yacht finance nz

5* Year Vehicle Loans Now Available

*applicable to cars, caravans, motorhomes and motorbikes only, under 10 years old and above $20,000

• Customer Reviews
• Calculate Repayments
• Send Us Bank Statements
• Car Buying Guide
• Business Funding Methods
• Forms & Documents

0800 300 500

• Caravan Finance

Marine Finance

• Jet Ski Finance
• Trailer Boats and Motors
• Horse Float Finance

Leisure Finance

Credit One, the specialists in Caravan, Camper Trailer, RV, Boat, Jet Ski and Yacht Finance.

Want to embark on a trip around New Zealand or take your children camping and sailing for the weekend? Credit One has low rate finance solutions for all types of recreational vehicles.

Tools and Calculators

Business finance.

• Equipment Finance
• Truck Finance
• Farm Finance
• Agri Finance
• Debtor Funding

Credit One offers Smarter Finance for businesses of all sizes, right across New Zealand.

You want to grow your business and we want to help you succeed, that is why we are experts in seeking finance options to suit your needs in order to help you grow.

• Funding Method

Car Finance

• Finance Lease
• Private Sale Car Loan
• Protection Insurance

A car is not just a car. It's your livelihood and we want to get you on the road sooner.

Credit One takes the hassle from looking for the best car loan rates and it's what we've been doing since 1999.

• Debt Consolidation
• Home Improvements
• Medical Expenses

Personal Loans

Personal Loans are a great way to consolidate your loans and credit cards into one easy to manage payment. With rates at an all time low we could save you thousands on interest.

Maybe you are dreaming of a holiday? Funding for your dream wedding or some much overdue home renovations? We can assist with so many options and the process is quick and easy. Click any of the links to find out how.

Features of a Personal Loan

• You can borrow $5,000 or more
• You have the options of choosing a loan term from one to five years
• Our Company
• Memberships
• GCF Partnership

The Credit One Group commenced operation in Brisbane during the late 1990's.

Since it's humble beginnings in NZ just over 8 years ago, Credit One NZ has grown to service clients nationwide with our dealer partners spread across the country who service both consumer and commercial clients with offices in most major cities.

Home Boat Finance

Choose Smarter Boat Finance Choose CreditOne

Where we put you first and source best rate approval.

Calculators

• Boat Loan Options
• Our Partners

Feel the sea breeze sooner with Credit One!

At Credit One, we not only tailor solutions for most marine craft and boats to suit your needs, we also offer quick, efficient and personalised service to get you on the water.

With years of experience organising loans and finance for charter boats, commercial boats, yacht, jet ski or commercial fishing vessel, we have access to a range of lenders, giving you extensive finance options.

With more marine finance options, better rates than the banks and a team of dedicated brokers at the ready, Credit One can have you on the water in no time!

Discover why Credit One is the smarter way to finance! Complete an online Marine Finance Quote now, without obligation - or phone 0800 300 500 to talk with one of our experienced consultants.

Read more about how to buy a boat in NZ

Who can apply for marine finance with Credit One?

If you are a New Zealand resident or have a valid work visa , are above the age of 18 , have a steady source of income , and have Clean Credit you can apply for marine finance with us!​

How much can I borrow for marine finance?

The amount of loan you can borrow depends on different factors like credit score, income, ability to meet repayments , etc. But generally, you can borrow between $5000 - $250,000.

How long does it take to get approved?

We aim to get back to our clients within one working day and typically finalize the loan process within 2 working days . Our efficient team works tirelessly to ensure that our clients get prompt and trustworthy services.

What types of marine or boat can I finance?

Trailers, Boats, and Jet skis are the most common – We can also look at moored Boats & yachts.

What interest rates do you charge?

At Credit One, we provide competitive finance rates on marine financing tailored to your situation, based on your credit score. The interest rate is tailored to you by the lender. They will work closely with you to provide the best possible rate that meets your needs and financial circumstances.

Do you offer insurance options for my marine vessels?

We don’t have access to Marine Insurance – Your normal Insurer should be able to assist you.

Can I get Pre-approval before I buy the boat?

Yes, of course you can . Credit One offers pre-approval for boat loans, allowing you to search for and buy a vessel with confidence knowing how much you can borrow and the loan terms.

Are there any charges if I apply for marine finance through Credit One?

There are no hidden charges at Credit One! There is a Broker Fee, which is different for each Lender – This is disclosed upon Approval & is added to your loan amount.

Can I refinance my boat loan for lower rates?

All depends on what rate you are currently paying – Credit Score plays a role in the lender's Interest Rate.

Can I pay off my marine finance early? If so, are there any penalties that exist?

Yes, you can pay off your marine finance earlier than the agreed-upon term. However, it is important to note that the lender may impose penalties based on the loan's remaining length. These penalties are normally calculated based on the loan's remaining term. We urge that you discuss any potential penalties and explore your choices with our staff to decide the best course of action for your specific circumstance.

What are my repayments?

How much can I borrow?

Calculated with the interest rate of 10.45%*

* The information which you calculate from this Calculator is intended for use by you as a guide only. See more in our Disclaimer .

It is not an offer and has no legal effect on any contracts entered into by you ‘ the client’. This simulation and the resulting calculations do not constitute a loan application or offer. The figures and formulae used within this calculator may change at any time without notice. Should you apply for any Credit One product, we will make our own calculations and we will not necessarily take your calculations into account. All Interest rates are displayed ‘are guides ONLY’, repayments as a result of this simulation have no legal offering.Credit One accepts no responsibility for any losses arising from any use of or reliance upon any calculations or conclusions reached using the calculator.Information provided on this calculator does not constitute an offer of finance. Any loan request is subject to assessment against normal lending criteria. Fees and charges may apply. This calculation does not take into account any fees, charges or government taxes which may apply to either the calculation of the loan amount or the monthly repayments, such as GST or Luxury Car Tax (where applicable).

Credit One Smarter Boat Finance Options

Secured Boat Loans

Typically, secured loans feature a lower interest rate than unsecured lending. With a secured boat loan, the boat is used as security. An amount is lent that is either equal to, less than or greater than the value of the boat.

Private Sale Boat Loan

Need Boat Finance for a great deal from a private vendor? Your bank won't help you out with a boat purchased privately? Credit One can now help you organise Boat Finance for all boat's purchased privately. And at the same time, provide you with great rates and excellent service.

Business Boat Finance

Businesses looking for the best boat finance options have wide range of choices available to them with Credit One. We can source business boat finance for a wide range of companies, partnerships and sole traders.

Commercial Hire Purchase

Under a Commercial Hire Purchase (CHP) arrangement the financier agrees to purchase the boat on your behalf, and then hire it back to you over a set term.

Chattel Mortgage

Under a Chattel Mortgage the financier advances funds to the customer to purchase a boat, and the customer takes ownership at the time of purchase.

Commercial Fishing Boats

Need a business loan? Credit One specialise in commercial loans for all types of businesses. From trawlers, game fishing boats, pontoon party boats all the way through to whale watching boats.

Meet Our Partners

We are accredited with the most reputable lenders and insurers in New Zealand giving you a fair choice to compare.

Our Lenders

Very quick and hassle free process Graeham is the man to deal with very stress free.

Feefo 5 star rated company

Need a fast tailored approval?

Let us compare them for you.

Our finance specialists work for you and will save you time and money by comparing 15 reputed lenders nationwide to get you best-rate finance.

Feeling nauti? Apply for marine finance Or a boat loan today!

Finance boats, yachts, jet skis and more with loans through exceed finance!

WHY CHOOSE EXCEED FOR YOUR BOAT FINANCE?

Quick, flexible boat loans.

Straightforward Financing: You’re looking for fast, flexible financing to purchase a boat, yacht, or jet ski, and we’re here to provide it. Our competitive rates and quick turnaround times mean you spend less time waiting and more time enjoying your new purchase.

Customised Marine Finance Options: Your financing needs are unique, and our solutions reflect that. Whether you’re buying your first boat or upgrading to something bigger, we tailor our finance options to suit your individual needs.

Personalised Boat Finance

• Marine Finance You Can Rely On: Getting a boat on finance doesn’t have to be complicated. Our team of seasoned professionals is dedicated to simplifying the process and providing personalised service from start to finish.
• Boats for Finance in Minutes: We’ve streamlined our application to make financing a boat as easy as possible. Fill out your boat loan application online, submit your documents, and receive a decision quickly! 

Getting you boats on finance fast

Fast Financing For a Boat; Smooth Sailing: We understand the excitement that comes with buying a new boat or jet ski. That’s why we work hard to fast-track your boat finance approval, ensuring you can start making memories on the water sooner.

Easy Boat Loan Calculator: Finance a boat with confidence using our easy loan calculator. Estimate your boat loan repayments, explore various loan terms, and plan your budget with ease.

Let’s Make It Happen – With Exceed Finance, You’re Closer Than Ever!

SUBMIT APPLICATION

Submitting a boat loan application with Exceed Finance could not be easier. All you have to do it fill out our online application form and submit the relevant documents.

LET US DO THE REST

Our quick processing times and flexible hours make it clear that you are our priority! We aim to get back to you within an hour with your boat financing outcome allowing you to enjoy fast boat finance approval!

Get out on the water!

Once your boat loan is approved and all docs are signed, all you have to do is start planning your next trip out on the water!

Boat Finance Calculator

Get an estimate on your boat loan rates, terms and repayments, as well as how much you can borrow with our boat finance calculator.

Calculate your financing for a boat today!

I have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions

ENJOY A FREE QUOTE

*Interest rate is indicative range only. T&Cs, Fees, and lending criteria will apply. This loan calculator is a guide only, not a quote.

Your Trusted Partner for Marine Finance & Boat Loan Solutions

Set sail with confidence, knowing Exceed Finance has your back when it comes to boat financing New Zealand  residents trust. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you navigate the world of boat loans in NZ and finding the best finance options for boats  tailored to your unique needs. Whether you’re an experienced sailor or just starting on your nautical journey, our boat finance calculator NZ tool makes it easy to determine your budget and understand your boat loan options. With Exceed Finance, financing a boat loan has never been more straightforward and stress-free.

At Exceed Finance we understand the importance of having reliable boat financing companies on your side.

That’s why we’re committed to providing top-tier marine finance NZ  customers can depend on, as well as comprehensive loans for boats and financing for all your watercraft needs. Our marine finance calculator simplifies the process of comparing and choosing the best marine finance options or getting a boat loan with informed decisions, sail away with a smile. Trust Exceed Finance for all your marine and boat finance needs, and let us be your compass to a brighter financial future on the open seas.

Boat Finance to captain your own boat!

The best memories are made on the water

We understand every person has a different visions for what their dreams are, that is why our service in boat financing is tailored for you!

