Why this lavish golden yacht has no takers

Khalilah, a 50-meter carbon-fiber yacht famed for lightweight efficiency and luxury, remains unsold despite global recognition; last week, its price dropped by €2 million to €19.9 million—the second reduction in two months—seeking a buyer

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The price of a golden yacht made entirely of a unique carbon-fiber composite dropped by €2 million last week after years on the market without a buyer. For those interested, the current asking price is €19.9 million, according to Bloomberg.
The yacht, named Khalilah, is the largest private vessel ever built entirely from carbon fiber, a material that ensures reduced fuel consumption and maximum efficiency. Its shimmering gold exterior is paired with a matching tender boat.
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היאכטה המוזהבת "חלילה"
היאכטה המוזהבת "חלילה"
The golden yacht Khalilah
(Photo: My Ocean Yachts/Breed media)
Delivered to its original owner in 2014, the vessel was briefly listed for sale in 2019 and again in 2023. In November 2024, yacht brokerage firm My Ocean took over the listing, slashing €1 million from the asking price. Last week, the company slashed its price tag by an additional €2 million.
“This isn’t a yacht for someone who wants to blend in,” said Jonny Dodge, CEO of My Ocean Yacht. Dodge noted that a cooling yacht market prompted the price cuts. According to a report from the Monaco Yacht Show, the world’s premier yacht sales event, the industry has faced a steady slowdown over the past four years, with no rebound in sight.
Compared to 2023, sales of pre-owned yachts like Khalilah fell by 9%. “Industry players are seeing sellers align with buyers’ pricing expectations as of mid-2024,” the report said. “This has led to more significant price adjustments across the market.”
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The Khalilah boasts a distinctive tri-hull design that gives it an exceptionally wide beam. While this can make the yacht appear somewhat bulky from certain angles, the expansive interior space compensates for it. The vessel can accommodate up to 11 guests in five cabins, along with nine crew members, ensuring top-tier service for its passengers.
The yacht features two indoor lounges and an open-air seating area at the stern near the waterline. Its interior design is a mix of eclectic styles: a Zen-inspired owner’s suite, delicate pink hummingbird illustrations in one guest cabin, octopus-themed murals in the bathroom and an octopus-shaped chandelier in the main salon.
Outdoor spaces are equally impressive. Guests can relax in a jacuzzi on the sun deck, lounge on a swim platform with direct access to the sea or sip coffee on a spacious upper deck adorned with life-sized teddy bear sculptures. Despite reaching top speeds of 25 knots (29 mph), the crimson pilot chairs on the sun deck provide a breezy, relaxing vantage point.
The yacht’s name, Khalilah, means "friend" or "beloved" in Arabic. Currently docked in Barcelona, the carbon-fiber vessel was built in the U.S. in 2014 by Palmer Johnson, once a leading American luxury yacht manufacturer. A year later, the company announced the closure of its Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin facility.
Of Palmer Johnson’s 83-strong fleet, 20 yachts are currently on the market. The Khalilah is the second most expensive, surpassed only by the 172-foot Sanam, built in 2016 and listed at $26.9 million. Thanks to its carbon-fiber construction, Khalilah is lighter and more fuel-efficient than similarly sized yachts made of metal or plastic.
Dodge believes the Khalilah is among the most competitively priced yachts in its size category. “There’s always a bigger yacht, but the Khalilah is truly one of the most iconic yachts in the world,” he told Bloomberg.
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