Which yacht should I buy?

In your bio, you state that you've owned three mid-size yachts ranging from Meridians to Sea Rays, yet you posted that you're new to all this? How can you have owned these boats without knowing enough to offer even the most remote parameters in search of suggestions? None of this makes sense. I suggest you use the search function on YF to better educate yourself before posing such wide ranging questions.

Fair enough. Welcome to YachtForums. There are nearly 140,000 of the most informed posts in yachting on YF. If you take the time to read through threads of interest, you will find our members MOST helpful when they are presented with direct questions based on a specific criteria.

I would recommend charting both megayachts as well as yachts in the lower price range so that you can have an idea as to which size best suits your needs. Your questions are far too vague as to provide any sort of sensible suggestions.

Things to think about. How far do you want to be able to travel without refueling and reprovisioning. What speed is important to you. How many guests do you forsee, and for how long of a duration on the yacht, the jacuzzi tends to push you to 100'+ MY or a smaller expedition yacht such as a 76' Northern Marine, and don't think you're going to use it while underway unless it's as flat as a lake due to stability issues. Crew, how many do you need? Do you prefer a chef and a stewardess, or prefer to do those things on your own.

A Jacuzzi is possible on 88 feet yachts. Saw it on a yacht from a dutch builder.

It must be possible to add on a jacuzzi to many yachts and sizes. But you have to talk to a yacht agency which consult and the shipyard.

Do you prefer a "stylish" design or a conservative design? Do you would like a fast yacht or long range?

You might have a look thru this subject thread

New to Yachting; 13 Million to spend

Don't know if it's allright to post this.

One boat that you won't find discussed here and might fit is this sleek, Vripak designed (Holland) and Italian built semi displacement from Gamma Yachts.
Steel hull. Fully customizable layouts.
I think it's a quality build and good value. 20 meters (€2.8m) or 24 meters length.

This is the 20m (72')

Between Lars, Kevin and myself, we try to quantify new posters so the valuable time of our members isn't wasted. Everyone please hold off on responding this thread. The math isn't adding up.

Since the gentleman lives in Fort Lauderdale he would get more good hands on information faster by going to Pier 66 Marina and Bahia Mar Marina and dropping in on the yacht brokers and dealers located there.

He will be able to see several boats of several sizes both new and used right on the spot to help him begin to narrow things down to the point where forum folks can advise on more specific questions.

Pascal pointed out the benefits of both pretty well. If you're looking for quality, Add Hatteras and Neptunus to that list and Hatteras' 72' MY is a homerun for it's size, the 60' or 64' is nice as well. Remove Meridian, Azimut and Marquis from the list IMO. Azimut being a step better than the latter two.

Since I'm fairly new and possess none of the vast experience that most of the posters here possess, perhaps I can suggest an approach more concomitant with your experience as you undertake the process of educating yourself. Whenever I see a shiny, new yacht, I Google it with terms like, "Ocean Alexander quality issues" and I read as much as I can about that subject. Granted, you have to be careful; there are many people with axes to grind (you've read enough of these forum posts to see that, right?), but if there's a preponderance of bad reviews, you'll probably want to take that under consideration. I don't know much about yachts yet, nor have I yet purchased one, but I am working towards that goal and there are, I think, a few things I have learned:

1. Study/consider yachts in the engine rooms and hulls first. These are the means by which your yacht operates and keeps you safe while under way.

2. A pretty yacht is easy to make, a sound yacht is trickier.

3. Don't buy the first hull of a new series.

4. Think of how you'll use the thing and then build (or search) around that lifestyle. You may tell yourself you want a huge galley, but if you're only using the boat for weekends, or you tend to use it as a floating hotel and then run ashore to dine, do you really need a six-burner stove and a walk-in?

5. Like so many have said, charter the type(s) of boats you like and see if it's a fit. Do you want something with a large crew (and attendant expense) to wait on you, or do you want to operate something with just you and your wife and perhaps a couple of guests/kids?

6. Where will you be taking this boat? Is this just going to be a coast hugger for the Northeast or Florida? Or, do you want to be adventurous and undertake a more challenging voyage? (My research suggests Flemings are a good fit for this type of boating.

7. Be cautious in calculating costs. Many have suggested budgeting 10% of the purchase price EACH YEAR for the maintenance of these boats. Are you up to that kind of financial commitment?

8. I would heartily suggest you try to purchase the boat without financing. First, it's hard to get a loan for such an expensive luxury item, which is probably going to depreciate considerably; do you want to eat that cost along with the cost of financing?

There are many other considerations, but as I've said, I'm a neophyte myself. I'd get myself acquainted with nautical terminology and read, read, read.

Just my two cents' worth of wisdom.

Telemachus, you just got bumped to senior status. Great post!

This is true to a large aspect, but it's a lot more work. I've found is when you get over 70', the 100 amp shorepower cords are HEAVY compared to a 50 amp, even with a cablemaster, the marquipt is larger and HEAVY, the lines and fenders become too large, heavy and bulky for most people's wives to comfortably be able to handle. Also, restaurants get REAL hard to get into if you like taking it out on a Saturday and plan on stopping at a restaurant on the ICW somewhere haphazardly.....

To the OP, you really need to narrow down what type of cruising interests you first, what size you really need, what ammenities, etc etc...... The difference between cruising in a 65' and a '90 are two completely different worlds.....the 72' Hatteras feels like a '90 (it's huge and very nicely laid out), has all of the ammenities, yet can get in just about every place you'd want to get into......You could get away with someone managing a 70' or a full time captain, a '90 you're going to have a minimum of 2 fulltime crew and 3 when traveling.

58' Searay's are a good boat for an average price, for the average user, for an average sea state. I've run 2 of them, 1 from Ft. Myers to Ft. Laud, and the other from Boca to Conneticut. Lazzara's have a nice layout and are nicely finished, they're a well built/engineered boat for their size, but more of a fair weather yacht for their size......Sunseekers are built ok, and run fairly well but have some of the same annoying nuances of the Italian boats. I run/manage a 62' Predator right now......

Carl: Wow, thanks! I'm truly moved and grateful. I'll do my best to be worthy of this.

Pascal: Would there be 50 shades? Sorry, couldn't help myself. I hope Carl doesn't reconsider.

I do have legitimate question, though: the difference in terms of length between 60 and 90 feet is 50%, but in most cases, isn't the change in volume greater with a traditional design?

Thanks for the info.