Search “Burger yachts for sale” and most results look the same. You’ll find filtered inventory pages, sorted by price and length. There’s rarely any real explanation of what separates this builder from everything else on the market.
That’s a problem if you’re weighing a 1980s Burger motoryacht against a modern explorer-style build. Which one actually fits how you’d use a boat? The answer isn’t obvious from a listing page alone.
Burger Boat Company has built yachts one at a time since 1863. That single fact changes how you should shop for one. This guide covers what the brand actually is, how the models differ, and what a broker checks before recommending a specific hull.
Burger Boat Company is an American custom yacht builder founded in 1863 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It’s known for steel- and aluminum-hulled motor yachts, each built one at a time rather than in production runs. Burger yachts for sale today range from classic mid-century motoryachts to modern explorer-style vessels up to roughly 260 feet.
That one-at-a-time approach means no two Burger yachts are identical. It shapes everything about buying one. Instead of choosing between showroom variants, buyers evaluate a specific hull’s history, refit record, and construction quality.
For a Miami-based buyer, that changes the due-diligence process. Working with a broker who understands custom-build yachts matters more here than it would with a standard fiberglass production model.
What Is Burger Boat Company?
Burger is one of the oldest continuously operating yacht builders in the United States. Its Great Lakes shipyard in Manitowoc has anchored American custom yacht construction for more than 160 years. The company built the 1938 Tamaris, an 81-foot yacht recognized as one of the first American vessels with an all-welded steel hull. In 1965, Burger launched Virginia, an early example of all-welded aluminum construction at this size.
Those two milestones matter more than they might sound. Welded metal construction gave Burger yachts a structural durability that early fiberglass and riveted-hull vessels of the same era couldn’t match. In practice, that’s still a big part of why long-range cruisers and expedition-minded owners gravitate toward the brand today.
The company also stands apart in one other way: it has never changed ownership or been absorbed into a larger conglomerate, unlike many European yards. That continuity matters for buyers. Original build records tend to be easier to trace, and the yard has direct institutional knowledge of hulls it built decades ago. For an older pre-owned Burger yacht, that’s a real advantage over brands where the original builder no longer exists in its historical form.
Burger builds to order rather than running a standard product line. That’s a meaningful trade-off to understand upfront. A new custom Burger yacht typically takes considerably longer to deliver than a comparable production model from an Italian or Dutch builder.
Each hull is engineered and built individually, not assembled from an existing design. If a fast delivery timeline matters more to you than a fully bespoke result, weigh that honestly before you commit.
Burger Yacht Models and What They’re Actually Built For
Burger doesn’t run fixed production models the way brands like Ferretti or Azimut do. Its range is best understood by era and hull type, not a fixed lineup. Sizes have historically spanned roughly 45 feet up to custom builds near 260 feet. Construction material and layout vary by commission.
Classic Flybridge and Raised Pilothouse Motoryachts
Many pre-owned Burger yachts on the market today are flybridge or raised-pilothouse motoryachts built between the 1960s and 1990s. These typically pair a steel hull with an aluminum superstructure. That combination reduces topside weight while keeping the underwater structure durable. Owners who want a classic silhouette with genuine long-range capability tend to find this era appealing.
Modern Explorer-Style Builds
More recent Burger commissions lean toward explorer-yacht styling. Think taller freeboard, expedition-ready range, and interiors built for extended cruising rather than short coastal hops. If you’re comparing Burger against other brands by overall size and layout philosophy, our guide to choosing a yacht by size is a useful starting point before you narrow in on a specific builder.
Buying a Used Burger Yacht vs. Commissioning a New Custom Build
This is usually the first real decision a prospective Burger buyer faces. It’s rarely obvious which path fits better without laying the trade-offs side by side.
| Factor | Pre-Owned Burger Yacht | New Custom Burger Build |
|---|---|---|
| Typical timeline | Available now, pending survey and sea trial | Often two years or more from commission to delivery |
| Cost predictability | Fixed asking price, negotiable | Can shift with material and equipment changes during the build |
| Customization level | Limited to what the original owner specified | Fully bespoke, built to your layout and equipment preferences |
| Condition risk | Depends entirely on maintenance and refit history | New construction, minimal near-term mechanical risk |
| Best fit for | Buyers who want a proven hull and a faster ownership timeline | Buyers with a specific vision and no urgency to take delivery |
Neither path is objectively better. In practice, most buyers who come to a broker already leaning toward a pre-owned Burger yacht want to be on the water within months, not years. They’re comfortable with a thorough survey standing in for the certainty a new build would offer.
What to Check Before Buying a Burger Yacht for Sale
So many Burger yachts on the market are steel-hulled and several decades old. Due diligence looks a little different here than it would on a newer fiberglass production yacht. The biggest mistake we see buyers make is applying a standard fiberglass-yacht inspection checklist to a welded-metal hull. It doesn’t cover the same risks, and skipping the metal-specific checks below is the most common way buyers end up with unexpected refit costs after closing.
