Lucaria · Products · Marine & Yacht Finance
$1M – $250M+Marine & Yacht Finance
Commercial credit secured by entity-held vessels — $1M to $250M+ — from sportfishers to superyacht new-builds. Purchases, refinances, equity release, and construction facilities that convert to term debt at delivery.
Who it’s for
- Owners releasing equity from the vessel rather than selling positions elsewhere in the portfolio.
- Charter operators whose earnings make the vessel a working asset, not a cost center.
- Buyers commissioning a new build who need milestone-draw construction financing with real builder protections.
Why Lucaria
- Flag, class, and registry handled as routine — Cayman, Marshall Islands, Malta, USCG documentation and beyond.
- The owning SPV or LLC is the borrower — the structure you already use is the structure lenders see.
- Charter income treated as collateral quality, not a complication.
Market bands, told straight
Honest numbers
Marine lending trades on surveyed value, and the bands are knowable. There is no upper limit — nine-figure transactions are placed through our lender network.
- Advance rate
- typically 50–70% of surveyed value — up to ~80% on newer production yachts
- Down payment
- 20–50% at the large-yacht tier
- Terms
- 5–20 years; construction facilities convert to term at delivery
- Older vessels
- financeable past 20 years with refit history and class compliance
Market bands, not a quote. Pricing is set to profile and structure — anyone quoting you a rate before the survey is guessing.
How we structure it
Structured for how yachts are actually owned
We are experienced in structuring credit for the entities our clients actually use — LLCs, trusts, partnerships, and holding companies. The asset stays where it belongs — in your hangar, on your wall, at your dock — while its equity goes to work.
- Owning SPV or LLC as borrower, with guarantees structured deliberately — not bolted on
- Assignment of charter earnings that leaves income flowing to you unless there is a default
- New-build facilities with milestone draws and refund-guarantee protection against builder insolvency
- Flag-state and classification requirements (Lloyd’s Register, RINA) handled inside the financing, not after it
The honest read
Why banks say no — and why that isn’t the end
- One major marine bank accepts roughly 5% of enquiries — the product exists, the appetite doesn’t.
- Charter use, foreign flags, and older hulls each trip a different bank policy, even on strong credits.
- The $1M–$10M band sits above the specialty marine shops and below the private banks’ attention.
Common questions
Marine & Yacht Finance, answered straight.
- Can the loan be made to my SPV, LLC, or trust?
- Yes — at this level it is how the market works. The owning entity is the borrower, guarantees are structured deliberately, and offshore registries are handled as routine rather than treated as a red flag.
- Does chartering the yacht hurt the financing?
- No — handled correctly, it helps. Charter earnings demonstrate the vessel is a working asset, and an assignment of charter earnings leaves the income flowing to you unless there is a default.
- How much can I borrow against the vessel?
- Typically 50–70% of surveyed value, up to roughly 80% on newer production yachts. The survey — not the asking price — sets the number, which is why anyone quoting terms before the survey is guessing.
- Can you finance a new build?
- Yes — construction facilities fund milestone draws through the build, with refund-guarantee protection against builder insolvency, then convert to term debt at delivery.
- What about an older vessel?
- Vessels past 20 years are financeable with documented refit history and current class compliance. Age narrows the lender list; it does not close it.
- Which flag should the vessel fly?
- That is a decision for you and your maritime counsel — Cayman, Marshall Islands, Malta, Isle of Man, and U.S. documentation are all common. Our job is to make sure the financing accommodates the registry you choose, not to force one.
- Why is this a business loan?
- The vessel is owned by an SPV, LLC, or trust and financed for business and investment purposes — including charter operations. This is commercial, entity-level credit — never financing for personal, family, or household use.
No obligation
Tell us what you need.
No credit pull to start. We’ll show you the honest options for marine & yacht finance — and if borrowing isn’t the answer, we’ll say so.