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50-60’ Motor Yacht Shopping - new to boating

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by GreenTara, Nov 13, 2022.

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  1. GreenTara, Nov 13, 2022
    #1
    GreenTara

    GreenTara New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2022
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Florida
    Here we go...just started hunting. Hope to get something within the next 3-12 months.

    Husband and myself have no experience boating but are willing to learn and not afraid of hard work. We are based in southern half of Florida. We are thinking of using the boat for weekend trips along the coast and hoping to eventually get something bigger maybe 2-3 years down the line.

    Brands on our radar: Sunseeker, Prestige, Princess, Galeon...looking for something used but no more than 3-4 years old.

    The order of brand is current order of preference but we are open to learning of other brands.

    We have been looking around the forum but have not seen much recent direct comparison on the brands based on the builds above with recent model(less than 4 years old). We have heard enough badness in and out the forum about Azimut, so for now not particularly interested in them.

    All opinions encouraged. Any suggestions on how to how properly learn to care and pilot these vessels is appreciated. Is it true we would need a captain for first year given lack of boating experience? Any ways we could work on getting hands on boating experience prior to obtaining the actual boat? Are there schools for leisure boaters? Is this a more of one on one lesson?

    bonus points: does anyone know of semi decent computer boat simulators?
    ETA: budget <2M
  2. Pascal, Nov 13, 2022
    #2
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,546
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Welcome

    Yes you will need some hands on instruction before your insurance covers you and 6 to 12 months with a captain is probably about right. It s not just about driving but learning the boat systems, troubleshooting etc.

    There are some schools that offer programs for new boaters especially on trawlers. Don’t recall any name but should’ve easy to find

    i would recommend using the services of a captain to better define your needs and guide you in the process before you buy the boat. A good captain could also recommend techs for whatever maintenance you will need. Boats aren’t like cars where you just go to a dealer… most maintenance can be done dockside by hood independent techs especially things like air con, generator, etc.

    I would probably put Princess and Sunseeker above Galeon and Prestige but keep in mind that with used boats maintenance and use can be as important as initial quality.

    look at the stuff that really matters, not the salesman fluff like flat screens and drink holders. Most critical are maintenance access and what I call “boatability”.

    Ease of access is critical to keep maintenance costs low… at $100 an hour or more, if it takes 6 hours instead of two to service something because it’s hard to reach, it gets expensive. Fast.

    boatability are things like ease of boarding, side and foredeck decks access, having a rub rail, etc. this vary by brand. If you look at a boat on a floating dock, ask yourself how will you get on and off when tied alongside a fixed dock? Are there boarding gates? Sunseeker often does a lousy job there… the is a newer 60ish two slips from me and watching guests get on and off is very entertaining…. its not just SS but many euro builders often don’t adapt their designs for the US market…

    hope this helps.
    StillLearning, GreenTara, JWY and 2 others like this.
  3. KoffeeCruising, Nov 13, 2022
    #3
    KoffeeCruising

    KoffeeCruising Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2018
    Messages:
    99
    Location:
    Fl
    I agree with Pascal. And I was you 6 years ago, and 4.5 years ago I bought a 54’ Flybridge MY. Here’s what I have learned.

    1. It’s the boat; not the brand or even it’s age. Find the right “boatable”, livable, maintainable, updatable vessel. A well built properly equipped boat may be older and a brand you’ve never heard of. I have a 2007 Pama, a brand few have heard of, but it is what I described earlier. I’ve put 671 hours, 175 nights, from Key West to Nantucket, OKeechobee Waterway, Abacos… It’s the right tool for me and my use.

    2. Find the right Captain, he will steer you (literally) in the right direction on the boat, what you really need..and don’t need, where to go, how to maintain. He will know people who can fix any problem ahead of others.

    3. The right boat can be upgraded. I added a water maker, stabilizer, yacht controller remote, Bimini…. You’ll want a tender to get ashore and around.

    And newfangled things that fold down or open could be maintenance night mares.

    4. Get a OUPV 6 passenger License - it won’t teach you how to drive, but will show your insurance company you are serious to learn. I did mine through Mariners Learning Systems.

    5. Charter - see if you like being on hook vs marina, ICW vs Ocean.

    6. Date a lot of boats- marry the one you can live with.

    This will be a fun quest. Keep us posted.
    GreenTara likes this.
  4. ranger58sb, Nov 14, 2022
    #4
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2013
    Messages:
    897
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, USA

    What they said.

    Your insurance company will likely dictate length of captain training. (Our recently-new boat neighbors needed 50 hours, and got many of those on their delivery trip -- with Captain -- from Florida to Maryland. They were very pleased with their guy and what they learned from him...)

    You can charter boats, with a training captain, and that could help you learn boating skills and evaluate those specific boats. (May or may not be boats on your list).

    USCG Aux and the US Power Squadrons offer decent introductory boating courses. (Basic, but I recommend as a good starting point.) Look up TrawlerFest to find the name of the various training courses they offer. Also Cruiser's University. Probably others, too...

    Be aware: you (or somebody) will service, replace, or clean something on your boat every day. A slight exception might be the days when you are planning/researching how to service, replace, or clean something tomorrow. That can impact a) your initial budget (maybe designate some of that for annual), and b) your annual operating budget (what Pascal said about access).

    Given your location, it'll probably be useful for you to read everything you can about recent hurricane events -- what happened where, and why -- and about the hurricane planning you will likely have to do to get insurance.

    -Chris
    GreenTara likes this.
  5. Capt J, Nov 14, 2022
    #5
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Sunseeker, Princess, Galeon. Prestige is how I would rate the quality of them. With a much larger gap in quality between the first 2 and last 2.

    There are MANY aspects of yacht ownership you will need to learn, there is a lot of monthly maintenance that needs to be done, and planning a trip takes the proper planning. You need a good Captain to teach you all of those items. For how long, depends on you and your abilities to learn. I do what you are looking for, based in Pompano Beach,FL.
    GreenTara likes this.
  6. GreenTara, Nov 14, 2022
    #6
    GreenTara

    GreenTara New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2022
    Messages:
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    Location:
    Florida
    Thank you all for the very helpful insights. We will be looking into all of this. We are sooooo excited for this journey. Will keep you posted!