Yachts in Thailand

A market being reshaped by the 2025 charter reform

Thailand's charter rules changed more in 2025 than in the previous decade. Standard registration through the Marine Department still falls under a Sports and Recreation category, restricted to private, non-commercial use within roughly 15 nautical miles of shore, and a foreign-flagged yacht could not legally charter for hire without re-flagging Thai.

A new Superyacht Charter License, under a 2025 Royal Decree, B.E. 2568, changes that. It is now open to foreign-flagged yachts of 24m and above, lowered from an earlier 30m threshold, carrying up to 12 passengers, valid one year, with no re-flagging required. The declared aim of the 2025-2026 reforms is to grow the domestic charter fleet.

Phuket's marinas, plus Pattaya's

Phuket alone has four marinas, more concentrated yacht infrastructure than anywhere else in this guide. Ocean Marina Pattaya, on the Gulf side, adds a fifth option for owners based around Bangkok.

Where the bigger refit jobs go

Phuket Boat Lagoon is the historic refit center, home to Precision Shipwright Services since 1997, now joined by the purpose-built Phuket Superyacht Shipyard, handling vessels up to 65m LOA and 6m draft. Ocean Marina Pattaya and Ao Po Grand cover haul-out for their own fleets, but the largest projects go to Boat Lagoon or the Superyacht Shipyard.

Registration and what you actually pay

There is no nationality-prefix system in Thailand: a foreign national can register a yacht 100% in their own name with a Thai address, though a foreign company cannot register one directly. The Marine Department handles standard registration; the new charter license sits under the same ministry's 2025 framework.

Customs duty on imported pleasure yachts ran as high as 35% historically but is now widely reported exempt, verify the exact current HS-code treatment with a Thai customs broker. Standard VAT is 7% on the declared value for an ordinary import. Under the Charter License, a foreign-flagged superyacht can secure commercial status without paying that 7% on the full value, instead paying 7% VAT plus 5% corporate income tax only on charter revenue earned in Thailand. Excise tax can reach 50% generally, but pleasure yachts are reported exempt too, confirm the final figures with a Thai lawyer.

• Authority: Marine Department, Ministry of Transport, plus the 2025 Charter License framework
• Flag reality: a yacht of 24m or above can take the Charter License instead of re-flagging Thai
• Import duty: historically up to 35%, now widely reported exempt, verify the current HS-code treatment with a broker
• VAT: 7% standard on full value, or 7% plus 5% corporate tax on charter revenue only, under the Charter License

Which boats suit Thailand's cruising grounds

A charter catamaran remains the practical default for the Similan Islands and the karsts of Phang Nga Bay. The Lagoon 42 is the boat most Phuket and Langkawi operators already run, and used examples are liquid, if higher-hour, since many started life in a Moorings or Sunsail fleet.

Monohull buyers on a bareboat or flotilla basis lean toward the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1, one of the highest-volume brands on YachtWorld's Thailand listings. Owners wanting a private motor yacht instead often choose the Azimut 55, common in Phuket and Singapore brokerage, while the Axopar 37 covers short hops between Phi Phi and the mainland fast enough for a day trip instead of an overnight.