2 live listings
International Brokers
At the time of research YachtWorld carried two phinisi: a 2016 dive boat at USD 49,995 and a 2017 Kartini at USD 950,000, already price-dropped.
Phinisi for Sale:
The Market Map
Where used phinisi really change hands in Indonesia, what they ask across size tiers, and what the listings leave out — every bracket flagged as an estimate.
A Market With Almost
No Price Transparency
Most phinisi change hands through an Indonesian broker, a yard contact or — far more often — a WhatsApp group where the price is whatever the seller quotes that morning. Few formal listings, almost no disclosure, and asking for a spec sheet can read as a sign you cannot afford the boat.
Where the Market Actually Lives
International brokers are not where most phinisi deals happen. The real deal flow is in Indonesia — and most of it never reaches a listing.
Specs behind an NDA
Indonesian Brokers
Bali brokers list phinisi occasionally. Expect photos and a price; engine hours, surveys and certificates sit behind an NDA or proof of funds.
Where most deals start
Facebook & WhatsApp
The same boat can circulate at different prices through different contacts. No listing service, no standard disclosure, no sale history.
By introduction only
Yard-Side Sales
Unfinished or unfunded hulls change hands on the beach at Tana Beru or Ara through personal introductions. Good hulls rarely reach the open market.
Asking-Price Brackets
Observed ranges triangulated from listings, broker conversations and industry figures — not valuations. No audited sale prices exist on public record, and a survey can move any boat outside its bracket.
USD 950k → cut
2017 Kartini on YachtWorld
IDR 10B → 9.2B
38 m Labuan Bajo build, 2024
Reductions are common: the pool of qualified buyers is small and due diligence is long. Boats sit.
Good Boats Do Not List
Well-maintained vessels usually sell through networks before they are ever listed. Assume a public listing is the boat the first serious buyers passed on — and raise your due-diligence bar.
Kapal phinisi dijual Labuan Bajo
Buying a Going Concern
Labuan Bajo sells boats as charter businesses: the hull, a booking pipeline, sometimes a Starlink setup and a management handover. Attractive — but the parts rarely transfer as cleanly as the pitch.
- Park operating permits attach to the company, not the hull.
- A booking pipeline is only as strong as its OTA relationships — ask for records.
- An estimated 200–300+ licensed tourist boats compete on price.
Building vs Buying
Many who search for a used phinisi end up commissioning one. The logic is seductive — and incomplete.
01
Buy Used
- You can see what you buy — or approximate it through a survey.
- The survey is cheap next to the deal; its findings are decisive.
- 20–40% off asking after survey findings is common (estimate).
02
Build New
- Exact layout and spec — with the full overrun risk.
- Dunia Baru: a USD 1M estimate became ~6× over eight years (verified).
- Builder quotes of USD 100–250k for 20–25 m mark the low end, not a ceiling.
Questions Buyers Ask
Short answers. Every figure is an estimate unless marked; none of this is legal or financial advice.
How much does a used phinisi cost to buy in Indonesia?
Observed asking prices run from about USD 50–150k for project hulls to USD 5M+ for 50 m-plus flagships. A maintained 25–30 m open-trip boat asks USD 150–400k; a charter-ready 35–40 m with papers, USD 700k–1.5M. All estimates — surveys often cut 20–40%.
Where do I find phinisi for sale listings?
Rarely on international brokers. Look at Bali brokers, Indonesian Facebook groups and WhatsApp networks in Labuan Bajo and Bali — and expect the best boats to sell by introduction first.
What documents should I check before buying?
The grosse akta (verified by a Ditjen Hubla registry search), surat ukur, passenger safety certificate and any BKI records — plus real engine service records and an independent wooden-hull survey.
Can a foreigner buy a phinisi in Indonesia?
Not in their own name as an Indonesian-flagged vessel, and commercial charter under a foreign flag breaks cabotage law (Law 17/2008, amended by Law 66/2024). Structures use an Indonesian-majority PT or a local PT holding the hull; nominee deals are illegal.
Is a price reduction a red flag?
Not by itself. Buyers are few and due diligence is long, so boats sit and sellers adjust. A cut shows motivation; only a survey shows condition.
Continue the Buy Path
Buying a Used Phinisi: The Due-Diligence Playbook
Documents, debt, engines and hull — the order to check them in.
Phinisi Marine Survey: The Wooden-Hull Checklist
The red flags nobody publishes, from teredo worm to nail sickness.
How Much Does a Phinisi Cost to Buy?
Used-market brackets, flagged honestly.
What to Check Before Buying a Used Liveaboard
A 30-point owner's checklist: hull, machinery, paperwork and business claims.
Grosse Akta Kapal: Membaca Bukti Kepemilikan
Cara mengecek beban hutang sebelum membeli kapal.
Phinisi Refit Costs Before You Buy
Light, medium and heavy refit brackets to price into your offer.
Have a Vessel in Front of You?
Send the listing. We reply on WhatsApp with the questions we would ask first and, where useful, a vetted surveyor or maritime lawyer. A conversation before you commit costs nothing.