best used yacht brands

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5 Great Values In Used Boats

If you don't want to pay full price for a new boat but want something modern and reliable, these five picks are good starting points..

There are plenty of classics out there and countless old used boats in need of a rehab. But what if you'd like to get one new enough that its tech isn't ancient and its systems aren't all worn out? It certainly can be done, and whether you're in the market for a runabout, cruiser, center-console, watersports boat, or sailboat, there's almost certainly one out there with less than a decade of service that costs about half as much as buying new.

Used boat values can vary radically due to location and condition, so there's no hard and fast rule as to just how much a boat will devalue over time. That said, most boats depreciate quite a bit when first sold, then devalue less year by year until, at some point, prices more or less stabilize. Find a boat of this vintage in good shape, and you could pay not much more than you would for the same model with additional years of use on it. In this used-boat sweet spot, we find the following five boats particularly attractive and include some other gems in case you want to cast a wider net.

Runabout | 2011 Sea Ray 210 SLX

This Sea Ray 210 SLX may be a decade old, but it retains a modern look and significant savings over a newer model.

The 2011 Sea Ray stands out as a find in the world of used bowriders. With modern looks, it was initially equipped with niceties like a stereo with AM/FM/CD (sorry folks, but these do predate today's widespread availability of Bluetooth), snap-in carpet, and the vast majority of the 210 SLX models you find on the used market come with a matching tandem-axel trailer. Standard power for this boat is a 5.0L MerCruiser sterndrive with an Alpha I drive — an extremely popular package intimately familiar to most competent marine mechanics. You may also see the 210 SLX with optional power including the MerCruiser 350 MAG (which produces 300 horsepower) and Bravo III drives.

The 210 SLX has a straightforward layout with bow cockpit seating, helm and passenger's pedestal chairs, and aft seating to either side of the engine box. As is the norm for bowriders of this style, the engine box does double duty as a sun lounge with cushions that flip up for easy transom boarding and extend to either gunwale. There's also a small drink cooler integrated into the passenger's side console. To most people, however, the highlight of the model is a huge extended swim platform (with a flip-down telescopic swim ladder), which stretches the full beam of the boat.

Find a 2011 210 SLX and you'll see numbers in the mid to upper $20,000 price range, with the NADA guides pegging $25,550 as the average price. Sea Ray no longer produces the 210 SLX, but as a point of comparison, the 21-foot bowrider it currently builds, the SPX 210, carries a base MSRP of $47,332 with included tandem-axel trailer and a 200-hp MerCruiser 4.5L with an Alpha I drive. Opting up to 250 horses brings that cost up to just over $51,000. So finding a boat just under 10 years old may, in this case, literally halve your initial purchase cost.

Don't miss these gems! The roomy and sporty Chaparral 244 Sunesta is no longer in production, but a 2008 to 2010 vintage currently runs about half the price of a new 237 SSX. A Four Winns H200 Bowrider is another good choice, and at age 10 can be found for less than half of a new Four Winns Horizon 210, even when well-equipped.

Cruiser | 2012 Regal 35 Sport Coupe

The 2012 Regal 35 Sport Coupe, looks virtually identical to later models.

Look at a 2012 Regal 35 Sport Coupe alongside a new model, and you may be surprised at just how similar the boats seem to be. The exterior styling is virtually identical. Both model years have a bridgedeck with a large convertible lounger to port and a wet bar behind the helm seat to starboard. And both feature a main cabin with a head and galley, a large L-shaped settee, a forward queen berth, and a mid-cabin aft of the entry. It's quite unusual to find two boats from any manufacturer that have model years separated by this long a time span without any major changes — and that's because the styling and design of the 35 Sport Cruiser have proved so popular over the years.

There is, however, one big difference between buying a new 35 Sport Coupe and buying one that's eight years old: price. You can find 2012s from right around $150,000 to just under $200,000. This is a relatively large vessel with relatively complex systems, so you have to expect prices to vary quite a bit from boat to boat. But, by any measure, this represents a huge savings compared to buying new because today's 35 Sport Coupe runs closer to $300,000, and this number can grow depending on the options you choose.

Don't miss these gems! The Cruisers Yachts 330 Express also represents good bang-for-the-buck when stacked up against Cruisers Yacht's modern express cruiser, the 35 (currently the only 33 is an outboard-powered bowrider). There's a lot of price variability from hull to hull, particularly between boats kept in freshwater versus saltwater.

Center-Console | 2017 Boston Whaler 210 Montauk

Boston Whalers tend to retain their value, but you can still knock almost a quarter off the price of buying new by looking at one that’s a few years old.

It's true that, like automobiles, the moment a boat gets sold is when its value takes the biggest hit. And with just four years of use on it, the 2017 Boston Whaler Montauk provides an excellent example of a center-console you can buy almost new while taking advantage of this phenomenon to save some on initial expense. While the brand-new model lists at $63,884 with a single 150-hp Mercury outboard, finding a used Montauk just three or four years old can knock around $15,000, or about 23%, off the bill.

But Boston Whalers are a rather unusual case; they tend to retain value better than average, and this shows just how variable different makes and models can devalue over time. Look for a 210 Montauk with an additional five or six years of age, for example, and it's likely to be in the $40,000 range. In other words, while most other boats will be nearing the point at which they retain about half their original value, the Whaler 210 Montauk is still likely to command more like 60% of its as-new cost.

Just how different will the Montauk models be, setting aside the issues of wear and tear and maintenance? Boston Whaler does tend to make numerous incremental changes to its models year by year, so while the major parts of the boat won't differ, you will see changes from boat to boat. Items like leaning posts, console design, the presence (on newer models) or absence (older models) of bow seating backrests.

Don't miss these gems! The Pro-Line 23 Sport center-console was an incredibly popular boat just prior to the Great Recession, and there's a wide selection on the used market today, which generally run well under half the cost of a new boat, often with an included trailer. The Robalo R222 also had a great run in its day, and while most on the market are a bit newer (in the 2014–2015 range) and still retain a little more than half their original value, the savings are quite substantial compared to new models. Looking for a bit more LOA? Consider the Grady-White Canyon 306 . In the nine- to 10-year-old range you'll not only spend half as much, but Grady-Whites tend to maintain good resale values through time, so are likely to see slow devaluation moving forward.

Watersports Boat | 2014 Super Air Nautique 210

Even older watersports boats can be pricey.

In 2014 Ski Nautique redesigned its existing 21-foot multiwatersports platform, the Super Air Nautique, to offer both wake and surf watersports abilities in a package with contemporary styling. Included with the boat are modern features like ballast tanks (so you can make those big surfing waves) and a hull designed to work in conjunction with Nautique's NSS Surf System, allowing the operator to modify wave shape and size as desired for different watersports activities and skill levels.

Sure, there have been advancements and changes in both the tech and the boat since then, but models like this allow you to get in on very modern watersports engineering while paying used boat prices. Just how big a savings does this make for? Most 2014 Super Air Nautique 210s can be found in the $60,000 to $70,000 range. While that sounds like a lot for a 21-footer, remember that high-tech watersports command top dollar — the new version carries a base MSRP of $104,830. don't miss these gems! The Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV is one of the most popular boats of its kind, and you'll see plenty of listings for used models, which tend to drop below the 50%-of-new mark right around 2012 or 2011. Also of interest may be the Tige Z3, recently refreshed and substantially different in a seven- or eight-year-old model, but has the price drop to match.

Don't miss these gems! The Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV is one of the most popular boats of its kind, and you'll see plenty of listings for used models, which tend to drop below the 50%-of-new mark right around 2012 or 2011. Also of interest may be the Tige Z3, recently refreshed and substantially different in a seven- or eight-year-old model, but has the price drop to match.

Sailboat | Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 343

When it comes to buying a sailboat, don’t be afraid to look at one that’s 12 to 14 years old – or even older.

As even nonsailors know, sailboats are a different animal than powerboats, not only in how they're designed, built, and perform, but also in their resale values. Often built with fewer complex systems and less dependence on advanced propulsion systems designed for high-speed use, they do tend to age better than powerboats. The expression, "live fast and die young" would seem to apply to boats as well as people. And as a result, many sailboats do enjoy a slower depreciation in value.

That does not mean, however, that you can't save a good deal of expense by looking on the used market, especially if you look at boats with just a bit more age on them. The Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 343 provides a great example of a sailboat that, even with 12 to 14 years under the keel, can still be found in excellent condition and provide the kind of new boat reliability sailors want. Because the boat was produced with a single direct-drive inboard diesel power plant (in most cases you'll find a 29-hp Yanmar 3YM30), engine issues are far less likely than they would be with planing powerboats half the age but outfitted with gasoline engines. The two stateroom/single head layout works well for families and entertaining and proves ideal for both daysailing and weekending. Asking price for most older 343s on the market today is in the $80,000 to $90,000 range.

While the 343 is not currently built by Beneteau, the model closest in size being built at this time is the Oceanis 35.1. This new model has the option for a similar two stateroom/one head layout, or the aft cabin can be split into two smaller private rooms. Like the 343, it has a small Yanmar diesel (30-hp with a Sail Drive) for power. List price is $147,700. So while buying used doesn't quite get you to half the price in this case, it comes close.

Don't miss these gems! Though there aren't many on the used market, both the Catalina 22 and Catalina 275 Sport can be found with significant price reductions just seven or eight years back from new. Cruisers looking for a bigger sailboat might want to see the Lagoon 410 , which 10-plus years after being built runs less than half of the new 42, the current model closest in size.

Bottom Line

Assuming the previous owner took good care of the boat you may be looking at, in all of these cases there are several things in common: The models are new enough to be reliable, look good, and offer a reasonably modern level of technology. They're also all old enough to have already gone through the period of rapid depreciation that bothers some price-conscious buyers and are likely to depreciate at a much slower pace on your watch. And while we all may wish we could buy new, if that's not an option, these boats represent a great way to save on the initial investment while getting an almost-new boat with which you can fall completely in love.

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Lenny Rudow

New Boats, Fishing & Electronics Editor, BoatUS Magazine

Top tech writer and accomplished sports fisherman, BoatUS Magazine Contributing Editor Lenny Rudow has written seven practical boating books, won 30 awards from Boating Writers International — many for his marine electronics articles – and two for excellence from the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He judges the NMMA Innovation Awards, and is Angler in Chief at FishTalk, his own Chesapeake-based publication. A great teacher and inspirational writer, Lenny hosts many of BoatUS Magazine’s very-popular how-to videos, which can be found on the BoatUS YouTube channel, or at BoatUS.com

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What is the Best Brand of Used Boat to Buy? (Here Are the Top Picks)

Thinking of buying a boat? Whether you’re an experienced sailor or a first-time boat-owner, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right brand.

But with so many different boat brands out there, where do you start?

In this article, we’ll take a look at the best brands of used boats to buy.

We’ll explore the benefits of buying a used boat, compare popular boat brands like Sea Ray, Bayliner, and Chaparral, and discuss what to look for when shopping for a used boat.

Plus, we’ll share some tips for finding the best deals.

So, let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

It really depends on what type of boat you are looking for and what you plan to use it for.

Generally, boat brands that are well-known for their quality and longevity such as Sea Ray, Bayliner, and Grady White are good options.

It is also important to research the previous owners maintenance history and any records that are available.

Finally, it can be beneficial to have a professional marine surveyor inspect the vessel prior to purchase.

Benefits of Buying a Used Boat

When it comes to buying a boat, a used boat can provide a great value and a great experience.

Purchasing a used boat can help you save money, allowing you to get a quality boat at a fraction of the cost of a new model.

Additionally, used boats can often provide a faster, more direct route to the water, as they are often already outfitted with the necessary equipment to hit the waves.

One of the advantages of buying a used boat is that you can often find great deals on high quality boats.

Many used boats are well-maintained and have low hours on the engine, allowing you to get a great deal on a reliable boat.

Additionally, used boats may come with a variety of features that are not available on newer models, such as larger engines, more advanced navigation systems, and other amenities.

Another benefit of buying a used boat is that it can be easier to obtain financing.

Banks and other lenders are often more likely to offer financing for used boats, as they are viewed as a less risky investment.

Additionally, you may be able to take advantage of lower interest rates on your loan, which can help you save money in the long run.

Finally, buying a used boat can help you save on taxes.

Many states offer tax credits for the purchase of used boats, which can help you save money on the purchase.

Additionally, you may be able to find used boats that are exempt from certain taxes, such as sales and luxury taxes, which can further reduce the cost of your purchase.

For these reasons, many people find that buying a used boat is a great way to get out on the water without breaking the bank.

With careful research and comparison of different brands, you can find a great deal on a reliable, quality boat that will provide years of enjoyment.

Comparing Popular Boat Brands

When it comes to choosing the best brand of used boat to buy, it’s important to do your research and compare different brands to find the right fit for your needs.

The three most popular brands of used boats are Sea Ray, Bayliner, and Chaparral.

All of these brands offer quality craftsmanship and value that will stand the test of time.

When comparing these popular boat brands, it’s important to look at their features and capabilities.

Sea Ray boats are known for their luxurious designs, superior performance, and quality construction.

They are great for long days on the open water and offer plenty of seating and storage space.

Bayliner boats offer a great balance between luxury and functionality.

They are designed to be user-friendly and are perfect for both weekend and long trips.

Chaparral boats are known for their modern designs and cutting-edge technology, making them great for those who want a boat that is both stylish and powerful.

In addition to looking at the features and capabilities of the different brands, it’s also important to consider the maintenance history and engine hours of the used boat you’re looking to purchase.

This will help you determine how well the boat has been taken care of and how much life it has left.

It’s also a good idea to get a professional inspection of the boat before you make your purchase to make sure there are no hidden issues.

Ultimately, the best brand of used boat to buy will depend on your individual needs, budget, and preferences.

With the right research, you can find a quality boat that will provide years of enjoyment out on the open water.

