Best 40-50 foot express cruiser/yacht/fly?

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DreJ

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Hello.

New to the community and new to boating in general.

I'm looking to retire in Europe and buy a new yacht/express cruiser/flybridge around 40-50 foot. I'd appreciate some advice as a newbie to boating in terms of the best boats to look at.


I'm primarily looking towards inboards, although I'm open to any suggestions. I'll avoid saying a price limit just for argument's sake let's assume there is no limit, speaking strictly in terms of hypothetically what would be best.


Are there particular companies that are better than others? I've been to a few boat shows and particularly like sunseeker/regal/Prestige/Princess/Fairline/SeaRay etc. All of these seem to come with similar spec engines, all of the same features (joystick etc.) so as a newbie I don't really have a way of differenting which to go for. Choosing a specific brand is one of the most difficult choices for me, as there isn't one that jumps out any more than others. They all look great, all feature similar Volvo engines, have the same modern features etc. How do I choose a brand?

I have looked at both flybridges and express cruisers and am attracted to the idea of a flybridge but am unaware of the disadvantages in terms of the larger surface area. Any advice?


Ideally it would be able to sleep 4/5 people. I would say modern features and seating areas etc. but presumably that's a given with a new cruiser.


A nice sporty cruiser would be ideal, but not so much so it detracts from the social aspect. A hybrid would be nice.


Thanks for the help guys. Much appreciated!

If you could give me any advice on flybridge Vs standard express cruiser that would be great, as well as just valuable information for a beginner. Thanks!


The prestige 420 fly particularly catches my eye. Any pros and cons and how does it compare to similar models?


As much detail as possible is greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)

Edit: I should add it will be kept in a saltwater marina.
 
Also if anything could be said about the kind of maintenance required with these kind of boats it would be very helpful. Thanks :)
 
A shaft drive boat will end up costing less in maintenance,
Imho in terms of quality stick with Italian if nothing tickles your fancy fall back on the British 3 .
Engines German MAN or MTU or American Cummins or CAT
Sea air and water has a habit of knackering stuff PDQ so sway away from marketing gimmicks overly reliant on electrotwackerey.

So start with looking @ any Ferretti Group product ,Should be something in there .
Looks like this broker agrees with BruceK:).
2005 Itama 48 Power New and Used Boats for Sale - www.yachtworld.co.uk

look @ Otam and Magnum , DP , Aprea mare .

Where are you thinking of starting ....to berth it ?
 
If by retire you mean you want to live on it you need space.

length, beam and a flybridge. Many like sports boats but to live on a fly is more practical especially in winter

money does matter as some boats are finished to a higher standard. Princess Sunseeker fairline are the top U.K. producers.

where you keep it has a bearing also. A Ferretti or Cranchi in the U.K.
The mechanicals are all made by a few manufacturers. Volvo cat etc.

You need to be really clear what you want of the boat where you want to keep it an budget. In the med mooring costs are usually your biggest cost. There are exceptions and some cheap locations.
 
Princess 40 fly, and why
Fly, great outdoor driving, easy to park, loads of entertaining space.
Saloon driving for when the waves are breaking over the fly.
Cockpit like a conservatory, canvas and windows up or down.
Sleeps 6 in double, twin cabins and double in saloon.
Full height patio doors.
inside is not just canvas covered.
Pontoon, bathing platform, cockpit, saloon all on one level (knackered knees)
Princess, one of the big 3.
40’ many marinas have limited space for over 40’. That size is also often the limit for town pontoons. big enough for 2 to live on but can still single hand it. Marina rates often jump up over 40’
 
By "Express" cruiser (I think you mean a sports boat - essentially a Targa style).
I will get "flamed" for this:-
But, for me, I consider that you "camp" on a sports boat and "live" on a Flybridge boat.
Both concepts work in their own way .

IMO, jrudge's comments are the most valid points to consider.
His main question is "Are you retiring to live on the boat? perhaps spending time on it?".
His other point about "where are you going to keep the boat" then becomes valid.
These two points themselves might steer you to the style of boat that best suits you.
Space is often the key - if you are just going to use the boat at weekends for 4 or 5 people, either a sports boat or a flybridge will suit.
Sleeping accommodation is probably the best way of looking at space.
For example, a 40 footer is more likely to only have 2 cabins so ok for 4 people but the 5th would probably have to use use a made up bed.
But, generally speaking, a flybridge boat will give you much more space that a sports boat.

