USPAP-compliant appraisals by best-in-class appraisers
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Joe Kattan
Marnie Erkelens, CAGA
Aron Blue
About AppraiseItNow's Yacht Appraisal Services
AppraiseItNow provides certified yacht appraisals for a wide range of legal, financial, and compliance purposes, including insurance coverage and claims, estate tax filings, divorce and equitable distribution proceedings, charitable donations, loan collateral, and bankruptcy filings. Yachts represent some of the highest-value watercraft on the market, and accurate, defensible valuations are essential when significant financial or legal decisions depend on the outcome. As a specialized subset of our boat and watercraft appraisal services, yacht appraisals are handled with the depth and rigor these complex assets demand. Our mission is to deliver defensible, USPAP-compliant valuations with exceptional speed, professionalism, and client service.
Our appraisers serve individual yacht owners, estate executors, lenders, insurance underwriters, attorneys, and CPAs who require credentialed, independent valuations. Depending on the vessel's size, location, and the intended use of the appraisal, engagements may be completed remotely using documentation, photographs, and market data, or may require an onsite inspection for larger or more complex vessels. We offer Fair Market Value (FMV), Replacement Value, Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV), Forced Liquidation Value (FLV), and Actual Cash Value (ACV) appraisals for various intended uses.
What Types of Yachts Do We Appraise?
AppraiseItNow appraises a broad range of yachts across size categories, hull types, and propulsion systems. Our appraisers are experienced with both production and custom-built vessels, including those with significant onboard systems and equipment that affect value.
- Motor yachts (express cruisers, flybridge yachts, and raised pilothouse designs)
- Sailing yachts and sloops over 30 feet
- Superyachts and megayachts (vessels typically 80 feet and above)
- Sport fishing yachts and convertibles
- Trawler yachts and long-range cruisers
- Catamaran yachts (power and sail)
- Expedition yachts
- Classic and vintage yachts with historical significance
- Liveaboard yachts configured for full-time habitation
Who Does AppraiseItNow Serve?
AppraiseItNow serves individual yacht owners, estate attorneys, divorce attorneys, CPAs, lenders, and insurance professionals who need credentialed, independent valuations for legal, tax, or financial purposes. Whether you are a private owner navigating a sale or a professional advisor managing a high-value estate, our appraisers deliver the documentation you need.
5-Star Valuation Services, Loved by Hundreds
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How our Valuation Process Works
Written USPAP-compliant boat appraisals & surveys for when defensibility matters.
Given the USPAP-compliant nature of AppraiseItNow’s appraisal reports, we prepare our deliverables for major legal, tax, and financial reporting purposes for individual and commercial clients.
Popular uses of our appraisal reports include:
Tax, Estate & Financial Planning
- Capital gains tax
- Estate Tax - IRS Form 706
- Gift Tax - IRS Form 709
- Charitable Donations - IRS Form 8283
- Estate planning and probate
Transactions, Lending & Investment
Insurance & Risk Management
Life Events & Special Circumstances
- Divorce
- Social Security reporting
- E-2 visa applications
- Bankruptcy Filings
What types of yachts does AppraiseItNow appraise?
AppraiseItNow appraises yachts of all sizes and configurations, from mid-size cruisers to large offshore and superyacht-class vessels. We handle motor yachts, sailing yachts, sportfishing yachts, and custom-built vessels regardless of age or manufacturer. Whether your yacht is a well-documented production model or a one-of-a-kind custom build, our appraisers have the experience to value it accurately.
Are your yacht appraisals USPAP-compliant?
Yes. All yacht appraisals prepared by AppraiseItNow comply with USPAP Standards 7 and 8, which govern the development and reporting of personal property appraisals. Standard 7 requires credible methodology and market analysis, while Standard 8 requires that the report be clear, accurate, and not misleading. Our reports identify the client, intended use, value definition, effective date, vessel condition, and the reasoning behind each valuation approach used or excluded.
What are common reasons someone needs a yacht appraisal?
Yacht owners request appraisals for a wide range of legal, financial, and personal purposes, including:
- Insurance coverage and scheduling
- Financing and loan collateral
- Charitable donation deductions requiring IRS Form 8283
- Estate tax filings on IRS Form 706
- Divorce and marital asset settlements
- Pre-purchase validation
- Bankruptcy filings and litigation support
Can you appraise yachts in poor condition, with unknown provenance, or with limited documentation?
Yes. Appraisers are trained to work with incomplete records and distressed vessels. When documentation is limited, the appraiser will note any extraordinary assumptions, such as assuming no hidden osmosis without a moisture meter scan, and those assumptions are explicitly stated in the report as required by USPAP. Condition factors including hull delamination, engine wear, and high engine hours are all accounted for in the valuation, often through the cost approach or adjusted sales comparisons.
Can you appraise large collections or multiple yachts?
Yes. AppraiseItNow can handle multi-vessel assignments, fleet appraisals, and estate situations involving more than one yacht. Each vessel receives its own documented valuation with comparable sales, condition analysis, and methodology justification. Contact us to discuss the scope and we will provide a fixed-fee quote before any work begins.