Sea Ray Boats

When it comes to purchasing a used boat, Sea Ray boats are an excellent choice.

They have been around since 1959 and are known for their quality craftsmanship and value.

They are a popular brand of boat among recreational boaters, anglers, and sailors alike.

Sea Ray offers a wide variety of models, from bowriders to sport boats, and they are available in sizes ranging from 17 to 60 feet.

Sea Ray boats are built to last.

They use the latest technology and materials to provide a safe and comfortable boating experience.

Additionally, they are powered by reliable and efficient engines, making them fuel efficient and easy to maintain.

When it comes to safety, Sea Ray boats are equipped with a variety of features, such as non-skid surfaces, hull stabilizers, and automatic bilge pumps.

They also offer a wide range of optional features, such as fire extinguishers, GPS navigation systems, and radar systems.

When considering the cost, Sea Ray boats are a great option.

They offer competitive prices and quality craftsmanship that make them a great value.

Additionally, they are backed by reliable warranty coverage, so you can rest assured that your purchase is protected.

Overall, Sea Ray boats are an excellent choice for those looking for a great used boat.

They offer quality, reliability, and value that will last for years to come.

With a wide variety of models and a wide range of features, Sea Ray boats are sure to meet your needs.

Bayliner Boats

Bayliner boats are renowned for their quality craftsmanship and value that make them a great option for those looking to buy a used boat.

With an extensive line of boats ranging from small runabouts to luxury yachts, there is a perfect Bayliner boat for any budget.

These boats are built with reliable materials and components, such as marine-grade aluminum and fiberglass, which ensures that they will last for years to come.

Furthermore, Bayliner boats come with a remarkable warranty that covers many of the major components, such as the engine, fuel lines, and hull.

Before buying any used Bayliner boat, however, it’s important to thoroughly research its maintenance history and make sure it has low hours on the engine.

Doing so can help ensure that you get the most out of your purchase and enjoy your boat for years to come.

Chaparral Boats

When it comes to finding the best brand of used boat to buy, Chaparral Boats should certainly be considered.

This company has been building boats since 1965 and produces a wide range of vessels, from runabouts and cruisers to fishing and ski boats.

They are known for their quality craftsmanship and value that will last.

Chaparral boats are designed with safety and comfort in mind, featuring an array of features and amenities.

The company is committed to producing boats that are easy to maintain and repair.

At Chaparral, the focus is on creating durable, reliable boats that are built to last.

When shopping for a used Chaparral boat, it is important to look for one with a good maintenance history and low hours on the engine.

Be sure to inspect the boat thoroughly for any signs of wear and tear, as well as to make sure all the systems are in working order.

Additionally, be sure to ask the seller about any major repairs that have been made, as well as any warranties that may be included.

Overall, Chaparral Boats are a great option for those looking for a reliable and well-built used boat.

With their commitment to quality craftsmanship and value, its no wonder that these boats are some of the most popular brands of used boats on the market.

What to Look for When Buying a Used Boat

When looking for the best brand of used boat to buy, there are several important factors to consider.

First, you want to make sure that the boat is in good condition and has a reliable maintenance history.

This includes checking the engine for any signs of wear and tear, as well as making sure that all safety features are up to date.

Additionally, it is important to consider the size and type of boat that best fits your needs.

For example, if you plan on using the boat for fishing, you may want to look for a larger boat with plenty of space for your equipment.

Another important factor is the price.

Used boats can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the condition and brand.

Finally, you want to make sure that the boat has enough room to accommodate your passengers and cargo.

When it comes to finding the best brand of used boat to buy, its important to take your time and do your research.

Tips for Finding the Best Deals on Used Boats

When it comes to buying a used boat, there are a few tips that can help you find the best deal.

First, it is important to do your research and compare different brands of used boats to find the best option for your needs.

Additionally, it is a good idea to look for boats with a good maintenance history and low hours on the engine.

This will help ensure that you get a reliable, well-maintained boat that will last.

You should also look for any signs of water damage or other issues that could affect the boats performance and safety.

Additionally, you should always check for any recalls or warranty information that may come with the boat.

It is also a good idea to shop around and compare prices from different sellers.

Many times, you can find great deals on used boats from private sellers or online dealers.

Additionally, you should consider attending boat shows or auctions, as these are often good places to find good deals on used boats.

Finally, you should always make sure that you are getting the best deal possible for your money.

Be sure to compare prices and features of different boats to find the best option for your needs.

Additionally, you should always check the sellers reputation and read online reviews before making a purchase.

This will help ensure that you are getting a reliable boat that will last.

By doing your research and shopping around, you can find the perfect boat for your needs at an affordable price.

With a bit of diligence and patience, you can be sure to find the perfect boat to meet your needs.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to buying a used boat, there are many factors to consider.

It is important to compare the different boat brands and find one that fits your needs, budget, and preferences.

Sea Ray, Bayliner, and Chaparral are some of the most popular brands of used boats, each offering quality craftsmanship and value.

Additionally, look for boats with a good maintenance history and low hours on the engine.

With a little bit of research and some careful consideration, you can find the perfect used boat for your needs.

Now, go out and find the best deal on your dream boat!

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

10 Great Used Motoryachts You Can Buy For $150K

January 16, 2017 1:45 pm

Consider this scenario: you’re in the market for a used motoryacht — probably nothing smaller than 40 feet — with a budget of $150,000, more or less. You want a boat from a good builder (preferably one of their more popular models), and you’re open to the layout as long as it’s comfortable. Everything else is on the table.

If that describes your boating future, you’ll be happy and perhaps a little surprised at the choices available to you in a used motoryacht or cruiser yacht .

To find out for ourselves, we spent two weeks researching this market on YachtWorld, boats.com, etc., and came away with a list of ten models that represent a cross section of what’s available for about $150,000. There’s a lot to choose from here — traditional aft cabin motor yachts, cockpit motor yachts, classic pilothouse yachts, and sporty sedan cruisers.

All of the ten boats profiled below were popular models during their production years which means (a) that a clean used model should be relatively easy to find, and (b) selling or trading up one day should be no problem.

At the end of the day it’s good to know $150,000 still buys a lot of boat. Assuming 20 percent down and a 15-year note, the monthly payment for one of these yachts can be less than $1,000. For many, that’s an affordable number, especially with strengthening home values and historically low interest rates. Food for thought as we approach the spring boat show season.

1. Carver 500/504 Cockpit MY Production Years: 1996–2000

At a Glance: A super-popular model for Carver, basically a condo on the water. This is a cockpit version of the Carver 455/456 Aft Cabin model produced during the same years.

Spacious two stateroom maple interior has a folding bulkhead in the forward VIP stateroom that conceals a small guest cabin/den to port with convertible bunks. (This feature was eliminated in 1999 when the interior was redesigned and the name changed to Carver 504.)

The large U-shaped galley is aft in the salon rather than forward as it is in most motoryacht floorplans. In the master stateroom, the walkaround queen bed faces aft to permit the installation of cockpit access door. Washer/dryer is in forward stateroom. Twin 450hp Cummins diesels cruise at 18 knots.

Best Feature: Huge interior, the result of moving the superstructure well forward in the hull (note the relatively short foredeck).

Pr ice Spread: From a low of about $150K up to the mid-to-high $200s for a newer model.

2. Carver 444 Cockpit MY Production Years: 2001 – 2006

At a Glance: The top-selling cockpit yacht in this class for several years. Basically a Carver 396 Aft Cabin with a good-sized cockpit. The 444’s huge full-beam interior — made possible by raising the side decks to eye level — comes as a surprise. With its panoramic views and nearly seven feet of headroom, the salon’s dimensions are those of a much larger boat.

To save space, the forward head is split with the shower stall to port and toilet compartment to starboard. A sliding glass door in the (smallish) master stateroom opens directly into the cockpit.

In 2004, an optional “Extended Salon” floorplan with a full-size dinette, enlarged galley and redesigned VIP stateroom became available. Twin Volvo 370hp engines cruise at 18–19 knots. Carver sold a ton of these stylish boats.

Best Feature: Enormous salon/dinette/galley area with panoramic outside views.

Price Spread: A random YachtWorld check will find several priced in the mid $100K range.

3. Meridian 411 Sedan Production Years: 2003 – 2008

At a Glance: Very popular (and very affordable) sedan cruiser — a winning blend of sharp styling and spacious accommodations — made the Meridian 411 one of the best-selling midrange boats in her class. Huge interior layout with galley and booth-style dinette forward, a step up from the aft salon area with entertainment center and facing settees.

Large salon windows bring the outdoors in. Modern decor with cherry cabinets, Ultraleather seating, and Corian counters. Master stateroom includes private en-suite head; guest stateroom has a double berth (tucked under the dinette) and access to the second day head. Extended swim platform leads to a large cockpit (with molded bridge steps) suitable for fishing and entertaining.

Lower helm was optional. Wide side decks make it easy to get to the foredeck sun pad.

Best Feature: A super-social flybridge with sun lounge, wet bar, settee, and aft sun pad.

Price Spread: Low-to-mid $100s to over $300K.

4. Silverton 39 Motor Yacht Production Years: 2002 – 2008

At a Glance: This maxi-beam aft cabin cruiser — and her lookalike predecessor, the best-selling Silverton 372/392 Motor Yacht — is proof that a roomy interior trumps graceful styling almost every time. Elevated side decks on both sides of the house provide a huge full-beam salon as well as direct flybridge access to the foredeck.

The 39’s galley rivals many larger boats in storage and counter space. Both staterooms have queen beds, generous storage, and en-suite heads with stall shower. High-gloss cherry trim, Corian counters, and Ultraleather upholstery compliment the interior. Molded steps lead from the swim platform up to a roomy aft deck with wet bar, bench seating and hard top.

Note the triple helm seat on the flybridge. The 39’s high freeboard will test your docking skills on a windy day. Standard 380hp gas engines cruise at 16–18 knots.

Best Feature: Enormous two-stateroom interior dwarfs anything in her class. Excellent galley.

Price Spread: $150K to the mid $200s.

5. Bayliner 4788 Pilothouse Production Years: 1994 – 2002

At a Glance: Arguably the best big-boat value ever. Spacious, well appointed, and surprisingly fuel efficient. This is basically a restyled (and lengthened) version of the very popular Bayliner 4550/4588 Pilothouse.

Her three stateroom, two head interior features a full-beam salon with large U-shaped galley forward to port, wet bar, L-lounge seating, and large side windows. In the pilothouse, there is a settee aft of the helm and a companion seat to port.

Visibility from the pilothouse is excellent. Second guest stateroom with upper/lower bunks doubles as a den and opens directly to the master stateroom — very clever. An inflatable dinghy can be carried on the extended flybridge deck. The engine room is a tight fit. Forget all that talk about Bayliner quality — the 4788 is simply a lot of boat for the money.

Best Feature: Comfortable salon that opens to the large cockpit — perfect for entertaining.

Price Spread: Low-to-mid $100s for a 1994–95 model to $230 to $250K for a 2001–02 model.

6. Sea Ray 550 Sedan Bridge Production Years: 1992 – 1998

At a Glance: Stylish 1990’s cruising yacht with three-stateroom interior and extra-large cockpit. The salon is impressive, a wide-open (carpeted) living area with cut-down galley, long leather sofa, entertainment center, and big wraparound cabin windows.

The forward master stateroom is huge with an island queen bed, two hanging lockers, vanity, and private en-suite head. Roomy guest stateroom has a full-size berth, and the second guest cabin has over/under bunks. Both heads have stall showers, but guest head is tight. Lower helm was optional. Center transom door is flanked by built-in bench seats in the cockpit.

In 1996, the flybridge ladder was replaced with molded steps and the helm was relocated aft. The 550’s straight sheer and drooping bow are distinctive. Detroit 625hp 6V-92 diesels cruise at 22–23 knots.

Best Feature: The large cockpit and party-time flybridge — great attributes for entertaining.

Price Spread: $150K to the mid $200s

7. Maxum 4600 SCB Production Years: 1997 –2001

At a Glance: Modern styling, an inviting two stateroom interior, and a very competitive price made the Maxum 4600 SCB one of the best motoryacht buys of her day. Maxum engineers packed a lot of value into this boat. The salon is exceptionally inviting with wraparound windows, a long leather sofa, cherry cabinets, and full entertainment center.

A raised dinette is forward to starboard, opposite the home-size galley with overhead glass storage and Corian counters. A lower helm was optional in place of the dinette. Note the tub in the master head. In the cockpit, a center transom door opens to an extended swim platform able to support a PWC.

The 4600 SCB is surprisingly fuel-efficient boat, a feature that stems in part from her relatively light weight. Cummins 370hp diesels cruise at 16–18 knots.

Best Feature: An affordable price — this is what brokers call a lot of boat for the money.

Price Spread: From about $100K for an older model up to $200K-plus for 2001–02 model.

8. Sea Ray 450 Express Bridge Production Years: 1998 – 2004

At a Glance: An innovative yacht when she was introduced in 1998. Not many 45-footers have three staterooms. The aft stateroom — accessed via a private entryway next to the salon door — includes a full-length berth with hanging locker and built-in washer/dryer.

Forward of that, the amidships stateroom features a double berth with partial standing headroom and an opening port. An island queen is in the forward stateroom. Both heads include separate stall showers. Aft of the galley is a breakfast bar with two swing-out stools. Small salon windows limit natural lighting below. Topside, the huge party-time flybridge has seating fore and aft of the center helm console. Note the unique staircase descending from the flybridge to the foredeck.

An extended swim platform was a popular option. Cummins 450hp V-drive diesels cruise at 20–22 knots.

Best Feature: Huge party-time bridge area.

Price Spread: An early model might be found for $150K. Newer can easily exceed $200K.