• Already have a specific boat in mind? Great, we will help you access the funds for financing a boat to make it yours, whether its from a boat dealer or a private sale!
• Need help finding the right boat for you?  No worries, we can connect you up with one of our trusted boat dealers!
• Looking for a pre-approval so you know which boats you can shop for? Perfect, we can get boat finance secured for you, allowing you take home the new boat you really want!
• Have some cash to deposit but looking for a top up? Sweet as, having a deposit increases your chances of boat finance approval and opting for a top up means you can go for that bigger boat and fit the whole family, or the lads out for a big fish!

splash into summer with easy jet ski loans!

Let's get you on the water this summer jet ski finance!

Our team of professionals want you to ride high on the waves this summer with your new jet ski! Above all, we can assist with a variety of lending options!

• Have a specific jet ski in mind? Great, we will help you access the funds through a jet ski loan to make it yours whether, it’s from a dealer or a private sale!
• Need help finding the right jet ski for you?  No worries, We can connect you up with one of our trusted marine dealers!
• Looking for a loan pre-approval so you know which jet ski you can afford to finance?  Perfect, we can get that sorted for you, allowing you take home the jet ski you really want!
• Do you have some cash to deposit but looking for a top up? Sweet as, having a deposit increases your chances of jet ski finance approval and opting for a top up means you can go for the next jet ski model up!

time to upgrade or replace your trailer or outboard?

Exceed also offers other types of Marine Finance

• Boat trailer getting a bit old ? Instead of mucking around with costly repairs, save yourself the time and energy with new trailer using marine finance!
• Looking for a new outboard motor that starts first pop every time? All things considered, financing your outboard may be you best option! Give us a call and we can get your finance pre-approved then connect you with one of our trusted outboard specialists!
• Need some more power in your outboard? Supercharge your time on the water this summer, give us a call so you can access the funds you need to finance your new outboard today!
• Want a hand finding the right outboard or trailer for your needs? No stress mate, we can connect you up with one of our trusted outboard, marine or trailer dealers while we take care of the boat financing for you!

Why Choose Exceed?

Great rates

Easy Application Process

QUICK RESPONSE TIME

work with EXPERIENCED INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

FLEXIBLE CONTACT HOURS We aim to work around your schedule

VARIETY OF Marine finance

For a variety of individuals!

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

0800 2 exceed - 0800 239 2333.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Marine and Boat Finance

We offer a range of marine loans and boat financing options in New Zealand tailored to your needs. This includes new boat financing and used boat loans, refinancing, and financing for various types of watercraft loans, such as sailboats, yachts, and fishing boats.

Applying for marine finance or a boat loan is easy. Simply fill out our online marine finance application form for fastest results so we can get the ball rolling and get you on the water!

Yes, we offer marine financing options for used boat loans, used jet ski loans, and other marine loans. Our goal is to help you secure financing for the watercraft that suits your needs!

Our easy online boat loan application process allows for fast loans and quick approvals. If we have all required info from you, your marine finance can be approved with in hours. The faster we get all the required info, the faster we can provide you with funds! 

Most definitely you can. Exceed Finance prides itself on providing people with the best boat loan rates available, including finding better rates or boat loan terms for people who might have received finance for a marine or boat loan elsewhere.

You can also talk to us about your unsecured and secured boat loan options!

Exceed Finance often provides boat loan pre approvals so you can take your time and shop around, knowing your marine or NZ boat finance is secured and ready to make your purchase when you find that perfect boat!

Quick Links

• Boat Finance
• Business Loan
• Finance Calculator
• Email Disclaimer
• Privacy Agreement
• Terms and Conditions
• Phone: 0800 2 EXCEED | 0800 239 2333
• Email: [email protected]
• Location: New Zealand

© All Rights Reserved by Exceed Finance. FSP: 1003161. Exceed Finance is a member of The Financial Disputes Resolution Service Scheme. For further information please contact us at [email protected]

• [email protected]
• 0800-1177-86
• Marine Loans

Time To Buy A New Boat?

Loans your aquatic dreams – boat, jet-ski loan.

Embark on your dream maritime adventure with our online marine loan designed for boat purchases. Whether you’re sailing the open seas or enjoying serene lakes, our competitive rates and flexible terms can turn boat ownership into a reality. Start your nautical journey seamlessly by applying now – experience a hassle-free application process and set sail on your aspirations.

Seeking a marine loan for a new boat, jet-ski, luxury yacht, or any watercraft? Your search ends here! Acquiring marine financing demands specialized expertise, and at Link Finance , we stand as your trusted marine loan brokers. Armed with the knowledge and experience to navigate the intricacies of this unique lending sector, we’re here to guide you effortlessly through the process. Dive into your aquatic dreams confidently – get in touch with us today, and let us steer the way in marine financing for you!

Valid Driver Licence

Proof of address, bank statement.

Who can apply?

Eligibility to qualify for a loan:.

There are a few minimum requirements you need to meet:

You must be 18 years of age or older.

You must be a New Zealand citizen/resident or hold a valid New Zealand work or student visa.

You must possess a New Zealand(Learner-Restricted-Full) or international/overseas driver’s license.

Your annual income should be over $30,000 (before tax).

How Much Would You Like To Borrow?

Loan amount, for how long, estimated repayments from.

$46,965 Total

Total $46,850

Calulated At An Example Rate

What You Can Expect From Link Finance

• Attractive Interest Rates
• Minimal Deposits
• Quick Approval Process
• Simple and Easy Applications
• Fast and Effortless Approval
• Pre-Approved Car Loan
• Apply Now, Drive Today

Who Can Apply For Finance?

• Learner Drivers Licence
• International Driver’s Licence
• Poor Credit History
• New Immigrant
• Work Visa Holders
• International Student Visa

We Make Loan Easy

Crafting a personalized loan just for you., get competitive fixed rate.

Fill out the application form online and attach the required documentation and submit.

Pay At Your Pace

Flexible loan options spanning up to 5 years, with the freedom to make payments weekly, fortnightly, or monthly to suit your needs.

Fast And Efficient Service

Experience the simplicity of our user-friendly online application and approval process.

Our Rates And Fees

We believe in flexibility, offering tailored solutions without fixed fees or rates. Whether it's a short-term Bridging loan, Debt consolidation, Car Loan and Business loan, we have the right loan to match your unique needs.

Interest Rate Range

11.95% - 22.95%, loan limits, $2000 - $100,000, 1 year - 5 years, find your insurance agent say hello, insurance agent.

• Vehicle Loans
• Business Loans
• Poor Credit Car Loans
• Comprehensive Car Insurance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• GAP Insurance
• 108B Station Road OTAHUHU, Auckland
• 57 Brodie Street, Ilam, Christchurch

Copyright 2024 by Link Finance. All Right Reserved

Website Designed by:

Boat Finance

Bored of the beach, want to sail the seven seas or maybe you just want to catch a few trout on the river.

Looking to finance a boat with boat finance, a boat loan or boat mortgage? Most of us have dreamt of owning our own boat at some point.

We’ve all yearned to spend our Sundays out on the water. Even if you don’t have a deposit, provided you can offer something else as security – such as your property, vehicles or other household items – we can make this happen with one of our fast, convenient large or small boat loans of between $1,000 and $50,000.

Boats come in all shapes and sizes, from yachts to dinghies, jetskis, jet boats to runabouts. Whatever you fancy spending your weekends relaxing on, an affordable boat loan or jetski loan isn’t far away. And we can even get you sorted out with boat financing before you buy privately or through a boat trader.

Why Choose Admiral Finance For Your Next Loan?

Borrow from a company you can trust.

Our staff are locals who understand the financial demands of living in New Zealand. We’ll treat you with respect, outline your best options, and give you a fair loan that suits your personal circumstances. You can even come and visit us in our Christchurch office.

Get The Funds You Need Within 24-Hours

Apply for a loan & get approval within minutes, subject to the responsible lending code and affordability, & your funds are often released same day.

Competitive Loans That Suit Your Lifestyle

You can potentially save thousands with an Admiral Finance loan. Our rates are extremely competitive, and designed to suit your lifestyle and budget. So you can rest assured that when you apply for an Admiral loan you’re improving your life and financial situation, not just adding another financial burden.

Flexible Options For All Financial Situations

Admiral is run by real people, not computers. So when we consider your application we’ll review your current situation and ability to pay without focusing on your past. Even if you’ve had difficulties securing funds in the past, it’s quite possible we can find a flexible solution for your situation.

Easy Loan Application

Apply in only 5 minutes online, or give us a call to discuss on our Freephone number 0800 200 261

One of our friendly team will personally assess your application and be in touch within 60 minutes* (during business hours & subject to the responsible lending code)

If you’re loan is approved, we’ll release your funds, within 24hrs directly into your account subject to the responsible lending code & affordability.

If you want to talk to one of our friendly team about your loan, give us a call now for free on 0800 200 261 . Or, if you’re in Nelson, Dunedin, Invercargill, Timaru, or in and around Christchurch, we can even send someone over to see you at home.

Our Customers

Michael borrowed $8,750 to purchase a van for his new business

"Admiral Finance are definitely the only finance company we would deal with in the future. They provide an excellent, hassle-free service and are very user friendly. I would seriously advise people to approach them if they need finance."

Jan needed $1500 to buy some furniture for her home

Jan needed $1500 to buy some furniture for her home Jan is a lady with her hands full. She manages a pharmacy during the day and has dogs and home renovations that keep her busy after hours. She wanted to buy some new furniture for her home. Jan called on Friday and had her loan approved the same day.

Brian needed $700 for urgent car repairs

Brian needed $700 for urgent car repairs Brian’s car broke down in the car park at the local supermarket. With steam bellowing everywhere, it was obvious that the engine had overheated and needed urgent repair. Brian saw an advertisement for Admiral Finance in the newspaper and called us. As Brian worked full-time as the operations manager for a paper company, he was unable to sign the legal documents during work hours. So we went to him after hours and signed him up right there and then. We also gave him the money straight away.

Stuart borrowed $500 to pay school fees

There were no problems at all, the mobile manager came direct to my house to sign up the contract. The people are friendly and the access to loans is easy. They don’t take long to get.

Brent borrowed $14,000 for debt consolidation

We worked out a way that Brent could repay the money with payments coinciding with his payday. We got him the $14,000 and Brent was able to pay off his credit cards straight away.

With us, getting finance from $1,000 – $50,000 couldn’t be easier

Save thousands over the course of your loan competitive rates

Enjoy flexible payment options that suit your lifestyle and pay cycle

Get a zero-deposit loan secured by a vehicle, household items, or property

And get approved fast in as little as 60-mins*. Get back to enjoying life, not focusing on bills, subject to the responsible lending code & affordability.

If you want to talk to one of our friendly team about your loan, give us a call now for free on 0800 200 261 . Lending criteria, terms and conditions, and fees apply to all Admiral Finance personal loans.

Boat Loans NZ

Get fast boat finance quotes with your best rates from multiple NZ lenders. How much is the boat you want to buy?

