Option to Purchase

This program gives you a way into ownership with a smaller initial outlay: you contribute 45% of the yacht’s price, we run the boat in the charter fleet, and you enjoy owner‑time with no running costs billed to you during the term. There is no monthly income, but at the end you either pay one last 20% installment to take the yacht into your own name or choose a guaranteed 20% cash payout and close the chapter.

In the Guaranteed Income structure, you buy the yacht up front and we pay you a fixed income while it is in charter. With Option to Purchase, we keep the charter income to support fleet operations and, in return, you start with only 45% down and face a simple choice at the end: a 20% title payment or a 20% buy‑back payment.

Only certain Sunsail models and locations are set up for this program at any given time, because it is tied to specific fleet plans and demand. A Sunsail Yacht Ownership specialist will walk you through which current monohulls and catamarans, and which bases, are available on an Option to Purchase basis when you enquire.

To join, you pay 45% of the yacht’s retail price when the contract is signed, and we then assume operational control and place the yacht into the charter fleet. That initial stake is your only program payment until you reach the end‑of‑term decision point.

No—this plan is deliberately income‑free. Instead of receiving monthly cheques, your benefit is the ability to secure owner holidays with no running bills while preserving the option to either own the yacht for a further 20% or step away with a 20% cash payment.

Yes, during the program period we cover the typical ownership overheads for the yacht, including berthing, scheduled maintenance, standard repairs, and insurance required for charter activity.

As an Option to Purchase owner you can plan up to 12 weeks of sailing per year for yourself and your immediate family, on either your own boat or equivalent sister ships. This mirrors the level of access offered under our Guaranteed Income program, giving you plenty of flexibility to spread trips through the year.

You are not restricted to a single hull or harbor; you can book comparable Sunsail yachts in other destinations and may be able to upgrade to larger models where program rules and availability allow. That means you can, for example, sail your “home” boat one trip and switch to a sister ship in another region the next.

Your owner allocation covers the yacht itself for those weeks; while traveling you pay for personal trip costs such as fuel, food and drinks, optional extras, and any skipper or crew you add, just as you would on a regular Sunsail charter.​

When the agreed term finishes you decide between two clear options. You can either:​​

Decline title and receive a guaranteed cash payment equal to 20% of the yacht’s retail price

OR

Pay a final 20% and have the yacht transferred into your name, free of program commitments.

Before we hand the boat across, it is put through a structured phase‑out process that includes detailed technical checks and cosmetic work intended to deliver a solid ex‑charter yacht ready for private cruising or resale. You can arrange your own surveyor to inspect the yacht and report back before you accept title.

Yes. After you have paid the final 20% and received title, you are free to keep the yacht, re‑position her, or put her on the market with our brokerage or any broker you choose. Some owners use this route specifically to capture the resale value of a well‑maintained ex‑charter yacht.

Option to Purchase tends to suit buyers who want generous sailing time while deferring the decision as to whether to commit to owning until the end of contract. They enjoy a lower upfront capital outlay and sail without responsibility for day‑to‑day operating expenses. It can be especially attractive with respect to potential tax efficiencies. Rather than gaining another taxable income, this is put to use by Sunsail, allowing the owner to take full ownership later with only a final 20% payment. During the program term Sunsail holds the title, so sales taxes are not yet payable either, though they may apply to the depreciated value later. Ask our experienced ownership team for more information.

The program is available to buyers who can fund the 45% entry payment and who meet Sunsail’s standard eligibility criteria, but it is restricted to specific boats and bases that fit current fleet planning. Because those details change over time, the easiest next step is a conversation with a Sunsail Ownership specialist to match your timing, budget, and preferred cruising grounds with current Option to Purchase slots.