YachtBid

YachtBid auctions boats — a category that in most of Europe is handled through brokerage rather than bidding, which is exactly why it is worth listing separately. Lots carry a published starting bid and a countdown; a Van Rossumvlet 16-metre from 1964 opened at €50,000.

What you can buy

• Motor yachts and cruisers.
• Classic and steel-hulled boats, a Dutch speciality.
• Sailing yachts.

How the bidding works

Every lot is described by a professional yacht broker rather than by the seller, which is the platform's central claim and the thing that distinguishes it from a classifieds site with a bidding button. Sold results are published in a "Hall of Fame", so you can see what completed and at what level. The site runs in Dutch and English.

What to check before you bid

A boat is the one asset class where a survey is not optional — the broker description is a starting point, not a condition report, and the cost of discovering osmosis or a tired engine after the hammer is measured in tens of thousands. Establish where the boat lies, what the berth costs and whether the berth transfers. VAT status on a used yacht is its own minefield: ask for proof of VAT-paid status before bidding.