Boat Pricing Case Study: Dufour 560 (2018, Distressed Asset) Neglect, Risk, and the Cost of Inaction

1. Background

A 2018 Dufour 560 was purchased new for around £600,000+ with options. It completed the ARC in 2019 and was lightly cruised in early 2020. When Covid struck, it was left in the Caribbean. The owners entered liquidation, leaving the boat unattended for years.

2. Condition Deterioration

Without maintenance, Caribbean conditions caused rapid decline:

Teak decks faded and dried

Hatch seals perished

Interior fittings corroded in humidity

Engines, pumps, and electrics went untested

Control rubbers disintegrated

This is a textbook example of silent depreciation.

3. Market Experience

Initial asking price: £495,000

Early offers: £400,000+ (refused)

Comparable 2016 model in good order sold for £390,000 in 2023

Later offers: £350,000 (collapsed), £320,000, £300,000 (rejected)

Current reality: Maintained examples are available around £325,000

The neglected 2018 boat cannot compete with serviced, ready-to-sail equivalents. Realistically, it would need to be priced closer to £200,000.

4. Distressed Boat Challenges

Insurers and finance companies often refuse cover.

Yards resist taking uninsured boats.

Buyers walk away due to uncertainty of repair costs.

5. Strategic Takeaways

Brokers: Be brutally honest about risk-adjusted pricing.

Sellers: Maintenance costs are far lower than the value destruction of neglect.

Buyers: Cheap distressed yachts can become money pits.

6. Conclusion

The Dufour 560 shows how fast an expensive yacht can slide into distress. Neglect destroys value faster than almost anything else. In today’s oversupplied market, the only safe strategy is proactive maintenance and realistic pricing.

Boat Pricing Team 2025

The above is for humour purposes only :)