Newbie here looking for info/suggestions

40 - 45’ is ok in my opinion, would not go over 45 for a first time boater.
Sedan/convertibles are easier to handle as opposed to a tall motoryacht that has too much wind age and creates issues during tough docking situations.

The twenty dollar question, what is your budget?

A boat could drive you equally crazy. Any given pre-owned boat will have had good/some/not a lot/no service (you pick) so pre-purchase inspections and surveys are typical (even on new boats, BTW)... and even then, many/some/a few issues may still remain undiscovered... until you need something to work...

Hiring the work done can be expensive; doing it yourself can mean less $$$ outgo but can also be equally expensive in terms of time value, aggravation, etc. Especially if you have to do the work while underway "at sea" somewhere...

But yes, there can be advantages to buying SOME pre-owned boats.

Psychic income can be priceless... but don't think of boating as an easy improvement over RVing.

There's also a whole bunch of stuff about actually knowing how to operate a boat; it's not a turn-key deal, if you don't have prior experience. Not un-learnable, though. You might search out local branches of USCG Auxiliary or the US Power Squadrons to learn about local training opportunities.

-Chris

You've gotten lots of good advice so far. I owned (or co-owned) my own boats for decades. Ten years ago I bought an Airstream which we owned for 5 years, then bought a Dynmax Trilogy which we owned until recently. RVs are way easier and cheaper. For the first several maintenance repairs, I kept asking if the bill was correct - I thought they had left off a zero or two. There are places to travel that are more accessible and easier by RV. RV sites are like freebies compared to marina rates.

However, if you like to hear the sound of water lapping at your hull, if you get lulled into sleep by being gently rocking at anchor, if you can't get enough of sunrises, sunsets, and green flashes, and if your favorite sport is white sand beaches, then the learning curve of cruising is minimal compared to the rewards. Proceed carefully and cautiously. Hire a broker you can trust and a captain who can cruise with you until you're competent.

I would look into boats with Axius or Docking On Command features if you're new at docking a large boat.

Actually no.... You should learn to dock and handle , you hire a good Capt. and pay him to train you properly. You're going to need it anyway from your insurance company.

Of course, but the wind and currents don't care if it's your second time out trying to dock in between other people's million dollar yachts and the increased insurance premiums you'll be paying for bravado. It takes some time to develop the correct touch with no boating experience. You can always deactivate and practice when conditions are more favorable.

The most critical skill is the go-nogo decision. Whether you re flying or boating... this is where 50% of the accidents sequence start. Relying on gizmos and gadgets may help until that one time the thruster overheats, the yacht controller gets interference or the wind or current is just too strong for the joystick thingy.

40/45, maybe 50 is doable if you have the right mind set. More important than size is the actual layout. I strongly disagree that a convertible is easier to dock. You re up there quite a few steps and a ladder from your lines... by the time you re down, your boat could have drifted beyond line throwing range. Unless you have engine controls in the cockpit.

What activities do you plan on doing? How many people on board and for how many days? Do you plan on anchoring out on your own or plan on staying in marinas?

But unfortunately many never do that...

And then don't have much of a clue when the unit fails...

-Chris

I think their budget will preclude this option.

I was delivering a yacht South earlier this year and there was a 40' ish Pursuit with quad outboards that passed me in SC with a clueless couple on it...….it had one of those obnoxious names on the side of the boat. Anyways, you could tell how clueless the people are as they passed me about 40' off my side and it was the ship channel with 300 yards of channel, then they weaved and stopped in front of me, because they didn't know where they were going...….

Well I pull into a marina a few days later in St. Augustine and the dockhand tells me, they're waiting on mechanics and can't leave because their joystick isn't working......LOLOLOLOL

A lagoon 43/44' power cat would be worth looking at. As would a 50' Post SF in that price range.