Buying a boat in Greece can be an incredible opportunity—but it’s also full of pitfalls that can cost you thousands of euros and months of frustration.
Here are the 10 most common boat buying mistakes in Greece and how you can avoid them.
1. Falling in Love With the First Boat
Emotions run high when you step aboard a yacht for the first time. But falling for the first boat you see leads to overlooking flaws or overpaying.
Treat it like buying a house: view multiple options, compare prices, and keep emotions in check until the survey confirms the condition.
2. Not Budgeting Survey Costs
Many buyers budget only for the boat price, forgetting that a marine survey is essential. At a minimum, expect to pay €20–30 per foot (before VAT), plus haul-out and travel costs. A 40-ft yacht survey can easily reach €1,000–1,500.
👉 Full breakdown here: Boat Survey Costs in Greece: What Buyers Really Pay.
3. Ignoring Paperwork & Taxes
- VAT status (paid, unpaid, or exempt) can change the price by 24%. Many listing sites let you filter for VAT status, but always double-check with the broker or owner. You don’t want to sink your maintenance budget into a surprise VAT bill.
- Boats flagged outside the EU may require re-registration.
- Missing documentation (CE mark, builder’s certificate, bills of sale) can delay or block your purchase.
Always confirm the paperwork early—before you fall in love with the boat.
4. Skipping a First Look Inspection
Relying on listing photos is risky. Boats often look far better online than they do in reality. Without a preliminary inspection, you could fly to Greece and waste €500+ on travel, only to discover the boat is in poor condition.
👉 Solution: Start with Our First Look Inspection. For €120, a local experienced boater can give you honest photos, videos, and a checklist before you travel.
5. Traveling Too Soon
Booking flights before doing proper due diligence is a money pit. Each trip to Athens, Lefkas, or Rhodes can cost €500+ in flights, hotels, and car hire.
👉 How to avoid this: How to Buy a Used Boat in Greece Without Wasting €500+.
6. Underestimating Refit & Maintenance Costs
Even if a boat passes survey, you’ll likely face upgrades:
- Standing rigging replacement (often required every 10 years).
- Sails, canvas, electronics, or batteries.
- Haul-out and antifouling.
These costs can easily reach 10–20% of the boat’s purchase price in the first year.
7. Neglecting Location & Logistics
A boat moored in a remote island marina may look like a bargain—but moving it to your preferred cruising grounds or home port adds thousands in delivery or transport costs.
Factor in relocation expenses before signing.
8. Not Checking Charter or Racing History
Ex-charter boats dominate the Greek market. Some are well-maintained, but others are heavily used and cosmetically patched up.
Boats used for racing are often pushed much harder than those used for champagne sailing. This accelerates wear on standing rigging, running rigging, sails, winches, and jammers. If you’re not sure about a boat’s racing history, check whether it comes with multiple sets of sails. While not exclusive to racers, most cruising owners in the Med will only carry a main, a jib/genoa, and maybe a spinnaker.
Always ask for maintenance logs, engine hours, and rigging replacement records. A charter or racing background isn’t a deal-breaker, but you need full transparency.
9. Relying Only on the Seller’s Broker
In Greece, most sales are handled by the seller’s broker (or central agent), who is paid by the seller and represents their interests.
This doesn’t mean brokers are bad actors — many are professional and helpful — but remember: they do not represent you, the buyer. Their job is to sell the boat.
If you rely only on the seller’s broker, you risk overlooking VAT issues, hidden costs, or survey red flags.
👉 The safer path is to bring in your own support: a trusted surveyor, a marine lawyer, or a platform like Clearhull that helps balance the process in your favor.
10. Rushing the Purchase
The Greek market is large. There’s no need to rush into buying the first “good deal” you see. Boats are emotional purchases, but slow buyers make smart buyers.
Take the time to shortlist, inspect remotely, and survey thoroughly before you sign.
How to Avoid These Mistakes
Every one of these pitfalls is avoidable if you follow a clear process:
- Start with a First Look Inspection to filter out bad boats.
- Only fly to Greece once you have 2–3 shortlisted boats worth seeing.
- Budget properly for surveys, haul-outs, and travel.
- Verify paperwork and VAT status early.
👉 For the complete process, read our How to Buy a Used Boat in Greece (2025 Guide) .
Final Thoughts
The dream of sailing your own boat in Greece is achievable—but only if you avoid the traps that drain time and money from unprepared buyers.
Learn from these 10 mistakes, stay disciplined, and you’ll be far more likely to end up with the right boat at the right price.