How we’ll help you get the best boat finance – fast

Boat loans are the key to one of our favourite Kiwi pastimes; fishing and getting out on the water. If you’re looking to finance a boat, yacht, or even a jet ski in NZ, the team at Vehicle Loans can help you find the best deal on offer. Here’s how:

• We’ll show you offers from the multiple specialist boat finance providers we work with.
• We’ll use our relationships and experience to negotiate hard to get you the best deal possible.
• We’ve experience helping borrowers in different situations to get the finance they need. Bad credit is not a problem.
• We’re experts on lenders’ eligibility criteria and application processes, meaning you can get your boat finance sorted faster.

How does boat finance work?

A boat loan is a type of secured finance that offers funds to borrowers for the purchase of a range of marine vessels and boating equipment. The loan is secured by the asset purchased with the funds. Boat loans work similarly to other types of vehicle finance, like car loans and caravan finance .

• You’ll borrow an amount of money to finance the purchase of a boat or vessel
• The loan term is typically between one and five years
• You’ll make regular repayments (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) to the lender to repay the total loan amount

The total amount to repay includes the original loan amount, plus loan costs including:

• Interest applied to the loan based on the lender’s interest rate
• Establishment fees
• Loan maintenance fees (usually monthly)
• Early break fees if you repay the loan early
• Other costs or fees (e.g. late payment penalties)

What can I finance with a boat loan?

A boat loan can be put toward:

• New or used trailer boats and outboard engines
• New or used launches or luxury yachts
• Repowering existing vessels
• Personal watercraft (e.g. jet ski)

Secured versus unsecured boat finance

How to apply for boat finance NZ?

Applying for boat finance in NZ is relatively easy to do. It’s usually an online application where you give the lender information about your situation and the purpose of the loan. Before applying, consider the eligibility criteria for boat finance. In general, the majority of lenders will require borrowers to be:

• 18 years of age or older
• A New Zealand citizen or hold a work permit or permanent resident (PR)
• Currently employed or have regular income

When you apply, you will need to provide photo identification and proof of address to verify your identity with the lender. You’ll also need to provide evidence of your ability to repay the loan, including:

• Proof of income (pay slips)
• Proof of your other expenses (bank statements)
• Proof of other assets you own (e.g. property, vehicles)

What if I have bad credit – can I get boat finance?

How can i get the best interest rate on my boat finance.

Boat finance rates in NZ generally start from around 7.95% p.a. but the rate you get will depend on your application. Here are some factors that could help you secure a lower boat finance rate:

• Buy a new or newish boat
• Get a secured loan – watch out for lenders offering ‘boat loans’ that are actually unsecured personal loans
• Contribute a deposit towards the cost of the vessel

What do I need to provide for a boat loan?

Not every boat loan will have the same lending criteria. Below is an overview of the individual collateral requirements for each type of secured vessel or vehicle loan.

How to save money on your boat finance

Buying a boat, yacht or even a jet ski is expensive, with ongoing costs of ownership adding to the cost. To limit your expenses, you should take extra care to understand the factors that will help you keep your boat finance costs low: The cost of your loan will depend on the:

• Borrowing amount: A lower boat finance sum will mean you’ll be charged less in interest. Some borrowers contribute some of their own money as a deposit for the boat to reduce the loan amount.
• Loan term: It’s possible to get boat finance for up to five years but a shorter term will mean less to pay in interest and ongoing fees.
• Interest rate: Finding the cheapest boat finance rate possible will mean big savings. Even a small rate difference could add up to thousands of dollars during the loan.
• Fees: Overpaying on fees will undo any savings you make on your boat finance elsewhere. Watch out for upfront and ongoing fees, plus any other conditional fees hidden in the fine print.

Where to apply for boat finance

Finance brokers.

Brokers offer more specialised services to borrowers, which can be particularly useful for financing a boat. A broker will:

• Take time to understand your financial position and needs
• Recommend a range of competitive options to match your situation and the boat you’re buying
• Assist with completing and submitting your application
• Negotiate the interest rate on your behalf and assist with approval
• Act in in line with the the Responsible Lending Code for consumer protection rights

Dealerships

What other boat expenses may i need to account for.

If you’re applying for boat finance, keep in mind you’ll also need to factor in additional costs related to purchasing and maintaining your vessel. This may include:

• Trailers to transport the vessel: Trailers will be a requirement for smaller boats and personal watercraft that aren’t permanently moored. Generally, the cost of the trailer will be included in the total loan amount, with the value of the trailer used as security on the loan.
• Safety equipment: Safety equipment is a requirement and can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000, depending on how you plan to use the boat and the maximum number of passengers.
• Boating equipment: If you’re looking to buy a boat for the great New Zealand fishing holiday, you’ll likely want to budget for the fishing equipment as well. Prices can vary massively between various types of equipment and can cost anywhere between $100 and $10,000 (or more!).
• Storage and servicing: Be aware that, depending on where you choose to store your vessel (particularly if it’s a launch or larger fishing boat), you may have to pay marina fees, and you’ll need to account for annual servicing to ensure your boat stays in good condition.

Marine Loan FAQ

How fast can i get approval for finance.

With a lot of lenders you can complete a boat loan application in minutes and have approval the same day, or even within hours. This depends on how straightforward your application is – if your situation is complex, allow more time. Once approved, the loan funds could be in your bank account (or paid directly to the boat seller) within a day or two.

Can I get pre-approval on a marine loan?

Yes. To see if you qualify for finance, simply call 0800 651 480 now and speak to one of our trusted vehicle finance brokers for a quick No Credit Check Pre-Assessment.

Can I get a boat loan if I have bad credit?

Yes it should still be possible. Vehicle Loans works with a number of lenders that will overlook previous credit issues. Our brokers can assess your individual situation with a No Credit Check Pre Assessment.

Do I need a deposit for a boat loan?

You generally do not need to provide a deposit on a boat loan. However, providing a deposit can reduce the risk to the lender (by reducing the total principal amount owing) which may allow you to access slightly lower rates. If you have bad credit or a limited credit history, contributing a deposit towards the cost of the boat is a positive signal to lenders and may help you get your loan application approved.

Can I buy a boat from a private seller using a boat loan?

Yes. If you are purchasing the boat privately (e.g. through TradeMe) the Vehicles Loans team can perform necessary checks to ensure the vehicle is not encumbered (still under finance) or reported as stolen. We can then help generate a private sale agreement and mediate the process between the purchaser and the seller.

What fees does Vehicle Loans charge to apply for finance?

There is no fee to apply for finance. Lenders and insurers pay Vehicle Loans a fee, commission or brokerage fee for processing the application and settlement of a finance agreement. Any fees that are charged to you by the financiers are fully disclosed and agreed with you before the loan documents are signed by you. Vehicle Loans operate under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) and all financial arrangements provided by Vehicle Loans are compliant with this Act and follow the guidelines under the Responsible Lending Code advised by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

• Caravan Loans
• Trailer Loans
• Motorcycle Loans
• Personal loans
• Refinancing
• Interest Rates
• Bank Statement Retrieval
• How much can you save?
• Guides & Insights
• Loan Calculators
• Finance Jargon Buster
• Help & Support
• Our Loan Eligibility Criteria
• Update Contact Details
• Compliments & Complaints
• Unforeseen Hardship
• Loan Balance Enquiries

Try Our Boat Loan Calculator

See what your marine finance repayments might be if you took out a loan with stadium finance., calculate it.

This is an example based on your selections, with a set interest rate of 12.95% for the term of your loan. Interest rates may be higher or lower. Full term amount payable of $ .

Why should you choose Stadium Finance for your boat loan?

Use our boat loan calculator and get on the water in your new jet boat, motor boat, or jet-ski fast!

At Stadium Finance we can arrange loans for all types of jet boats, motor boats, and jet-skis, through a dealership or private sale.

Whether you want to buy a new or used jet boat, motor boat, or jet-ski, or refurbish your existing boat or build a new boat – we can offer you finance with competitive rates, flexible terms and fast approval.

With a boat loan from Stadium Finance, you get:

• Fast approval process.
• Flexible payment options that suit you.
• Loan terms from 12 to 60 months, depending on the loan amount and purpose.

Getting a marine loan through Stadium Finance is quick, easy, and we work hard to find you the best rates. Use our boat loan calculator and apply online today for the best deal in town.

• Investment Finance
• Renovations
• Bridging Finance
• Car Finance
• Business Asset Finance
• Personal loan
• Unsecured Loan
• Marine Finance
• Business loan
• Car Insurance
• Life Insurance
• General Insurance
• Our Partners
• Partner With Us
• About Marine Finance
• features & Benefits
• eligibility

Get Boat, Jet-Ski and Yacht Finance sorted through Finance Bloom

We offer best finance rates for all your marine adventures!

Our specialized finance broker team at Finance Bloom supports our clients by offering the most affordable boat financing rates and the simplest procedures to help you get into your new marine leisure asset as quickly and easily as possible. We can help you receive the best boat loans available, whether you desire a brand-new jet ski or a million-dollar yacht! Apply right away for financing on a variety of marine craft, such as boats, jet skis, yachts, catamaran, rowboats, and fishing boats.

Best Cart Finance

Guaranteed issue best option.

Best range of lenders

Finding the best marine boat loans to meet your needs is guaranteed thanks to Finance Bloom’s partnerships with a large variety of lenders throughout New Zealand.

Best boat loan rates

In order to get you the best boat financing rates possible, we work for you, not the banks. To offer you the best value possible will always be our main priority.

Save on fees and charges

Our boat financing broker team are experts at understanding the nuances of the marine finance sector. When it comes to saving the most money on your subsequent marine purchase, we will always recommend the best solutions.

Ongoing Support

Our work doesn’t end once we’ve secured your marine loan; We offer ongoing support before, during and after your purchase.

Get financing for whatever you need now

While it’s always important to carefully consider your financial situation before taking on a loan, sometimes a loan is the best way to finance a large purchase or project that you can’t afford the upfront

Strong Then, Strong Now

Our unique online technology gives you an instant quote and approval within hours.

Consistently High-Rated

We compare from the major lenders and negotiate directly to get you the best finance rate that will meet your lifestyle and requirements.

Promising life future

Whether you are looking for a loan for your home, business or personal use, we can certainly help. We provide premium kiwi service and always ensure our customers get the best deal with us.

Stability is Proven

We help you find the right loan and provide options on structure to reduce your debt faster.

Loan Eligibility

Any salaried, self-employed or professional Public and Privat companies, Government sector employees including Public Sector is eligible for a personal loan.

You’re over 18 years of age.

Hold a valid New Zealand driver license

Have a regular income

You’re a New Zealand resident or visa holder

Frequently Ask Questions

If you have a question that deals with clients, customers or the public in general, there is bound to be a need for the FAQ page.

Why Choose Finance Bloom?

Here at Finance Bloom, we have access to multiple lending partners, enabling us to offer our customers competitive and hassle-free home loan packages. Our finance team can organize a professional solution to your financial situation, tailoring a personalized finance package that suits your needs and budget. We want to make the home loan application and approval process as easy and stress-free as possible so you may worry less and enjoy your home more.