9. Carver 440 Aft Cabin Production Years: 1993 – 1999

At a Glance: The largest model in the Carver fleet when she was introduced in 1993. A big 44-footer with an usually spacious salon, two double staterooms, two full heads, and a convertible dinette — sleeping accommodations for as many as eight adults.

The maple wood accents and carpeted salon are showing their age, but large cabin windows make the interior open and airy. Note salon entertainment center. Full-service galley includes double sink, upright refrigerator, washer/dryer, Corian counter and hardwood floor.

The aft deck is large enough for a table and chairs, and the flybridge has dual captain’s chairs with bench seating forward of the helm. Bow pulpit, fiberglass swim platform, and radar arch were standard. Carver sold a lot of these boats and used models are plentiful.

Best Feature: Very spacious layout with room to entertain a small neighborhood.

Price Spread: From about $100K for an older model up to $200K-plus for 2001–02 model

10. Sea Ray 420 Aft Cabin Production Years: 1996 – 2002

At a Glance: Sleek aft cabin cruising yacht incorporated European styling influences in an era when too many American-built motor yachts looked like floating condos. Well-appointed two stateroom galley-down interior sleeps up to eight — includes L-shaped sofa and raised dinette in the salon, walkaround queen berths fore and aft, two full heads, and stand-up utility room under the salon sole.

Full-size galley comes complete with separate Sub Zero refrigerator and freezer, convection oven, and lots of counter and storage space — a big plus. The aft deck is big for a boat this size. Molded steps make boarding from the extended swim platform easy and safe.

Built on a fully cored hull with prop pockets to level the engines. A good performer with 450hp Cummins diesels— cruise in the mid 20s (27–28 knots top.

Best Feature: Utility room with washer/dryer and pantry — a very unique feature in a boat this size

Price Spread: From the low $100K range for a 1996–97 model up to about $200K for newer.

Ed McKnew PowerBoat Guide Founder

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The World’s Best Yacht Brands

19th jul 2024 by samantha wilson.

Even to those in the industry, the definition of the term “ yacht ” often falls in a gray area. What one defines as a yacht, another may refer to as a boat. This ambiguity is an accepted oddity within the yachting world and while there are some broad definitions, there are no firm rules.

Where the industry generally unites is in defining that recreational vessels over 80 feet are classed as superyachts, although even there, some will hold out for 100 feet. Boats below 80 feet become more difficult to define. A luxury sportfishing boat is unanimously considered to be a yacht, as are modern luxury trawlers. But in many quarters, most boats over 30 feet are classified as a yacht if they have a quality, “yacht-like” finish. This can include small motoryachts, cabin cruisers, well-appointed center consoles, and express or open sportfishing models . Sailboats are also widely referred to as yachts when even shorter than 30 feet, perhaps because cruising sailors are frequently known as “yachties.” Virtually all larger sailboats with cabins and galleys are called yachts.

Which brings us to the other definition of a yacht, and that is the level of luxury it possesses. A simple, mid-sized fishing boat that’s a little rough around the edges is unlikely to ever be graced with the name “yacht”; the finishings, the furnishings, the electronics, the decks, the cabins, galleys, and general outlook of the boat play a significant role in it being given the title of yacht.

Let’s take a look at the many different types of yachts on the market today and look at some of the best yacht brands building them. It’s important to remember that there are a huge number of luxury boat brands all across the world, and this is just a small selection.

Best Motor Yachts

The term motor yacht can describe any luxury recreational vessel from 30 feet up to the largest superyachts, but is typically used for mid-sized cruisers from 30 to 80 feet in length. They’ll have cabins, galleys, saloons, and heads; they’ll have a high-end finish, plenty of space for sun lounging, and be geared towards families and weekend cruising.

Best Motor Yacht Brands

Sunseeker: With its origins in the 1960s, this British brand of motor yachts has an extensiveline-up (and even more models on the used market). Models range from mid-sized to superyacht scale, and they have both a luxury finish and a sleek, distinctive appearance. Sunseeker boats for sale

Riva Yachts: The Riva Yachts brand has a long history and for decades has been synonymous with fine Italian craftmanship. Today it is owned by Ferretti Group and offers a range of sleek, elegant motor yachts that honor its classic heritage. With a current range including Sportfly, Flybridge, and Open models, it remains one of the most prestigious brands in the industry. Riva boats for sale

Princess Yachts: Another British brand, Princess Yachts builds fine motor yachts from midsize to superyacht size. The company was founded in the 1960s and operates out of a huge, 1.1 million square feet shipyard. Its luxury motor yachts are some of the most technologically advanced for their size in the industry. Princess boats for sale

The term motor yacht covers a wide range of sizes and styles of vessels, but is usually used for motor boats between 30 and 80 feet. Princess photo.

Best Sailing Yachts

In an era where motor yachts dominate the waters, it’s easy to forget momentarily that sailboats were the very first yachts. Over around 30 feet they fall into the yacht category, with cabins, galleys, and heads making them suitable for longer-range cruising. The rigging and sails tends to make little difference to sailing yacht classification, but rather the vessel’s ability to cruise farther and longer and in more comfort and luxury. Sailing yachts for sale

Best Sailing Yacht Brands

Hallberg-Rassy : The long-standing Swedish brand Hallberg-Rassy has an impressive line-up of quality ocean-going sailing yachts that offer sturdy blue-water capabilities and comfortable, elegant interiors. The brand has a range of models from 34 to 69 feet that are excellent long-distance cruisers. Hallberg-Rassy boats for sale

X-Yachts: Offering top performance in both their competitive and cruising models since 1979, the Danish X-Yachts brand has long been admired on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean for quality boats and excellent sailing capabilities. While best known for their racing models, the X-Yachts team now offers bluewater performers up to 56 feet overall in length. X-Yachts boats for sale

Jeanneau : Jeanneau has been building capable, innovative ocean-going sailing yachts for over 60 years and has gained a great reputation for innovative design and good sailing performance. The brand’s current range includes large yachts, small ocean racers, and 35- to 49-foot cruising models that are cleverly designed, perform well, offer excellent handling, and are relatively affordable. Jeanneau boats for sale

Beneteau: While Groupe Beneteau owns and builds an array of both motor yachts and sailing yachts (including Jeanneau, above), its flagship Beneteau brand is known for building and selling more sailboats every year than any other brand. The company offers spacious, modern cruising and luxury models 30 to 60 feet in length, and well-respected performance models 14 to 53 feet. Beneteau boats for sale

The classic sailing yacht offers home comforts, cabins, and long-range capabilities. Hallberg-Rassy photo.

Best Luxury Yachts

The term luxury yacht can define any vessel that offers an exceptionally high-quality finish, luxury furnishings, and is generally a cut above the rest. The term luxury can apply to all styles of boats that we look at in greater detail on this list, including cruisers, modern recreational trawlers, sportfishing yachts, superyachts, motoryachts, and sailing yachts.

Best Luxury Yacht Brands

Azimut: The Italian Azimut|Benetti Group brought together two of the top brands in Europe in 1985 and has grown to be one of the most respected luxury brands in Europe and the US. While Benetti builds superyachts exclusively now, Azimut builds seven lines of models ranging 42 to 125 feet and outboard-powered to hybrids, flybridge speedsters to trawlers and larger motoryachts. Azimut boats for sale

Sunreef: Builder of power and sailing catamarans in Gdansk, Poland, Sunreef Yachts started as a yacht charter agency and then began building luxury, ocean-going, flybridge-equipped catamarans in 2003. Today, with a new, dramatically larger factor and heavy investment in energy-independent technologies, Sunreef power and sail models range from 44 to 100 feet, and a superyacht range is well underway. Sunreef boats for sale

Sanlorenzo: The Sanlorenzo shipyard has been building high-quality motor yachts since 1958 and offers a range of sophisticated, custom luxury yachts. Its Yacht Series ranges from 78 to 120 feet in length, while the Superyacht Series offers yachts up to 220 feet. Sanlorenzo boats for sale

Luxury yachts can be of many types and sizes including cruisers, modern recreational trawlers, sportfishing yachts, superyachts, motoryachts, and sailing yachts. Sanlorenzo photo.

Best Superyachts

Superyachts are generally categorized as yachts (both motor and sail) over 80 feet, and they are typically the largest and most luxurious vessels in the world costing millions of dollars. The heart of the superyacht manufacturing industry is in Europe, with many of the world’s top brands based in Italy, France, the Netherlands and Germany, but with builders in the United States, United Kingdom, and Asia also making big waves. Superyachts set the bar for the boating industry, pushing the boundaries of innovation and engineering.

Best Superyacht Brands

Lürssen: German brand Lürssen have their finger on the pulse of innovation, and their huge luxury yachts pave the way for the industry as a whole. Lürssen has built some of the largest and most expensive luxury yachts in the world including 511 feet-long Dilbar .

Feadship: Dutch brand Feadship is a major player in the superyacht world, and has built some of the largest luxury vessels including Anna at 360 feet. It was founded over 70 years ago as an alliance of several shipyards and continues to challenge itself to create ever-more daring and innovative vessels. Feadship boats for sale

Oceanco: Another Dutch builder, Oceanco, focuses on superyachts in the 80 meter range, with their largest being Infinity at 374 feet featuring seven decks and luxuries including a spa, sauna, gym, and yoga studio.

Superyachts are the largest and most luxurious of all the vessels and can range from 80 feet to more than 300 feet in length. Oceanco photo.

Best Small Yachts

Pocket yachts offer the best of both worlds, with clever use of interior and deck space providing versatility, overnight stays, and comfort for family and friends aboard. And all in a compact and often more affordable package. Larger doesn’t always mean better, and these brands are proving just that with their small yachts.

Best Small Yacht Brands

Hinckley Yachts: Dating back almost a century as a sail and power yacht builder, Maine-based Hinckley Yachts now produces elegant pocket cruiser yachts. Its Picnic Boat range of models 37, 39 and 40 feet in length combine classically beautiful lines, cutting edge technology, and a finish of rich woods and plush seating. The jet-powered boats provide a quiet, smooth, and fast ride, as well as exceptional comfort both inside and on deck. Hinckley boats for sale

Chris-Craft: For those wanting to buy a boat with true yacht looks and power, you can’t go wrong with the all-American brand Chris-Craft. While its range of models are smaller in size than many others on this list, its 34-foot Catalina and 35-foot Calypso certainly fit in the yacht category with small interior cabins and heads. Chris-Craft boats for sale

Small yachts, or pocket cruisers, offer the chance to experience the yachting lifestyle in a more compact package. Hinckley Yachts photo.

Best Affordable Yachts

Yachts are a luxury asset, and whenever we talk about affordability it ultimately comes down to a buyer’s personal budget. Of course, buying a used boat is always going to be more cost effective than a brand new one, but there are also yacht brands that focus on quality and value-for-money affordable yachts including:

Best Affordable Yacht Brands

Ranger Tugs: Ranger Tugs is one of the most affordable yacht brands, with a great choice of family-friendly pocket yachts and long-distance cruisers. The R-23, in particular, has been built with price at the forefront and allows buyers to purchase an excellent trawler boat at well under the price of most competitors. Ranger Tugs boats for sale

Cutwater Boats: While Cutwater describes its vessels as boats, we feel the size range and finish of their cruising trawlers qualifies them for yacht status. They are functional, reliable, and affordable, with a quality finish and plenty of home comforts making them good value-for-money. Cutwater boats for sale

There are brands which offer excellent value-for-money yachts, with high quality workmanship and finishes at lower cost than the competition. Cutwater photo.

Best Sportfish Yachts

The sportfishing yacht market is booming in the United States, with the popularity of these mean fishing machines growing year on year. Sportfishing yachts are characterized by their speed and reliability, as well as offering plenty of fishing amenities, comfort, and a great driving experience. There are many brands out there to choose from, with some of the major players including:

Best Sportfish Yacht Brands

Scout Boats: Scout’s center console sportfishing yachts are some of the most luxurious in the industry. With models ranging from 17 to 67 feet, they offer accommodation, large horsepower, as many as four outboard engines, spacious flybridges, and all manner of fishing accessories. These sportfishing yachts combine cruising comfort with serious offshore angling to create a multi-functional cruising yacht. Scout boats for sale

Boston Whaler: No list would be complete without Boston Whaler on it, so popular is this all-American brand and its stellar reputation. In its current line-up the Conquest, Realm, and Outrage ranges offer models which easily fall into the over 30-foot luxury yacht category, with multiple, hefty horsepower engines, all the offshore fishing equipment you can imagine, and a beautiful finish. Boston Whaler boats for sale

Viking: Head-turning, luxurious, and seriously powerful, Viking Yachts’ range of sportfishing yachts is one of the best in the industry. The family-run brand has a huge line-up, with nearly 20 models ranging from 38 feet to a whopping 90 feet including convertibles and enclosed flybridge yachts, each one finished to an incredibly high spec. Viking boats for sale

Sportfishing yachts combine comfort and high speeds with exceptional offshore fishing capabilities. Viking Yachts photo.

Best Trawler Yachts

The slow, sturdy trawler has had one of the most impressive makeovers of any vessel. Once considered a fishing boat workhorse, today they are one of the most sought-after long-distance cruising yachts on the market. These impressive ocean-going yachts offer luxury, comfort, space, speed and fuel-efficiency in one highly capable and attractive package. Today’s trawler yachts are differentiated by their iconic silhouette resembling a mini superyacht.

