All Specialist Guides
Liveaboard Boat Mortgages UK: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything about securing a liveaboard mortgage - from Swansea Building Society and Together Money criteria to BSS certificates and Council Tax implications. Worked £120,000 widebeam example. Read the guide →
Marine Refit Finance: How to Fund a Boat Refit in the UK
HP, personal loans, bridging and staged drawdown for refit costs. Which lenders will fund a refit and how to structure the finance. Worked £45,000 sailing yacht example. Read the guide →
Mooring and Berth Finance UK: How to Fund a Marina Berth Purchase
Freehold vs Right to Use berths, specialist lenders (Together, Shawbrook) and bridging loans for berth acquisition. Worked £85,000 freehold berth example. Read the guide →
Marine Mortgage vs Hire Purchase: Which is Right for You?
A head-to-head comparison of the two most common boat finance products - ownership, LTV, charter use, FCA regulation and when each makes sense. Read the guide →
Yacht VAT and Import Finance: A UK Buyer's Guide
Post-Brexit VAT status, HMRC C384 Returned Goods Relief, import duty and how VAT affects your finance requirement. Which lenders accept EU-registered yachts. Read the guide →
Marine Finance for Non-UK Residents: What Lenders Accept
Lender criteria for non-UK residents, EEA nationals post-Brexit and US buyers. Income evidence, AML documentation and which UK lenders actively accept foreign applicants. Read the guide →
Yacht Refinancing and Equity Release UK: Complete Guide
When and how to refinance, LTV limits on older vessels, and a worked example releasing £50,000 for a refit from a £250,000 yacht with an £80,000 existing loan. Read the guide →
Financing a Charter Yacht Business in the UK
Commercial vs leisure finance, MCA coding categories, revenue projections and VAT on charter income. Fleet finance and bridging options for charter operators. Read the guide →
Second-Hand Boat Finance UK: Best Rates and Lenders for Used Vessels
Age restrictions by lender, survey requirements, LTV for used boats, private vs dealer purchase. Worked £75,000 Bavaria 46 example with survey retention. Read the guide →
Marine Insurance Premium Finance: Spread the Cost of Boat Insurance
What IPF is, how it differs from asset finance, typical APR (8–15%), UK providers (Premium Credit, Close Premium Finance, AFIG) and interaction with hull insurance obligations. Read the guide →
About These Guides
These specialist guides are written by the team at Doulton Bridging Finance - a specialist finance brokerage with direct access to the full UK marine finance market, including HP lenders, marine mortgage providers, bridging specialists and alternative lenders who operate outside the mainstream.
Unlike guides written by generalist comparison sites, our content reflects real lender criteria, real application outcomes and the genuine complexity of the specialist marine finance market in 2026. We update our guides regularly to reflect lender appetite changes, rate movements and regulatory developments.
If you have a finance requirement not covered by one of our standard guides, contact us directly - our brokers have placed some of the UK's most unusual marine finance transactions and are used to navigating complex cases.
Explore Marine Finance by Asset Type
Sailing Yacht Finance
HP, marine mortgage and refinancing for monohulls, catamarans and offshore sailing yachts.
Motor Yacht Finance
Finance for motor cruisers, sports boats and sportsyachts from leading HP and marine mortgage lenders.
Narrowboat Finance
Specialist lending for narrowboats and widebeams - leisure, liveaboard and continuous cruiser.
Superyacht Finance
Bespoke lending for vessels over 24 metres - private client, charter and flag-state considerations.