Do you offer refinancing?

Refinancing can be a painful task. But with our assistance, the procedure will go quickly, easily, and smoothly. We have access to a wide range of lenders, which we can immediately compare with you. The phrase “home loan refinancing” refers to the process of changing your mortgage. During refinances, homeowners have the option of sticking with their present lender while switching their home loan products. In an effort to locate the finest incentives and lowest rates for homeowners, they may also decide to look for a different lender ready to take over the current mortgage. Whatever choice you decide on, Finance Bloom can help you locate the best house loan refinancing terms accessible to homeowners in New Zealand.

Information

• Asset Finance

Finance Bloom like to build a relationship with every customer and Dealer so we can grow together. Sign up today so we can provide the best cars to our customers and make an easier way to finance them and help our dealers to sell more frequently. We aim to work for you and for our customers. So what you are waiting for sign up today to discuss more.

FSP number: FSP656211

Finance Bloom 2022 | Made with ❤ by The Design House. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Disclosure | Disclaimer

Get Low Rate Boat finance.

We compare, so you save.  get a boat loan today, enquire now.

We've been helping over 4000 kiwis get into their dream boat with low rate boat finance. Whether you are looking to purchase your first fishing boat, a wakeboarding boat, or upgrading to a yacht, we can find your best rate boat finance.

• Low repayments on new and used boats
• We compare for you
• Approvals within 60 minutes

Arrange a call back  with one of our specialists

Copyright © 2022 Simplify NZ.

Start floating your boat.

Fixed personalised interest rates from 9.99% p.a. to 24.99% p.a. (plus an establishment fee of $150). ¹

Apply now Get a quote Won’t affect your credit score

Canstar's most awarded Personal Loan (ever)

Set sail with a hassle-free online boat loan.

Personalised finance for your first boat, your dream boat, or need a boat repair loan.

Borrow what you need for a new or used sailboat, speedboat, jet ski or other boat, or use a boat repair loan to fix up your own.

ONLINE BOAT LOANS - 24/7

You could be fishing, waterskiiing or just cruising at sea within a couple of days without the need for awkward face-to-face meetings.

UNSECURED LOANS

Our loans are unsecured so there's no need to put your new boat, or any other asset, on the line to get the money.

What our customers say

Simple, 100% online, 1. get to know you.

First, tell us how much you want to borrow and confirm identity and finance documents we need.

2. Get your offer

We’ll send you a boat loan offer for you to approve that includes everything you need to know.

3. Get your money

Accept your loan offer, send us a few final details, then you should get your money within 24 hours.

What we offer

$2k - $70k, loan limits, 3, 5 or 7 years, establishment fee, early repayment fee.

• You can get a 3, 5 or 7 year loan term¹
• Secured fixed rates from 9.89% * p.a to 21.49% p.a.
• Unsecured fixed rates from 9.99% p.a. to 24.99% p.a.²
• Establishment fee of $150
• You can repay weekly, fortnightly or monthly
• Your rate is fixed for the life of the loan

Find out more about our interest rates and fees

* If you take out a secured loan and don’t meet the security conditions within 60 days of the loan advance, the loan will revert to unsecured and the interest rate will change to a higher unsecured interest rate.

Common boat loan questions

Quick boat loan estimate.

See what personal interest rate and repayments you can expect on your boat loan with our quick estimate loan calculator.

Personal loan calculator

Speeding you out of the dock

Spend less time sorting out finance and more time choosing the perfect boat.

100% ONLINE – 24/7

No face-to-face interaction required, apply and be approved online.

NO EARLY REPAYMENT PENALTIES

Able to pay off your loan early? Great! We won’t charge you anything extra.

PERSONALISED RATE

We use your credit profile to automatically calculate your personal interest rate.

About boat loans

A boat loan is a personal loan that can be used to cover expenses associated with purchasing, owning and maintaining a boat.

This could include the purchase price, repairs, maintenance, storage, accessories and equipment up to the value of your approved loan limit. There are various types of boat loans and it’s important to understand how they work when deciding which type of loan is right for you.

Unsecured boat loan

An unsecured boat loan is a loan which does not require your boat (or another asset) to be offered as security. This means your boat will not be repossessed if you default on your loan or have trouble making payments. Penalties are still charged for late payment, but this is a safer option than a secured loan.

All Harmoney boat loans are unsecured.

Secured boat loan

In the case of a secured boat loan, security (or collateral) is provided on the loan. This can either be the boat itself or another asset. If you default on a secured boat loan, your collateral can be seized by the loan provider.

Secured boat loans are not provided by Harmoney.

Dealer finance

Boat sellers will often offer their own finance, much like car dealerships. While these may seem attractive, often offering low-interest rates and other perks, they typically require a deposit and, like a secured loan, will keep the boat as security. Dealer finance often works out to be more expensive than third party loans, especially for those with bad credit.

Fixed and variable loans

There are two types of interest rates you can have on your loan: fixed and variable. A fixed interest rate is one that will stay the same despite outside influences, making it easier to budget and plan for the future. Meanwhile, a variable rate will rise and fall with the economy, making it a riskier option.

At Harmoney, our loans always have fixed rates so you can know in advance what your payments will be throughout your loan term.

Get moving today

Apply online for a boat loan and live your boating dreams.

Types of personal loans

Harmoney can help you with a loan for the things you need.

Ready to upgrade or buy your dream car? Get that new or used vehicle sooner with an online loan.

Find out more

EDUCATION COSTS

Don’t let money get in the way of your education. Get help with your education expenses with a Harmoney loan.

DEBT CONSOLIDATION

Debt consolidation means making one simple payment on a new loan in place of your current debts.

HOLIDAY LOANS

If you’re desperate for a getaway but don’t have the means a Harmoney holiday loan could send you on your way.

WEDDING LOANS

Focus on planning the details of your dream day and leave the finances to us. A wedding loan from Harmoney can provide the funds to bring your wedding plans to life.

BUSINESS LOANS

Whether you’re launching a start-up or want to expand your established business a Harmoney business loan can help turn your business dreams into reality.

RENOVATION LOANS

If you’re ready to turn those renovation goals into reality a renovation loan from Harmoney can get the ball rolling.

MEDICAL LOAN

A Harmoney medical expenses loan can help ease the burden of unexpected or ongoing medical costs.

We're real people and here if you need us

If you need help, just give us a call on 0800 427 666 or jump on to online chat and one of our more than 30 specialists will be there to lend a hand.

Chat with us Other ways to contact us Visit our help centre

Terms and conditions

1. Loan terms subject to availability.

2. Subject to approval. Harmoney’s interest rates are offered based on the individual borrower’s credit assessment according to Harmoney’s credit scorecard. In order to be approved you must meet Harmoney’s credit criteria and responsible lending requirements. Fees, charges, terms and conditions apply.

Personal Loan Application Update : To improve our personal loan process, we’ve updated our application form. We appreciate your understanding if you are a returning customer and find things a little different. All applications will still be reviewed based on our standard lending criteria and loan terms. 

Marine Loans

Get a boat, fishing, sailing, jetski loan.

Whatever you want to do on the water we can get you out there. Buy a new boat or yacht, upgrade the outboard, hoist a new sail, get a new boat trailer – just get out there with your friends and whanau and enjoy life. Finance Now can help you on your way with a special marine loan.  

Get out on the water with friends and family with a Finance Now Marine Loan.

Negotiate like a cash buyer..

Apply now and have the funds on hand, so you can shop like a cash buyer. Make the most of marine dealer promotions and boating website deals.

Fast Approvals. Apply Online.

Whether you’re upgrading the outboard or need more room for your fishing pals, we’ll get you on the water in no time. Apply online for funds within 24 hours.

Loans for every boat, dinghy & jetski.

Whatever your marine ambition we’ve got a personal loan tailored to your needs with easy weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments.

Calculate your costs to get on the water.

Loan terms and things you need to know : Finance Now’s normal lending criteria and loan terms apply. Loan Applications are subject to Responsible Lending Enquiries. Repayments shown are indicative only and include a $225 establishment application fee and a $2.50 monthly service fee. Interest rates for personal loans range from 13.95% to 29.95% p.a. Loan terms range from 6 to 60 months. Full disclosure of all of the terms of your loan (including the total amount payable over the term of the loan) will be provided to you prior to finalisation of your loan. Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) is optional and has NOT been included in the payment amounts.

What our customers say

What type of loan are you applying for, share it with the world.

36 Degrees Brokers partner with Better Finance who will assess your loan requirements and personal circumstances to provide the best possible option to suit your needs.

Better Finance works with well-known and trusted New Zealand financiers such as Heartland Bank (Marac), BNZ Vendor Finance, and others to tailor the most competitive package for you while providing up-to-date feedback from real people who can answer any questions you may have. 

  Rates range from 8.95% - 12.95% p.a.*

• Loan terms range from 24 - 60 months (72 months available in some instances)
• Deposit depending on your circumstances - starting from $0 upfront
• Alternative loan structures available including balloon payments etc 

  *Interest Rate Range - disclaimer: The actual interest rate charged to you will depend on your personal circumstances, the type of lending required, and the security provided, and is determined by the lender. Standard lending criteria, terms, conditions, and fees apply, including an establishment fee of up to $995 applies.

To arrange a no-obligation discussion around the options available to you, please fill out your details and the boat model listed on our site or the value of a boat if you cant currently find what you are looking for info the form below and we will be in touch shortly.

Start your application below:

About the loan:.

You must enable JavaScript to submit this form

Finance Calculator

Use our simple loan repayment calculator to quickly estimate your weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments.

The below items show indicative figures only. For more accurate figures, please select a boat / jet ski from and then click the 'Finance Calculator' button whilst viewing that item.

Choose Term : (Months)

• Fortnightly

Please select a search type

Select traditional parameters like make, model, year and engine size.

Affordability

Looking for finance and unsure what you can afford? Start your search here.

Standard Search

Affordability search.

Looking to finance your next boat/jet ski? Use our friendly Affordability Search to help find items that best match your current financial situation, budget and lifestyle.

Translate our website

Simply choose your language below.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Dufour 44 review: More space but maintaining performance

• Rupert Holmes
• September 20, 2024

It’s not just volume that has changed drastically in production cruising yacht design, it’s how designers and sailors use it, which has been a clear focus on the Dufour 44

Product Overview

Price as reviewed:.

What makes the perfect saloon for a cruising yacht? Ask anyone of a certain age and they’re likely to start with safety aspects – snug, with at least a couple of good sea berths, plenty of handholds and no big, wide open spaces that might be dangerous when thrashing to windward. But as we’ll see, Dufour has thrown away the rule book allowing Ardizio Design to create an interior with a refreshingly different style to most.