Best Trawler Yacht Brands

Nordic Tugs: These American-built trawler yachts are the epitome of what today’s trawlers can be: luxurious, long-range and spacious. They’re anything but a tug boat, and built with meticulous attention to detail creating reliable, adventure-bound cruisers. Nordic Tugs boats for sale

Outer Reef Yachts: Designed to suit their owners, these semi-custom long-range cruisers have been built in Taiwan for Outer Reef in the US for more than 20 years. Interiors display extraordinary craftsmanship, whether the yachts are 58 feet or more than 100 feet long. Outer Reef boats for sale

Grand Banks: One of the pioneers of the cruising trawler, Grand Banks have brought these hugely popular yachts to superyacht levels in a compact package. They have six decades of boat building under their belt, offering reliability, customer service and forward-thinking ideas. Grand Banks boats for sale

Nordhavn: Nordhavn produces well-engineered, high-performance trawler yachts ranging from 41-foot pocket cruisers to 120-foot superyachts. Yet each one always retains its trawler image, which has been Nordhavn’s signature look for several decades. Nordhavn boats for sale

Modern recreational trawlers are long-range spacious yachts which make good liveaboards or for off-grid explorations. Nordhavn photo.

Best Sport Yachts

The sport yacht (or sports cruiser as it is also commonly referred to) brings speed, adventure, versatility, and comfort to the table in huge measures. They range from around 30 feet all the way up to 80 feet and, while there’s no hard and fast criteria to define them, are usually sporty-looking powerboats with an open cockpit, a forward cabin forward, and no flybridge.

Best Sport Yacht Brands

Axopar: Finnish brand Axopar simply exudes adventure with its range of hardy yet elegant sports boats. With distinctive angular styling and a forward-thinking multifunctional and modular concept, its boats allow owners to travel farther and do more. Its largest 37-foot and 45-foot models offer everything from watersports to overnight trips, navigating inclement weather, transporting on-land adventure sports equipment and more. Axopar boats for sale

Sea Ray Boats: Sea Ray has been building some of the best sport cruiser yachts in the US since its founding in 1959. Today it remains one of the most popular, with a strong focus on customer service and satisfaction, as well as attention to detail. While most of its current models are smaller (and more affordable) than others on this list, its hugely popular Sundancer series offers models up to 37 feet with outboard and stern-drive configurations and a strong emphasis on interior and deck space. Sea Ray boats for sale

Tiara Yachts: Tiara Yachts was founded in 1974 and is highly regarded as one of the premier sport yacht builders in the industry. Its models range from 34 to over 60 feet, with a choice of inboards and outboards. Features such as huge side swim platforms, rotating cockpit seating and dinettes, impressive fishing accessories, and accommodations for up to four people, they are as sporty as they are luxurious. Tiara boats for sale

Racy looking sports yachts offer speed, adventure, versatility, and comfort. Sea Ray photo.

This article was published in March 2023 and updated in July 2024.

Written By: Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson has spent her entire life on and around boats, from tiny sailing dinghies all the way up to superyachts. She writes for many boating and yachting publications, top charter agencies, and some of the largest travel businesses in the industry, combining her knowledge and passion of boating, travel and writing to create topical, useful and engaging content.

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10 Affordable Cruising Catamarans

By Phil Berman
Updated: May 24, 2024

So, you want to get a catamaran , sail off into the sunset, and capture some magic with your lover or family for a few years. You have no ambition to sail around the world or to live aboard forever, but think a one- or two-year sabbatical might be life-changing. You’d like to sail the US East Coast, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, perhaps the Med—or up and down the West Coast and on to Mexico and Central America. You have $300,000 or less to spend and want a catamaran you can sell at the end of the journey without consuming a bottle of Tylenol to blunt the pain.

The good news is that this is quite achievable. The bad news is that there is a vast wave of baby boomers who are all looking for the same thing—and for right around the same price. This makes finding a good deal on a great used catamaran a lot of work, even working with a broker. But, it’s possible. You just need to keep an open mind.

The other good news, which might seem surprising, is that an older catamaran, besides being more affordable, might sail just as well—or even better—than the same-size new cat that will cost considerably more. Yes, the older model might have less room inside and lack the latest condo-on-the-water styling, but it was designed and built before the current trend to supersize the newer generations of multihulls at the expense of sailing performance.

Here’s my advice to the cat hunter on a budget: Don’t get too hung up on the length of the boat. Instead, focus on the spatial and payload requirements you seek and which can be achieved within your budget. And best not get too focused on must-have features—what I jokingly call “surround-sound beds.” Catamaran designs and interiors have gone through massive changes in the past 10 to 20 years, and most older designs simply cannot compete with the new ones in terms of space and high-end amenities.

None of the cool cats I have in mind are over 47 feet. This is not because there aren’t bargain boats out there that are 47 feet and longer, but because any larger multihull that you can buy for $300,000 or less will most assuredly need a significant refit or is either very old or very odd. Buying a fixer-upper is, to my mind, the most dangerous thing a budget-minded consumer can do. It’s just too easy to underestimate the cost of yacht refits and repairs due to the extremely high prices charged in most boatyards.

RELATED: 20 Best Cruising and Sailing Destinations

Nearly any cat you buy over 10 years old is fully depreciated. What we were selling a Lagoon 440 for eight or 10 years ago is nearly the same as what they sell for today. The difference between a good deal and a bad deal is tied solely to a yacht’s condition and refit history. As they joke in private-equity circles, “Any idiot can buy; you deserve congratulations only when you sell.”

So, when your search gets underway, focus on condition—it is far more important than the year, brand or features you might crave. And when you find the cat of your dreams, the best way to remove financial-downside risk is to get a great survey and to choose the newest, smallest cat that will work for your agenda, not the oldest and biggest.

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

And a word of caution: Your problem will be knowing a good deal from a bad one after the survey is over if you are not well-schooled in pricing. Besides steering you toward potential boats to consider, this is where a broker, working on your behalf, can provide knowledgeable advice. It’s been my experience that this is the point when so many yacht sales come apart: a dispute over the value of a given yacht when the survey results come in. All too commonly we see buyers reject yachts they should have accepted and purchase cats they should have rejected. Remember, a used yacht is a used yacht—not a perfect yacht. A catamaran need not be perfect to remain a perfectly good deal. Here, then, are 10 cool cats to consider in the $300,000-or-less range:

1. Fountaine Pajot Orana 44 (above)

Fountaine Pajot had the misfortune of tooling up this boat just before the global financial crisis, so not that many of them were built between 2007 and 2012. But these were the first of the larger-space charter cats in this size, but not yet so porky that they still could not sail decently. In the three-cabin owner’s version, they designed the living space very nicely; even in the four-cabin version, the aft starboard bed was very well-done.

During this period, Fountaine Pajot had problems with the resin it was using, which led to blistering on the hulls and undersides. Affected models therefore had new bottoms done at approved shipyards throughout the world. Make sure the one you are considering had this done or that it doesn’t show evidence of significant blistering. Honestly it is only cosmetic, but it will impact resale if not repaired. Many consumers think blisters are the end of the world; frankly, they are not.

2. Catana 431

Built in France by a long-standing yard, the Catana 431 was always a very viable vessel because it is big enough to go anywhere, but not too large for a competent owner to handle. And because the 431 has good underwing clearance and daggerboards, it sails smartly to windward.

That said, there are a few things to watch for. The primary bulkheads on many of these boats were not tabbed on the outer ends, and over time tended to distort. Often this led, or will lead, to a costly replacement of some bulkheads. So be careful to survey these areas properly.

The 431′s furniture is all foam-cored and handmade, but the banding on the outer edges in some cases slowly starts to peel, which allows moisture to infect the wood veneer. This can create a somewhat unsightly appearance in the cabinets and drawers. It is only a cosmetic issue, but it can make the interior feel a bit worn out.

During the period when the 431 was being built, Catana used a distributive electrical card system, and the boats had several modules, each a zone, to which electricity was run. If one thing in a zone stops working, the only solution is to jury-rig a wire from that nonworking item back to the main breaker panel. Replacing the modules or getting them repaired can be done, but it is getting harder by the year. For this reason, the best 431 is a boat that someone else had rewired at some point along the way.

3. Lagoon 470

If you need a larger escape pod, the Lagoon 470 is one of our favorites. This model of older Lagoons was built at CNB’s yard in Bordeaux, France, and the build quality was high. The 470 was the first design to have the more-vertical windows that are a Lagoon signature, and ample saloon headroom. The 470s are also old enough that the hulls were not so supersize that it compromised sailing performance. They have decent underwing clearance, so they are not persistent pounders to windward. Many were built with a galley-down layout, some in galley-up style. You will always pay more for an owner version of this or any model.

The big thing you have to concern yourself with on Lagoons of this vintage is that the hulls and decks are made with a balsa core, so it is not uncommon to find moisture problems, especially around deck fittings or hatches. This can sometimes require rebedding or recoring areas, and this sort of repair, in North America, can be a costly undertaking. Make sure you get good moisture-meter readings near all deck fittings and, of course, on the hulls. Hulls, however, tend less often to have moisture issues because there are few fittings through which water can enter the core. Were that to happen below the waterline, it is a real mess that must be repaired immediately and properly.

– CARRY A BEACON – Satellite beacons such as EPIRBs or PLBs allow boaters to transmit distress signals and their exact coordinates from anywhere on the planet, no cell service required. It may be the best $400 you ever spend. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

4. Privilège 435

Back when the Privilège 435 was built, Privilège catamarans were constructed by Alliaura Marine in France, and they were truly the Mercedes of the multihull world at that time. While not a performance cat by any means, the 435 was a super-solid yacht, built with great care and the finest components. The 435 is large enough to go anywhere but small enough to handle easily.

The largest negative of this model—and many cats of this vintage—is that the saloon windows slope dramatically, so the interior gets very hot unless the windows are covered most of the time. When they legalize growing pot on catamarans, here’s the perfect greenhouse for it! Seriously, if you should buy a used 435, you really have to get strong sunblocking external UV covers, as well as interior blinds or shades to inhibit heat buildup.

Some of the 435s were laid out with the galley down in one hull, and these days most people want a galley-up arrangement, where cooking and food preparation are done in the saloon. A three-cabin galley-up owner version will be far more sought after and cost more than a four-cabin galley-down version.

5. Leopard 46

This was the first of the Morrelli & Melvin collaborations with South African builder Robertson and Caine and the charter companies owned at the time by TUI Marine to create a catamaran that could be sold both into charter under the Moorings brand and also privately as a Leopard, so effort was made to design a boat with good sailing performance. Gino Morrelli did a good job creating a lot of underwing clearance, the 46 has a powerful rig, and yet its interior still offers spacious sleeping areas and nice flow from the cockpit to the saloon. These can be bought as ex-Moorings charter boats for less than $300,000 but are more costly in the sought-after Leopard owner version.

Because these are balsa-cored boats, you must inspect deck fittings carefully for moisture incursion. Some of the earlier ones also experienced structural problems on the aft bulkhead and over-door-frame areas between saloon and cockpit. Also, during this period, the windows in the main saloon had a tendency to leak and, when they did, required rebedding or replacement. This was a costly job, so check this out carefully during survey.

6. St. Francis 44/Knysna 440

If you wish to spend under $250,000, the older Saint Francis 44 and Knysna 440 are worth a look.

Back in 1990, Duncan Lethbridge started St. Francis Catamarans in South Africa with the St. Francis 43. The boat was meant to be a fast, strong bluewater voyager—and it was. The 43 was made with foam core, keeping the structure light, and it was very strongly built, with a powerful rig. The 43 loved to sail. And so too did the St. Francis 44, an updated version of the original.

The boat did have a couple of negatives, however, the first being its sloped windows that built up interior heat. And the boat wasn’t a great fit for tall people, having less than 6-foot-2-inch headroom in the hulls. Also, the engines were installed amidships, which made the boat noisy inside under power. It also made the amidships areas of the hulls too narrow to have centrally located heads and showers, which in turn meant the only layout available was a four-cabin, four-head design. In the forward cabins, the heads and showers had to be far forward; in the aft cabins, the heads and showers were located far aft.

St. Francis sold the tooling for the 44 to Knysna Yachts in 2004, and Knysna raised the headroom in the saloon and moved the engines aft to each stern. The hulls remained fundamentally the same, but the design was improved nicely.

The largest negative of both the Saint Francis 44 and the Knysna 440 is that they have very low underwing clearance. Things can get pretty noisy when pushing against washing-machine seas.

But you cannot have it all and still pay less than $250,000 in a midsize cat; compromises must be made. And these boats do sail quite smartly compared with many in their size range.

7. Lagoon 440

This was the most popular catamaran ever made, and it started the catamaran flybridge craze, which helped to convert many powerboaters to sailors.

What I like about the 440 is that it is an infinitely better sailer than some of its peers, and has decent underwing clearance, vertical windows, and nice cabins for sleeping and living. While the aft cockpit is rather small, the saloon is quite large.

Flybridges are a bit of a love-hate thing. There is no question that in a cat of this size, the windward performance suffers a bit due to the boom positioned so high off the water. When piloting, the skipper is separated from those on the bridgedeck. Part of the reason flybridges are so popular in charter is that most of the parties take place up there while sailing and at anchor. In private ownership, however, it is seldom that everyone is hanging out on the flybridge during a long passage.

As always with Lagoons, these are balsa-cored boats, so a careful survey is in order. Pay attention also to bulkhead tabbing to make sure they have not separated from the hulls.

Because so many of the 440s were built to go into charter, there are a lot of four-cabin, four-head models for resale. These will sell for considerably less on the brokerage market than a coveted three-cabin, private-owner model.

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

8. Leopard 40

When you get into the 40-foot size range, a four-cabin layout can become pretty cramped and claustrophobic below, but the three-cabin owner version of the Leopard 40 is a very nice pocket cruiser. A Morrelli & Melvin design, the 40 has good underwing clearance and nicely shaped hulls. Not a large cat, per se, and less-suited for significant distance sailing than others because its payload is limited, the 40 is still well-suited for a couple and a child or two for near-coastal and island-hopping action.

9. Manta 42

If you are searching for a cat in the $200,000 range, the Manta 42s were well-built in Florida, and their electrical systems were very well-done compared with many other multihulls of that era. While many of the features on the boat are quite dated, these Mantas sail very well, and easily, and have been popular with coastal cruisers for two decades.

