Needless to say, any changes you make to your boat should prioritize your comfort and style. As a boat owner, you ultimately have to love the outcome of any projects you do before you can justify it. At the same time, all boating journeys have chapters and eventually epilogues, so it is smart to reevaluate whether what you’re about to spend will add to the boat’s market value. In this blog post, we hope to answer some of the best yacht upgrades that help you increase the value of your boat when it comes time to sell it.
Pre-Upgrade Checklist
Before you address the major changes, take this opportunity to walk around your boat with a “buyer’s eye” and see what stands out cosmetically. Addressing the weak links like leaking portlights, frozen thru-hulls, stained upholstery, or a dirty engine room may be your low-hanging fruit.
Deep cleaning and detailing your boat is the most effective way to better enjoy it and signal to future buyers that it is loved and cared for.
1. Air Conditioning
If your boat did not already have functional air conditioning when you bought it, or if the HVAC system was outdated/inoperable, this is one of the first things you can do to both enjoy your boat more and also increase its value. Especially in our Gulf Coast climate, this is something every boater can appreciate. Modern systems are digital, quiet, and effecient.
2. Cushion and Mattress Upgrades
One could argue this should be higher up on this list. Recovering old stained sofa cushions or replacing your boat’s thin, original V-berth mattress is one of the best cosmetic upgrades you can make. If your boat is perfect but your cockpit cushions are stained and torn, you have an opportunity to enjoy a refresh that will definitely help make the boat more marketable down the line. As with anything, we would encourage you to find a balance between “unique” style choices and turning off future buyers.
Tip: Nobody will stop you from painting the hull pink and recovering all the cushions with purple stripes, but you can’t expect the pool of future boaters who share this taste to be very large.
3. Biminis, Dodgers, & Sails
Fabric items kept out in the sun year-round have a shorter shelf life for adding value to the boat. Remember, you may feel you “just replaced the bimini,” but the UV we get from Texas to Florida is indifferent. If you do make upgrades to these items, it’s generally a good idea to keep them off the boat during any seasons you anticipate low use or high winds.
4. Electric & Fresh Water Heads
Installing a modern, electric marine head (bonus points if freshwater) is a major plus for buyers and their families. This can be something you’ll enjoy in your time aboard as well as the next owner.
5. Lighting
Appropriate lighting is important for boats of all vintages. Older boats upgrading to LED have proven this to be a cost-effective way to achieve a modern feel without compromising charm. Newer boats that add underwater or deck lighting can also give a great high-end feel.
Consider adding lights that offer a red-light setting for improved nighttime visibility.
6. Updated Flooring
It is generally best practice to stick by whatever original equipment and features were on the boat while she was new; that way, you can match the rest of the market. However, you may find opportunities to replace worn carpet or water-stained flooring with new ones.
7. Integrated Entertainment
If you add a nice frame TV, new speakers, and a Starlink satellite to your boat, chances are you’ll enjoy these features so much you won’t even care what the ROI looks like down the road. However, since many people want to listen to music and watch TV on their boats, it’s a fairly safe bet.
8. Performance Upgrades
This can mean a range of different things for different boats. For a Bertram 54 owner, this might mean engine service or propeller upgrades, while a J/112e owner might consider it a new spinnaker. Either way, if boosting your speed or efficiency is important to how you use the boat, go ahead.
9. Thrusters
If you think you’ll use your boat even 20% more often with a bow thruster on, it may be well worth your while. Today’s technology, including electric jet thrusters, allows for minimally invasive installation and provides ease of use for you and future buyers. Especially if you’re in the sweet spot of boats in the mid-30’s, where bow thrusters are often a rarity, this can be something that makes your boat stand out on the market.
10. Navigational Systems
“What if I upgrade to Garmin and the future buyer only uses Raymarine?” is a valid concern until the future buyer realizes that after about half a day learning the systems, they will have fully converted to whatever brand they’re operating. The more important question is: “Will the multi-functional displays integrate with all data feeds on the boat, including autopilot, radar, and any video cameras?”
Bonus: Upgrades to Avoid
- Over-customization: Overly personalized upgrades like that pink hull paint or expensive add-ons with the boat’s name, can reduce the future buyer pool.
- Over-powering: Exceeding recommended specifications for engine horsepower or sail area can make buyers nervous and decrease future value.
Conclusion
Again, the most important upgrades you can make are those that make the boat look newer and cleaner, and that operate more reliably or conveniently. Think about curb appeal and the future buyer pool, but don’t obsess over it either. You bought your boat to love it and to use it, so anything you need to get there is advisable.