I sailed a prototype boat from La Rochelle a few months ahead of the Dufour 44’s official launch at Cannes in September. The Umberto Felci-designed hull has beam carried well forward at both deck and chine level, though there’s lots of flare above the waterline, especially forward, giving a relatively narrow waterline beam and low wetted surface area, which boosts performance in light airs.

We experienced the benefits of this immediately after leaving La Rochelle’s Port les Minimes marina, sailing close hauled in only 8 knots of true wind. Even in these light airs we maintained a fairly consistent five knots of boat speed. As we got further offshore in the west-northwesterly airflow, the wind increased to 10 knots and boat speed to six knots, rising to 6.5 knots as the breeze built to 12 knots. Throughout our sail the boat tacked through 95° or less.

Power meets volume: the 44 has very full bows and flare above the waterline, which creates a lot of space without huge drag. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Rigged for easy speed

Dufour worked a lot on sail shape with Elvstrom to get the right balance between depth and power for the optional sustainable and high tech Ekko sails which the test boat is equipped with. They set well and clearly helped the boat’s performance and feel.

Felci studied options for both single and twin rudders, determining that the former is sufficient, even with full sail in more than 25 knots of breeze. This gives more feel on the helm than twin rudders while also making the boat easier to handle in harbour, thanks to the prop wash over the rudder. It’s also a simpler solution that frees up more interior and stowage space.

The hull shape is such that stability also builds very quickly when the boat starts to heel and the leeward chine digs in. As true wind speed increased to 14.5 knots ahead of a line of cloud, boat speed nudged up to 6.7-6.8 knots, with a little more heel but not a lot by the standards of older designs. This was still very comfortable sailing and a long way from needing to reef, even though the apparent wind was now above 18 knots.

Article continues below…

Throughout my test the boat had a direct and responsive feel to the helm that belies the 10.2 tonne displacement. Even when attempting to bear away without easing the sheets and the boat well powered up, the rudder still had plenty of bite and answered the helm immediately – a world away from wide-stern single rudder designs of two or three decades ago.

Bearing away to a true wind angle of 65-70º when the true wind dropped back down to 9 knots we still made a comfortable 7 knots of boat speed, although with no asymmetric spinnaker we weren’t able to check realistic speed potential on broad reaching angles or downwind.

‘Stability builds very quickly when the boat starts to heel’. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Helm stations are well outboard, which gives a good view of the luff of the sail, though you can’t sit astride the wheel when helming upwind. The cockpit sole is quite high, which means the side deck next to the wheels is quite low, but it’s still a comfortable seat when helming. There’s also a seat behind the helm that allows you to sit comfortably when driving for long periods. In all cases there’s a good view of the headsail luff.

There are no foot chocks for the driver on the basis that owners have so many different preferences it’s impossible to satisfy everyone. Instead this is a dealer-level customisation to allow each owner to choose their favoured solution.

The passage to the side decks is forward of the helm stations, which makes the mainsheet winch on the Ocean version a bit of a stretch from the wheel. On the other hand, it provides plenty of space for a crewmember to work the sheets.

The 108% headsail of the test boat is set on a Facnor FD flat deck furler that helps maximise luff length, although a smaller non-overlapping jib can be specified.

The test boat includes many of the comfort options including six winches and the trademark Dufour exterior galley/grill accessed from the swim platform. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The mainsail is set up as standard with two single line reefs, the positions of which were defined after careful analysis by both Elvstrom and Felci. It’s not currently possible to order a third reef from the factory, but there is a spare sheave in the boom and space at the mast plate to install one. Commendably large rope bins are provided at the companionway and behind the winch stations.

The stern platform has access to the cockpit on both sides of the transom, facilitating easy circulation of people. Liferaft stowage is in the middle, with Dufour’s trademark outdoor galley with a barbecue and small sink above. Add to that a fridge in the cockpit table and it’s easy to understand why many Dufour owners predominately cook outside in favourable weather.

Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Many of today’s yachts are used in a different manner to those of the past. Three or four decades ago a Nicholson 32 or Contessa 32 might have been considered an average size serious cruising yacht. Yet a passage plan might assume an average speed of 4 or 5 knots and weather forecasts were nowhere near as good as those of today, which meant a far greater chance of a passage across, for example, the English Channel or North Sea, turning into a beat at the end. Throw in a tidal gate or two and a lot of 75- to 90-mile passages back then became 18- to 24-hour ordeals.

Times have changed

By contrast, today’s boats are on average a lot larger and proportionately much faster, with the result the same distance is normally covered in no more than 12-14 hours and often a lot less, unless it’s a straight beat to windward. But even that is less likely, thanks to the massive improvements in weather forecasting over the past few decades that mean long upwind slogs when cruising are now encountered much less frequently.

Another difference is that today’s boats don’t heel as much – a wide, high form stability cruising hull shape will rarely see much more than 20°, even when pressed, and 15-18° is more typical. That makes it easier to move around the interior when bashing upwind.

Spacious saloon with hexagonal table and compact galley will work best in harbour. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Saloon and galley layouts by Ardizio Design feel distinctly different to many boats, yet will make sense for a lot of owners.

The space is dominated by a large C-shape seating area with a hexagonal table to port. A neat innovation is the three movable fabric stools that provide extra seating on the inboard side of the table. These can be used flexibly, are lightweight, don’t fall over and have an effective non-slip base. They also stack against the starboard settee, extending that space into a larger lounging area.

On the downside there’s no dedicated navstation, other than a folding shelf for a laptop, and the forward galley option initially looks small, with a lack of fixed worktop space, though there is more at a slightly lower level than the main countertops.

The prime benefit those full bows bring is found in the voluminous master cabin. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Handholds and grabrails below decks are important for safety at sea, yet provision is often poor on many new yachts – and in any case owners often have different ideas as to what will work best for them. Dufour has planned for interior handrails to be added as a customised option at the dealer level and has designed a choice of mounting points into the underside of the coachroof for this purpose.

Stowage is well configured and in general a marked improvement to older designs, with plenty of thought given to ease of use of space. For instance, there are drawers under both port and starboard settees. These cost boatbuilders extra money to install, but can make a huge difference to life on board.

Other neat touches include a wine rack under the saloon floor and Dufour’s effective dustpan below the cabin sole. There are lights combined with USB outlets next to each bed and the spacious forward owner’s cabin has a good area of bookshelves and space for phones, keys, wallets and so on next to the head of the bed.

Nonetheless, the interior is better in harbour or at anchor than at sea and the galley on the version I tested won’t be easy to use when well heeled. There is an option for a conventional linear galley on the starboard side.

A lot of yacht to enjoy at anchor – note the large hull windows. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

As with other models in the range it’s available in Easy, Ocean and Performance variants. The bulk of sales of the pared-down Easy version are likely to go to charter companies, while the Ocean model I sailed will be the choice of most private owners.

Dufour worked with charter companies in Croatia to optimise quick and easy access for maintenance and repair of systems throughout the boat – also a big benefit for private owners. Easily accessible items are more likely to be inspected on a regular basis, markedly reducing potential for breakdowns.

Dufour 44 specifications

LOA: 13.91m 45ft 8in LWL: 12.23m 40ft 2in Beam: 4.45m 14ft 7in Draught (standard keel): 2.2m 7ft 2in Draught (shoal draught keel): 1.75m 5ft 9in Light disp: 10,200kg 22,500lb Ballast: 2,850kg 6,284lb Fuel: 250lt 55gal Water: 250lt 55gal (extra 180lt 48gal optional) Engine: 50hp (60hp optional) Sail area (100% foretriangle): 96.8m2 1,042ft2 Disp/LWL ratio: 155 Sail area/disp ratio: 20.9 Price as tested: approx €400,000 ex VAT Contact: dufour-yachts.com

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

While nothing is revolutionary about this boat, it’s a welcome incremental step as a more spacious design that performs well across a range of wind speeds. At the same time, the living arrangements, above and below decks, will work well for the large numbers of owners, both in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, who are not in the habit of making multi-day passages. Fuel tankage is arguably not generous at 250lt, but the boat’s light airs performance, particularly if the optional Code 0 and asymmetric spinnaker are specified, will mean a lot less time is spent motoring in light airs – and therefore a lot more time spent enjoying the sailing – than with earlier designs.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My Portfolio
• Latest News
• Stock Market
• Biden Economy
• Stocks: Most Actives
• Stocks: Gainers
• Stocks: Losers
• Trending Tickers
• World Indices
• US Treasury Bonds Rates
• Top Mutual Funds
• Options: Highest Open Interest
• Options: Highest Implied Volatility
• Basic Materials
• Communication Services
• Consumer Cyclical
• Consumer Defensive
• Financial Services
• Industrials
• Real Estate
• Stock Comparison
• Advanced Chart
• Currency Converter
• Credit Cards
• Balance Transfer Cards
• Cash-back Cards
• Rewards Cards
• Travel Cards
• Credit Card Offers
• Best Free Checking
• Student Loans
• Personal Loans
• Car insurance
• Mortgage Refinancing
• Mortgage Calculator
• Morning Brief
• Market Domination
• Market Domination Overtime
• Asking for a Trend
• Opening Bid
• Stocks in Translation
• Lead This Way
• Good Buy or Goodbye?
• Financial Freestyle
• Capitol Gains
• Living Not So Fabulously
• Decoding Retirement
• Money Glow Up
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Yahoo Finance

Palantir: have investors missed the boat.

2024 has been a banner year for Palantir Technologies Inc. ( NYSE:PLTR ). It will soon be part of the S&P 500, a remarkable milestone for any company. Investors who were patient enough to ride the wave have been handsomely rewarded, with the stock up more than 100% year to date.

With all this upward momentum, a natural question arises: Have I missed the boat on Palantir?

About Palantir

Palantir builds and deploys software platforms that function as central operating systems for its customers, focusing on data analytics. It originally began as a data analytics company serving government clients, especially in counter-terrorism, but has since expanded into the commercial space. More recently, it has made significant strides into artificial intelligence, a natural progression for a company already handling massive datasets.

Its four main software platformsGotham, Foundry, Apollo and the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP)help organizations transform large amounts of data into integrated, actionable insights. Platforms like Gotham and Foundry allow institutions to embed data directly into their operations, while AIP enhances decision-making by incorporating machine learning and generative AI models, such as large language models, directly into its software.

Palantir is essentially a hybrid, balancing its strong government business with the more competitive and unpredictable commercial market. In my opinion, its competitive advantage lies in its government contracts. The company has deeply ingrained relationships with government clients and switching away from such systems is typically a slow, complex process. This gives it a durable moat and sustained competitive advantage in that sector. The commercial side, however, is a different story. The data analytics market is crowded, with many established players already integrated into existing ecosystems, creating much fiercer competition.

So why have Palantir's shares soared?

Palantir's second-quarter 2024 earnings report delivered a significant beat, exceeding both its own guidance and Wall Street's expectations. The company posted revenue of $678 million, representing a 27% year-over-year increase, marking its fourth consecutive quarter of accelerating growth.