The largest negative of the Mantas is that people taller than 6 feet will find the saloon headroom right on the edge, and the berths are not especially large. Also, forward visibility from the saloon windows is not particularly panoramic, so the interiors are a bit darker inside than current-generation catamarans.

10. Lagoon 410

The Lagoon 410 was quite a popular cat in its prime, and for good reason. It offers lots of visibility thanks to its vertical windows, good headroom for a cat of its size, nice berths, and a workable, though smallish, galley-up design. The 410 has decent underwing clearance, can sail nicely over the waves, and its singlehanded operation is super easy. In the three-cabin owner’s configuration, it’s just a very cool little cat.

As always, a balsa-core boat must be surveyed carefully, especially on deck, for moisture incursion near fittings and hatches. It can be costly to repair rotted core and to rebed deck fittings. But find a dry one, and it should definitely be counted as a contender for a buyer with a limited budget.

Phil Berman is the president of the Multihull Company and the founder of Balance Catamarans. He has managed the sale of more than 900 catamarans.

More: catamaran , lagoon , leopard , multihulls , print june july 2020 , Sailboats
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33 Popular Boats With High Resale Value (With Pictures)

Most people have a sentimental attachment to their boats. But sometimes, selling it is the most prudent choice.

However, you won’t get top dollar for your boat if it doesn’t have a high resale value as boats are notoriously depreciative.

In this article, we provide a comprehensive list of boat types and models with high resale value. At the end of this piece, you will have a better understanding of boats to buy if you want to resell after a few years.

Which boats have the highest resale value?

A boat will have high resale value if you kept it clean and well maintained. A pre-owned boat will have higher resell value as the depreciation level will be lower. It’s important to keep your boat in excellent condition in order to keep the resale price high.

Table of Contents

We have a section for each boat type:

4 Bowriders
4 cabin cruisers
4 catamarans
4 cuddy cabin boats
4 deck boats
3 fishing boats
3 pontoon boats
3 sailboats
3 speedboats
3 trawlers

Now, let’s look at the different boat types and models with outstanding resale value.

4 Bowriders With High Resale Value

These boats are one of the most popular boats for families . They are ideal for fishing, partying, water sports and everything in between.

Because they are trailerable, bowriders are the perfect size for people who love relaxing weekends on the water.

Here are some of the best models with good resale value on the market.

1) Four Winns H180 OB

LOA: 17’11”
Beam: 7’7″
Fuel Capacity: 24 gallons
Weight: 2,150 lbs.

This affordable runabout has been a winner since it was first introduced in 2010.

It comes with excellent features such as a tilting steering wheel, full-sized walk-across swim platform and a premium set of engine gauges.

There is a Bluetooth-enabled iPod/MP3 port with two speakers, a swing-away tongue and a welded-tube trailer all under $25000.

Despite being low cost, the H180 OB comes with premium trims and you can customize the color to match the trailer.

RELATED: Are Four Winns Boats Reliable?

2) Bayliner Element E16

LOA: 16’2″
Beam” 7’5″
Fuel Capacity: 12 gallons
Weight: 1,570 lbs.

At less than $15,000, the Bayliner Element E16 is one of the most affordable and beloved Bowriders among families. Featuring Bayliner’s innovative M hull design, the Element delivers exceptional stability.

The boat is roomy, has swim platforms, two-tone vinyl cushions and a 25-quart Igloo cooler to keep your drinks chilled for longer.

This boat sits six passengers comfortably and has 60HP Mercury outboard and a trailer.

3) Sea Ray 220 Sundeck

LOA: 22’6″
Beam: 8’5″
Fuel Capacity: 45 gallons
Weight: 4,200 lbs.

The Sea Ray 220 can sit 12 passengers comfortably. It comes with a powerful MerCruiser 5.0 MPI engine for impressive cruising speeds.

The boat is spacious, luxurious and comes with all the frills you expect from a Sea Ray product.

This big boat even comes with an enclosed toilet, high-end entertainment system and more.

If you want something more luxurious, the 220 Sundeck from Sea Ray is an all-time favorite that won’t lose its value soon.

4) Larson LX 225S IO

LOA: 23’1″
Beam: 8’4″
Fuel Capacity: 36 gallons
Weight: 3,100 lbs.

The 225S sports a solid VEC construction, a 300-hp MerCruiser engine, and canvas bow and cockpit covers.

It has an iPod-MP3-enabled entertainment system and a Shorelander trailer with disc brakes.

There are ample space fore and aft, an extended swim platform and exceptionally comfortable cushions.

This boat can seat 10 passengers and its sleek design makes for bump-free cruises.

4 Cabin Cruisers With High Resale Value

For people who love to spend extended time on the water, cabin cruisers provide almost all the convenience of a small home. There is accommodation, cooking and every facility you need to have a swell time with family and friends on a night cruise.

Here are some of the most popular models.

5) Bayliner 285 SB

LOA: 28’7″”
Beam: 9’11”
Fuel Capacity: 89 gallons
Weight: 8,056 lbs.

The 285 SB has dwellings for up to 6 people.

This 28 footer is trailerable and comes with a dining area for a small family or group.

While it has been continued, the 285 SB commands a good rating on the market thanks to its sub $100k price. If you need a budget cabin cruiser that will hold its value for many years to come, the 285 SB is worth trying.

6) Four Winns V375

LOA: 37′
Beam: 12′
Fuel Capacity: 216 gallons
Weight: 14,750 lbs.

At 37 feet long, the V375 from Four Winns is oozing with comfort and luxury. Thanks to its durable and solid hull design, the boat handles well in choppy waters.

This boat offers a spacious cockpit and an entertainment area with a fridge to keep food and drinks in top condition.

The V375 has a mid-cabin girth that allows children separate playing ground. The ruggedness and impeccable quality of Four Winns will keep this watercraft going for many seasons.

7) Cobalt A36

LOA: 35’11”
Beam: 11’2″
Fuel Capacity: 189 gallons
Weight: 16,000 lbs.

This 35 footer is optimized for comfort and performance. Though there have been issues with cobalt boats (check this article) .

It features a large cockpit, dwellings for a family of six and a standard swimming platform.

Whether you are fishing for extended periods or want to enjoy a cool weekend on the water, the A36 provides a home-away-from-home experience.

This watercraft is comfortable, roomy and will deliver high resale value if you keep it in good condition.

8) Boston Whaler 285 Conquest

LOA: 27’10”
Beam: 9’6″
Fuel Capacity: 200 gallons
Weight: 7,300 lbs.

If you need a versatile and durable cruiser to take long fishing trips, the 285 is a legendary boat with exceptional residual value.

This boat offers an impressively smooth ride even on rough waters.

It comes with plenty of storage and can sleep four comfortably.

It has a private heads compartment and a proper galley for a homely experience. There is a lot of seating space and its Mercury Verado outboard allows for decent cruising speeds during night and day.

3 Catamarans With High Resale Value

If you love fast and spacious boats, nothing beats the roominess and mind-blowing speed of catamarans.

These double-hulled come in various sizes and continue to grow on many boat lovers. Here are a few samples.

9) Lagoon 380

LOA: 37’11”
Beam: 21’5″
Fuel Capacity: 2 x 26 gallons
Weight: 16,005 lbs.

The 380 is one of the most popular cruising catamarans. Since its debut in 1999, over 740 of the design have been built and many are still in the works.

The 380 has a solid build, plenty of space and delivers exceptional speed and performance.

It features 3/4 cabins and 6-8 berths with a 79.3-gallon fresh water tank and a big headroom.

The boat can carry 10 passengers during the day and will sleep 8 comfortably at night. If you want a clutter-free deck with a smooth and zippy movement on the water, the Lagoon 380 is an all-time favorite.

10) Hobie 16

LOA: 16’7
Beam: 7’11”
Fuel Capacity: Sail
Weight: 320 lbs.

Over 100,000 Hobie 16 have been built and sailors can’t help but love these speed freaks. Introduced in 1970, this cat has asymmetrical fiberglass hulls and trapeze harnesses which give it excellent agility in the water.

This model and the diminutive Hobie Wave are perfect for new sailors and have proven to be resilient for over 40 years.

Whether you are preparing to race in the Olympics or want to experience pure sailing, this design is the epitome of catamaran designs.

11) Seawind 1000

LOA: 32’81”
Beam: 19’36”
Fuel Capacity: 31.7 gallons
Weight: 8,818.48 lbs.

For over 30 years, the Seawind tops the chart of Australian-made catamarans and delivers with finesse. This 33-foot cat is ideal for cruising and comes with a lot of room.

The boat accommodates eight passengers in its 4 double cabins and has one shower and one toilet.

There are 2 single berths, a fully fitted galley and plenty of deck space. This boat comes with a full panoply of entertainment system including an iPod dock, CD player, TV/VCR, deck BBQ and more.

3 Cuddy Cabin Boats With High Resale Value

A cuddy cabin is lightweight, versatile and makes for enjoyable weekend getaways on the water.

For people who don’t have the budget of cabin cruisers, these boats offer impressive dexterity and modest accommodations.

Below are samples of these lovely boats.

12) Finnmaster T8

LOA: 26’6″
Beam: 8’9″
Fuel Capacity: 66 gallons
Weight: 4,850 lbs.

This boat is the award-winning flagship of the Finnish boat builder’s popular T series. The T8 exudes luxury and power with its innovative design and industry-leading performance.

This boat comes with 4 berths and can accommodate 10 passengers, making it a top choice for large families and groups.

It features a posh dining area which you can convert into a comfortable sundeck. There is a lot of space fore and aft, with easy-to-access storage areas and a large toilet.

The T8 has a clutter-free design, high-end navigational equipment and every creature comfort you crave in a boat.

If you want a more affordable and alternative, the smaller T7 is an excellent option.

13) Bayliner 642 Overnighter

LOA: 21’4″
Beam: 8’0″
Fuel Tank: 33 gallons
Weight: 3,084 lbs.

The Bayliner 642 is one of the most affordable family cuddy cabins ever made. Despite its modest pricing, the boat boasts a luxurious finish, a superb engineering, and exceptional performance.

This small boat has space for eight passengers, an innovative and roomy cockpit and versatile seating arrangement.

It comes with lots of space, a standard 135hp engine with an automatic fire extinguisher and many luxurious features.

If you want something bigger and newer, the Bayliner VR5 is an improved person of the 642 but the latter is still the more popular with the buying public.

14) Stingray 220SX

LOA: 21’6″
Beam: 8’1″
Fuel Capacity: 38 gallons
Weight: 2,827 lbs.

If you want a sporty boat with a cuddly cabin, Stingray’s 220SX is one of the most popular in its class. The boat comes with the company’s Z-Plane hull, allowing it to zip through the water with reduced friction.

Despite being performance-biased, the 220SX has a comfortable cabin with twin seats convertible to V-berths.

The cockpit comes with a full array of gauges, CD player, and ice chest. With this boat, you will be far ahead of other family cuddy cabins while getting a good pampering.

4 Deck Boats With High Resale Value

Unlike other runabouts, these boats offer humongous deck spaces and storage facilities.

Deck boats feature wider beams and deeper cockpits and have homely comfort so you don’t miss land.

If you love boat parties, these platforms provide every recreational facility you need to enjoy fun-filled moments on the water.

15) NauticStar 223 DC

LOA: 22’7″
Beam: 10’2″
Fuel Capacity: 62 gallons
Weight: 1,854 lbs.

The 223 DC from NauticStar can seat 10 passengers comfortably and boasts a roomy and comfortable deck.

This watercraft has an ergonomic design with flip-up bucket seats and Bimini top. It has LED courtesy lights, a pump-out head, and recessed shower.

There is also a panoramic walk-through windshield. And the lounge cushions are positioned to maximize space.

It even has 11 cup holders at strategic locations and seven storage compartments.

The boat has a four-speaker MP3-compatible Infinity JBL entertainment system to keep the music blaring. There are facilities for watersports, fishing and more.

While this boat is pricy for its size, it is one of the most popular in its class.

16) SunDeck Sport SS 188

LOA: 18’10”
Weight: 2,425 lbs.

With a price tag of around $20,000, the SS 188 from Hurricane is one of the best value for money deck boat around.

This budget boat does not compromise comfort with its plush trimmings, large recreational space and seating for 10 passengers.

There are myriad customization options to choose from including entertainment systems, fish finders, seating arrangement among others.

It has chrome cup holders, premium textured vinyl and a super maneuverable Italian-styled steering wheel.

The boat sports a swimming platform, plenty of storage and can reach plane speed under 4 seconds with a 150 HP Yamaha engine.

For fast decks boats that do not sacrifice luxury, the SunDeck Sport SS 188 is the top choice.

17) Stingray 212SC

LOA: 21’11”
Fuel Capacity: 57 gallons

The 212SC is ideal for family outings and parties.

It can seat 12 passengers and provides ample deck space for more.

Despite plenty of storage and legroom, this boat delivers legendary Stingray performance with its exceptional dexterity and performance.

It has a retractable Bimini top, a four-speaker Bluetooth stereo system, an in-floor cooler and a stainless steel boarding ladder.

There are two port-side steps, an enclosed head/changing room, and a freshwater faucet and sink.

Its powerful Yamaha or Mercury four-stroke outboard engine delivers 150HP for exceptional speeds up to 50 miles per hour under five seconds.

The 212SC is a speed freak with solid construction. Despite its sporty performance, it doesn’t skimp on comfort and versatility.

18) Tahoe 195

LOA: 19’11”
Beam: 8’6″
Weight: 3,050 lbs.

The 195 is one of the most versatile in terms of performance and comfort in the deck boat category.

This boat comes with a beastly 220HP V6 MerCruiser motor that pushes it past the 50 mph mark.

It features a spacious and luxurious deck that can sit 8 passengers and there is plenty of storage below deck.

The best part is this jewel goes for around $34,000, making it one of the most affordable in its class.