Verify Hull and Corrosion Condition
Steel hulls need a thorough survey for corrosion. Pay close attention to the waterline and any point where the aluminum superstructure meets the steel hull. Dissimilar metals in saltwater accelerate galvanic corrosion once the cathodic protection system stops being maintained properly. Use a marine surveyor experienced with welded-metal construction, not just fiberglass hulls.
Review Maintenance and Refit Records
Ask for engine hours, refit history, and any structural work completed since the yacht was built. A well-documented refit history on an older Burger yacht often matters more to long-term value than the build year alone.
Complete a Full Sea Trial
A sea trial on a vessel this size should cover more than a short dockside run. Our sea trial checklist for mega yachts walks through what a proper test should include before you make an offer.
Where to Find Burger Yachts for Sale in Miami and Beyond
South Florida remains one of the strongest markets in the country for Burger yachts for sale. If you’re browsing boats for sale in Miami more broadly, you’ll notice Burger listings show up less often than Italian production brands, simply because fewer of them exist. Miami is still one of the busiest brokerage and refit hubs for American-built custom yachts generally.
Pre-owned Burger yachts currently listed across major brokerage networks span a wide range. Smaller mid-century motoryachts often list well under $500,000. Larger, more recently refitted examples can reach into seven and eight figures, depending on age, size, and condition.
Treat any specific number you see online as a starting point for negotiation, not a fixed figure. Condition and equipment vary enormously across a range this wide.
If you’re buying from outside Florida or outside the United States, the process carries a few additional steps. These cover documentation, survey scheduling, and delivery logistics. Our guide for international and non-resident yacht buyers in Miami covers that groundwork in more detail.
You can also view current Burger yacht listings to see what’s actually available right now, rather than relying on generic market ranges.
Is a Burger Yacht the Right Fit for You?
Burger yachts tend to suit a specific kind of buyer. Someone who values a one-off build history. Someone who wants genuine long-range cruising capability and the structural reassurance of welded metal construction. That comes at a cost, though: slower delivery and a smaller service network than an established production brand offers.
If what you actually want is a well-known model with a large owner community and quick access to factory-trained technicians, one of the Italian or Dutch production brands common in this market may suit you better. That’s a completely valid choice, and it’s worth being honest with yourself about which priority matters more.
If instead you’re drawn to a yacht with genuine individual history, and you don’t mind the extra diligence an older welded-metal hull requires, a Burger yacht for sale is worth serious consideration. The right answer usually comes down to how you weigh those two things against each other. It isn’t about which brand is objectively “better.”
Burger yachts for sale represent one of the few remaining connections to a genuinely custom, one-at-a-time American shipbuilding tradition. Whether you’re comparing a classic flybridge motoryacht against a modern explorer build, or weighing a pre-owned hull against commissioning something new, the decision comes down to timeline and customization. It also comes down to how much diligence you’re prepared to put into evaluating one individual vessel, rather than a known production model.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Burger yachts for sale typically cost?
Pricing varies enormously by age, size, and condition. Smaller, older pre-owned models can list well under $500,000. Larger or more recently refitted examples often reach into seven figures. Custom new builds are priced individually based on size and specification.
Are Burger yachts built with steel or aluminum hulls?
Both, depending on the era and specific vessel. Burger pioneered early all-welded steel construction with Tamaris in 1938, and all-welded aluminum construction with Virginia in 1965. The builder has continued using both materials across different models since.
How long does a new custom Burger yacht take to build?
Custom builds typically take considerably longer than production models. Expect two years or more from commission to delivery, since each yacht is engineered individually rather than assembled from an existing design.
Where can I see used Burger yachts for sale in Miami?
South Florida is one of the strongest markets nationally for pre-owned Burger yachts. That’s true both through general brokerage listings and through specialized yacht brokers based in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area.
Do Burger yachts hold their value?
Well-maintained Burger yachts with documented refit histories tend to hold value reasonably well within the custom-build segment. Resale value depends heavily on maintenance records and hull condition, more than age alone.
What makes Burger different from Italian production yacht brands?
Burger builds custom, one-at-a-time vessels rather than standardized production models. That means longer build timelines, but a genuinely bespoke result, compared with the faster delivery and broader service networks typical of established Italian and Dutch production brands.
Ready to Explore Burger Yachts for Sale in Miami?
If you’re weighing a pre-owned Burger yacht against a new custom commission, talk to a broker who actually understands welded-metal construction and how to evaluate it. Miami International Yacht Sales works directly with buyers across South Florida and internationally, helping you find the right yacht for sale in Miami whether you’re shopping used or planning a custom build. We help source, survey, and negotiate Burger yachts for sale that match your budget and cruising plans. Call us at +1-305-857-8939 or email bob@miamiys.com to start the conversation about your next Burger yacht.
