Notes from the yard
Guides, comparisons and prices from the Bekkers yard: aluminium yacht building, the Beachclub 40, engines and ownership. Written by the people who build the yachts.
What to look for in a sea trial: a practical buyer checklist
A practical sea trial checklist for yacht buyers: what to check before, on the water and after, from noise and headroom to…
Pod drives vs shaft drives explained
Pod drives vs shaft drives explained: how each works, handling, space, efficiency and maintenance, with examples from the…
Why Holland builds some of the world's finest yachts
Centuries of maritime craft, a dense superyacht cluster and skilled metalworkers. Why Dutch-built yachts stand apart, and…
Flexiteek vs natural teak: which deck is right for you?
Flexiteek or natural teak? A calm comparison of maintenance, heat, grip, sustainability and cost, and why Bekkers Yachts…
Keep your yacht in the Mediterranean or in Holland?
Season, berth, service, storage and transport compared. How owners of a Bekkers aluminium yacht decide where to keep it, and…
Three days on a 45 ft weekender: a sample itinerary
A sample three-day route around southwest Mallorca on the AZUR 45HT: two cabins, 2 m headroom, outdoor galley, sun pads and…
Bekkers AZUR 45 price 2026: what is included
The Bekkers AZUR 45HT costs from EUR 1,359,500 excl. VAT and engines in 2026. What you get, which engines and options exist,…
Carib 64HT: price, specs and build slots
The Carib 64HT is the 18.7 m aluminium flagship of Bekkers Yachts: 3 cabins, 3 bathrooms, 25 knots. Specs, price on request…
Aluminium day yachts compared: Bekkers AZUR 45, Vanquish VQ45 and Fjord 44 Open
A factual comparison of three 13.5 m day yachts: the aluminium Bekkers AZUR 45 and Vanquish VQ45, and the GRP Fjord 44 Open…
How long does it take to build a custom yacht?
From first brief to sea trial: the stages of building a custom aluminium yacht at Bekkers Yachts, and what decides how long…
What does a 45 ft yacht cost per year?
The annual running costs of a 45 ft yacht explained: berth, insurance, maintenance, antifouling, engine service, fuel and…
Volvo Penta IPS 600, 650 or 800: which engine for the AZUR 45?
The AZUR 45 runs on twin Volvo Penta IPS, from IPS 600 (2x 440 hp) up to IPS 800 (2x 600 hp). How to choose the right engine…
CE category B explained for day yachts
What CE design category B means: wind up to Beaufort 8 and significant waves up to 4 m. The RCD categories A to D, and what B…
Buying a Dutch-built yacht from the US or UK
How VAT, export and import typically work when you buy a new aluminium yacht from a Dutch yard and keep it in the US or the UK.
Shipping a yacht from Holland to Florida or the Mediterranean
How a new yacht travels from a Dutch yard to Florida or the Mediterranean: cradles, deck cargo vs float-on, insurance and…
The best cruising grounds for a day yacht
Mallorca, the Côte d'Azur, Croatia, the Greek islands, Florida and Dutch waters: where a 13.5 m weekender with 0.79 m draught…
Paint to sample: how a custom hull colour is chosen
How a custom hull colour is chosen for a hand-built aluminium yacht: from a sample or reference to test panels and final…
What is a beach club yacht?
How a stern that opens into a terrace at water level works, who it suits, and how the Beachclub 40 does it.
What does a Beachclub 40 cost? Price and options 2026
Base price, engine packages, beach club wings, hardtop and standard equipment.
Beachclub 40 or AZUR 45: which Bekkers suits you?
Length, price, layout and engines of the two aluminium Bekkers yachts side by side.
Outboard or inboard: Mercury V12 or Volvo Penta IPS?
How the engine options on the Beachclub 40 and AZUR 45 compare.
Aluminium vs GRP: choosing the material of your yacht
Weight, strength, maintenance, customisation and cost, compared honestly by a yacht builder.
Day cruiser or weekender: which yacht suits the way you sail?
What each type offers, who it suits, and where the Beachclub 40 and AZUR 45HT fit in.
How a custom aluminium yacht is built
Six stages from brief to sea trial, explained by the yard.
How to maintain an aluminium yacht
A yearly checklist for anodes, paint, electrics and engines.
Using a day yacht as a superyacht chase tender
What a chase tender needs, and why a Bekkers fits the role.