Buy a Phinisi with a Team on Your Side of the Table

You start with a call to define intended use and guest capacity. Suitable new-build or used options follow with indicative budgets and timelines; once a vessel is selected you sign an MoU, then a build or sale contract with staged payments tied to milestones.

Indicative budgets usually start around USD 1.5–2 million for smaller boutique designs and can exceed USD 4–6 million for larger, fully equipped luxury liveaboard vessels, depending on size, interior spec, machinery and licensing.

The MOQ is normally one vessel, but shipyards often only accept custom projects above roughly 28–30 metres LOA or above a certain fit-out budget. Semi-finished hulls are the lighter-entry alternative.

Under USD 2 million you are usually looking at older vessels, smaller boutique ships or boats needing partial refit — so survey, refit planning and contingency budgets matter most at this price point.

Yes — some used phinisi liveaboards are sold with an existing license and documented charter revenue. They command a premium, and license transfer plus future earnings remain subject to regulatory approval and market demand.

You can request that a new-build or refit phinisi yacht follows recognized international standards, such as SOLAS-inspired safety arrangements or class society guidelines. That usually means additional cost for fire protection, lifesaving appliances, navigation equipment, and documentation.

Some Indonesian shipyards offer semi-finished phinisi hulls and basic structure packages. Buyers then appoint their own design team and interior contractor. This hull-plus-fitout model can lower initial cost and give more design control, but requires stronger project management.

Authentic wooden phinisi yachts are traditionally built in South Sulawesi by experienced local shipwrights. Site visits to the shipyard, hull inspections, and independent surveys are strongly recommended before signing.