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6 minutes read
06 Nov, 2026
Boat Financing
By Freddie What on-the-water pricing actually includes when you buy a new Jeanneau
An on-the-water price is the figure for a new boat that's been delivered, commissioned and handed over ready to use, rather than the bare price of the boat leaving the factory. For a new Jeanneau in the UK, it normally includes the boat, the engine, delivery to the dealer, commissioning, 20% VAT and whatever trim and equipment packs are listed. What it doesn't automatically include is anything you haven't seen written down, so the specification sheet behind the price matters more than the headline number. That's the honest summary. The rest of this article explains what each part of an on-the-water price covers, where the gaps tend to be and how to compare 2 quotes that look similar but aren't.What does on the water price mean for a boat?
On the water means the boat is ready to go afloat and be used, not just built. The price should cover the boat and engine to the agreed specification, transport from the factory, dealer commissioning and handover, and VAT for a UK buyer keeping it in the UK. Think of it as the boating equivalent of an on-the-road car price. The reason the term exists is that a new boat doesn't arrive from the yard in a usable state. A Merry Fisher leaves Jeanneau's factory as a hull with its fitted equipment. The boat is pre-rigged for its outboard, but the engine itself is often supplied and fitted through the dealer, and electronics, antifouling and final checks are often done in the UK. Each of those steps costs money, and an on-the-water price is meant to bundle them so you can see one realistic figure. Compare that with a base price, sometimes called an ex-works or list price. That's typically the boat alone, before engines, options, delivery and commissioning. It can look a lot more appealing in a brochure, but you can't actually take it boating. You'll also see "price on application" on some model pages, including ours. That's usually because the final figure depends heavily on the engine and packs you choose, and a single starting number would be misleading.What is usually included, and what usually isn't
There's no industry-wide definition of on the water, so 2 dealers can use the same phrase and mean slightly different things. This is the pattern you'll typically see on a new Jeanneau motorboat in the UK.| Item | Usually in an on-the-water price? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Boat and chosen trim level | Yes | Which trim, such as Premiere, and the exact model year |
| Engine and rigging | Yes | Make, horsepower and colour, plus controls and display |
| Listed option packs | Yes, if written down | That every pack on the quote appears on the order |
| Delivery from the factory | Usually | Where it's delivered to, and whether launch is included |
| Commissioning and handover | Usually | What the commissioning list covers and who does it |
| Antifouling | Varies | Whether it's included, and the type and colour |
| VAT at 20% | Yes, for UK buyers keeping it here | That the price says inc VAT |
| Safety kit, lifejackets, fenders and lines | Often extra | A written list of what comes aboard |
| Mooring, insurance and licence | No | These are running costs, not part of the purchase |
| Trailer | No, unless stated | Relevant for trailerable models like the 605 or 695 |
The parts of the price people rarely see itemised
Commissioning
Commissioning is the work that turns a delivered boat into a working one. It usually means fitting and testing the engine, setting up the electronics on the water, checking every system aboard, a sea trial and a handover where someone walks you through the boat. It's where a good dealer earns their margin, and where a rushed job shows up in your first season. When we quote commissioning on a new Jeanneau, our stock listings spell it out. A recent Merry Fisher 795 Series 2 listing, for example, stated commissioning and delivery to Burton Waters in Lincoln or Ipswich, with black antifouling and a gas bottle included. That level of detail is what you want to see on any quote, from anyone.Antifouling
Antifouling is the paint that stops weed and barnacles growing on the hull below the waterline. Whether it's included varies more than almost anything else, partly because the right choice depends on where you'll keep the boat. A boat living on a freshwater berth at Burton Waters Marina has different needs from one on a tidal mooring in Suffolk. One small detail worth knowing: Jeanneau's published speed figures are measured on a clean hull without antifouling. Once your boat is painted and loaded with fuel, crew and kit, expect real-world numbers to sit a little below the brochure.Delivery and launch
Delivery normally means transport from the factory to the dealer's base. It doesn't always include lifting the boat in, or moving it on to your own mooring if that's somewhere else. If your berth is a long way from the dealer, ask for that leg to be priced separately so there are no surprises.Handover and aftercare
The handover is where you learn the boat. Ask how long it lasts, whether it's on the water and who to call after it. Having a dealer with its own boat servicing and repairs team close by matters far more in month 3 than it does on delivery day, especially for warranty work. Jeanneau's warranty covers 3 years for general components and 10 years for the hull and deck structure, subject to proper maintenance.Why 2 prices for the same model can be miles apart
The specification is what moves the number. The same hull can be ordered with different engines, trim levels and option packs, and on a family cruiser those choices add up quickly. The on-the-water price is only meaningful once you know exactly which boat it describes. Here's a real illustration. A new Merry Fisher 795 Series 2 we listed was priced at £126,950 tax paid. It came with a 250hp Yamaha with joystick control, an integrated bow thruster, an upgraded Garmin chartplotter, auto trim tabs, diesel heating, a holding tank and more than £50,000 of upgraded options in total. On Jeanneau's own specification sheet, several of those items, including the bow thruster, heating, trim tabs and holding tank, are listed as options rather than standard. A lower headline figure for a 795 elsewhere may simply be a much plainer boat. So when you compare quotes, line them up item by item. Engine size alone can shift a price by thousands, and a smaller outboard can also change how the boat performs with a full load aboard.VAT
If you buy a new boat in the UK and intend to keep it here, HMRC is clear that you'll pay VAT on the purchase price. That's 20%, and a UK on-the-water price will normally include it. If a quote is shown ex VAT, add 20% before you compare. Keep the VAT invoice safely, because it's the document that proves the boat's VAT status when you come to sell.Order boats and stock boats
A factory order lets you choose everything, but you wait for a build slot and the price is set by what you specify. New boats in stock are already built and often already commissioned, with the specification fixed. That can mean a quicker handover and, sometimes, a better price on a boat the dealer has already paid for. You can browse both on our new boats for sale pages.Paying for it
If you're spreading the cost with boat finance, make sure the amount you borrow is based on the full on-the-water figure, not the base price. If you already own a boat, it can go towards the new one. Some owners sell through our boat brokerage service to get the best market price, while others prefer to sell their boat for cash for speed and certainty before ordering.Questions to ask before you sign
A good on-the-water quote should answer most of these without you asking. If it doesn't, ask anyway and get the answers in writing:- Is The Price Inclusive Of VAT
- Which Engine And Controls Are Fitted
- Which Trim Level And Packs Are Included
- Is Antifouling Included And Which Type
- Where Is The Boat Delivered And Launched
- What Does Commissioning Cover
- How Long Is The Handover And Is It Afloat
- What Safety Kit Comes Aboard
- Who Handles Warranty Work Locally