Source: Author

Palantir's U.S. commercial revenues led the charge, growing 55% to $159 million, driven largely by an 83% increase in U.S. commercial customers. The international commercial segment lagged behind, growing only 15% year over year with a slight sequential decline, raising concerns about its global scalability and the ability to replicate its U.S. success.

On the government side, often seen as a slower growth driver, Palantir saw strong results with a 23% increase in revenue. Much of this growth was tied to contracts with U.S. government agencies and foreign governments, particularly in the defense sector.

The balance sheet is in excellent shape, with $4 billion in cash and no debt. Moreover, Palantir has filed for a mixed securities shelf registration , which suggests a plan to increase its cash reserves further, although it adds an extra layer of dilution for current shareholders. It is worth noting that stock-based compensation remains high at 21% of revenue, so I would expect this to increase given Palantir's operational and stock performance.

Source: Palantir Investor Presentation

Palantir achieved GAAP profitability for the seventh consecutive quarter, with its customer count growing 41% year over year and outpacing top-line growth. Net dollar retention was 114% in the second quarter and the Rule of 40 stood at 64%, although Palantir calculates this by using adjusted operating margin plus year-over-year revenue growth, which kind of inflates the figure. The more traditional Rule of 40, which adds the free cash flow margin plus year-over-year revenue growth, would be closer to 49%.

During the earnings call , CEO Alex Karp provided a compelling perspective on the company's strategy and performance, emphasizing the significant challenge and opportunity of deploying AI solutions at scale. He said:

"The immense challenge of deploying enterprise production AI software at scale is one that very few companies can tackle. Palantir has proven it can meet this challenge head-on, which is why we're seeing increased adoption of our AI platform across industries like defense and energy."

Another important takeaway from the call was the company's improved guidance for the full year. Palantir raised its revenue forecast from $2.742 billion to $2.750 billion at the high end and its adjusted income guidance from $966 million to $974 million. This increase reflects management's confidence in sustained growth, even as many of its tech peers temper their expectations due to macroeconomic headwinds.

Palantir also revealed substantial gains in both commercial and government sectors, including high-profile partnerships with Microsoft ( NASDAQ:MSFT ) and BP ( NYSE:BP ).

Its partnership with Microsoft focuses on serving U.S. defense intelligence agencies by providing cutting-edge AI solutions. This collaboration integrates Palantir's AI capabilities with Microsoft's cloud infrastructure, aiming to streamline operations and enhance decision-making processes for critical government agencies. This strategic alliance strengthens the company's position in the defense sector and demonstrates its potential to drive innovation within secure, high-stakes environments.

In the commercial sector, Palantir's five-year partnership with BP showcases its versatility and ability to cater to large-scale industries like energy. By integrating its AIP into BP's operations, the companies plan to improve the efficiency of oil and gas production while exploring new AI-driven advancements. This collaboration highlights how Palantir's technology can optimize complex operations and contribute to the energy sector's digital transformation.

To help boost investors' sentiment, Palantir will be added to the S&P 500 in the next rebalancing period. Joining the S&P 500 requires a company to report a profit in its most recent quarter and have cumulative profitability over the past four quarters. In the second quarter, the company's net income totaled $135.60 million, up from $27.90 million in the same period a year earlier. The company turned profitable in the final quarter of 2022.

This announcement has fueled enthusiasm for the stock, as inclusion in the S&P 500 serves as validation of its business model and financial health. Shares tend to rise after such announcements, as passive funds that track the index are "forced" to buy shares to closely mirror the S&P 500, resulting in a surge in demand.

International struggles

While Palantir's U.S. business is thriving, its international story is less impressive. Commercial growth outside the U.S. lagged at just 15% year over year and sequentially, it actually shrank by 1% in the second quarter. This potentially is a red flag for a company that needs to expand globally to justify its current valuation. Europe's weak performance is particularly concerning given it is a major market for future growth.

Palantir's management has made it clear that its AI platform will drive future expansion. However, the company's growth is likely to be more methodical, supported by long-term contracts and steady customer adoption. This creates a dilemma for investors, as the current valuation assumes an extraordinary level of future growth.

Is Palantir overvalued?

Palantir has proven the strength of its technology, but the one thing that keeps many investors cautious is its valuation. It is still in its early days of profitability, so perhaps one of the best metrics to look at here is the price-sales ratio.

The stock trades at a trailing 12-month price-sales ratio of about 34 and a forward price-sales ratio of about 31 based on 2025 guidance. The company is expecting 25% year-over-year revenue growth for the third quarter and 21% growth for the fourth quarter. To put it in perspective, the S&P 500 trades at a price-earnings ratio of about 21.

Wall Street estimates project around 20% annual revenue growth for the next five years, but even in the best-case scenario, Palantir's returns may fall short of what today's stock price implies. To justify its current valuation, Palantir must accelerate growth both in the U.S. and internationally. Given Europe's struggle, it is difficult to pinpoint where this acceleration will come from.

For a company growing revenue by under 30%, Palantir's current multiple seems high. To justify this valuation, it would need to grow revenue by more than 30% annually. Palantir is already seeing a rebound in its U.S. government business, and its new partnerships could potentially boost growth further. However, at its current valuation, it seems the market is already pricing in such developments.

When applying a reverse discounted cash flow model to Palantir's valuation, Wall Street expects a 22% compound annual growth rate over the next five years. To be more conservative, I factored in a 25% growth rate to account for potential dilution, which resulted in a price target of $12.82 per share, far below its current trading price.

However, some might argue Palantir is not optimized for profitability or FCF at this stage, which could skew valuation models. To explore this perspective, I adjusted my assumptions by modeling a future where the company achieves a long-term FCF margin of 35%. Using the company's estimated 2025 sales and rerunning the model, I found that for Palantir's current share price to be justified, the company would need to grow revenue by 37% annually over the next five years and 25% thereaftermuch higher than Wall Street's projections of a 22% CAGR.

This analysis signals the stock may be overextended in the short to medium term unless Palantir can unlock new, substantial revenue streams or dramatically expand its profit margins beyond current expectations.

Some may also argue Palantir does not follow traditional metrics because it is a "retail darling" stock, once linked to the meme stock saga, and the AI narrative has just begun. While this is difficult to dispute, it's worth noting that even Catherine Wood ( Trades , Portfolio ), known for her disruptive technology-focused investments, has trimmed her position , signaling some concerns over Palantir's valuation.

Have I missed the boat?

In some ways, the boat might have already left the dock. Palantir's stock is priced to perfection and any hiccup, whether in international expansion, government contracts or the broader AI rollout, could result in a sharp pullback.

That being said, Palantir is still a solid company with impressive fundamentals. It has become profitable on a GAAP basis, carries no debt and has a substantial cash position. For long-term investors, there is still upside, particularly if the AI market continues to evolve in its favor. However, new investors should be cautious. The current valuation leaves little room for error, and as we have seen with many high-growth tech stocks, the market can turn quickly when expectations are not met.

I think Palantir has a good long-term opportunity, but given its valuation, I would prefer to buy on a pullback. Even the best tech companies go through periods where their stock prices fall, and I would rather be patient and not chase the shares at these valuations.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus .

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Sail Away: The Oral History of ‘Yacht Rock’

This story was originally published on June 26, 2015

I n the late 1970s and early 1980s, musical artists like Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, Toto, Hall and Oates, and dozens of others regularly popped up on each other’s records, creating a golden era of smooth-music collaboration.

More from Rolling Stone

The Second Coming of Steely Dan

Michael McDonald on the Doobie Brothers Entering the Rock Hall: 'They Deserve the Nod'

Stormy Daniels Versus the World

And on June 26th, 2005, an internet phenomenon was born. In 12 short but memorable episodes — first via the the short-film series Channel 101 and then online — JD Ryznar, Hunter Stair, Dave Lyons, Lane Farnham and their friends redefined an era and coined a term for the sultry croonings of McDonald, Fagen, et al.: “yacht rock.”

As “Hollywood” Steve might say, these guys docked a fleet of remarkable hits. This is the story of Yacht Rock, told from stem to stern — a reimagining of a bygone soft-rock renaissance, courtesy of hipsters with fake mustaches, impeccable record collections and a love of smoothness. Long may it sail.

The Michigan Connection JD Ryznar (Director, “Michael McDonald”): I moved from Ann Arbor to L.A., and ended up making friends with all these other guys from Michigan, like “Hollywood” Steve Huey, Hunter Stair, and David Lyons. Pretty much every weekend I’d have “Chinese Thanksgiving” at my apartment — we’d eat BBQ chicken and burgers, drink beer and listen to records of what I called “yacht rock.” You know, like Michael McDonald is singing background vocals and like there’s guys on boats on the covers; it feels like you’re on a yacht listening to it. And the guys were like, oh, we know this music.

Dave Lyons (“Koko”): You know how, in the Seventies, these big bands started playing arena rock? We liked the idea of these smooth bands playing “Marina Rock.” I thought it was a better name.

“Hollywood” Steve Huey (“Hollywood Steve”): What I mostly remember is JD playing Journey records all the time. He was so into Journey that he had photocopied a photo of Steve Perry and pasted it onto his liquid soap dispenser. He wrote “Steve Perry Soap: Clean as all fuck” on it.

Lane Farnham (editor, “Jimmy Messina”): JD and I had talked about Journey for a year before we did Yacht Rock. In the third episode, that whole “you need to fly like a pilot” bit? Those are direct lines from Steve Perry in this crazy documentary we found. He’s coked to the gills, in the Eighties, just blabbering about who knows what. We got a kick out of that stuff.

Ryznar: My musical tastes are not that interesting, and they never were.

Huey: I turned 30 right before we started doing the series, and I thought, well, this is a nice round number. What do 30-year-olds do? I feel like it’s time I get into Steely Dan. I bought most of the catalogue and was like, This is my new identity. I’m gonna unwind, start listening to Steely Dan, and leave parties early.

Channel 101 Hunter Stair (“Kenny Loggins”):  At the time, JD had helped me get a job at a production company, and he asked if I wanted to shoot this thing they were doing for something called Channel 101. I didn’t know anything about it, but I saw that it was started by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab — who I knew because I had a copy of Heat Vision and Jack [the failed 1999 pilot they wrote that became a huge underground hit, directed by Ben Stiller and starring Jack Black ]. So I was super pumped.

Ryznar : It was a cool scene at the time: Justin Roiland had [Channel 101 series] House of Cosbys, Dan Harmon had Laser Fart. Our friends Drew Hancock and Wade Randolph, who would go on to play Hall and Oates, they had a show about a regular guy who got angry, and turned into a smaller, shirtless weaker guy who didn’t turn green or anything.

Drew Hancock (“Oates”): That was called “Man to Man: Metamorphosis Ultra.” It was the lowest stakes Incredible Hulk show you could possibly have.

Justin Roiland (co-creator of Rick & Morty and House of Cosbys, “Christopher Cross”): Every single month you’re making something, and then you’re testing it in front of a live audience. You see what works, what doesn’t work.

