Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

The new future for boat sales by a Dutchman - Through internet brokers

by Robert Wielaard on 28 Apr 2013
Jort van Sisseren SW
'They battened down the hatches, but the hatches wouldn’t hold. They drowned upon the staircase of brass and polished gold,'

Bob Dylan


The first time Jort van Sisseren began saying 'the internet is automating everything,' the Netherlands’ sizable yachting lobby HISWA (4,500 companies, 30,000 workers, €3 billion annual turnover) battened down its hatches. That kept Van Sisseren outside HISWA's ranks, but failed to quell his revolution. 'We are at tipping point to a totally new economy,' the 32-year-old Dutchman says today.

In April 2011, Van Sisseren and Volvo Ocean Race giant Bouwe Bekking launched a do-it-yourself, online yacht brokerage promising to be 'the world’s biggest boat site in five years with the largest online offering of yachts.' The aim: to cut out brokerage fees that can be 8% of a sale price. HISWA yacht brokers call online trading dicey. They say flesh-and-blood brokers are experts at pricing vessels and crucial in sorting out pesky legal, financial, ownership and other details.

HISWA insists Van Sisseren is not a broker, but simply a man offering an online service to buyers and sellers of yachts. 'Anyone can do that,' says HISWA spokesman Paul Huisman. Van Sisseren. 'Let me be clear: I’m not out to get HISWA, or traditional yacht brokers. I’m empowering individuals. I believe yacht brokering can be done better, more cheaply, more smartly.'

Van Sisseren’s and Bekking's venture offers buyers and sellers a step-by-step online trading process. Sellers establish an account that lets them list their boats for free. They can upload photos and video. The listing is shared with other used-boat websites, including Boats.com, at Van Sisseren’s charge. Buyers can contact sellers directly. Depending on a boat’s location, they can use the DIY site to find a nearby surveyor and book a survey. An online sales module guides the parties through all aspects of a sale. 'Template contracts are based on professional yacht brokerage agreements,' says Van Sisseren. He says if a survey points to repairs exceeding 10% of the sale price, a buyer can call the whole thing off.

He calls HISWA and traditional yacht brokers hidebound. 'They do not innovate enough, do not see _ let alone seize _ the opportunity the Internet offers. Most yachting-related companies blame the economic slump, but are blind to today’s fantastic opportunities. Look at your own company critically! Where can you save money? What’s your added value? How can you build on it? We are not in a crisis. We are at a tipping moment to a completely new economy.'

Van Sisseren says his DIY site was a moderate investment, mostly for software development and online marketing. For now, the focus is on building traffic. The site is available today in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Britain, the US.

Van Sisseren: 'We now have 689 yachts online. Growth is kicking in. Reactions from brokers can be fierce, especially in the US. But private boat owners think it’s a great idea. And that’s the point. He cites research showing more than 80% of private boat owners feel brokers overcharge and 90% feel they don’t need a broker, especially in hard times. But 41% are scared off by red tape and prefer step-by-step help.
X-Yachts X4.0Zhik 2024 DecemberSelden 2020 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third.
Posted on 17 Jun
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community.
Posted on 17 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom.
Posted on 17 Jun
New Caledonia Groupama Race update
Rushour crew safely back in Noumea after capsize The boat was located and it was identified as capsized. All crew members were accounted for. Crew were transferred in the larger aircraft at Koumac and arrived back at Noumea at about 4pm local time.
Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality.
Posted on 17 Jun
ASBA launches Touring Trophy Series
The new leadership team brings experience, enthusiasm, and strong focus on inclusivity and planning The Australian Sports Boat Association (ASBA) has announced a dynamic new initiative to enhance participation and connectivity within the sports boat community - the ASBA Touring Trophy series.
Posted on 16 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 1
Eight races over two course areas in four groups with four different winners Racing at the 2025 Finn World Masters began in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Monday with eight races over two course areas in four groups.
Posted on 16 Jun
The Ocean Race will return to Itajaí, Brazil
During the 2027 and 2031 around the world races The Ocean Race confirms Itajaí, in Santa Catarina state, in Brazil will once again host the world's most iconic around-the-world yacht race in April, 2027 and again in 2031, in a two-edition hosting partnership.
Posted on 16 Jun
IRC UK National Championships overall
Adam Gosling's JPK 1080 Yes! crowned overall champion The final day of the 2025 IRC National Championships, part of the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta, began on schedule, with a steady south-westerly breeze bringing yet another twist to the range of conditions experienced.
Posted on 16 Jun
Royal Thames YC 250th Anniversary Regatta overall
Perfect Solent conditions and desperately tight racing for the conclusion Picture-perfect conditions of a building 8-18 knots from the south-west, bright sunshine and flat Solent conditions on the flood tide made for a glamorous conclusion to the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta on Sunday.
Posted on 16 Jun