The demand for second-hand yachts in the Netherlands is increasing as the economy picks up, with sales last year slightly higher than in 2016, but double that of 2015 and thee times the number in 2014.

Moreover the prices of the ‘pre-owned’ vessels – both motor and sailing boats – are rising steadily, according to yacht brokers affiliated to the Amsterdam boat organisation HISWA, the Telegraaf  reported on Tuesday.

The HISWA brokers said 1,200 second-hand yachts changed hands through them in the Netherlands in 2017 but that private transactions probably accounted for a similar number.

Selling a yacht requires a lot of patience. On average it takes 352 days to sell a motor boat but sailing yachts change hands more quickly, taking an average of 282 days.

This probably has a lot to do with price, HISWA said: a sailing yacht cost an average €81,000 last year compared to €112,000  for a motor yacht. This was a sharp increase over 2016 when a motor yacht sold for an average €78,000 and a sailing boat for €64,000.