Boat for Tampa Bay Area

I hate to say it, but you'll probably be able to open your options if you eliminate the need for joystick controls. Those are relatively new, and I doubt you'll find that option in a 10-15 year old boat.

Buying an older boat is feasible, but you'll want to have a GREAT surveyor who will find any hidden gremlins (all boats have them, so you surely won't find one with none). You could then hire a captain to give you some lessons in docking/maneuvering.

I am, by no means, an expert on boats of that size range. But based on the number of Prestige yachts on the market, I would be thinking twice about buying one. I just did a quick YW search, and see a 2012 58 Tiara in your price range (and it's in St. Petes). I have a lot of respect for Tiara. But it's only 2 staterooms!

Sunseeker 52' Manhattan, Princess 52' or 55', Tiara 52' FB are all better quality than Prestige. The 50' Prestige is virtually the same boat as the 55'. Only useful thing you gain in the 55' is a larger master head.

Also think about your cruising areas and how far and long you will be on the boat. Just weekends and you can make some sacrifices. A week or longer and certain things can become very annoying.....such as refrigerator, medicine cabinet, closets too small.....etc. etc......

Finance or pay cash is best answered by your CPA or financial advisor that's in tune with your individual situation.

Any of those boats would do that, but would have to pick your weather. Given your wants, refrigeration/freezer space is important, most of the Princesses, Sunseekers, etc. We live out of a 120 qt yeti cooler on the aft deck for all of the beverages due to refrigeration space.

My 2 cents
Don’t limit yourself to a joystick; you can easily get a Yacht Controller installed to make docking easier by being able to move around to literally see where you are.

Look at Motor Yachts that can do 18kts as well as 8kts. Having the speed when you need it is a game changer I spend a lot of time at hull speed on ICW, but cruise @18kts on open water to literally “buy time” crossing the Gulf Stream or heading to or
from Key West- or crossing the Okochobee waterway.

I was able convert my office into a bunkroom to get the 3rd sleeping quarters for 2; not really a stateroom but absolutely practical

having a decent sized freezer is also important so you can rotate into your fridges. A convection microwave is a miracle device, and a flybridge grill and fridge are very important.

I also wanted a good sized tender and crane.

I love the washer and dryer; that was a surprise and we use it almost daily.

ICW, Keys, Bahamas and all very doable on a boat just size. The Caribbean and Virgin Islands are probably too difficult for most small M/Ys; but with so much to see in Bahamas or the Chesapeake you don’t need to get to BVI on your own bottom. Fly and charter a boat there

I had no brand in mind, just wanted the right bones. I searched by size and speed and bought a 2007 Pama 54 in 2018; for me it’s been fantastic. There have been several “brands” that have made this 54’ Howard Apollonius design , including the Mckinna 58, a Sonship, Pama...the latest being Apollonian Yachts has resurrected this design. There is a Pama for sale in Jacksonville now.

Good luck in finding the right platform, then tweak from there.

Buddy of mine that lives on St. Thomas purchased a 30' gas Sea Ray years ago in Ft. Laud and ran her home with just an additional bladder tank on the front deck. Only fuel related issue he reported were many places where they sought fuel only had diesel. After she met her fate in one of their many hurricanes he bought a 46 but since her cruise was only 14 knot's decided to ship her instead.

The other day I clicked an Apollonian ad on the sidebar here out of curiosity. I was wondering what sort of rep they had. I guess it's all dependant on the builder, but it's nice to know the design works for the style of cruising I'd be doing (Coastal, Keys, Bahamas, ICW). Granted, I'm a bit further away from a purchase than the OP, but since his desires seem to match my own (minus the BVI), I appreciate this sort of info.