Some 300 super yachts were sold in 2015, according to BoatInternational.com, with $215 million the highest price paid. The largest sold this year was a 456-foot vessel.
One of the reasons yachts are getting bigger is because buyers are asking for vessels that include land and air vehicles, Khaldoun said.
At the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida, for example, there's been an increase in demand for yachts equipped with helicopters and helipads.
"Carrying a helicopter gives yacht owners the ability to get to shore faster than a tender and passengers use the helicopter for sightseeing once they are docked,” said Danielle Butler, president of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and managing partner of the Luxury Law Group.
Both the Bell 407GXP and Bell 429 helicopter are a popular aircraft for yacht owners. Priced at $3 million, the Bell 407 has limousine-like seating for six people, while the Bell 429, priced at $6.5 million, carries seven passengers and has a greater cruising range.
“Passengers can fly directly from their home or the city center to their yacht, eliminating the need to drive to shore and transfer to a boat,” said Charles Evans, director of marketing and sales support with Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas.
However, traveling by helicopter in between marinas has not completely replaced the use of tenders. In fact, the ultra-rich are now incorporating multiple tenders in addition to helicopter travel.
They may have one tender on board to transport guests from sea to shore for a night on the town, which can be outfitted like a limousine, with a minibar, sound system, TV set, leather seats and air conditioning.
A second more functional tender can used to transport supplies, staff and crew, while a third tender can be used for water sports, industry officials said.
“Ten years ago, tenders were rubber dinghies, but now they are just as gorgeous as the super yacht, but smaller in size,” Butler told Private Wealth.