Rapide is an independent brokerage with a client first approach. We put your needs before our own—offering honest, unbiased advice and full access to the global market. Our deep technical expertise and hands-on experience allow us to guide you through every step of the process with clarity and precision. It all begins with a personal consultation to understand your goals, followed by a curated selection of yachts that match your specific program. From negotiation to inspection, contracts to delivery—we’re with you all the way

You can buy a yacht without a broker—but working with a Rapide broker ensures the best possible outcome at no cost to the buyer. Consider it a partnership: we’re on your side from the first conversation through to delivery—and, as with many of our clients, well beyond.

We begin by listening to your goals, then advising on the right brands, models, and specifications to match your needs. If you already have a yacht in mind, chances are we know the ownership history, past sales data, and potential risks—giving you clarity that goes far beyond a listing.

At Rapide, we don’t just show you what’s on the market—we guide you through it with insight, technical understanding, and absolute attention to detail. From identifying the right yachts and arranging viewings to advising on value, negotiating terms, coordinating sea trials, surveys, and even offering insurance support, we manage the entire process so you can focus on the big picture.

Our role is to simplify the process, protect your interests, and deliver the right outcome—whether you’re buying your first yacht or have owned several before.

No, we also advise on and sell both power and performance monohulls. While our specialty lies in high-performance multihulls, our team has extensive experience sailing, operating, and managing a wide range of yachts. As long as we trust the brand and believe in the quality of the vessel, our expertise is fully transferable. Whether it’s one hull or more, we bring the same level of insight, integrity, and hands-on knowledge to every transaction.

Our team comes from a background in high-end multihulls, superyachts, and performance cruising and racing—bringing a disciplined, hands-on approach to every aspect of yacht ownership. From mechanical and house systems to sails, rigging, refits, composites, and maintenance, we understand the technical details that matter. Unlike brokers from production or charter yacht backgrounds, we have firsthand experience operating, managing, refitting and building some of the most advanced multihulls on the water—giving our clients expert insight and a higher standard of service.

Rapide operates globally, with offices and brokers based in the U.S. and Caribbean, and trusted partners in Europe and the Pacific. We’ve successfully completed transactions across the USA, Caribbean, Middle East, and Pacific—giving us a truly international reach backed by local knowledge

Rapide is an independent brokerage with a client-first approach. We put your needs before our own, offering honest, unbiased advice and full access to the global market. Our deep technical expertise and hands-on experience allow us to guide you through every step of the process with clarity and precision. It all begins with a personal consultation to understand your goals, followed by a curated selection of yachts that match your specific program. From negotiation to inspection, contracts to delivery, we’re with you all the way.

It all starts with a conversation, so the first step is to pick up the phone and speak with one of our experts. We’ll help you set your budget and define your key requirements, such as size, performance, preferred cruising grounds, and any designers or builders you admire. Your Rapide broker will then curate a shortlist of the best yachts available both on and off the market that align with your goals. We’ll also provide detailed comparisons between brands and insights into individual yachts’ ownership profiles, helping you identify real value. It’s all in the details. From there, we’ll arrange viewings so you can step aboard your top choices and narrow down the right fit. When you’re ready to proceed, we’ll assist with negotiations and contract preparation. Once terms are agreed, sea trials and surveys are scheduled and completed to ensure the yacht meets expectations. From there, we move to acceptance, and you’ll receive expert advice on flagging and insurance while the Rapide team advises during final documentation and the closing process. At that point, the yacht is yours and it’s time to enjoy your new adventure.

The timeline for purchasing a pre-owned yacht typically ranges from 4 to 8 weeks from offer to closing, but this can vary depending on several factors. These include the complexity of due diligence, survey results, financing, the seller’s timeline, and the buyer’s chosen flag state. International transactions involving foreign flags can offer advantages through entities registered in jurisdictions with favorable legal and tax environments. They may also broaden your insurance options by providing access to global markets and underwriters. However, they often require additional steps, which can extend the process by a couple of weeks. If you’re working to a specific deadline, let your Rapide broker know early, and we’ll tailor the process to align with your timeline and navigate any complexities on your behalf.

To complete a sea trial, you’ll typically need the following:

1. An Accepted Offer
   Most sellers will only approve a sea trial after a written offer is accepted and a deposit is placed in escrow. The offer will include a contingency for the sea trial and survey.

2. Signed Purchase Agreement
   A binding agreement outlining the terms, timelines, and contingencies, protecting both buyer and seller throughout the process.

3. Deposit in Escrow
   A standard 10% deposit is held in ESCROW during the trial and survey period. It remains fully refundable if you reject the vessel in writing before the acceptance deadline.

