DarienJim

Depending on what my employer decided this summer, I am either 8 months or 20 months from retirement. We just settled down into SEFL and we are planning to join a local yachting club which is very active on cruising to the Bahamas, the Key, the West Coast and surrounding East Coast. The easy access to the Bahamas is the one of the main reasons we choose Jupiter over Naples.

I have looked off an on over the two past years at power cruisers beginning to assemble a list of potential boats to purchase. We will most likely buy a 2-6 year old low mileage boat to avoid some of the depreciation hit. I am cognizant that in a COVID world used boats are zooming off the market but I’m hopeful I do not have to resort to buying a new one.

Some key criterion for my wife and I:

1. Build quality—I’m not too handy
2. Resale value—this will be a big purchase and if say 3-4 years down the road, we hate doing this, I would like to minimize the depreciation hit
3. Will not be used for fishing so pure cruiser/comfort
4. Fly bridge required. I crew up fishing with boats with fly bridges and I guess I could be talked out of it but right now this is a requirement.
5. Galley must be up and not mid shape or down. This is wifey requirement.
6. Minimum 2 staterooms and bathrooms
7. Size for couple to handle so I am thinking 38-45 feet
8. Thinking 25 mph cruiser with 1.0+ MPG
9. ISP so wifey can dock easily

Nice to have’s:

1. Floating stern with ability to easily launch tender
2. Love to have ability to easily store scuba tanks towards stern—we like to dive. Honestly have not seen this option.
3. Love to have ability to easily store 2 bikes somewhere easily to get on tender
4. Small BBQ on back (not a huge requirement)

My initial list I have been working on with some input here and other places and doing some boats shows before COVID is as follows:Absolute 47 Fly

Azimut 42 Fly

Bavaria Vitress 420 Fly

Beneteau Monte Carlo 4

Carver C40 Command Bridge

Prestige 420 S and 460 Flybridge

Princess F45 Flybridge

Regal 42 Fly

Rivera 43 Fly and 45 Fly

Sealine F430

I say the Galeon at the boat show but the uncertainty of the build quality and resale value scares me. The French and Italian boats equally scare me if for no other reason I really do not know.

A lot of people like the the Sabra 42 Fly but the galley is midship.

Not sure on exact budget but thinking $300-600k.

anything missing from list? Would love to hewr from any TFT’s that own these boats and their honest assessments.

Water50

Why not a sport fish? They are typically of substantial construction, can run fast, and will eat up seas. I have no affiliation, but there’s a 40 Cabo flybridge offered by Galati in st Pete with a 499k ask. It even has a swim platform. 2 stateroom, 2 heads, galley up, 800 Mans. And Cabo build quality and rigging is top tier.

Sporties make great cruisers. You don’t have to fish.

DarienJim

I thought about a sport fisher but they generally do not have kitchen up as required by wife and given large rear deck area suffer from a lack of lounging area. I actually like the Cabo 41 and known they are a quality builder. Looked at the two 40 Cabo’s above probably too old for my taste also.

Onewolf

Ocean 40 Sportfish

DarienJim

I do not think that meets the criterion set above but thank you for the suggestion.

37IslandHopper

Forget the bridge on a boat that small not used for fishing. You need to be 55-60' to get a decent bridge on the type of boat you desire.

Get a Back Cove 37 or a 42 Sabre.

Barrington

The boat below has 90% of the OP’s wish list.....

mystery

I have plenty of comments to add because your requirements were pretty much mine a few years ago. I looked at and researched most of those boats. I dont have time to reply this moment but will try later.

MUHSFINK07

I would say Princess but you would probably need to stretch your budget. Not sure what you can get for the price that you are looking at. Also 45 feet really isn't that big...

rwsrws

I live in a boating/retirement area and see folks downsize as they age.

Flybridge is nice, BUT...... as one gets older that climb up/down will likely get slower and slower and then...... well.

With the scuba you are likely in great shape and this is not an issue today, but is something to consider down the road

BEST !

RWS

30West

I loved my 40' aft-cabin with a large flybridge, great setup for cruising with guests or family. Sport fish would not have been enough space. The bridge really added to the useable space, and we enjoyed the improved view and outside seating. A large swim platform also really adds to the useable space. I had stairs and no ladders, it really was more relaxing for guests without ladders.

That is a nice list, I sold mine and downsized when my wife passed away, but some of those would have been next on my list. Those prices are more reasonable than I would have expected. I was looking at older boats I could renovate, there are some very good deals on some already renovated. Hopefully I can stay satisfied with my little sporty.

StellaMaris2

You may need to lower your MPG expectations a bit. I’d imagine most boats that would fit your list would be 0.5-0.75mpg at cruise

SalmonDaze

https://oceanalexander.com/yachts/45-divergence-coupe/

Cruiser that checks all your boxes, including ouboards to tick the "I'm not too handy" box.

Hank496

Nope, we have a Sabre 38 with Volvo IPS450s and comfortably cruise at 22-24 knots at less than 20 gph combined.

DarienJim

Good to know.

DarienJim

I really liked the Princess F45 but I have seen mixed reviews in here on their quality.

DarienJim

What’s the view on Jeneteau quality. When I raced sailboats their quality was questionable but that 25 year old info and probably no longer relevant.

DarienJim

Probably inclined not to do outboards and give up stern floating deck but thank you.

DarienJim

Sorry for your lost. What you said about usable space is exactly what I am thinking.

If you where in the market today, anything else you would add?

DarienJim

I’m 61 and my wife says I’m fat and out of shape but....I still get around. I view this boat as something I will use until 70ish and then switch out which is why low depreciation is high on my list.