Ryznar : It was a January 2005 screening where we started the school of Channel 101, where you’re showing the stuff you made in front of 200, maybe 300 people. And then they put it on the “internet,” which was very hard to do back then. There was no “YouTube.” Listen to Old Man Ryznar here.

Farnham: JD and I would go down to the beach and play something called “smash ball” — there’s no rules to the game, so we’d just make them up. And he said, this is fucking hilarious, we should make a short film about this. So we got Hunter to direct SmashBoys — and it was funny.

Lyons: Two paddles and a ball that you hit back and forth on the beach. We turned it into a soap opera .

Stair : We started playing Kenny Loggins’ “Playing With the Boys” [from Top Gun ] on repeat as we drove a convertible around Playa del Rey. Just to get in the mood.

Ryznar : There were some Phil Collins music cues, I think. A lot of sports music from Eighties movies — “You’re the Best Around” and whatnot. We used a great Kenny Loggins song for the climax. It’s from Caddyshack II . . .

Stair : “Nobody’s Fool”! It ended up winning the Best Failed Pilot of that year; we lost by eight votes to the Lonely Island guys, who did “The ‘Bu.” They just stuck their middle fingers up at everybody and said, we didn’t make a show but we made a hilarious music video. That was the night I had the idea for Y acht Rock.

Christening the Ship Ryznar : Hunter and Dave Lyons came up with an idea for a show about a couple of jewel thieves who lived on a yacht and listened to that music.

Stair : That was actually called Steal Away.

Lyons: I believe Hunter and I were talking about a private eye detective team called Loggins & Loggins that lived on a houseboat and solved mysteries — like Simon & Simon.

Ryznar : I said: How about we play Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald as they co-write “What a Fool Believes” together? We had Stevie Nicks in there originally, for some reason. And then Drew Hancock and Wade Randolph said, we want to be Hall and Oates. I had gotten into the H&O song “Portable Radio” pretty hard. I needed to introduce it to the world. That was very important to me.

Stair : The seed of Koko the manager is . . . there’s a Doobie Brothers album that has a sweet looking manager dude on it. I remember sitting there with JD and being like, look how awesome this guy is.

Ryznar : Dave Lyons invented the Koko character while out drinking with Hunter one night. He just put on a bunch of garbage Seventies clothes he had around the house, and had a little stupid whistle around his neck. All these little touches — that’s what Dave is so great at.

Lyons: No, [Dan Harmon] wasn’t an immediate fan. That’s because he doesn’t get music. Just listen to the theme song for  Community — it’s terrible. Dan looks at things differently than most people, and I don’t think he loves music the way we do. But he came around. He came to really enjoy it. [Harmon would eventually play record producer Ted Templeman in two episodes.]

Ryznar : We thought maybe people would get it, maybe they won’t. But we submitted it. At the prime time panel, everybody but Dan Harmon like it. I think that because he’d never heard of the guys, he didn’t realize how much that music had meant to other people. People knew who everybody was. That’s why we put Hollywood Steve in there to say, hey, this is the deal. Hollywood Steve was a friend and an actual music critic. If you look up a lot of Nineties rap albums on All Music Guide, chances are Hollywood Steve wrote the review.

Huey: I was a published music writer, and that lent me a voice of authority that I might not have otherwise had amongst a hardcore group of music nerds. “Oh this guy’s viewpoint has to be legitimate! He’s published.”

Steve Agee (“Steve Porcaro”): Channel 101 at that point in time was really known for people making videos kind of purposely shitty. So we couldn’t tell if it was made to look bad on purpose.

Hancock: When Wade and I saw the first episode, we were like, eh, this isn’t very good. We didn’t like it. I didn’t understand it. So when it had this meteoric response, I was very surprised.

Ryznar : So Yacht Rock got screened, we were very nervous, and it went over like gangbusters. Just bona fide love from beginning to end from the audience. And we got voted number one on our first try, which hadn’t been done too often on Channel 101.

Stair : It got the biggest laugh of the night. As soon as it was over, we knew we were in. We weren’t totally sure it was going to be number one, but we knew we’d be up there.

Ryznar : A lot of people wanted parts. People had ideas. So we got to work with people we wanted to work with. Before we even knew we were picked up for a second episode, Hunter came up to me and said, “Uh, just talking to Doug Benson. I told him he could play Peter Cetera in the next episode.”

Lyons: The thing about the Channel 101 screenings, they’re always at a place that serves lots of alcohol. And after we saw how well it went over, we’re all drinking at the bar; Dan Harmon is doing a show with Sarah Silverman [ The Sarah Silverman Program ] at the time, and Doug was there with her. Yes, Hunter promised him the role of Peter Cetera. Which is great casting.

Episode Two: The Songwriting Contest In the second episode, Hall and Oates challenge Loggins and Messina to songwriting contest. It ends with the creation of some of the greatest smooth music ever.

Ryznar : I mean, imagine if you saw Hall and Oates where Oates, with all that hair and the mustache, was the top, and Hall was the bottom? They were sort of the opposite of the smooth California scene. So they sort of made the perfect antagonists.

Huey: The only reason they were picked as antagonists is because they’re from Philadelphia, which is a mean place.

Hancock: The wigs we got from our friend Willy, who just happened to have two of the most perfect wigs ever.

Wade Randolph (“Daryl Hall”): The Hall wig is named the De Carlo. I don’t know why.

Hancock: I remember for the mustache, I think I tried a regular handlebar mustache but it just wasn’t thick enough. So I just ended up taking a lock of the wig and fashioning a mustache out of that.

Stair : And Justin Roiland coming in, doing “Sailing.” The way the whole thing flowed, it’s so fast and perfect. I think that was Yacht Rock ‘s the finest hour.

Roiland: JD asked me, would you play Christopher Cross? I’d never heard “Sailing” before, believe it or not. I remember the first few listens going I don’t get the appeal of this fucking song. It’s an acquired taste.

Huey: We didn’t quite know what we had at that point, and so you kind of had to establish the value system. Smoothness is the main value in this world. The second episode, when that screened for the live audience, I’ve never seen a Channel 101 audience go that apeshit for anything. I remember walking out of the screening going, we’re rock stars! Granted, it’s only this one room, with like 300 people in it, but in that one room of 300 people, I think we might be rock stars.

Koko Makes His Final Voyage Lyons: As soon as we got in for the first one, JD called me and said here’s the idea for the second one: I’m gonna kill off Koko. Well, thanks a pantload, JD. He’s like, no it’ll be great. You’ll come back later as a ghost or something.

Stair : So JD wanted this guy Koko to have this totem at this fight; I suggested a trident, since it’s more nautical. But Anchorman had come out, and they had the fight scene with the trident. We still needed something, so we settled on a harpoon.

Lyons: In the second one, I’m supposed to get run through with my own harpoon. And Hunter showed up with a child’s little trident, taped to the handle of a barbecue fork. I was like Hunter, we can do better than this. So my roommates had a woodshop in the backyard; I went out there and drilled some holes, made some dowel rods, and wrapped the handle in rope. When I showed up with it, everyone said holy shit — you made a fucking harpoon, dude! It also split in the middle, so you could run it through someone. And that episode elevated Koko to this mythic level that nobody expected, least of all me.

Stair : You can’t kill Loggins. You can’t kill McDonald. These are real people. Koko had to die.

Lyons: My thought is that Koko fell on his own harpoon and martyred himself. I like to think that Koko was the Jesus Christ of Yacht Rock. [ Pause ] That’s going to sound arrogant. How about: Koko died to deliver smooth music to the rest of the musicians.

Huey: I don’t think it was ever decided who killed Koko until the very end. The important thing is, like Jesus, he died for a cause. Which, in this case, was smooth music. But you know what’s gonna happen if you’re in the middle of a melée with a bunch of guys from the mean streets of Philadelphia. You’re going to die of a harpoon injury. That’s why they call it the city of harpoon murders.

Randolph: I always assumed it was Oates.

Wyatt Cenac (“James Ingram”): Who killed Koko? You know, very good question. If I had to go with anybody… I’d say maybe Loggins and McDonald together. That’s the secret twist. I think they’d been slowly poisoning him for years, and the harpoon was just to throw people of their scent.

Ryznar : I don’t know. Is Tony Soprano dead? Hollywood Steve took the “Koko” answer to his grave.

Stair : I would never name names. Only Hollywood Steve knows for sure, and someone would have to give him big Hollywood dollars to spill.

Any Port in a Storm After 10 stellar installments, including a guest appearance by “Cleveland” Drew Carey ,  a case for Jethro Tull (the 18th century farmer, not the band) to be considered smooth and a primer on how Michael McDonald influenced Nineties G-Funk , Yacht Rock was canceled by Channel 101 after “FM” — about a gang war between the Eagles and Steely Dan. But help was on the horizon.

Ryznar : The record at the time was 12. We really wanted to beat it — but we didn’t. There might have been Yacht Rock fatigue in the audience.

Lyons: It’s not one of my favorites. I’m not a fan of the Eagles, and not a lot of people get Steely Dan.

Huey: Some people come back to Channel 101 month after month after month. But you always get some new people in there who don’t know what’s going on. You cross your fingers that general audience goodwill is enough to get you by this month. Unfortunately, in this case, it wasn’t.

Ryznar : It was heartbreaking, man. Because the great thing about Channel 101 is, you can feel when the audience isn’t into it. And the audience was not into this. I knew the 101 days were over as soon as the screening was done.

Stair : Nowadays, things have two- or three-year runs at Channel 101. Back then, 10 episodes was a lot.

Ryznar : Not even two weeks after we were canceled, I got an email from someone who booked a bar in Chicago — The Empty Bottle — and wanted to screen all the Yacht Rocks. I forget if they flew us out or if we just happened to be there, but we screened all the episodes back to back. There was a line down the block; the place was filled to capacity. People were quoting lines.

Huey: The show had started to go viral. Working lower level jobs in reality television, and then walking into a bar and being the most famous person in that room didn’t match up with my everyday experience at all.

Cast Off . . . Again After successfully touring the country, JD & co. starting making new episodes, beginning with Footloose. Featuring the likes of Jason Lee and Wyatt Cenac, it tells the story of how Loggins being kidnapped by Jimmy Buffett led to one of the Eighties’ most rockin’ soundtracks.

Huey: Yeah I was really excited to get back into it, because I didn’t really have too much else going on at that point. Let’s do that thing that made me semi-famous again!

Ryznar : We did the Footloose episode. And it turned out even better than I could have imagined. It was nice, since we weren’t limited to five minutes, even though we tried to keep it close: one of the keys to Yacht Rock is jamming everything into five minutes. I had done some work with Jason Lee, who would quote lines every time I saw him. So I asked if he’d play Kevin Bacon, and he was throwing chairs around.

Lyons: We kept talking about the stories that we never got to tell, one of them being Footloose. And I hate Jimmy Buffett ‘s music; I think it’s a soundtrack to date rape. I think it’s garbage music for people who have no interest in listening to anything good.

