Considering a used convertible

Are you only interested in a Viking, Cabo or Riviera? Lots of other good boats out there too. How many do you need to sleep aboard and accommodate? Do you need two heads & showers or is one enough? Is galley up or down important to you? Will you anchor over night or always in marinas? You really need to decide what are the must have options and lay-out and look for boats that fit your needs and budget.

For local cruising a boat at the lower end of your size range is fine but for the Bahamas you need storage and refrigeration which may require something bigger. Also better access for maintenance, especially important over there. I find engine room size and access far more important than other things like interior layout

Not very familiar with Riviera, only ran one once and briefly. Seemed ok but can’t say I was that impressed. Wondering why you re not looking at Hatteras…. If you want a solid boat with excellent systems they re hard to beat. Don’t know if riviera uses alum fuel tank but that alone would make me lean towards Hatteras and their bulletproof fiberglass tanks.

But obviously it depends at what year range you are looking at

Have you found any boats in the 42'-48' range that meet your criteria? I'm not as familiar with all the models out there as others on this site but I think you will need to get in the 50+ range. 3 staterooms and 2 heads will be challenging in less than 50'. Ironically, 3 staterooms/2 heads/2 showers and galley up and you described my 54'
Then as Pascal said, you'll need room for all the stuff you want for Bahamas trips.

And for diving a dive compressor, racks for tanks… going to be challenging on a 40 footer.

also in the Bahamas a good dinghy is critical, especially if diving unless you tow a CC. Storing a decent dinghy on a sub 50 is challenging.

Yes. I’m in Miami

again Sportfishes aren’t my thing but I have never heard anyone saying they wouldn’t be confident buying a used one. Yes it seems the company has pretty much moved on to small boats since it was purchased but there is still excellent support. In the last 10/15 viking quality as caught up up before then it wasn’t even close.

They use alum fuel tanks now?? Very surprised that they switched after 60 years.

properly installed they re fine but there is no doubt fiberglass is a much better material. My tanks just turned 52

Pretty sure the 60 MY (2009 forward) was the only model that Hatteras used aluminum for their fuel tank.

I just bought a 48' Ocean Yachts SS. (in the profile photo) Everything I have found in the literature suggests that they match up well, head to head with Viking. It was Viking that bought the Ocean Yachts manufacturing facility. I used to own a 36' Viking years ago and for a wooden boat it was nice but had gasoline engines. I'm very happy with the new boat and it didn't cost a fortune. If you're planning on diving, fishing etc. I think a convertible/sportfisher is the way to go. Easy exit and entrance to the boat for a diver/swimmer and nice deck to entertain on. The Ocean Yachts 48 is supposed to do 30 knots ... we'll see! The 48' came in a 2 or a 3 stateroom 2 head model. Mine is 3 staterooms/2 heads down and salon and galley up. It has 3 refrigerators, freezer, washer, dryer, fish cleaning station etc.

I've been watching that boat for a few years now. Good luck with the project!

Do not mistake the Bertram 46.6 with the newer 46, of which only about a dozen ever built and after nearly two years on the hunt found and bought one a few months back. I mention this only because one with galley up, 3 staterooms, two full-size bathrooms with showers, had showed up in Spain on one of the more popular online brokerage sites.

Well like one broker/captain of one I had missed, said, "one of the few that have withstood the test of time, he would put up against any new ones."

I read only built for a few years up to 1997 but I only ever found a 1994 and my 1995-96 for sale in the US, and one in France & one in Spain and a couple from old listings that despite getting Coast Guard Abstracts to trace ownership, was unable to locate them. One was last in Dominican Republic I gave up on. The one is Spain is the only galley up 3 stateroom model I ever found but I had no interest in galley up. As I was looking at going to see the one in France after "missing the boat" on one in Ma. and took a pass on one in the keys after two visits (both sold) a previously spoken to broker called about one he knew of in the Miami area that was not listed and next day I had her under contract. Rare model with many improvements from the 46.6, that took a LOT of patience to finally land. Looked at the others but wanted ONLY deep V and mid-ship master stateroom (both reasons for elimination of Viking) and after 42 years ownership of an older 38 Bert knew they built "tanks." I'm just south of Boca.
PS Been now and then in communication with the guys that bought two I missed and both claim they love the boats and had 0 interest in selling.