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In the 50m to 90m used market, Feadship and Lürssen are the two reference builders. A 60m Feadship built in 2014 to 2016, well maintained, sold for between 62 and 68 percent of original delivery price in 2025. A 60m Lürssen of the same vintage sold for between 50 and 56 percent. That is a 12 to 18 percentage point gap, or roughly $8M to $14M of retained value on the example. The refit math runs the other way. A 10-year Lürssen refit at a top-tier yard runs $4M to $7M for a comparable scope where a Feadship runs $6M to $10M. The two effects do not fully cancel. Feadship still wins on net retained value at year 10. Lürssen wins on something else, which we will get to.
This page compares the two builders on three dimensions that matter to a used buyer: resale value retention, typical refit scope and cost, and the operating profile differences that survive both numbers. If you are buying new, the comparison runs differently and our Feadship builder review and Lürssen builder review cover that case.
What we are comparing
We are comparing yachts in the 50m to 90m range, built between 2008 and 2018, sold or surveyed for sale in the 24 months between January 2024 and April 2026. Sample size is 41 transactions (24 Feadship, 17 Lürssen) where we have verified the asking, the closing, and the survey scope. Asking prices and closing prices for several recent deals are confidential. We have used a band where the exact number is not for publication.
We are not comparing yachts above 90m. The Lürssen sample is heavily weighted to 90m+ at the top end, where Feadship has fewer hulls. The Lürssen 80m to 110m+ market is its own segment and we treat it separately on the Lürssen builder review page.
We are not comparing sailing yachts. Both builders have produced sail-rigged hulls but the sample is too thin.
Resale value retention by year
The retention curve for both builders is roughly linear in the first 12 years and steepens in years 13 to 20. The Feadship curve sits 6 to 18 percentage points above the Lürssen curve at every comparable point in the first 15 years. After year 15, the curves converge somewhat as condition becomes a larger factor than brand.
| Year from delivery | Feadship retention | Lürssen retention | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 75 to 85% | 65 to 75% | 10pp |
| 7 | 68 to 78% | 58 to 68% | 10pp |
| 10 | 62 to 72% | 50 to 60% | 12pp |
| 12 | 55 to 65% | 42 to 52% | 13pp |
| 15 | 42 to 52% | 32 to 42% | 10pp |
| 20 | 28 to 38% | 22 to 32% | 6pp |
The numbers are normalized for size band (60m+ retain better than 50m), refit history (a 2022 refit lifts a 2012 hull by 5 to 8 points), and original specification (a custom interior holds value better than a near-stock layout).
The drivers of the Feadship premium are well known in the industry. Build quality at the top of the range. Conservative engineering choices that age well. A waiting list at the new-build yard that keeps used demand high. Low hull count per year (8 to 12 deliveries), which keeps the market thin and supportive.
The drivers of the Lürssen position are also well known. Hull count is similar but the average size is larger, so the second-hand market for the 50m to 70m Lürssens is thinner than for comparable Feadships. The build quality is at the same tier but the brand recognition in some markets, particularly Asia and the Middle East, varies. Lürssen also has a stronger commercial yacht presence (icebreakers, navy vessels) which dilutes the superyacht brand for some used buyers in a way that does not affect Feadship.
Refit cost at year 10
A 10-year refit on a 60m yacht runs in the same overall band for both builders, but the scope and cost shake out differently. The composite below is from 14 refit projects (8 Feadship, 6 Lürssen) at top-tier European yards (Lürssen Bremen, Refit Lürssen Lemwerder, Royal van Lent Aalsmeer, Feadship Makkum Refit,).
| Refit element | Feadship typical 10-yr | Lürssen typical 10-yr | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull paint and topsides | $1.2M to $1.8M | $1.0M to $1.5M | Lürssen paint systems are more forgiving |
| Mechanical (engines, gens, systems) | $1.5M to $2.5M | $1.2M to $2.0M | Lürssen's bay layout is more refit-friendly |
| Interior refresh | $2.0M to $3.5M | $1.0M to $2.0M | Feadship interiors are more custom, more expensive to redo |
| Soft goods and finishes | $0.5M to $0.9M | $0.4M to $0.7M | Comparable |
| Tender garage and water sports | $0.3M to $0.6M | $0.3M to $0.5M | Comparable |
| Stabilizer and AC system update | $0.4M to $0.8M | $0.3M to $0.7M | Comparable |
| Total typical 10-yr refit | $6.0M to $10.0M | $4.0M to $7.4M | Feadship runs 30 to 40% higher |
The Feadship interior premium is the largest single line. Feadship interiors are typically custom design and custom build, often involving the same studios that did the original (Sinot, RWD, Bannenberg & Rowell,). Redoing them at the original quality level costs more than redoing a comparable Lürssen interior. The Lürssen interior approach is closer to a higher production standard and is correspondingly easier to refresh.
The Lürssen mechanical advantage is a layout point. Lürssen engineering bays are larger and more refit-friendly. A diesel engine major rebuild on a 60m Lürssen is typically a 6 to 10 percent cost saving over the same job on a comparable Feadship, where access is tighter.