I retired 20 years ago - I don't live on the boat but she is very much a second home.
On average, I spend 5 or 6 months of the year "living" on a Princess flybridge but mine is bigger than the 40 to 50 feet that you mention.
For me, a 40 foot boat would be too small.
We started with a 51 foot flybridge which was great around the UK but when we decided to move the boat to the Med, we bought a bigger boat.

You also say that you have been looking at "new" boats.
But, IMO, it would be better to have the correct second hand (probably bigger) boat than a new (smaller) one that doesn't meet the requirements of space.

Finally, don't be put off by the Med.
We keep our 20m Princess in the Med for less than it cos us to keep our previous 15m Sealine flybridge boat in the UK Solent.
The Balearics and the South of France are "eye wateringly" expensive areas but you can berth in the Med for a fraction of those prices.
Our solution is to keep the boat about 100 miles from the Balearics on mainland Spain and "pop across" whenever we want.
Remember, being retired gives you plenty of time to do this kind of thing.

So, I think we need more information about how long you intend staying on the boat and where you intend keeping her.
Until that is sorted, there is very little point in getting onto the flybridge vs sportsboat argument.
 
Camp on a sports boat? There's fighting talk right there. :) Wait till Porto sees that you'll be biting your tongue.
 
But lets face it - that is relatively accurate. With few people on board a sports boat can be OK to live on ( I had a T40) but with more people or in winter FB is a hands down winner.

You have space for people to disappear to, a real " lounge" to watch TV of an evening etc

Some of the large Princess V class with hard top and doors do a good compromise.

Neither is right or wrong - it depends what you want to so with it.

A fly bridge is positioned as a floating apartment - as pretty much that is what it is - as long as it is big enough,
 
Oh, I dont disagree, and especially in the Med. Unfortunately design and practical use do seem to stray though. I can only speak for the UK and more specifically N Wales where FB owners are more exposed to the elements than yotties and because they seem to refuse to helm from the salon are invariably wet, cold, miserable and look rather incongruous in what I can only describe as immersion survival suits. On the other hand sports cruisers also stray from the design intent but have the advantage of cruising in t-shirt and shorts wondering which panel to open up to cool down and have over a half dozen configurations to pitch their tent to attain optimum comfort. I agree whole heartedly that anything with a FB under the mid 40 mark is too small for a couple but would gleefully add that at 10 feet less a sports boat is cavernous albeit open plan. Living on anything under 45 foot that doesn't have a utilities room for washing etc I can imagine being tedious and they do all seem to point to FB type boats and trawlers. So I would not say FB is the defining factor. I'd say it all centres around personal space separation so you are not living on top of each other as you pointed out and utilities.
It's also apparent that Hard tops have been left out the equation along with sedans. Sports cruisers dont all have tents. Take Scala's new vessel for instance. The whole thing is becoming more blurred by the day
 
True. Hard tops are interesting. A friend was unwell so I moved his T47 with sliding roof round the Marina. The heat was simply extraordinary - the roof lets in the sun and keeps the breeze out - so great for the Uk, but ( to my surprise) a real problem in the med.

The OP has not returned so I suspect we will never know his intended use.
 
BruceK said:
...
It's also apparent that Hard tops have been left out the equation along with sedans. Sports cruisers dont all have tents. Take Scala's new vessel for instance. The whole thing is becoming more blurred by the day
Click to expand...
jrudge said:
True. Hard tops are interesting. A friend was unwell so I moved his T47 with sliding roof round the Marina. The heat was simply extraordinary - the roof lets in the sun and keeps the breeze out - so great for the Uk, but ( to my surprise) a real problem in the med.
...
Click to expand...
Same reasoning I used when we were trying to narrow down the possible options. I went for a hardtop over an open SC for the UK as we use the boat a fair bit in the winter and wanted to feel more snug. That model has a choice of open-back hardtop or a coupe with sliding doors, arguably more practical for the UK but I preferred the more open feel to the cockpit of the hardtop. A sub option on that model of a solid fixed hardtop; sliding GRP panel that opens half of the roof, which is what I have; or a sliding fabric roof that opens all the way back. In the Med I think I'd want the fabric.
 
Good move Scala ref hard top
When peeps ask 'What boat shall I get' (Uk usage) My intial reply is always
'Roof, shafts, Diesel'
Nowt against petrol its just the availability shoreside
Tents are a OK but the least faffing with Zips and press studs the better
 
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