Do you provide online or remote yacht appraisals?
Most yacht appraisals are completed remotely using photographs, vessel documentation, engine hour records, and other materials you provide. For larger projects, complex vessels, or situations where a physical inspection is required, we can coordinate an in-person appraiser anywhere in the United States. Remote appraisals are efficient and accepted by the IRS, insurers, and lenders when properly documented.
How much does a yacht appraisal cost?
Fees are based on the scope of the assignment, including vessel size, complexity, intended use, and whether a physical inspection is needed. All fees are quoted as a fixed price before work begins so there are no surprises. Contact us for a quote tailored to your specific yacht and purpose.
How long does a yacht appraisal take?
Standard yacht appraisals are typically completed within 3 to 5 business days from the time all required documentation and photographs are received. If a marine survey is required as part of the process, scheduling and completing that survey generally takes 3 to 5 weeks, as surveyors must coordinate access to the vessel and conduct an in-water or haul-out inspection. We will communicate the expected timeline clearly before work begins.
Who prepares the appraisal report?
Yacht appraisal reports are prepared by credentialed appraisers with direct experience valuing marine assets. Each appraiser follows USPAP Standards 7 and 8 and signs the report with their business address and effective date, as required for IRS-qualified appraisals. AppraiseItNow does not use unlicensed or unqualified personnel on any appraisal assignment.
Do you prepare appraisals for IRS Form 8283 (Noncash Charitable Contributions)?
Yes. If you are donating a yacht and claiming a deduction greater than $5,000, the IRS requires a qualified appraisal prepared by a qualified appraiser who is not the donor, donee, or a related party. AppraiseItNow prepares USPAP-compliant reports that meet these requirements, and our appraisers provide the signed certification and business address information needed to complete Section B of Form 8283.
Do you buy, sell, or broker yachts?
No. AppraiseItNow is an independent appraisal firm and does not buy, sell, or broker yachts. This independence is essential for producing unbiased valuations that are accepted by the IRS, insurers, lenders, and courts. Our only role is to provide credible, defensible appraisal reports.
What information do you need to get started?
To begin a yacht appraisal, it helps to have the following ready:
- Year, make, model, and hull identification number (HIN)
- Current engine hours and engine make, model, and year
- Length overall (LOA), beam, and draft
- Recent photographs of the hull, deck, interior, engine room, and electronics
- Documentation of any upgrades, modifications, or recent repairs
- Current location and how the vessel is stored or moored
- The intended use of the appraisal, such as insurance, donation, or estate
Can AppraiseItNow appraise yachts located anywhere in the U.S.?
Yes. Remote appraisals are available for yachts located in any state, and most assignments are completed without requiring an in-person visit. For larger, more complex, or high-value vessels where a physical inspection adds credibility, we can coordinate a qualified in-person appraiser in any state. Geographic location does not limit our ability to deliver a defensible, USPAP-compliant report.
Will my appraisal be accepted by the IRS, insurers, or courts?
AppraiseItNow appraisals are prepared to meet the standards required by the IRS, insurance carriers, lenders, and courts. Our reports are USPAP-compliant, include full methodology disclosure, comparable sales with adjustment grids, and appraiser certifications. For IRS purposes, our appraisers meet the qualified appraiser definition and are independent of all parties to the transaction.
What value types are available for yacht appraisals, and when does each apply?
The right value type depends entirely on the purpose of the appraisal. The most common options include:
- Fair Market Value, used for IRS charitable donations, estate tax, and divorce settlements
- Replacement Value, used for insurance coverage to reflect the cost of replacing the vessel with a comparable one
- Orderly Liquidation Value, used when a vessel needs to be sold within a reasonable but not urgent timeframe
- Forced Liquidation Value, used in bankruptcy or repossession scenarios where a quick sale is required
- Actual Cash Value, used in insurance claims to reflect fair market value minus depreciation
How do engine hours affect a yacht's appraised value?
Engine hours are one of the most significant condition factors in a yacht appraisal. Vessels with more than 1,500 hours on their engines can see value reductions of 20 to 30 percent compared to low-hour equivalents, because engine rebuild costs can exceed $50,000 and appraisers factor that into the cost approach. Appraisers may conduct compression tests on-site or require documented service records to support their hour-based adjustments in the sales comparison analysis.
How do appraisers value a custom or one-of-a-kind yacht when there are no direct comparable sales?
When a yacht is highly customized or rare, the sales comparison approach becomes difficult because there are few or no directly comparable vessels. In those cases, appraisers may rely more heavily on the cost approach, calculating replacement cost new using sources like Marshall and Swift marine tables and then applying depreciation based on age, condition, and market absorption. Any extraordinary assumptions, such as the assumed value of custom modifications without original invoices, must be explicitly stated in the report to comply with USPAP Standards 7 and 8.
APPRAISEITNOW APPRAISERS ARE BEST-IN-CLASS & CREDENTIALED BY LEADING APPRAISAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ISA, ASA, & MORE.
