Buying a sailboat in Mallorca: Costs, condition and surveys

If you’re looking to buy a sailing boat in Mallorca, the first question is usually how much it will cost. A single average price is of little use: boats on the market range from older, smaller sailing boats to new cruising yachts and large custom-built vessels. Asking prices can vary considerably even for boats of similar length. What matters, then, is not just what the listing says, but what you’re actually getting for your money.

This guide puts specific asking prices into context by length and model – from a smaller Beneteau to a yacht of around 15 metres. You’ll also learn what to ask during a viewing, why a pre-purchase survey can be worthwhile and how to build one into the buying process. There is no reliable one-size-fits-all price for surveys or certain specialist models, nor a fixed lifespan for a GRP boat. Assessing the individual boat matters more than any blanket answer.

How much does it cost to buy a sailing boat in Mallorca?

The following figures are asking prices for individual boats, not market averages or estimates of their actual selling prices. Above all, they show how wide the choice can be even within the same size category.

These figures come from published listings for Mallorca or Palma. When comparing them, it pays to consider length, year of build and boat type together: despite their similar length, the lower-priced Pilot Cutter and the new Oceanis 52 are not interchangeable buying options.

Please note: An asking price tells you neither the boat’s verified condition nor the total amount you’ll spend on it after purchase.

What prices should you expect for boats of around 10, 12 or 15 metres?

For initial budgeting, actual boats are more useful than a supposed price list ‘per metre’. This also helps put the question of a 30-foot sailing boat into perspective: a Mallorca listing for a Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 gives 8.99 metres and €125,170 for a new boat; older boats of a similar size are listed at very different prices.

The examples around twelve metres also highlight an important limitation of such comparisons: the Solaris is not exactly twelve metres long, and a catamaran cannot be compared with a monohull on length alone. For a 20-metre sailing boat, you should not simply extrapolate prices from shorter boats.

If you’re still deciding between types of boat, it helps to start by considering the right size of sailing boat for Mallorca.

How much do Bavaria and Beneteau boats cost in Mallorca?

Prices can vary widely even among boats from the same boatyard. For example, these models were advertised in Palma and across Mallorca:

So “How much does a Bavaria cost?” cannot be answered with a single figure, and neither can the question of a Beneteau’s price. For an Esse 850, you should assess the price against a current listing for a clearly described boat.

What does the year of build tell you about a boat’s condition?

The year of manufacture is a starting point, not a condition report. Listings include, for example, sailing boats from 1979 and 2007 alongside new boats from 2026. That alone won't tell you whether an older boat suits your plans.

When viewing a boat, ask the seller not only about modifications and maintenance, but also to show you the records. Make a written note of any visible damage, anything unusual and any missing documents. That way, you can later distinguish between a claim in the listing, something the seller told you and a finding that was actually verified.

A blanket estimate of how long sailing boats last – including boats made of GRP – would be misleading as a rule of thumb when buying. The more useful question is: what condition are this boat and its individual pieces of equipment in today?

When is a survey worth getting for a sailing boat?

A survey is particularly important if you cannot assess the boat's condition yourself or if questions remain after viewing it. Before commissioning one, decide which boat and which areas should be inspected and how you want to receive the findings. A verbal impression after a walk-through is not the same as documented findings.

There is no standard price for a sailing boat survey. Get a quote for the specific boat and clarify what it covers. Add any outstanding questions from the viewing to your list, rather than simply asking for a general ‘once-over’.

Note: Arrange the inspection before making a final commitment to the boat. A survey can clarify questions about its condition; you will then need to decide, based on the findings, whether the boat and its price are right for you.

How do you go about buying a boat, step by step?

1. Decide how you'll use it. Think about which size and type of boat suit the trips you're planning.
2. Make listings comparable. For each boat, note the model, length, year of manufacture, location and asking price.
3. Request the documents. Ask for any available documentation for the boat and work carried out on it.
4. View the boat. Check the details in the listing against the boat itself and write down any questions.
5. Agree on the scope of the survey. Decide what needs to be inspected and documented based on the outstanding questions; ask about the cost beforehand.
6. Review your decision to buy. Take the findings and the work the boat will need later into account, not just the asking price.

If you first want to find out whether sailing a boat of this size suits you, you can compare renting and buying in Mallorca.

What costs come on top of the purchase price?

The purchase price is only one part of your planning. Consider the berth, work on the boat and ongoing maintenance separately. A sales listing will not necessarily give you figures for these costs that apply to how you intend to use the boat.

So, before buying, find out where the boat could be berthed and what work may be needed following a viewing or survey. For further planning, see our separate guides to berths in Mallorca and to maintaining and later selling a sailing boat.

The most common mistakes when buying a sailing boat

• Filtering by length alone: Among the listings mentioned, a boat of around 15 metres is advertised for €59,500, another for €660,382. Length tells you little unless you understand the differences between the boats and their condition.
• Treating asking prices as verified values: A listing initially reflects the asking price for a particular boat.
• Equating the year of manufacture with condition: Even a clearly stated year of manufacture is no substitute for a viewing and checking any outstanding questions.
• Commissioning a survey without specifying its scope: Only an agreed scope makes quotes for the survey and its findings useful to you.
• Leaving the berth until after the purchase: Where the boat will be berthed later should already be part of your purchase plans.

What happens next?

After a satisfactory inspection, the next step is to work out how the boat will fit into your life on Mallorca: its berth, ongoing maintenance and the trips you plan to make all need to work together. If you have little experience of local conditions, read the guidance on safety and weather when sailing around Mallorca before your first trips.

If you are interested in using the boat commercially later rather than for your own use, do not assume an ordinary sales listing covers that possibility. Buying the boat and deciding how to use it are separate decisions.

Checklist for viewing and survey

This checklist deliberately focuses on questions you can answer about the specific boat. It is no substitute for a professional assessment of its condition.

Conclusion

On Mallorca, the listings mentioned range from smaller used sailing boats priced at €16,000 to new Beneteau models with considerably higher asking prices. What matters to your decision, however, is not the full price range but a careful comparison of boats that suit your intended use. View your preferred boat, check the paperwork and, if you have unanswered questions about its condition, arrange a survey with a clearly defined scope. Only then does a listing price become a useful basis for your purchase decision.

Not legal or tax advice.