36.6m ISA BACK 9 AND A HALF Cut to $7.9m

A new price, not a new sale listing

Burgess has announced a fresh USD 800,000 reduction in the asking price of the 36.6m ISA motor yacht BACK 9 AND A HALF. The 13 October 2026 notice puts the new advertised figure at USD 7,900,000, with the broker describing the yacht as US-duty-paid. This is a material development from the previous USD 8,700,000 asking price, rather than a new listing of a yacht making its first market appearance. The change also provides a clearly dated market reference ahead of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The yacht was already offered for sale earlier in the season, and Burgess had published an August notice describing the previous asking price. This new report therefore focuses on the October adjustment and what remains unchanged in the published specification. No completed sale is being announced, and the broker has not disclosed a buyer, agreement or closing date. A price reduction should not be confused with a transaction or a confirmed final sale value.

Design identity of the ISA 120 Sport

Built in 2017 by ISA Yachts in Italy, BACK 9 AND A HALF belongs to the ISA 120 Sport design family. Burgess credits Andrea Vallicelli with the exterior design and ISA Yachts with Guida Design for the interior. Her sculpted profile and performance-oriented hull give the yacht a character quite different from a full-displacement explorer vessel, with a deliberate balance between rapid coastal passages and hospitality spaces suited to spending time at anchor.

At 36.6m she sits firmly within the superyacht category, but some of her operating priorities resemble those of smaller, agile sport yachts. Buyers comparing this platform with a long-range yacht should consider not only overall length but the specific compromise between available deck space, cruising speed, fuel burn and onboard systems. The design aims to make shorter coastal passages part of the experience rather than merely the journey between anchorages.

Why the speed and draught figures matter

Burgess reports a top speed exceeding 31 knots and a draught of approximately 1.5m, a combination that helps explain the yacht's appeal for the Bahamas and similar island cruising grounds. Draught determines some of the waters a vessel may safely access, although charted depth, tides, sea conditions and local restrictions still govern real navigation. A shallow static measurement should never be presented as permission to cross shoals without proper pilotage and professional assessment.

The broker's earlier technical profile describes three MTU 16V2000 M96 engines rated at 2,400 horsepower each and Kamewa waterjets, with a reported comfortable cruising speed of about 24 knots. These are broker-published specification figures, not independently observed results from a new sea trial. Actual speed and consumption depend on vessel loading, hull condition, weather and engine settings. For interested buyers, the current engineering survey and maintenance records matter more than an isolated headline speed.

Accommodation for ten guests

The published guest capacity is ten people in five cabins, including a split-level owner's suite. Burgess presents the accommodation as contemporary and comfortable, consistent with a yacht designed for both private family use and entertaining friends. A five-cabin configuration provides flexibility for groups with different sleeping requirements, though it does not by itself disclose crew complement, certification status or the legal capacity of the yacht for commercial charter.

The interior design is credited to ISA Yachts and Guida Design. When looking at existing yacht photographs, prospective purchasers should establish whether individual fittings and finishes shown are current, especially after a refit. The listing describes a 2024 programme of extensive improvements, but every replacement and system modification should be checked against the supporting documentation. Photographs communicate the atmosphere of the accommodation, not its present mechanical condition.

A deck arrangement built for outdoor time

Burgess describes a sun deck with a forward jacuzzi, sunpads, a fitted bar and dining areas, together with additional open-air seating and dining on the aft deck. This combination is central to the appeal of a Mediterranean-style sport yacht, where owners may spend much of the day outside and move between swimming, dining and short transfers. The arrangement also helps separate activities among guests without requiring everyone to occupy the same lounge.

Several outdoor zones can improve the rhythm of a day at anchor, but practical considerations remain important. The captain and crew still need safe circulation routes while lines, tenders, mooring equipment and service tasks are being handled. Weather protection, the placement of loose furniture and guest movement at speed also require sensible management. The official broker photographs are useful for understanding the deck layout but are not a substitute for inspecting the vessel in person.

The significance of the 2024 refit

According to Burgess, BACK 9 AND A HALF underwent an extensive refit in 2024, and the earlier brokerage technical description refers to completion of a five-year RINA special survey that year. Survey status is relevant to the administrative and technical picture, yet it must be interpreted in the context of the applicable class and flag records. Reporting those details should not be taken as a guarantee that no further maintenance will be required during a new owner's period of use.

The quality of records and the scope of engineering works are particularly important for a high-speed yacht. Prospective purchasers will want to understand engine hours, waterjet servicing, hydraulic equipment, stabilisers and other systems that affect comfort and reliability. Burgess has previously described upgraded hydraulic and navigation systems, but their current configuration should be established through the individual yacht specification and a competent survey. The October announcement itself is principally about pricing.

Fort Lauderdale show positioning

Burgess says BACK 9 AND A HALF is scheduled to be displayed at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. A yacht show allows purchasers and advisers to compare layout, finish and fit-out with other yachts within a concentrated period, although access to particular vessels can require appointments. The announcement establishes the broker's display intention, not an unconditional guarantee of every visiting time or an indication that the vessel has been sold.

The combination of a new asking price and planned boat-show exposure gives the yacht a timely presence in the US brokerage market. Brokers often choose such occasions for refreshed marketing, but the commercial significance of a price adjustment can be judged only when a later transaction is actually disclosed. For readers comparing available yachts, the figure is the current advertised price as of 13 October, and it can change again without advance warning.

Putting $7.9 million in context

The reduction from USD 8.7 million to USD 7.9 million represents an USD 800,000 change to an advertised asking figure, not proof of depreciation since delivery or a survey valuation. A brokerage asking price reflects a seller's positioning and can take account of current market conditions, inspection interest and timing. Without confidential offer history, it would be speculative to attribute the decision to a particular problem, urgency or individual negotiation.

Prospective purchasers evaluating this yacht alongside other 30m–40m motor yachts must also look beyond headline price. Running costs, insurance, maintenance, mooring, crew, taxes and flag compliance can all affect the overall commitment of ownership. Burgess states the asking price is US-duty-paid, but any purchaser should obtain advice specific to the proposed purchase and use. The firm news today is a transparent, officially announced price revision on an identifiable superyacht.