At Rapide, we don’t take on every listing—we take on the right ones. We are passionate about what we do and combine deep technical expertise with strategic market insight to ensure your yacht is properly valued, expertly presented, and placed in front of serious, qualified buyers. From our industry-leading website, technical articles, and social presence to our targeted client networks, professional photography, and dedicated marketing—everything we do is designed to make your yacht stand out. The result? Greater visibility, stronger engagement, and the right outcome.

Rapide Yacht Group is the only brokerage in the U.S. and Caribbean authorized by Balance Catamarans to offer their Certified Pre-Owned Program—a factory-backed initiative designed to increase resale value, ensure buyer confidence, and uphold the Balance brand promise. Our relationship with the builder is built on trust and proven results. When you list through Rapide, your yacht becomes eligible for the full suite of benefits that can only be offered through the certified program, at no additional cost to you. These benefits include:

• Transfer of the remaining factory warranty
• Direct access for buyers to the Balance Owners Portal
• Lifetime builder support via the U.S. and South Africa service network
• Access to exclusive training resources and community events

Buyers recognize the value of these advantages, and certified yachts consistently stand out in the market. As more Balance catamarans enter the resale space, certification has become a key differentiator—and listing through Rapide is the only way to unlock that value.

The first step is to speak with one of our experts. We’ll walk you through current market conditions, comparable sales, and provide a realistic price range for your yacht.

Following that initial conversation, you’ll receive a detailed listing proposal outlining our recommended asking price, marketing strategy, terms, and listing agreement. Once signed, we’ll arrange professional photography and prepare your yacht to be listed on our class-leading website, YachtWorld, and all other relevant platforms and channels.

Unlike some brokers who inflate listing prices to win your business—only to push for reductions later or provide false promises—we provide honest, data-driven guidance from day one. Our goal is to position your yacht correctly, attract qualified buyers, and achieve the best possible result.

Selling can take anywhere from a few months to over a year, depending on factors such as pricing, market demand, vessel condition, brand reputation, and location. Once an offer is accepted and a deposit is made, the closing process typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from offer to completion.

Yes! Preparing your yacht for sale can significantly increase its appeal and potential selling price. A well-presented yacht creates a strong first impression and often leads to faster offers at stronger values.

We recommend addressing any outstanding maintenance, removing personal items, and ensuring the yacht is clean and organized for photography and showings.

Your Rapide broker will provide a pre-listing checklist and guide you through the process. Our goal is to present your yacht in its best light—both online and in person—and ensure it’s in ideal condition for survey.

An experienced owner’s representative acts as your advisor and advocate—protecting your interests throughout the build process. While it’s possible to manage a project independently, the complexity, cost, and long-term implications of design and build decisions make expert guidance invaluable.

We help ensure you select the right design, materials, layout, sailplan, and equipment based on your specific needs and sailing goals. Having worked as an owners rep and for a yacht manufacturer, we understand firsthand how valuable it is to have someone independent representing you—someone who can ask the right questions, push for the right outcomes, and ensure nothing is overlooked.

Our role is to help manage the process —on weight, on budget, on time, and to spec. And because every owner and project is different, we adapt our involvement to fit your needs

We tailor each package to the specific needs of our clients—because no two owners or projects are the same. We can help you assess and compare reputable shipyards, offering informed quality, performance and risk assessments for each. We can evaluate naval architecture and design proposals, assist in sourcing interior designers and other key specialists, and support equipment research and the development of technical specifications.

We can prepare bid packages, liaise with attorneys, flagging authorities, and composite or structural surveyors, and manage the entire build process. This includes scheduling, contract oversight, identifying potential delays and risks, and evaluating change orders to the project scope.

We can also support your captain through commissioning and sea trials, right through to final acceptance—and remain available post-delivery to assist with warranty issues and ongoing support.

While shipyards often have their own project managers, their primary responsibility is to the yard—not to you as the client. And while shipyards may make ambitious promises to secure a contract, it often falls to an experienced owner’s representative to ensure those promises are fulfilled.

An independent representative acts solely in your interest—working alongside the yard’s team while remaining separate from their payroll. This allows us to ask the right questions, monitor progress, challenge decisions when necessary, and ensure the vessel is delivered to the contract specifications, on time and to the standard you expect.

Working with Rapide lowers both project and operational costs by improving efficiency, ensuring accountability, and avoiding costly mistakes. We provide control, transparency, and alignment throughout the process—making sure your interests are protected at every stage. Our involvement means you receive the level of service you deserve, and the end result is a better-quality yacht with fewer issues, less downtime, and more time on the water. With our support, you can move forward with clarity and confidence—even when making bold decisions

The build timeline varies depending on the size, complexity, and stage of the project. For a custom or semi-custom performance multihull, you can typically expect the process to take 12 to 30 months from contract to delivery.

Key factors that influence the timeline include production slot availability, shipyard and labor capacity, the yard’s experience with similar vessels, the level of customization, and any change orders made during the build process.