1st post, recommendations on flybridge 55-62 mid 2000s era.

Hey gang, 1st time posting, looks like I made an account last year to surf and have spent many hours reading up on threads and with a similar post having some activity lately thought I would see if anyone has input on which boat would best serve my needs.

Latest boat was 47 ft and sold twin Yanmars express cruiser and looking to move up to the 55 to 62 range which while a large leap in size from 47 I do no think is out of the realm and running the boat with just the other half and I. Would have guest(s) onboard many of the times, some with experience, some with none, but would not want to need the help in normal conditions just to run the boat and having a captain or crew is not in the cards at this point (not opposed to a captain at first if dictated by insurance).

I personally love the darker cherry wood era that seems to have gone to the wayside when things fell apart in 08/09 so I seem to move to searches in the 2004 to 2007 range and with a budget in the 500K range opens up many boats and am moving to the go and see them in person phase. Would be plying great lakes to FL with the odd jaunt to the Bahamas. Despite some (less than desirable) movement in this style of boat when running off idle many of the hours would just be enjoying the ride at 8 knots, a single engine trawler just does not work for me. Mild interest in powered cats in the 44 range seems to give the space of a 56 in monohull but the beam is tough to deal with in my area in tight marinas.

Did a car ride to the East coast to Kent Island and spent 3 or 4 days there looking at Meridan Pilothouse 59 and Carver aft cabins and motor yachts of various lengths, 54ish and came away from that trip knowing that I would have to drop those names on quality issues personally, they just do not age well and from reading from those that run boats for a living (on yf) they feel the same way. Leaving that weekend I spent some time checking out an Aicon 56 Flybridge before heading home which has pushed me to the Italian/British searching of Manhattan 56, Azimut 55, Fairline 58, Marquis 59, Neptunus 56 (which for some reason I choose as a account name).

I for some reason like the galley lower as a standalone "room" not galley down more forward en route to the 2 or 3 staterooms. Both the Manhattan and Fairline have optional single berths off the galley or at a utility room which just seems like a great idea when spending serious time on a boat of that size (meaning small) needing as much room as possible for provisioning and if need the guest space for a child or single when have a large gang onboard overnight.

Seems like a silly reason to choose a boat for a preferred galley location but was wondering if anyone has experience with a lower galley more mid ship as a standalone galley and if the layout works well and general recommendations on those models. The Marquis has all but been ruled out as a 'top shelf' Carver, wondering where the Neptunus fits in to the mix compared to the Mut and Sunseeker. Reading over and over that Azimut is the Bayliner of Italy is starting to resonate a bit, ha......

thanks for any insight, quite the lengthy 1st post I suppose! Attached pic of salon of SS 56 with starboard side galley down.

Thanks Captain J, your name is one I have been following on input and appreciate it. Mentally the leap from 56 to 62 seems to be my limit from able to run with Mrs. under normal conditions on the 56 to perhaps not so much with the 62 but that is online research and checking out boats in person but not running them at all. With the 47 I would run with just the Mrs. near anytime with no thrusters and ran from CT back to the great lakes with little issue on a near 1000 mile run, the leap up in size may be more a mental challenge. 1 question when applying the 10% per year of boat cost to maintain would that number hold true for a smaller boat of 56 to 62 size where a captain and crew costs are not a part of the 10% annually? also rather hands on and would perform much service myself and actually enjoy doing oddly, as long as floating at the time!

thanks again.

googled a sold version of your boat on Denison just now, nice vessel. Great layout and love all the high gloss wood, right into the heads. Classy to these eyes. Unique seating area to port on the VIP forward I noticed as well. Enjoy, and at almost 2mpg off idle fine mileage too.

What motors Zud, 3406s? How did the rest of the 2019 season go for ya, no issues?

Hey Capt J, you are right, spent an afternoon on a SS Manhattan with lower galley and while the crew cabin stuffed off to port off the lower galley is useful if for nothing else than storage the whole idea has you up and down stairs for anything to snack on or drink if inside the cabin, let alone meal prep. Point well taken.