Considering Hatteras, Viking or Bertram 60'-70' or so.

I am in a similar situation in that stairs in lieu of ladders are now a must have. My wife’s knees are bad and we are dog people as well. I have had a difficult time finding my next boat so I have been combing the market on a weekly basis for the last year or so. I have opened my mind up to boats i would not have previously considered. As my “handle” implies I am a motoryacht guy but would definitely consider the right sportfish (ladder to the bridge and rails all the way back to the cockpit for safe bow access). I have owned an older Bertram and now own a 1995 Viking. I tend to associate quality boats with less problems I think in general that is accurate. But even quality boats have issues that one wouldn’t expect. Viking bad gel coat, Hatteras with blisters. None to me are show stoppers provided they are not a surprise. So yes I would recommend an older hatteras, bertram, or Viking, but you have to know what years of each boat were best or worst. I would definitely avoid a Bertram of the vintage you spoke of as I think resale will be tough. As for Vikings some will say they weren’t what they are today till about 2000. My experience with my boat has been very good thus far. Regarding the Hatteras and Viking SF you are going to have a tough time finding one with stairs to the bridge unless it is custom. You could buy one with a ladder and convert it to stairs and maybe mezzanine seating while you are at it. But that is project. Sea Ray has a convertible that has stairs and might be an alternative. Sea Rays to some have a negative stigma but I don’t share that, but the Sea Ray is a cruising boat first and a casual fishing boat.

As far as a Captain Patrick Shermack would be a great option as he has a boat maintenance business based out of Longboat Boat Key. I have had numerous dealings with him and he is competent and honest. He also runs a sportfisher for a guy that seems to match your use pattern. PM for his phone number. Good luck.

I wouldn't touch a 63' Bertram with a 10' pole due to all of the structural and delamination issues and many have come apart.

Viking and Hatteras would both be good choices depending on your wants/needs. A 64' Viking from that era as well as Hatteras 60' or so would both be good choices. Hatteras 68' is very spacious but also slower.

If you're interested in decent flybridge stairs, have a look at Riviera.
Can't remember the exact models, but some of them have stairs which are easily the safest and more convenient among all SFs I've ever seen - Bertram 630 included.
None of the US builders come close - possibly aside from going custom, as MYlover mentioned.

Mapism do you have any input on the quality of Riviera and Maritimo? Like you said they have stairs and have boats that interest me but can’t get any first hand info on how they are made and how they old up.

If you are looking for first hand experience, I'm afraid I have none.
As you might know, SFs are nowhere near as popular here in the Mediterranean as they are in the US, and personally I'm not interested in fishing - aside from enjoying good recipes based on its outcome!
So, what I'm saying is only based on a few boats I've seen (just superficially, and never cruising with them), plus some owners' feedbacks, mostly about Rivieras but also a couple of Maritimos.
And both were always impressively positive - way above the average feedbacks I'm used to gather about any boats, not just SFs.
Even more than with Hatt in fact, a couple of which I've personally seen on the hard with hulls badly affected by osmosis...

FWIW, I also spent overall about a year down under (Aus - Tas included - and NZ), where these brands are very popular and highly regarded.
Coming to think of it, actually I did spend a day out on a Riviera there, and the boat felt very solid and well built.
But as an invited guest, it wouldn't have been polite to ask the owner to explore all the ins and outs of his pride and joy, you know...
Of course, higher popularity of local builders is to be expected anywhere, but occasionally they have some really nasty sea conditions, down there.
So, I don't think these boats would be so popular if they weren't also capable to deal with them.

Mapism thanks for the response. OP I assume you are aware that Galati Yachts is on Anna Maria and they are a Maritimo dealer. The Maritimos have some convertibles that have the stairs. I like a few of the Maritimos but need to learn more about their quality and such.

Riviera's are a lot better riding than Maritimo, build quality about the same, a definate 2 steps below a Hatteras or Viking but on par with a lot of Euro MY's.

I don’t have personal experience running Vikings or Hatteras so I can’t opine on the differences. Based on my experience running a Riviera in the PNW coastal cruising and sport fishing the hull performance and the build quality meet my needs (I own a 2009 41 open fly bridge LOA 46). Built for blue water down under, they are not purpose-built sport fishers per se but the cockpits are a decent size and can be rigged for fishing. They have fish boxes. Here in the PNW they are popular. I know of a number that are used for salmon, halibut and even tuna fishing offshore. I’ve fished for marlin on an older (1999) 48 (53 LOA) enclosed fly bridge (solid boat) in the Baja. In the 60-70 size range you’d be looking at newer models, perhaps their sport motor yacht line. My two cents.

That must be the reason why all discerning MY buyers prefer Hatt or Viking to Euro builders... NOT!