newbie in need of advice

Hi Mike and welcome,

I'm afraid your question is a little too vague. Before asking what kind of yacht to buy, you need to set some parameters. A good place to start would be one of the listing databases on the net, such as YachtWorld, TraderOnline, YachtCouncil or Boats.com

These databases will allow you to plug in price and feet, as well as many other parameters, i.e., flybridge or sport cruiser, diesel or gas, make, model and age.

It's really great that you're buying a boat for your father, but for something of this nature... you may need to let him in on your plans, unless you already know how he will use the boat, such as for fishing, inland cruising or offshore island hopping.

I wish you as much luck as your Dad had with his sons.

As Carl said, you have a great deal of ground to cover. I would even suggest a day charter or two just to get your feet wet. Here is another thread that will at least give you a peek at some shopper's thought processes -

Looking for some advise on boat purchase

Kelly Cook

Some boaters have very strong likes/dislikes for certain types of yachts. Maybe based on fact, but often just strong personal preference. Most builders focus on just 1 style of yacht. But there are a few who offer a variety of types to consider. Such as Albin, Cheoy Lee, Hatteras, Riviera, Silverton, and Viking. Visit some of these showrooms and you should get to see a variety of designs. Gotta start somewhere.

Kelly

Riviera and Silverton will cover the contemporary (aka "sport") styles nicely. To complete the picture with a more traditional style also look up a brand such as Albin, Novatec, Ocean Alexander, or Sabre.

As for reliability ratings, slim pickings to none at all. Nothing like the automobile reports. What few boat reports do exist almost all limit themselves to the smaller boats, which are made in much greater numbers. About the only exception I can think of is the annual NMMA CSI awards -

Marine Industry CSI Awards

Kelly

choosing a boat

You really need to figure out exactly what your father wants to get out of a boat. once you have done this you will have narrowed it down to a "type" after which you will search for that type versus your budjet. let's start with some basics, fast or slow. very important to consider dad's budjet since he will be buying the fuel. if the boat is economical it will get used more often. cruising area. if florida and the caribbean then lots of open outdoor areas. if Northeast to higher lattitudes, rough water etc then more interior areas and heavy weather features. next, will he have a cruising companion(s), will interior accomodations be important and for how many people? will yourselves and the grandchildren want to go out on the boat with dad? does it even need accomodations or will it be used primarily as a day boat with marina/hotel stays at night? watersports? none? or fishing?, scuba diving? or just swimming? run through these questions and it will help you to list the key features that you need in a boat. example if you answer slow, florida and the caribbean, sleeps four and swimming then with your budjet you are looking for a small trawler with an inboard diesel. next go to www.************** and plug in those parameters for a search.

try this, works for me. any questions just drop a line.

DAC

Delivery

MIKEW get your dad to go on ayacht delivery . Deliver companies are always looking for crew ,that way he will see if he likes the idear . If it is sailing then look at www.Reliance-yachts.com or look at St Barts deliveries out of Charleston
Good luck Clive