It has a Bimini top, Bluetooth-enabled stereo with plenty of deck space.

Whether you love to party, fish or race; this highly dexterous watercraft will fulfill all your aquatic fantasies without breaking the bank.

3 Fishing Boats With High Resale Value

Fishing boats come in a variety of styles, sizes, and quality. Below are some of the most durable designs on the market.

19) Boston Whaler 230 Outrage

LOA: 23’0″
Fuel Capacity: 110 gallons
Weight: 3,800 lbs.

If you want a fishing boat with a massive resale value, the classic Boston Whaler 230 0utrage has no competitor.

The Outrage 230 provides a reliable fishing platform and the comfort of a cabin cruiser.

This boat features Boston Whaler’s unsinkable hull technology, and the cabin has air conditioning.

It seats 10 people with ease and has a lot of deck space thanks to its wraparound forward seating arrangement.

There is ample storage space including twin built-in fish boxes, a 54-gallon cooler and a 16 gallon live well on the transom.

The 230 Outrage has a transom door for easy access to the swim platform, under gunwale rod racks and vertical rod holders.

It boasts an impressive endurance with its 110-gallon fuel capacity and can reach up to 52 mph at full speed.

This iconic design from Boston Whaler is one of the most durable fishing boats that will hold its value for a long time.

20) Lund 1600 Rebel

LOA: 16’5″
Beam: 6’5″
Fuel Capacity: 6 gallons
Weight: 710 lbs.

If there is anything Lund excels at , it is making durable purpose-built fishing boats.

The company’s 1600 Rebel has all the features to help anglers find, catch and haul in fish with ease.

It has a live well, rod stowage, and a fish finder. There is an electric trolling motor pre-wiring and three fishing seat bases.

Noteworthy is its side console with a tall windshield to protect the skipper.

The Rebel comes with a 40hp Mercury outboard and weighs a mere 710 pounds, making it a trailerable beauty.

The best thing about the boat is that it costs only around $13,000, making it an excellently affordable fish catcher.

21) Mako Pro Skiff 17 CC

LOA: 17’2″
Beam: 6’11”
Fuel Capacity: 6.6 gallons
Weight: 1,210 lbs.

The Pro Skiff 17 CC is one of the most popular boats from Mako . This inland fishing boat boasts a powerful engine and the company’s innovative Advanced Inverted Hull (AIV).

The AIV delivers exceptionally smooth rides and mind-blowing performance.

Despite being affordable, this skiff is practically unsinkable thanks to its superior floatation engineering.

The Pro Skiff 17 CC comes with bow and aft casting decks, 5 vertical flush-mounted rod holders and molded-in grab handles.

There is a 65 quartz rotomolded, removable Orion cooler for exceptional ice-cooling at the helm seat and 19 gallon aft bait well with an adjustable aerator.

The boat comes with a hot-dipped galvanized trailer with Super Lube hubs for about $18,000.

If you want something bigger and sturdier, the 7’9″ Mako Pro Skiff 19 CC provides more stability in open waters but comes at about $4,000 extra.

3 Pontoon Boats With High Resale Value

Pontoon boats are the favorite of people who enjoy weekend cocktail parties on the water. They are large, spacious and can be surprisingly affordable.

22) Sun Tracker Party Barge 24

LOA: 25’8″
Fuel Capacity: 23 gallons
Weight: 1,750 lbs.

The Party Barge 24 is the flagship of Sun Tracker, the biggest maker of pontoon boats worldwide.

It features durable construction with extruded aluminum planks and marine-grade carpet to deliver an almost indestructible deck.

This pontoon comes with twin lounge seats that convert to sleeping or sun pads. The aft has a wrap-around settee aft with under-seat storage.

It sports vinyl upholstery for maximum protection from moisture and a portable MSD with a privacy curtain.

There is a fully equipped helm console with a small windscreen and a 115hp Mercury outboard with electric.

Whether you want to party, laze around or enjoy water sports, the Party Barge 24 has something for everyone. And everything is for less than $27k.

23) Sun Tracker Bass Buggy

LOA: 16′
Beam: 7’1″
Weight: 1,175 lbs.

If you follow developments in the pontoon world, you can’t miss the Bass Buggy.

When it was first released, this workhorse retailed at $10,000 but is now a couple thousand pricier.

The Bass Buggy is a pontoon with a fishing bias. It comes with bow fishing chairs, an aerated live well, a molded live well unit and more.

There are rod and drink holders and a lid ruler to measure your catch. You can even opt for a fish finder and trolling motor for the optimal fishing experience.

24) Premier Pontoon Boats

Premier is one of the biggest names in the pontoon boat industry. The company offers everything from the luxurious, budget to fishing pontoons.

It’s Premier Diodici 310 is a comfortable and spacious party mover with posh interiors and superior performance.

You can also try the Premier Grand Entertainer 290 with its wide beam. The Premier 220 Cast-A-Way is great if you love fishing in the company of family and friends.

3 Sail Boats With High Resale Value

Used sailboats are always in demand as new models can be atrociously expensive. If you buy a quality sailboat and keep it clean, chances are you will lock in most of its value.

Here are some of the best sailboats for the money.

25) Tayana 37

LOA: 36’8″
Beam: 11’6″
Fuel Capacity: 90 gallons
Weight: 24,000 lbs.

Designed by Bob Perry, the Tayana 37 was first built in 1976 in Taiwan and is one of the most popular sailboats on the planet.

It has a classic canoe stern and a well-balanced sail plan.

These boats were built to last with their solid fiberglass hull, balsa-cored deck, and spacious V-berth.

The boat features a high aspect ratio rig and a teak interior . With over 650 built, the Tayana 37 has one of the highest resale values in the sailing world.

26) Hallberg-Rassy 35 Rasmus

LOA: 34’5″
Beam: 10′
Fuel Capacity: 74 gallons
Weight: 12,125 lbs.

This proven sailboat was designed in the late 60s by the Swede Olle Enderlein.

It enjoys wide popularity among sailors thanks to its full keel, large windscreen and center cockpit which provide exceptional handling in blue waters.

The boat has a 75HP diesel and the main cabin with a v-berth, galley, and a saloon.

It sports an aft cabin with a double berth and its durable construction compensates for its narrow hull. This dependable circumnavigator will never run out of fashion.

27) Tartan 37

LOA: 37’3″
Beam: 11’9″
Fuel Capacity: 50 gallons
Weight: 15,500 lbs.

With over 500 units built, the Tartan 37 is one of the most popular sailboats with blue water capabilities.

This boat features solid construction with balsa-cored hull and deck and external lead ballast.

It comes with teak trims and molded fiberglass headliners for increased durability.

While most of the 37s featured keel/centerboard for improved performance, some were offered as skews.

This boat is a fast cruiser that moves well in light wind.

3 Speed Boats With High Resale Value

Speedboats can be expensive despite their limited space. They prioritize performance over comfort and deliver astonishing speeds on the water. Here are a few popular versions.

28) MTI V-42

LOA: 42′
Fuel Capacity: 460 gallons
Weight: 15,000 lbs.

The V-42 from Marine Technology Inc. is a performance beast that has won the hearts of many boaters for years.

Now featuring four outboards and luxurious styling, these boats deliver a mind-blowing performance without compromising creature comforts.

29) Riva Aquarama

Fuel Capacity: 42.3 gallons
Weight: 2,910.1 lbs.

Since its debut in 1962, the Riva Aquarama continues to dazzle go-fast boaters with its unbridled splendor and breathtaking performance.

The boat oozes glamor and luxury with its high-end trimmings and stylish design.

Its cutthroat speeds at even modest throttle seal its place as a timeless boat that inspires boat builders and their customers.

30) OUTERLIMITS SL 41

LOA: 41’3″
Beam: 9’0″
Fuel Capacity: 210 gallons
Weight: 9,300 lbs.

This high-performance speedboat from Mercury Racing has won the hearts of racers since its debut.

It sports three Verado 400R outboards, V-bottom, and impressive agility to deliver astonishing speeds even in offshore conditions.

3 Trawlers With High Resale Value

Trawlers combine long-range performance with the luxurious comfort of yachts at affordable prices . While there are larger trawlers out there, the most popular models are the mid-sized and lower-priced types.

Here are a few ocean-capable trawlers that don’t skimp on comfort and speed.

31) Beneteau Swift Trawler 30

LOA: 32’9″
Beam: 11’7″
Fuel Capacity: 100 gallons
Weight: 13,000 lbs.

The 30 is one of the smallest trawlers in Beneteau’s Swift series.

Despite its modest displacement of just over 13,000 pounds, the 30 boasts a private stateroom and a full galley.

It has an extensive flybridge with an upper station and settee and an easy-to-access walkaround.

This trawler features a swing-open transom which connects the cockpit to the swim platform.

The 30 comes with one straight-shaft 370hp Volvo D6 diesel inboard and you can opt for a 7.5 kW genset.

At open throttle, this beauty can hit 21 knots but you’d rather cruise at six knots to maximize fuel efficiency.

32) Ranger Tugs R27

LOA: 27’1″
Weight: 6,200 lbs.

If you need a trailerable trawler, this is it.

The R27 has a compact body but delivers ample accommodation including a V-berth, a midship berth, and a galley.

There is also a dinette and head. Despite being 27’1″ long, this trawler is a capable blue water vessel that will cover 200 miles between fuel stops.

It features a semi-displacement design with a bulging keel to accommodate the diesel engine, which reduces shaft angle.

If you want a cruising trawler without hurting your finances, the R27 is one of the most affordable and solidly built boats in its class.

33) Mainship 350/390 Trawler

LOA: 39’9″
Beam: 14’2″
Fuel Capacity: 300 gallons
Weight: 22,000 lbs.

The Mainship 350/390 is one of the most enduring trawler designs of all time.

It comes with two staterooms and one head forward.

To starboard, there is a convertible sofa and a hi-low table. The port has an L-shaped galley with a refrigerator-freezer and a Corian counter.

The master stateroom comes with an island queen berth while the guest stateroom features twin berths.

You can enjoy extended visibility from the lower helm thanks to larger windows that provide natural lighting.

This trawler came with either twin 230hp Yanmar diesel or one 370hp Yanmar diesel for impressive cruising speeds.

While production stopped in 2005, the 350-390 trawlers continue to enjoy high resale value on the brokerage market.

8 Factors that Affect the Resale Value of Boats

Many of the things that can affect your boat’s resale value have nothing to do with the brand or year of production. Below, we list factors that can make you lose money on a boat sale.

1) Selling At The Wrong Time of the Year

It is a huge mistake to sell your boat off-season.

The natural laws of demand and supply dictate that buyers will pay more when supply is limited.

Most people are not looking to buy a boat during the winter so you won’t command a good price during that time.

2) Expensive Options/Electronics

The more you spend on a boat, the more you stand to lose when you sell it.

Most buyers don’t want to pay for the high-end equipment or limited-edition options in your boat. They consider it part of the whole deal.

If you spend out of pocket to add sophisticated boat gadgets, don’t expect to recoup your investment. To avoid such an experience, it’s better to buy the basics that work.

3) Dirty Appearance

Many boaters sabotage their own efforts by using pictures of their dirty boats in listings. When prospective buyers see a dirty boat, they assume the interior and engines may be in poor condition. You may not even get buyers to show interest with dirty photos.

The few that contact you will offer ridiculously low prices based on the shabby appearance of the boat.

Appearance matters so clean your boat thoroughly before listing it.

4) Maintenance

A poorly maintained boat usually commands an unattractive price.

Well-kept old boats can fetch you the purchase price or even higher, especially if the vessel is discontinued.

5) Outrageous Pricing

Even if your boat is in excellent condition, it’s difficult to get a high resale value if you don’t price it according to market trends.

Buyers will show interest but won’t close the deal when they consider more affordable alternatives.

6) Engine Type

Many people prefer outboards to sterndrives and other propulsion systems because they are more accessible and easier to maintain. When trying to sell your boat, this may be an issue, especially for smaller watercrafts.

7) Not fit for Geography

It’s important to consider the boating culture of your area when selling a boat.

Selling an aluminum pilothouse in a place like Florida can be difficult because of the low demand.

Likewise, a fiberglass boat may be difficult to sell in places with shallow, rocky waters.

8) Custom Boats

If you own a custom boat, especially an expensive model, you may not get a high resale value for the vessel.

This is because custom-built watercrafts are few so only limited numbers of people know they exist.

They can also be maintenance-intensive and their parts may be difficult to purchase.

Final Words

When you are buying a boat, resale value may not be on your mind. But eventually, most boaters will sell their prized possession. And that’s when they think about its potential return.

This article has tried to cover some of the most popular boat models. Many of the boats mentioned above will still command high prices for many years to come thanks to their solid construction.

However, the most important factor is how well you keep the boat. A well-kept boat from an obscure brand will command a better price than a badly kept superstar.

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10 Yachts Under $500,000 You Can Have Today

By Jake Lamb
March 15, 2024

Buying a yacht is a big commitment, especially your first one, and with the used-yacht segment shifting to a buyer’s market now is a good time to start scouting options. Here are 10 used yachts, from express cruisers to sportfisherman to downeast cruisers to motoryachts that are all priced at $500,000 or less.

2005 61 Viking Sport Cruisers – Jaclen – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Walking up to Jaclen , a 2005 61 Viking Sport Cruisers, the profile is so sleek you almost can’t tell the yacht has a flybridge. Well, a sport bridge to be precise. Gilman Yachts currently has this 61-foot, three-stateroom yacht listed with an asking price of $449,000.

When guests are ready to catch some sun, the low-profile sport bridge has a two-person lounge pad aft and a J-shaped settee and table adjacent to the helm station forward–an excellent spot to enjoy alfresco dining with space for everyone on board to join in the fun. Other lounge areas on board include the cockpit’s transom bench seat and the salon’s two sofas.

