What is the 10% rule for yachts?

The 10% rule for yachts says annual operating costs run about 10% of the purchase price. A $5 million yacht costs roughly $500,000 a year to run — covering crew salaries, dockage, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and refits. The rule applies to ownership, not chartering. For charterers, the equivalent ballpark is the all-in weekly cost: base fee + 25-30% APA + 10-20% gratuity. A $50,000 weekly base lands around $65,000-$75,000 all-in. The 10% rule is why most yacht owners charter their boats for part of the year — the income offsets the running costs of a vessel that otherwise sits unused. Browse the charter fleet.