The net value calculation
For a 60m used purchase at year 10, with a 5-year hold and a planned major refit in year 12, the math on a $35M purchase price looks like this:
Feadship case: Purchase 2026: $35M Year-12 refit: $8M Net basis: $43M Year-15 expected resale (47% of original $50M delivery): $23.5M Effective 5-year carry cost: $19.5M, before operating cost.
Lürssen case: Purchase 2026: $30M (lower because of lower retention) Year-12 refit: $5.5M Net basis: $35.5M Year-15 expected resale (37% of original $50M delivery): $18.5M Effective 5-year carry cost: $17M, before operating cost.
The Lürssen carry cost is $2.5M lower on the example. The headline retention advantage of Feadship is real but the entry price is also higher. The buyer who optimizes for net cost of ownership over a 5-year hold will tend to favor Lürssen at this profile. The buyer who optimizes for absolute brand and lowest operating regret will tend to favor Feadship. Neither is wrong.
The math flips on a 10-year hold. Over a longer ownership cycle, the second refit (year 20) is larger on a Lürssen than on a Feadship because the resale floor on the Lürssen is closer to the refit cost. Buyers who plan to hold past year 15 should generally pay the Feadship premium up front.
What the two builders are not the same on
Three things survive both columns of math.
Quietness underway and at anchor. Feadship is, in our experience and in the captain-side reports we have, quieter at every operating condition. The build standard for vibration isolation, sound deadening, and isolation mounting is at the top of the industry. Lürssen is excellent. Feadship is fractionally better. On a 60m yacht with the owner sleeping on a 22-knot transit, the difference is real.
Refit yard flexibility. A Lürssen can be refit at a Lürssen yard (Bremen, Lemwerder) or a non-Lürssen yard (Pendennis, Damen,) without significant quality penalty. A Feadship is most cleanly refit at a Feadship yard (Aalsmeer, Makkum). Off-yard Feadship refits exist and can be excellent, but the resale market discounts them. Feadship buyers should plan for the yard slot and the cost that comes with it.
Resale market liquidity. A 60m Feadship at a fair price sells in 6 to 12 months. A 60m Lürssen at the same fairness sells in 10 to 18 months. The Feadship buyer pool is broader, particularly among repeat owners moving up the LOA ladder. The Lürssen pool is more concentrated in 70m+ buyers. If you anticipate needing to sell on short notice, Feadship sells faster.
The decision matrix
| Buyer profile | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 5-year hold, optimizing for net cost | Lürssen | $2 to $3M lower carry on the 60m example |
| 10+ year hold, optimizing for net cost | Feadship | Lower year-20 refit, deeper resale floor |
| First superyacht, repeat owner conversion likely | Feadship | Easier to sell when the family moves up |
| Family office optimizing for asset value | Feadship | More stable mark-to-market |
| Operator-style owner with refit appetite | Lürssen | Engineering bays make refits faster |
| Charter-program-funded ownership | Lürssen | Lower entry price improves the program math |
| Owner who values absolute quietness | Feadship | Margin on top of an already-quiet builder |
| Buyer who needs flexible refit yard access | Lürssen | Off-yard refits do not penalize the resale |
What the numbers do not show
The two builders deliver different ownership experiences in ways the resale and refit math does not capture. Feadship owners tend to be repeat Feadship buyers. Lürssen owners tend to step into Lürssen at 70m+ from another build. The owner communities are real and matter for some buyers. If your captain has run both, ask which they would build for their own use. The answer is rarely uniform.
The cycle from yard to delivery is also different. Feadship new build typically runs 36 to 48 months from contract signature. Lürssen runs 30 to 42 months on a custom build of similar size, with a marginal speed advantage on the German engineering side. For a used buyer this is incidental but is part of the brand difference.
Where to spend the money
If you are buying used in 2026 and the choice is open:
For a 50m to 60m used Feadship with a verified 2022 to 2024 refit, expect to pay $28M to $42M asking, with closing 4 to 8 percent below ask. The current inventory is on our Yachts for sale Feadship page.
For a 50m to 70m used Lürssen with a verified recent refit, expect to pay $22M to $48M asking, with closing 5 to 10 percent below ask. The current inventory is on our Yachts for sale Lürssen page.
For both, engage a buyer's broker. The seller's commission covers the buyer's side. The negotiation on a $35M closing typically recovers 3 to 7 percent of contract value, which is materially more than the buyer's broker's share of the commission. See buyer's broker vs central agent.
What we would do
For a 5-year first-time superyacht owner moving up from a 30m to a 60m, we would take the Lürssen and bank the carry-cost difference. The build quality is at the top tier, the refit cost runs lower, and the slight resale penalty is offset by the lower entry price.
For a 10-year repeat owner, we would take the Feadship and pay the premium. The asset behaves more like an asset and the year-15 to year-20 numbers reward the patience.
For a buyer who is genuinely undecided after this page, charter both for one week each. See charter before buying. The feel of the two builders is real and is not fully captured in numbers.
Sources and methodology
The transaction sample is drawn from verified brokerage records, central-agent confirmations on background, and survey reports shared by buyers post-closing. Refit cost data is from project budgets shared by owners and captains, normalized to a 60m yacht equivalent. The retention curve is editorial composite, not a third-party index. We do not use Boat International's annual asset-value tables, because we cannot verify their underlying transaction set.
Full methodology and refresh schedule on our methodology page. Corrections to [email protected].