All three staterooms are belowdecks with the master stateroom to starboard with a queen berth and cherry wood furnishings. The forepeak VIP stateroom has a tapered queen berth and the third guest stateroom has side-by-side berths.

Power for Jaclen is provided by twin MAN V10 diesels, which give the 61-footer a reported 26-knot cruise speed.

Helm electronics on board Jaclen include:

Furuno Nav Net 2 1833c 10-inch color GPS/radar/plotter
Furuno RD 30 speed, depth, sea temp gauge
Simrad AP 22 autopilot
Simrad 12-inch NSS evo3 plotter

Take the next step: Contact Gilman Yachts , Jeff Stanley, [email protected], 954-249-0360,

Quick Specifications

Length Overall: 61′
Maximum Beam: 16′
Fuel Capacity: 790 Gal.
Draft: 4’5″

2006 Riviera 37 Flybridge – Movin Up – Newport Beach, California

For owners in the market for a family-size sportfisherman, Maritimo Americas currently has Movin Up , a Riviera 37 Flybridge, listed at $319,000.

Power for Moving Up comes from twin Cummins QSB 5.9 diesels, producing a combined 760 hp and pushing the 37-footer to a reported 25-knot top speed. The flybridge has eight rocket l;aincers to stow rods on long runs. The cockpit has a reinforced deck, 11 rod holders and a Blue Water bait tank.

Belowdecks are two staterooms, including a forepeak owners’ space with a double berth and a guest stateroom with bunk berths. The salon has a flat-screen TV and an L-shaped dinette to port abaft the forward bench seat.

Other notable features on board Movin Up include:
Salon ice maker
Raymarine electronics (2018)

Take the next step: Contact the Maritimo Americas

Length Overall: 37′
Maximum Beam: 13’10”
Fuel Capacity: 370 Gal.

2006 Sea Ray 52 Sundancer – About Time – Pensacola, Florida

The Sea Ray 52 Sundancer called About Time is currently listed with MarineMax for $429,000. The 2006 express cruiser has a two-stateroom, two-head layout and is a solid option for families doing weekend cruising or dayboating.

Entertaining on the bridge deck is made easy thanks to the Sidebar beverage system and myriad seating options, including a dinette aft, a bench seat abaft the two-seat helm station and an additional bench seat adjacent to the helm.

When it’s time to catch some sun head to the foredeck and enjoy the two-person sun pad. Bow and stern thrusters make docking in wind and current a breeze.

Belowdecks is a second lounge area to starboard that has two sofas and a high-gloss coffee table. The galley is forward and to starboard and is equipped with Kenyon electric stove, microwave, and stainless-steel sink. There is also a stand-alone refrigerator and freezer.

About Time is powered by low-hour (1,040) twin 660 hp Cummins M18QTA-QSM-11 diesels, giving this 52 Sundancer a reported 30-knot top hop and a 23-knot cruise speed.

It’s worth noting the PWC shown in pictures is not included in the sale.

Some other notable features on board About Time include:

Onan generator
Fusion Apollo stereo unit with JL Audio speakers
Raymarine autopilot
Radar/GPS/depth sounder
Washer and dryer combo
Satellite TV
Wet bar w/ a Norcold refrigerator,U-line ice maker and grill

Take the next step: Contact MarineMax , Daniel Deaibes, 850-723-2993

Length Overall: 52’6″
Maximum Beam: 15’2″
Fuel Capacity: 525 Gal.
Draft: 4’2″

2007 Eastbay 43 SX – Bella Vita – Huntington, New York

For those in the market for a Downeast-style cruiser, Grand Banks has Bella Vita , a 2007 Eastbay 43 SX, listed for $495,000.

Bella Vita has a teak-and-holly sole throughout, and the salon benefits from nearly 360 degrees of glass, bringing in light that enhances the sense of volume. Seating includes two loose chairs to starboard and a sofa to port.

The galley has a Silestone countertop with a backsplash guard and has an array of appliances including:

Vitrifrigo refrigerator/freezer
U-Line ice maker
Princess three-burner electric cooktop
Sharp microwave/convection oven
Stainless-steel sink

This Eastbay 43 SX has two staterooms. The forward master stateroom has an island queen berth while the guest stateroom has upper and lower berths.

The dance-floor-sized cockpit is a blank canvas, add a few lounge chairs for a nice evening of sundowners with friends. Two aft-facing bench seats flank the centerline, a great spot to relax after the kids set out baits and are waiting for a bite.

From 2022 to 2023 Bella Vita saw a number of updates and upgrades, including but not limited to:

Non-skid paint on decks
Canvas and cushions
All mechanical up-to-date
All weather stripping replaced
Dockside water intake w/pressure valve
Dual Garmin 1243 chart plotters
Engine Room camera
Garmin 4-foot 50-watt radar
Fusion stereo and speakers

Twin 490 hp Cummins QSC 8.3 diesels give the 43-footer a reported 30-knot top hop, and the boat’s 3-foot-7-inch draft make it skinny-water accessible.

Take the next step: Contact the listing agent, Steve Fithian, [email protected], 954-383-1999

Length Overall: 43′
Maximum Beam: 13’2″
Fuel Capacity: 450 Gal.
Draft: 3’7″

1994 Viking Yachts 58 Convertible Enclosed Bridge – Secone – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

In the market to move up to a tournament-ready sportfisherman? Consider Secone , the 1994 Viking Yachts 58 Convertible Enclosed Bridge, listed with Allied Marine for $499,000.

Secone has several features that make it an immediate contender for the seasoned angler, including:

168-square-foot cockpit
Tackle center in cockpit
Two in-sole fish boxes
Rod holder gunwale and rocket type
Two Rupp Marine hydraulic outriggers
Two deep-drop receptacles

Twin 1,100 hp MAN diesels should push this 58-footer to 32-plus knots.

Viking made sure the 58C has clear sightlines for the captain from his perch on the flybridge. Forward of the two-seat helm station is an L-shaped settee so guests can enjoy the view en route to the fishing grounds.

In the salon, guests can enjoy casual conversation about the day’s fishing on the L-shaped sofa to port, or the dinette forward to starboard. Forward and to port is the galley, which comes equipped with a two-burner cooktop, a convection oven/microwave, a refrigerator, a freezer and an ice maker.

When it’s time to turn in after a successful day on the salt, head belowdecks. The amidships master stateroom has a queen berth. The forepeak VIP has a queen berth and the third guest stateroom has bunk berths.

Other notable features on board Secone include:

Raymarine ST40 wind gauge
Simrad autopilot
GPS Garmin GPSMAP 7616XSV
GPS Northstar 952X
PS Furuno NAVNET
Icom VHF radio
Foredeck is the tender stowage
Custom rod storage in ceiling of enclosed flybridge
Built in Brownies dive compressor and fill station

Take the next step: Contact the listing agent , Chris Holtzheuser, 954-868-9755, [email protected]

Length Overall: 58’11”
Maximum Beam: 18′
Fuel Capacity: 1,500 Gal.
Draft: 5’3″

1986 Hatteras 63 CPMY – Wolo – Jacksonville, Florida

Curtis Stokes & Associates has the 1986 Hatteras 63 CPMY, Wolo , listed for sale at $420,500. The 63-foot cockpit motoryacht is sure to impress with its multiple exterior entertainment spaces and three-stateroom, three-head layout.

Wolo ’s exterior entertainment spaces include a foredeck sun pad and forward-facing bench seat, a two-tiered cockpit, which has space to work and space to relax, and the flybridge with alfresco dining space at the U-shaped dinette. The after section of the flybridge houses the 13-foot Boston Whaler tender.

The 63 CPMY has a homelike sense of space inside with headroom averaging from 6 feet, 3 inches to 6 feet, 7 inches. The salon has a U-shaped sofa to port and two lounge chairs to starboard.

Ready to turn in for the night? There are three well-appointed staterooms, including a full-beam master stateroom with a centerline king berth.

For foodies who envision turning out dishes that would please everyone, Wolo has the chef’s galley. Along with a dinette and counterspace to accommodate several helpers, the galley is equipped with the following appliances:

GE Profile stainless-steel refrigerator/freezer
GE Profile Advantium 120 microwave oven
Frigidaire four-burner ceramic cooktop
Black & Decker toaster oven
Kitchenaid stainless steel dishwasher
Garbage disposal

Power for this Hatteras Yachts 63 CPMY comes from twin 675 hp Detroit diesels, giving it a reported 17-knot top speed and a 12-knot cruise speed.

Some other notable features on board Wolo include:

Furuno Radar at the lower helm
Simrad Robertson AP20 autopilot at the lower helm and on the flybridge
Simrad IS15 display at the lower helm
Garmin GPSmap 5212 multi-function display at the lower helm
Garmin multi-function display
Garmin multi-system display
Standard-Horizon Matrix VHF at the lower helm
Icom IC-M802 VHF at the lower helm
Icom IC-M502 VHF on the flybridge
Onan 20 kW generator with approximately 3,182 hours

Take the next step: Contact the listing agent, Curtis Stokes, 954-684-0218, [email protected]

Length Overall: 63′
Maximum Beam: 18’2″
Fuel Capacity: 1,171 Gal.
Draft: 4’11”

1999 Carver 530 Voyager – Pop’s 53 – Newport Beach, California

Pop’s 53 , a 1999 Carver 530 Voyager, is listed with Alexander Marine USA for $359,000. The 53-foot pilothouse motoryacht is ready for families who want to do some weekend or longer cruising in comfort and style.

The salon and galley are adjacent with the lounge area aft, however, the area still feels spacious thanks to the open-galley arrangement, waist-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. An L-shaped sofa and folding coffee table are immediately to starboard, with the galley forward and to port. The galley has refrigerator and freezer drawers, a microwave, an electric cooktop, a dishwasher, a sink and stowage for provisions.

The pilothouse is forward and up a few steps from the salon and galley. An L-shaped sofa is abaft the helm station in case guests want to spend time talke in the views underway.

Belowdecks are three staterooms. The master stateroom is amidships with an athwartships berth. The forepeak VIP has a centerline step-up berth while the port guest stateroom has single berths.

Twin 450 hp Cummins diesels power the 53-foot motoryacht to a reported 17-knot cruise speed.

Some other notable features on board Pop’s 53 include:

Flybridge electronics Garmin 7612 with Garmin autopilot
Bow thruster
Garmin autopilot
Garmin VHF radio
Garmin Radar, GPS and fish finder
Teak-and-holly soles
Two scoop bait tanks
Eisenglass enclosure (Flybridge)

Take the next step: Contact the listing agent , Jerry Wheeler, 949-375-2323, [email protected]

Length Overall: 53′
Maximum Beam: 15’4″
Fuel Capacity: 800 Gal.
Draft: 4’9″

2014 Cruisers Yachts 380 Express – Marblehead, Ohio

For owners in the market for an express cruiser, Maritimo Americas currently has a 2014 Cruisers Yachts 380 Express listed for $269,000.

The 38-foot express cruiser is powered by low hour (300) twin 380 hp Mercruiser 8.2L MAG engines that give it a reported 35-knot top hop and a 25-knot cruise speed.

The bridge deck has a lounge area abaft the helm station with a U-shaped dinette and an-aft facing bench seat. An additional bench seat is adjacent to the helm. To port, a wet bar and grill are ready to prepare lunch for the family.

Belowdecks, there is a galley immediately to port with the master stateroom forward. A starboard guest cabin can be separated from the master with a privacy curtain. A dinette is abaft the guest cabin area. There’s also a day head with a shower stall.

Take the next step: Contact Maritimo Americas

Length Overall: 38′
Maximum Beam: 12’6″
Fuel Capacity: 300 Gal.
Draft: 3’5″

2007 Fairline Targa 52 – Mahalo – North Miami, Florida

The Fairline Targa 52 Mahalo is listed with Atlantic Yacht & Ship for $395,000. The 2007 express cruiser blends 36-knot performance with a family-friendly cruising layout.

Twin 800 hp Volvo Penta D12 diesels power Mahalo , providing it with that impressive wind-in-your-hair top hop as well as a 22-knot cruise speed.

The transom door lifts, showing the PWC stowage, which Yachting previously reported , “keep[s] the lines sleek, no messy davit here. There’s also an automated passerelle hidden under a side deck that extends hydraulically at the push of a button.”

When the kids are tired of playing with the water toys and are ready to dry off and catch some sun, the foredeck has a three-person sun pad. On the bridge deck, guests will find lounge seating aft with a U-shaped dinette to port, and a bench seat abaft the helm station.

Sleeping accommodations aboard Mahalo include three staterooms with a forepeak master and two guest cabins that split the centerline amidships. The master stateroom has a centerline queen berth, a flat-screen TV and an en suite head.

Mahalo has a galley-down arrangement, which features a U-shaped countertop, a dinette to starboard and an array of appliances including:

Full-size refrigerator and freezer
Three-burner glass cooktop
Built-in microwave oven

Some other notable features on board Maholo include:

Garmin 7610 XSV
Transducer Dual GT41M-THP
Garmin GMR 24 XHD radar
GPS Antenna 19x
Garmin GMI 20 Marine Instrument Display
Raymarine ST8002 Seatalk Autopilot Control Head
FLIR Thermal Imaging Night Vision Camera with Controller M324XP
KVH Tracvision Sat TV
Bose Home Entertainment Center
Sharp flat-screen TV in Salon
Flat-screen TV in master stateroom
Flat-screen TV in starboard guest stateroom
12V Clarion CD/FM/AM Stereo w/ Multi Disc Changer
Sirius satellite radio

Take the next step: Contact the listing agent, Joe Marino, 954-328-2059

Length Overall: 52′
Maximum Beam: 14′
Fuel Capacity: 480 Gal.

