NEWBIE: Motoryacht 60'+ purchase help?

Can't help you with the nuts-and-bolts questions. But if they are in the area I would also look at Fairline, Marquis, Neptunus, and Viking. Just for grins, if nothing else!

Kelly Cook

Hi, as a first reply, just a note from todays News:

Great retirement boat

I too am retired and looking for a boat; here's my personal opinion: since he shouldn't be in any huge hurry anymore, I think he should get a Nordhavn. The Nordhavn Corporation (actually PAE/Pacific Asean Enterprises) is headquartered there in Dana Point, so forget about having problems with parts and service. Italian go-fast boats are fun for awhile, but then those fuel bills start rolling in and........well you know. You can even have a Nordhavn built with one (1) main engine and a much smaller emergency engine that will get you home just in case. And lemme tellya, three million will buy you a righteous Nordhavn! They're expensive, but they're worth it!

Second choice would be an Outer Reef yacht, also made in Taiwan and also available fully customizable, including single engine propulsion if desired. Just my .02. Remember, diesel isn't likely to get much cheaper in our lifetimes, and single-source power boats are starting to make a lot of sense.

Although I do not have any suggestions on brands (I own a sportfishing boat), I have three recommendations: 1. Find a broker you trust and rely on him/her to help you sort through the vast number of options; 2. Buy used; and 3. Find trustworthy, reliable boat and engine surveyors.

Hi,

Just be patient as the Euro will no doubt become cheaper for US Dollar buyers when the truth comes out with all the false accounting and lack of fiscal responsibility that has suddenly surfaced in Europe bringing about a sea of change in the Euro's value.

Where did you find that 1.4M Euro price tag? I emailed the Ft. Lauderdale Fairline rep and was quoted 2.7M US as base list price on the new Squadron 65 which Im pretty sure is a bull quote and this boat can be had for much less. They also quoted base list on a Squadron 55 as 1.9 US while on Fairline's website under News & Events > News > more news > 12th September Rebirth Of a Classsic Fairline has the 55 priced at 798,300 GBP which is roughly 1.2M US. Though the price quoted to me by the Ft. Lauderdale rep is with CAT C15 engines and Fairline's site quote is with Volvo Penta D12s and Im not sure where exchange rates tie in I dont think an engine upgrade is going to make up 700,000 US. I could be wrong since Im new to this playground like you are Dario. The new Squadron 65's flybridge is peerless in its class and size in my opinion. Freakin thing looks like it belongs on a 75-85 footer. Same with the salon, master cabin, and heads - such a sweet boat on paper I just think you shouldnt have to pay more than 2M US for her, even if that means buying a year or so after launch.

North Coast 82 ?

A Fairline Squadron 65'? Man, he better have a HUGE budget set aside for gas, oil and insurance. It's his money, and he's entirely at liberty to spend it any way he wants, but I'd hate to see him make the same mistake so many others have made and buy a fast gas hog and end up sitting at the docks for weeks on end because he can't justify spending so much money on (so little) gas! Diesels "go south" quickly if they aren't run regularly. I'd rather see him spend his money on a high-quality trawler yacht with great fuel economy and then have great fun actually USING the boat and going interesting places with it, like Belize, Mexico, South America, Alaska's Inland Passage, and so on.
Just my .02

Also I'd like to see him check out "Sea Spirit" yachts. Owned and operated by the ex-CEO of Queenship Yachts, they make a 60-footer that's tailor-made for him, and the kids and the grandkids. Built like a tank and economical to run, just the ticket for his retirement years.

"Where do we find the best boats? Local dealers? Online? Auctions? Stay away from Florida boats because of rust?"

Some fresh water boats will not have much rust, and boats used in the North East only a few months each year might have less rust than a Florida boat, but the selection is very limited and the prices are higher there. A well maintained boat should not have rust anyway, maybe on some engine parts or some nuts or bolts in the bilge areas only.
For a pre owned boat 60+ that is only a few years old, the choices in South Florida will be greater than anywhere else and there can be some very good deals on boats that are barely used.
Online is the first place to start as the internet is a boat show open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Auctions can be OK if you are very experienced and you know what you are getting into, boats get repo'd because the payments are not made, so the care and maintenance is taken care of either.
Tucker Fallon