A new player in Australia’s digital boat sales landscape is preparing to make waves on the East Coast, with Boat Auctions Online officially expanding beyond its Western Australian base.
Positioning itself as Australia’s first dealer-driven online boat auction platform, Boat Auctions Online has been developed to work alongside, not compete with, traditional brokerage and dealership sales channels. The platform has been designed specifically for professional marine dealers, offering a streamlined auction model that prioritises transparency, efficiency and trust for both sellers and buyers.
Founded by experienced yacht broker Neil Mason, Boat Auctions Online was created in response to long-standing frustrations within the traditional sales process. They say that extended listing periods, uncertain timelines and administrative inefficiencies can often work against both dealers and buyers.
“Traditional boat sales can be slow and unpredictable,” Mason said. “We wanted to create a platform that gives dealers more control, provides buyers with certainty, and delivers a clear outcome within a defined timeframe.”
Neil Mason – Founder & Director
One of the platform’s key innovations is its seamless integration with BoatsOnline. Dealers can transfer new or existing listings directly into auction mode in seconds, eliminating the need to re-draft listings or duplicate content. Every auction listing remains fully dealer-managed, including ownership verification, buyer access to vessel inspections, and oversight of the settlement process.
“Our focus has always been on making this simple for dealers,” Mason explained. “If a boat is already listed, it can be live in auction format almost instantly. Dealers stay in control of the process from listing through to settlement.”
Since launching in Western Australia, the model has delivered strong early results.
More than 150 boats have been sold across 15 completed auctions, demonstrating clear market appetite for a dealer-controlled auction format. Dealers also benefit from increased exposure, with every auction lot providing full dealer visibility and direct click-throughs to dealer websites.
For buyers, the platform removes one of the most common pain points associated with online auctions, additional costs. Boat Auctions Online is an industry first in Australia by offering no buyer’s commission and no additional buyer fees, meaning the final bid price is exactly what the buyer pays. Boats are sold “as is” when the hammer falls, with the post-auction process handled end-to-end by boating industry professionals.
“Removing buyer’s commission was critical,” Mason said. “What you bid is what you pay. That transparency builds confidence and encourages genuine participation.”
The platform is fully online, secure and accessible nationwide, allowing registered bidders to view listings and place bids from anywhere in Australia or overseas. While open to all buyers, Boat Auctions Online works exclusively with professional dealers, ensuring every listing is verified, supported and managed to industry standards.
Boat Auctions Online’s first East Coast auction is scheduled for this week, marking a significant milestone in the platform’s national rollout. The full catalogue will be released on 5 February at 5:00pm (AEST), with bidding opening on 11 February and closing on 15 February, also at 5:00pm (AEST).
Australian-owned and operated, and supported by East Coast–based software, Boat Auctions Online is positioning itself as a faster, smarter and more transparent way to buy and sell boats, with dealers firmly at the centre of the process.
For more information, visit their website at boatauctionsonline.com.au