2001 Viking 55 Convertible – Jezebel – Vero Beach, Florida

For the offshore angler who’s in the market for a Viking Yachts sport fisherman, HMY Yacht Sales has Jezebel , a 2001 Viking 55 Convertible, listed with an asking price of $495,000. The 55-footer is tournament-ready with its 153-square-foot cockpit, 39-foot Rupp outriggers and well-equipped flybridge helm station.

Between the in-sole fish boxes, freezer, tackle locker, livewell, and six rod-holder rocket launcher, the 55C’s cockpit was set up for serious offshore fishing. The flybridge helm station offers clean sightlines for the captain to keep an eye ahead as well as on the spread when trolling.

Twin 1,300 hp MAN diesels give this 55-footer a reported 35-plus-knot top hop and a cruise speed of about 32 knots.

There are three staterooms belowdecks that sleep up to seven. The amidships master stateroom has a queen berth and en suite head. The forward VIP stateroom has two berths, an upper single berth and a lower double berth. The starboard guest stateroom has bunk berths.

The galley has three under-counter Sub-Zero units, a three-burner cooktop, Corian countertops, a microwave/convection oven and stowage.

Guests can enjoy meals at the dinette opposite the galley that seats four. When it’s time to relax after the day’s fishing, the salon has a flat-screen TV, an L-shaped sofa, an end table and an ottoman.

Some other notable features on board Jezebel include:

All electronics new in 2016
Garmin radar
Two 7612 Garmin screens
Raymarine Hybrid Touch
Standard Horizon VHF
FLIR camera
Garmin speed/depth display
JL Audio speakers

Take the next step: Contact the listing agent , Dave Berard, (772) 341-3669, [email protected],

Length Overall: 55′
Maximum Beam: 17’4″
Fuel Capacity: 1,250 Gal.
Draft: 4’10”
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Joe Deepwater Member

Which Brands are known for having the highest quality and reliability in the LONG run for used motor yachts 40-75 feet and 5-20 years old? I'm not talking about style. Pontiac's cars were stylish but generally unreliable and too expensive to maintain. I just want reliability and quality construction. Thank you!

Capt J Senior Member

Hatteras...…… Sunseeker...….Riva...….Searay….. in that order...…...

gr8trn Senior Member

5-20 years, 40-75 feet, is there a price range? I'll add Nordhaven, Cabo, Tiara, Riviera, Viking, Formula, Ocean Alexander. Most of these have completely different design purpose behind them. Trawlers, Sport Fishers, Sport Cruisers, something for everything. So not knowing what the intended purpose of the vessel is will be more difficult to answer the question.

Capt J said: ↑ Hatteras...…… Sunseeker...….Riva...….Searay….. in that order...…... Click to expand...

gr8trn said: ↑ 5-20 years, 40-75 feet, is there a price range? I'll add Nordhaven, Cabo, Tiara, Riviera, Viking, Formula, Ocean Alexander. Most of these have completely different design purpose behind them. Trawlers, Sport Fishers, Sport Cruisers, something for everything. So not knowing what the intended purpose of the vessel is will be more difficult to answer the question. Click to expand...

Pascal Senior Member

Will never recommend the following to any client - Italian boats especially a mutt - Man engines - any euro boat without a rub rail - any euro boat without means of boarding alongside a fixed pier. That means a boarding gate and enough headroom to get in without banging your head on the overhang - any boat where you can’t reach service items with BOTH hands and without calling a midget. Sorry... short person. - I greatly prefer fiberglass fuel tanks over aluminum but not a deal killer if properly installed (something mass productions builders often screw up) - anything without side decks. It s notnjust about line handling but traffic flow thru the boat - anything that looks like a chlorox bottle or Nike shoe PS There is a beneteau power boat a few slip down... dark gel coat is beyond bringing back to life. I once had to get on board another one that was self destructing against a piling and when I leaned over the rail, I thought it was going to rip out

Pascal said: ↑ Will never recommend the following to any client - Italian boats especially a mutt - Man engines - any euro boat without a rub rail - any euro boat without means of boarding alongside a fixed pier. That means a boarding gate and enough headroom to get in without banging your head on the overhang - any boat where you can’t reach service items with BOTH hands and without calling a midget. Sorry... short person. - I greatly prefer fiberglass fuel tanks over aluminum but not a deal killer if properly installed (something mass productions builders often screw up) - anything without side decks. It s notnjust about line handling but traffic flow thru the boat - anything that looks like a chlorox bottle or Nike shoe PS There is a beneteau power boat a few slip down... dark gel coat is beyond bringing back to life. I once had to get on board another one that was self destructing against a piling and when I leaned over the rail, I thought it was going to rip out Click to expand...

Joe Deepwater said: ↑ Trying to set a budget goal for the future. A few hundred K. Wife loves the Sedan Bridge design with lots of windows in the salon. I'm not a huge fisherman but it would be nice to add rod holders to drag a few lines to catch dinner. We enjoy the social aspect and swimming, so need a larger bridge to seat 10 people and a large swim platform. Realistically need 3 BR so I'll edit to 50 foot minimum. Click to expand...

olderboater Senior Member

Everyone will have different views based on their experiences. These ratings below are just on the two elements you mentioned, reliability and quality construction and not on ride or handling of seas or any other factors. However, I can't ignore your Pontiac comment. No more unreliable than any other GM product and certainly no more expensive to maintain. I only respond to that as you used that as a lead in and I'm rating without consideration of that information. Excellent-Hatteras, Cabo and Viking. Very Good-Riva and Nordhavn. We own two Riva's, now 6+ years old. Nordhavn is not a boat that would ever interest me but the construction quality is good. Grand Banks, Palm Beach, Eastbay. In older Grand Banks, some have issues with fuel tanks and all the teak but overall well build boats. Good-Sunseeker, Fairline, Sunseeker's very good, just odds and ends of small things and gelcoat issues on older models. Fairline, I'm rating based on very limited knowledge. Outer Reef, Hampton, Kadey Krogen, Ferretti and other Ferretti brands such as Pershing. Sabre. Don't overlook brands like North Pacific or Helmsman Fair-Sea Ray, Meridian, Beneteau, Carver, Marquis, Cruisers, Tiara, Riviera (also very limited knowledge), Ocean Alexander. Several of these in the "Fair" rating are volume production boats and they're good boats for the money and have more satisfied customers than the higher rated boats. Note, the Sea Ray L Series I would rate poor. Poor-Princess. I'd rate the older ones ahead of the current models which I've seeing many problems over and over. Prestige, the same. Azimut, I have to rate poor, largely due to the very poor service network in the US which impacts their reliability. Marlow, very inconsistent and some have had major issues. I didn't rate Formula or Regal as they're not largely in this market. As to Pascal's comments, I don't share his disdain for Italian boats not named Azimut as we've had good luck with ours. However, many people do agree with them. As to Man's, we've had them in three boats and been very pleased. Many point to a high cost of maintenance, but we haven't experienced that. However, we do have our own engineers. I agree with his boarding issues, just not addressing other things I like or dislike here. Just the two points of reliability and quality construction. Most brands are actually well built and issues worked out by the time they reach your age targets.

Olderboater hits all of the points well. However, I have to strongly disagree with Pascals comments on Man's. I've managed a set of 2007 common rails since 2011, managed lots of other yachts with Man's. I have NEVER had any failure with any of them that required anything internal on the engine, not even removing valve covers (aside from scheduled valve adjustments). They run smooth, they run quiet, they're powerful, and fuel efficient. Now, in the earlier days plenty of issues with sensors and minor electrical stuff on the common rails...…...but nothing that made me slow down or not be able to run 1. Now MTU's on the other hand (Multiple Trouble Units). I don't remember the last time I ran an MTU boat without engine alarms going off. Even new ones. I've seen a few catastrophic failures...….failures of coolant pumps, injectors, starters, alternators, etc etc all on engines 2005 or newer.

Capt J said: ↑ O Now MTU's on the other hand (Multiple Trouble Units). I don't remember the last time I ran an MTU boat without engine alarms going off. Even new ones. I've seen a few catastrophic failures...….failures of coolant pumps, injectors, starters, alternators, etc etc all on engines 2005 or newer. Click to expand...

Beau Senior Member

And not one person mentioned a Post 50....

Beau said: ↑ And not one person mentioned a Post 50.... Click to expand...

whoops - got that one wrong!

Silver Lining Member

The OP has a budget of a few hundred K for a 50 to 75 ft boat and is looking for a boat 5 to 20 years old. In that size range you will more likely be looking at boats 10 to 20 years old. Some of the regular posters here can be quite opinionated without having owned a specific brand boat and run it as an owner operator for a long period of time. It is most important to go out and look at several models in the year range you are looking to really get a feel for the quality and how the boats really wear. I have to disagree pretty strongly with Olderboater and Capt J on their evaluation of the Princess/Viking Sport Cruiser. They have been very critical of this manufacturer and to say they are a lesser boat then Carver or Meridian is ridiculous. I have had my 19 year old Viking Sport Cruiser for 10 years now and put more than 25,000 miles on the boat. It has been very reliable and has held up comparably well to the other manufacturers we were considering at the time, Sunseeker, Fairline, and Sea Ray. There have been apparently some recent problems discussed in a few threads over the last year or two with new deliveries, but I do not know the full story. The older Sunseeker, Fairline, and Princess/Viking Sport Cruisers have very similar hull designs and are considered pretty good sea boats for their design goals. Up until at least a few years ago Fairline, and Princess/Viking Sport Cruisers used the same naval architect.

Silver Lining said: ↑ The OP has a budget of a few hundred K for a 50 to 75 ft boat and is looking for a boat 5 to 20 years old. In that size range you will more likely be looking at boats 10 to 20 years old. Some of the regular posters here can be quite opinionated without having owned a specific brand boat and run it as an owner operator for a long period of time. It is most important to go out and look at several models in the year range you are looking to really get a feel for the quality and how the boats really wear. I have to disagree pretty strongly with Olderboater and Capt J on their evaluation of the Princess/Viking Sport Cruiser. They have been very critical of this manufacturer and to say they are a lesser boat then Carver or Meridian is ridiculous. I have had my 19 year old Viking Sport Cruiser for 10 years now and put more than 25,000 miles on the boat. It has been very reliable and has held up comparably well to the other manufacturers we were considering at the time, Sunseeker, Fairline, and Sea Ray. There have been apparently some recent problems discussed in a few threads over the last year or two with new deliveries, but I do not know the full story. The older Sunseeker, Fairline, and Princess/Viking Sport Cruisers have very similar hull designs and are considered pretty good sea boats for their design goals. Up until at least a few years ago Fairline, and Princess/Viking Sport Cruisers used the same naval architect. Click to expand...

Silver Lining said: ↑ I have to disagree pretty strongly with Olderboater and Capt J on their evaluation of the Princess/Viking Sport Cruiser. They have been very critical of this manufacturer and to say they are a lesser boat then Carver or Meridian is ridiculous. Click to expand...

Beau said: ↑ So what's YOUR advice for the OP? I am really cantankerous tonight Click to expand...

Silver Lining said: ↑ Not knowing what his desired cruising grounds and distances are, I am going to guess based on his flybridge and salon/swimming platform comments that he will cruise the east coast, do the Bahamas and maybe have a dream of venturing further south to the Caribbean. Price wise, if he has a few 100 K for the boat, anything much over 60 ft will be quite expensive to maintain properly and so not realistic at that budget. 3 staterooms means at least 50 - 55 ft. Based on his previous boats, and those mentioned he wants a boat that can plane. In the 50 to 60 ft range I would look at boats 10 to 15 years old. I would look at Sunseekers, Viking Sport Cruisers, Sea Ray, and Ocean Alexander. Then I would consider Fairline, Neptunus, and Ferretti, but I think the selection will be thinner (I think it’s a real plus to have at least a few boats in the range of years and model when shopping). While the Hatteras of those years are fantastic I don’t think he can get one in his price range – it will be several years older. Cheoy Lee or Grand Banks also but don’t know if they will be planning boats in those years. Click to expand...

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COMMENTS

5 Great Values In Used Boats
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Price Spread: Low-to-mid $100s to over $300K. 4. Silverton 39 Motor Yacht Production Years: 2002 - 2008. At a Glance: This maxi-beam aft cabin cruiser — and her lookalike predecessor, the best-selling Silverton 372/392 Motor Yacht — is proof that a roomy interior trumps graceful styling almost every time.
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Quality Yacht Listings. In addition to our new yacht brands, we have hundreds of used yachts available for sale. We represent co-brokerage, pre-owned yachts from yacht manufacturers such as Sea Ray, Tiara, Azimut, Hatteras, and Boston Whaler, to name a few, as well as used luxury yachts for sale from our represented brands.. Let us help you on your search to find a yacht.
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A 60ft yacht will offer greater deck space, more spacious cabins, a larger galley and salon and usually more horsepower. With an ever-growing database of used yachts for sale, YATCO has many 60ft yachts currently for sale. You likely won't find a 60ft yacht for less than $200,000 for sale, with many costing over and above $4 million.
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For this reason, the best 431 is a boat that someone else had rewired at some point along the way. Lagoon 470 Billy Black. 3. Lagoon 470. If you need a larger escape pod, the Lagoon 470 is one of our favorites. This model of older Lagoons was built at CNB's yard in Bordeaux, France, and the build quality was high.
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2005 61 Viking Sport Cruisers - Jaclen - Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Walking up to Jaclen, a 2005 61 Viking Sport Cruisers, the profile is so sleek you almost can't tell the yacht has a flybridge. Well, a sport bridge to be precise. Gilman Yachts currently has this 61-foot, three-stateroom yacht listed with an asking price of $449,000.
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The OP has a budget of a few hundred K for a 50 to 75 ft boat and is looking for a boat 5 to 20 years old. In that size range you will more likely be looking at boats 10 to 20 years old. Some of the regular posters here can be quite opinionated without having owned a specific brand boat and run it as an owner operator for a long period of time.
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