Which type of listing should you choose to sell your catamaran?
When an owner decides to sell their catamaran, one question quickly arises: should they entrust the sale to a single broker or work with several brokers? Open listing, central agency, co-listing, co-brokerage… These terms are commonly used in international yachting, but they refer to very different sales and marketing arrangements.
And contrary to a common misconception, giving a broker an exclusive listing does not mean limiting the yacht’s exposure to that broker’s own network.
The open listing
With an Open Listing, the owner can appoint several brokers simultaneously to sell their catamaran and, if the agreement allows it, may also look for a buyer directly.
At first glance, working with several brokers may seem like a way to increase the chances of selling.
In practice, however, the same yacht can quickly appear on multiple websites with different photographs, descriptions or specifications, and sometimes even inconsistent asking prices.
For buyers, this can make it harder to understand the yacht’s positioning and value.
For brokers, it can also be more difficult to justify significant investments in professional photography, video, advertising, boat shows or travel when they do not have control over the marketing strategy.
An Open Listing therefore gives the owner greater freedom, but less control over the yacht’s image and marketing.
The exclusive listing or “Central Agency”
This is the model we favor at CATHYACHT for high-end catamarans.
The owner entrusts the sale to a single broker, who becomes the main point of contact and manages the entire process: yacht positioning, communications, international marketing, inquiries, viewings, negotiations, surveys, sea trials and support through to delivery.
At CATHYACHT, our support often goes even further, including insurance, flag registration, crew, administrative and customs matters.
The owner benefits from consistent communication and one clearly identified point of contact.
Exclusivity does not mean a closed network
This is an essential point.
A broker holding an exclusive listing can — and should — collaborate with other brokers who may have the right buyer.
The catamaran therefore remains accessible to clients throughout a broad professional network, both in France and internationally.
The central broker retains responsibility for the listing and represents the seller. When another broker introduces the buyer, the two professionals collaborate and share the commission according to their agreement.
An exclusive listing therefore combines control over the marketing strategy with broad access to the market.
Co-brokerage: one seller’s broker, one buyer’s broker
A Co-Brokerage Agreement is primarily an arrangement between professionals.
One broker holds the owner’s listing, while another introduces a buyer. They then define their respective roles, client protection arrangements and commission split in the event of a sale.
For the owner, this can provide a single point of contact for managing the sale while potentially giving access to a very large network of brokers able to present the yacht to their clients.
Co-listing: two brokers representing the seller
With a Co-Listing, two brokers work directly together to market the same yacht.
This arrangement can be relevant when their expertise, networks or geographic presence complement one another.
However, it requires clear agreement on each party’s responsibilities: owner relations, communications, viewings, negotiations, marketing expenses and commission sharing.
The semi-exclusive listing
This is an intermediate solution.
The owner entrusts the marketing of the yacht to a single broker but, depending on the terms of the agreement, retains the possibility of selling directly to certain personal contacts.
The financial terms applying to any direct sale should therefore be clearly established from the outset.
So, which option should you choose?
There is no single arrangement that is right for every situation.
For a high-end catamaran, we favor a structured sales strategy built around one clearly identified central broker, while making the yacht widely available through the international broker network.
This approach helps maintain consistency in the yacht’s pricing and positioning while providing broad exposure to potential buyers.
The CATHYACHT approach
For more than 35 years, CATHYACHT International has specialized exclusively in the sale of large cruising and luxury multihulls.
Our role is not simply to publish a listing. We work with each owner to define a genuine marketing strategy and provide support throughout the entire sales process.
And when a French or international broker has the right buyer, we favor collaboration.
Because ultimately, the goal is the same: bringing together the right yacht, the right buyer and the right seller under the best possible conditions.
Thinking about selling your catamaran?
Contact us to discuss your yacht’s positioning on the international market and define the most appropriate sales and marketing strategy together.
CATHYACHT International — 100% luxury multihulls since 1989.
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