Yacht share

Yacht ownership without the hassle

Owning a yacht is a dream for many, but the reality comes with high costs, ongoing maintenance, and time-consuming responsibilities. For those who love to sail but don’t want the hassle, several yacht share models exist – each offering a different way to get afloat without taking on full ownership.

Our unique model of fractional ownership is different, and for some people, better.

Here’s a look at the other main options:

Yacht charter

Sail where you want, when you want, if you can find the right boat. Chartering offers complete flexibility. Pick a boat, choose a location, and off you go, at a price. You’ll usually need to organise the charter yourself, including any crew and insurance. While it can be a great way to try different boats, the reality is that chartering often requires quite a bit of organisation, trying to find the right boat, where and when you want it. There’s no community element and learning is entirely self-directed. Another consideration is that safety standards vary as most boats are privately owned and maintained.

The Country Club model

The Country Club model offers high-end convenience, with high-end costs. Typically run by commercial companies with investment in a fleet of boats – often across multiple locations – this model gives a “walk-on, walk-off” experience. You won’t be involved in any maintenance, and someone will usually be on-hand to give you a handover if the boat is unfamiliar. You’ll pay a significant annual membership fee for a set number of days on the water. Extra days are often priced at charter rates. Community is limited and you usually sail with the crew you have invited. Some paid-for training may be available, and safety should, in theory, be better than average charter vessels.

Syndicated yacht share

Buy a boat with two or three like-minded yachties and split the costs. It sounds simple, and for some people it works well. There will be a big upfront capital outlay and typically berthing, insurance, and annual maintenance would be shared equally between the (usually small number of) owners.

There’s no profit margin, but you also miss out on the economies of scale that come with a larger fleet. You’re tied to one boat, often in one location, although you might agree to move it around now and then.

Maintenance can be a sticking point – either the costs are high, or the burden falls on one owner more than others, which can lead to tension. Legal agreements on the set-up of a yacht share are essential. There are off-the-shelf options, but it’s wise to take proper advice, especially for exit plans as things often get complicated when one or more owners decides they would like to leave.

You may learn from your co-owners if they are more experienced, but there is no structured support. Learning is self-directed and safety is your own responsibility. Do you have the skills and confidence to manage that?

Our unique model

At Tops’l, we believe we offer something unique. Our fractional ownership model is a not-for-profit approach designed to give you the benefits of yacht ownership, without the burdens.

You don’t buy a boat, or manage one. Instead, there is a one-time investment when you join, followed by a low monthly subscription, giving you regular access to well-maintained yachts, managed by a club of fellow sailors. No mooring fees, no insurance headaches, no rows over rotas. Just time on the water, supported by a community that sails together, learns together, and helps each other out.

• Low cost, no large capital outlay
• No maintenance hassle – we take care of servicing, insurance, and repairs
• Flexibility – sail when it suits you, without long-term commitment
• A real community – you can sail with experienced members and learn as you go
• Not-for-profit – decisions are made by the members, for the members

Costs and benefits comparison

Key:
H = High, M = Medium, L = Low, V = Variable, n/a = not applicable

Want to see how we do it differently?

• Read about our fractional ownership model
• Check what’s included on the Costs page
• Explore our yachts