Lendus.

Fishing Vessel Finance

Spread the cost of commercial fishing vessels from £50,000 to £800,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a fishing vessel?

Yes, fishing vessels are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £50,000 to £800,000, and most deals are written over 24–96 months with a deposit of around 20–30%. Decisions typically take 48–72 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£50k – £800k

Approval Speed

48–72 hours

Same-day agreement in principle for < £100k

Rates From

5.9% APR

What would a fishing vessel cost per month?

£220,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical fishing vessel price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 6.2% APR
Term
24–96 months
Deposit
20–30%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Skipper-owners wanting to own the vessel and licence outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 5.9% APR
Term
24–84 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim the full lease payment against catch income

Refinance

Rate
From 6.5% APR
Term
12–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
You already own the vessel
Best for
Releasing capital from an owned vessel for gear, quota or repairs

Representative example

On a purchase price of £220,000: a 10% deposit of £22,000, then 48 monthly payments of £4,641 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £244,768, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
10m Under-10m Class Fishing Vessel (spec class) £80,000 – £220,000 Inshore Potting/Netting Vessel
15m Steel Trawler (spec class) £350,000 – £650,000 Steel-Hulled Trawler
12m GRP Scalloper (spec class) £180,000 – £400,000 GRP Scalloper
9m Aluminium Creel Boat (spec class) £90,000 – £180,000 Aluminium Creel/Potting Boat

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Tax benefits

Fishing vessels used for business qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to £1,000,000. HP agreements let you claim capital allowances on the vessel; lease payments are generally deductible in full against profits.

Market context

Fishing vessels are bought by owner-skippers, family partnerships and fishing co-operatives, usually replacing or adding capacity within an existing fleet rather than entering the industry from scratch, since a vessel is normally only useful alongside a fishing licence and quota. Any vessel operating commercially must be coded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for its area of operation, which shapes both the build specification and what a lender will fund. Because vessels are mobile and can be sold or moved between ports and jurisdictions, some mainstream lenders are cautious about fishing vessel security and prefer to work through marine finance specialists. Survey condition of the hull, engine and gear, rather than the vessel's age, is what drives resale and refinance value.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a fishing vessel without an existing licence?
A lender will normally want to see that a fishing licence and, where relevant, quota allocation are in place or being transferred alongside the vessel, since the boat has little commercial value to a skipper without them. Applications tied to a licence transfer usually take a little longer to arrange than a straightforward vessel purchase, so it helps to have the licence paperwork moving in parallel with the finance application rather than starting it afterwards.
Do I need MCA coding to get finance?
Yes, lenders will ask about the coding category the vessel holds or is being surveyed for, since it affects where the boat can legally work and therefore its earning capacity and resale value. Most funders will make the agreement conditional on a valid coding certificate rather than insist on it before application, but a vessel with lapsed or uncertain coding will be harder to place.
Can I refinance a vessel I already own to free up cash?
Yes, refinancing an owned fishing vessel is a common way to release capital for new gear, quota purchase or engine overhaul without selling the boat. The lender will typically require a current survey to establish value, and the amount released depends on the vessel's condition and remaining working life rather than the original purchase price. Refinance terms are usually shorter than for a new purchase, often up to five years, and a current MCA coding certificate and up-to-date insurance will make the application move faster, since a lapsed certificate affects both value and marketability.
Why is the deposit higher than for other commercial vehicles?
Fishing vessels carry more risk for a lender than road vehicles or fixed equipment: they are mobile, income depends on catch and quota rather than a fixed contract, and the specialist resale market is smaller. A 20–30% deposit on hire purchase reflects that risk profile, though finance leases can often be arranged with no deposit since the funder retains ownership for the term.

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