Ryznar : We portrayed parrotheads being brainwashed idiots. You kind of have to be if you’re into Jimmy Buffett. Or just want to be so tuned out of life, that like hey, whatever — kick back with flip flops, drink some margs, listen to some sweet Jimmy Buffett music and let him paint a rosy picture of a reality that does not exist.

Lyons: I always like that artists like Bertie Higgins, Rupert Holmes and Andy Kim have an authentic longing in their music. Buffett is a rich dude getting richer off of the lack of taste of the poor and stupid. He represents the lowest common denominator in music, even worse than country singers profiting off of 9/11. To summarize: I’m not really a fan.

Ryznar : You might be able to argue that Jimmy Buffett music is about escaping from a dark place, but there’s no soul in there. So we just wanted to make him an absolute idiot. Our good friend Vatche Panos, who is super funny, really hit a home run with that one.

Cenac: I remember when we were shooting that, I had no idea there was a song called “Cheeseburgers in Paradise.” Much less that people actually listened to it and liked it.

Ryznar : I hope he doesn’t mind me telling this story, but Wyatt Cenac had just auditioned for The Daily Show , and he was flat broke.

Cenac: Yeah, I was definitely very broke. That isn’t why I did it. I did enjoy it. But there was also a part of being broke where you’ll do anything.

Ryznar : And then a month later, he becomes Wyatt Cenac, the international sensation.

Cenac: Do I want to say that Yacht Rock was the thing that changed my life? Someone can say it. You can find someone to connect the dots and make that leap on the Internet.

Huey : We did one more, and I didn’t feel like the last episode came together as well as it could have for whatever reason. I think Footloose was a more cohesive episode. Also the original idea for the finale was Gene Balboa was going to kidnap all these people from the “We Are the World” session , take them to an island, and force them to write soundtrack hits for him. Anyone who tried to escape would get hunted down like in The Most Dangerous Game.

Ryznar : That was a hard one to write — the space battle, Hall and Oates shooting lasers, Loggins starting his soundtrack phase. I’m proud of killing off Hollywood Steve and making it a pain drug-induced hallucination. I think that let us go nuts with it. The “We Are the World” part was a fun shoot. You just look around and go, wow, I know so many talented people that are bringing so much to this thing.

Stair : The Hollywood Steve “character” was on morphine, not Huey. Well, he might have been on morphine, I don’t know. That’d be an awesome salacious story about Yacht Rock. Just write that, it’s even better.

Huey : When I was using, it did get increasingly harder to tell where the character stopped and I began. Once you’ve been on VH1’s “100 Greatest Songs of the Nineties,” the public expects you to maintain a certain image, and I guess I got caught up in a myth. [ Pause ] I’m kidding. But I did murder a homeless woman. Just to see what it felt like.

Farnham: One of my favorite moments of all of Yacht Rock is when Giorgio Moroder is whispering into Kenny Loggins’ ear about “the Danger Zone.” I love that. It’s such a good moment.

Ryznar : Loggins going soundtrack is kind of like the end of Yacht Rock. If “Sailing” is one of the greatest yacht-rock songs ever, and that’s in Episode Two, it’s all death from then on. “Danger Zone” — there’s just nothing smooth about that song at all. By 1985, Michael McDonald had released his last great album. The Doobie Brothers were done. Toto didn’t have any more good songs in them. Steely Dan was broken up. It was over.

How did the actual musical artists react to their portrayal in the show? John Oates (speaking to the Seattle Weekly in 2007): “I think Yacht Rock was the beginning of this whole Hall & Oates resurrection. They were the first ones to start to parody us and put us out there again, and a lot of things have happened because of Yacht Rock. “

Ryznar : People actually contacted me and wanted to see if I wanted tickets to [their] shows at the Hollywood Bowl. We went backstage and met Hall and Oates. There’s a picture out there somewhere of Drew Hancock and Wade Randolph with Hall and Oates — and it’s awesome.

Randolph: I don’t know who contacted who, but Oates had seen the show and was apparently a fan of it. Hall didn’t give a fuck about us at all. He was just like whatever.

Hancock: Oates actually understood what we were doing. First of all, he’s the shortest dude on the planet. I’m 5’8, and he looked at me and said, man you’re way too tall to play me. I think he’s 5’4 and had thick heels on too.

Cenac: Oates is the unsung hero in that group. The moment he decides to turn the jets on, watch out.

Lyons: The only negative thing I’ve ever heard from any of the actual people we’ve portrayed was that Kenny Loggins wasn’t a huge fan. My wife met him once, and said my husband played Koko in Yacht Rock. He just got all, huh. Not mean, not nasty. Just: Huh.

Stair : I’m not sure Loggins liked it, [but] I know his son did. A lot of the kids of the guys in the show like. You know, some serious artists. Michael McDonald, I’m pretty sure he liked it.

“I met Steve Porcaro at a book-release party, and he asked, ‘Do you guys hate us?’ We’re writing a love letter to this music and we meant no ill will toward anybody. Except for Jimmy Buffett.”

Michael McDonald (speaking to Time Out New York in 2008): “I thought Yacht Rock was hilarious. And uncannily, you know, those things always have a little bit of truth to them. It’s kind of like when you get a letter from a stalker who’s never met you. They somehow hit on something, and you have to admit they’re pretty intuitive.”

Lyons: Did JD tell you the story of when we went to see Steely Dan? We got contacted by somebody in their camp, I don’t remember who, but they gave us four or five tickets to see them in Irvine. We were in the third or fourth row, and Michael McDonald was the opening act. Those guys got recognized at the concert. Later, when Michael McDonald came out to perform with Steely Dan, they were all wearing captain’s hats. They were singing the song “Showbiz Kids”: “Showbiz kids, showbiz kids making movies themselves/Showbiz kids, don’t give a fuck about anybody else.” And during that line they threw their hats on the ground and stomped on them. We just looked at each other and went, oh my god, they know who we are.

Agee: About a year ago, I was at Largo, and one of the guys that works there is married to Steve Porcaro’s daughter. He was like, yeah, Steve is actually here tonight; he loves Yacht Rock, and said he wanted to meet me. I cut out early because I was honestly too nervous.

Stair : I met Steve Porcaro at a book-release party, and he kind of pulled me aside and asked, “Do you guys hate us?” And I was like, oh no, I hope that’s not the impression we gave anybody. We’re writing a love letter to this music and we meant no ill will toward anybody. Except for Jimmy Buffett.

Farnham: I actually worked with an editor who was good friends with the Toto folks, and they said it’s uncanny how close some of these stories are. Apparently there’s a lot more truth than we know.

Agee: So I can see how bands would be like, oh, they’re making fun of us. But I’ve known JD for awhile now, and I know for a fact that he loves that music. I don’t think someone who hated what’s now called yacht rock . . they wouldn’t spend so much time making videos about it.

Stair : The way I always looked at Yacht Rock was that we kind of did what the Blues Brothers did. We took the music that we really loved that we weren’t really part of, and reintroduced it to our own generation a little bit. The one thing that I hope we got across is that the music is really good, and that we were huge fans of it. The whole reason we did the show is because we loved it.

Lyons: I felt we always treated the music lovingly. It was always treated with respect; what we were trying to make fun of was all these guys hanging out and the ridiculous things they were into. I heard a story that Kenny Loggins got married in the nude. I don’t know if it’s true or not. But that’s the kind of late Seventies/early Eighties Southern California horse shit that is so delightful about Yacht Rock. Like wanting to find out what your root chakra is. That’s what’s funny about it. [ Pause ] I mean of course Kenny Loggins and Steve Perry are going to be into karate!

Best of Rolling Stone

The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs

All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked

The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

Recommended Stories

Quiz: sean ‘diddy’ combs arrested, ‘the golden bachelorette’ shines, ‘agatha all along’ brings marvel back to tv.

Test your knowledge about this week's entertainment headlines.

Engadget Podcast: Reviewing the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10

In this episode, we chat about our final thoughts on the iPhone 16/Pro and Apple Watch Series 10.

Early voting begins ahead of 2024 election, Shohei Ohtani 1st in MLB history to reach 50/50 and Netflix drops new ‘Squid Game’ teaser

Get caught up on this morning’s news: Early voting begins, Shohei Ohtani launches 50/50 club and more in today’s edition of The Yodel newsletter

NFL Week 3: How to watch the Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings game on Sunday

The Houston Texans play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, here's how to watch.

Health insurance startup Alan reaches $4.5B valuation with new $193M funding round

Alan, the French insurance unicorn, just signed a multi-faceted deal with Belfius, one the largest banks in Belgium, that includes a distribution partnership along with a significant financial investment in the startup. Belfius is leading Alan’s Series F funding round of €173 million (around $193 million at current exchange rates). If you aren’t familiar with Alan, the company originally started with a health insurance product that complements the national healthcare system in France.

Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma abandons human musicians for AI-generated music

Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is ditching human musicians for artificial intelligence, saying he'll use only AI-generated tunes in future projects, a move that underscores AI's growing reach in creative industries. The filmmaker and screenwriter, known for popular Bollywood movies including Company, Rangeela, Sarkar, and Satya has launched a venture, called RGV Den Music, that will only feature music generated from AI apps including Suno and Udio, he told TechCrunch. In an interview, Varma urged artists to embrace AI rather than resist it.

India's Physics Wallah raises $210M at $2.8B valuation even as edtech funding remains scarce

Physics Wallah, an Indian edtech startup, has secured $210 million in fresh financing amid a tough funding environment for edtech companies in the country following the collapse of Byju's, once the biggest company in the space. Physics Wallah said on Friday the Series B round was led by the hedge fund Hornbill Capital, a venture between China's Orchid Asia and India's Hornbill, with Lightspeed Ventures Partners "significantly" participating, alongside existing backers WestBridge and GSV. The round values Physics Wallah at $2.8 billion, a substantial increase from the previous $1.1 billion valuation it scored in June 2022.

Champions League is back, MLS midweek reactions & more “rápido reactions”

Christian and Alexis react to the first Champions League matchday. Then Christian and Alexis chat MLS midweek action. Later, Christian and Alexis talk soccer news in another edition of “rápido reactions”.

Caitlin Clark finishes rookie season with most-attended game in WNBA history

In their regular season finale, the Indiana Fever rallied in the fourth quarter but fell short in a 92-91 loss to the Washington Mystics.

Here is what's illegal under California's 8 (and counting) new AI laws

California Governor Gavin Newsom is currently considering 38 AI-related bills, including the highly contentious SB 1047, which the state's legislature sent to his desk for final approval. "Home to the majority of the world's leading AI companies, California is working to harness these transformative technologies to help address pressing challenges while studying the risks they present," said Governor Newsom's office in a press release. SB 981, which also became law on Thursday, requires social media platforms to establish channels for users to report deepfake nudes that resemble them.

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.