2016 Sea Ray L590 vs 2016 CRANCHI 60 vs 2017 Schaefer 64

I don't think so.
No idea of what their position is in boatbuilders ranking, but pretty sure they don't even make it to the top ten.

That said, I appreciate your sarcasm, and thank you for making me smile .
Still, if they would be in the position where Azimut is, well, we should indeed come to terms with the fact that THEY would be the best!

Actually one of the best and most significant ever. I'll address it on two points. First, as to their pilothouse models. Those were value priced and are still around doing incredibly well on the used market. Never a delamination. Loved by the vast majority of their owners. They were produced in the Arlington factory and production quality was excellent. I talk to owners all the time and all speak positively.

Second, to their smaller boats. They revolutionized the industry. They came in as a newcomer, with new production methods, selling a complete package for unheard of prices. Major dealers weren't interested but those who took the chance became the largest dealers around. They quickly became the largest selling boat and they forced others to reexamine and lower prices. Bayliner did more to open up boating to new buyers than any brand ever has. Yes, we made fun of them, but the industry owes them so much. The entry into boating was prohibitive for so many and they opened it up. If you don't get people in at that level, you never have boaters at all the other levels. Most yacht buyers started small. I know my boat ownership started a decade later with a 17' Sea Ray after previous fishing boats with 9.9 hp motors my father owned.

There is a place for value in the industry. I wish there was the equivalent of the Bayliner Pilothouse models today. Probably the nearest to that is Beneteau but no where near the quality.

As to the entry level boat, Sea Ray sure blew that with their insistence on stern drives which they're now reversing. Bayliner today offers boat, motor and trailer for $15k, less than half the cheapest Sea Rays and Glastron's. And who sells the most boats today of any brand? Tracker. That's right. Pricing of outboards has destroyed stern drives, especially at the entry level. It's building a love for boating that's a key. I feel so grateful that today one can still get into boating on the lakes around the country at an affordable price. Some can start with $40k boats, but most start under $20k.

Bayliner has built and sold more boats in the world than Azimut could ever dream of building. So therefore by your definition it would make them the best builder in the world, NOT Azimut. Obviously this is not the case as far as best quality goes, and obviously this does not make Azimut the best builder in the world. Only makes them the highest volume yacht builder, at a price point obviously. But the point of this is. just because they have built/sold more yachts, it does not make them the best builder by any definition, just the highest volume builder. Broward MY's at one point in time sold more yachts above 80' in the world and look where they are now, why, because they failed to update and build a better quality yacht.

Our opinions DO MATTER, because this thread is created by the OP searching for the ideal yacht for him. Whether Azimut is the highest volume builder, is irrelevant to him. It is our job to educate him on the questions he asks, such as 59' Searay, 60' cranchi, or 64' Shaeffer is better.

BTW, Baliner still answers their phones and answers questions.

If that's our job, we deserve to be fired.
In a nutshell, your reply to his question was buy a Sunseeker or a Hatteras instead, because they are "better".
Mine was, buy whatever you prefer, because quality differences don't really matter that much, in a boat meant to be enjoyed for just a few seasons.
Either way, we are both pretty far from accomplishing what you think is our job, aren't we?

See, I would never buy any of those three boats, also because IPS alone is enough for me to put them in the "over my dead body" category.
And you also would never buy them, as I understand. So, we are thinking along the same lines, yet we are giving very different answers.
Reason being that, in my understanding, the OP wishes/expectations are different from mine, and I don't pretend to "educate" him.
Or anyone else, for that matter.

It's always good to hear from a boater happy about his/her new pride and joy, whatever the choice is.
After all, there's also an old saying about the two best moments with boats being the purchase and the sale...
...But of course, all the very best for enjoying to the fullest also all the time in between!

That is great news, congratulations! It is especially great SR is stepping up to extend warranties. I've found Sr support to be good even on older discounted model. Although disappointing to some of us that they weren't able to support production of product over 40' it's great how they still support/service prior built units. Best of luck and enjoy.