New boat vs second hand

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Sonia M

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We are looking at buying a new boat. We know we want a 40ft cruiser with cabin & have narrowed it down to a 2013 Portofino Sunseeker 40 or a new Beneteau GT 40. Obviously we get the warranties etc with a new boat but a Sunseeker is a beautiful boat. The GT has the joystick which we would need to have put on the Sunseeker. We are quite new to boating this year and will be trading in out Beneteau Flyer 7.7 so it is quite a step up for 25ft and just want to be sure we get it right. Any suggestions or help would be great. Thanks.
 
Sonia,

Both are great boats but the Sunseeker will be the more desirable brand. You'll take a big hit on depreciation with any new boat whilst the depreciation on a four year old Sunseeker will have been paid for by someone else. I also don't think you'll have any trouble in selling the Sunseeker when the time comes to sell it. On the other hand you'll have the 'new boat' experience with the Beneteau and the warranties and back up that go with it. It seems to me that you want the Beneteau because you want a joystick. Speaking as an owner of a boat with IPS joystick I can vouch that the technology is brilliant and that most new boats these days are specified with IPS but its not essential. I think you're concerned that your move to a much larger boat will mean it is much more difficult to handle, this will not be the case. I suggest that some own boat tuition will soon have you gaining confidence in handling it.
Good luck, you're in a lovely position to be able to choose between two great boats. Enjoy!
 
If you go new, make sure your dealer makes it worth while. They need to give you a good price and trade in for your Flyer and offer finance or a place in a port etc. The love you get from a dealer is only transitory and sometimes after the sale has gone through it can get a bit testy, so check their reputation.
The other big factor is delivery time, a second hand boat is instant gratification but a new boat (if it’s not in stock) can take several months.
Whatever your choice I’m sure it will be a good one. And what everyone says is true, bigger boats are easier to handle.
 
Thanks for your reply. It’s a difficult decision to make. We do have a great dealer who is giving us a good price for our flyer and throwing in a few extras if we go for new.
 
I think it comes down to a simple choice, do you buy with your heart or your head.

Buy with your heart and you get a new boat.

Buy with your head and you get a second hand boat and don't take a hit on depreciation.
 
Sonia M said:
We are looking at buying a new boat. We know we want a 40ft cruiser with cabin & have narrowed it down to a 2013 Portofino Sunseeker 40 or a new Beneteau GT 40. Obviously we get the warranties etc with a new boat but a Sunseeker is a beautiful boat. The GT has the joystick which we would need to have put on the Sunseeker. We are quite new to boating this year and will be trading in out Beneteau Flyer 7.7 so it is quite a step up for 25ft and just want to be sure we get it right. Any suggestions or help would be great. Thanks.
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I can understand that having a joystick makes your docking life easier. But I'd counsel that learning to manoeuvre with engines and rudder is a really important basic boating skill. Not only that, but it's great fun to master.

I say this having watched, first hand, the problems caused when the automatics fail and the skipper not knowing what to do. And stories of failed electronic controls are almost commonplace and the last thing you need to be in a position where you call for help (or damage the boat) because you can't manoeuvre without your joystick.

So, find a really instructor and have a couple of sessions. Such fun. You'll feel great.
 
We were on the brink of ordering new when i spotted a 4 year old boat that had been specced to the hilt and been well looked after and was a HUGE amount less than than new boat. We were probably lucky but like most things new boats lose a huge amount the minute you make a cup of tea on them. Also the "delivery" charge the dealer gets is massive ie the charge to get the boat from the factory and set it up and get it afloat. It was something like £16k on the boat we looked at , thats money straight down the plug for a start. What also annoyed me about the new boat was the price of all the extras like generators for example , twice the price of getting one fitted elsewhere. So no , I am not a new boat buyer but I suppose if money wasnt an object it would be different !
 
Another vote for the used Sunseeker .
We have shed loads of boat dealers in our marina inc our “ big three “ .
Lots of dealer berths scattered into the 900 or so .So plenty of stock both demos and punter stuff either waiting for PDI or punter has negotiated some berth deal ,for a little while .

Point is this the glossy factory newness , shiney gel coat , immaculate fender etc lasts about 3 months tops in the Med sun .Realise in the U.K. your figure will be higher .
But within easily 12/12 the new French boats you have in your sights will be dull and covered in seagul crap with stains on the covers from pollution in the rain .
Arguably, but I don’t want to go here the build Q on the Sunny is a few steps above the other contenders .
Also in the future at marinas , fuel pontoons etc if you spot a Porto 40 , ie it’s next to your French boat , you will always wonder what If ?

They have not got dating number plates , boats .

Use the depreciation saved in a mental man maths to get tuition re parking .You don,t need a joystick .
 
Piers said:
I can understand that having a joystick makes your docking life easier. But I'd counsel that learning to manoeuvre with engines and rudder is a really important basic boating skill. Not only that, but it's great fun to master.

I say this having watched, first hand, the problems caused when the automatics fail and the skipper not knowing what to do. And stories of failed electronic controls are almost commonplace and the last thing you need to be in a position where you call for help (or damage the boat) because you can't manoeuvre without your joystick.

So, find a really instructor and have a couple of sessions. Such fun. You'll feel great.
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100% agree with this, and add that the sterndrive joystick experience isn't the same as IPS. Sterndrives 'clunk' in and out of gear and when you see a joystick sterndrive boat manoeuvring it's clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk as the thing shuffles in and out of gear trying to make the boat go where the joystick is pointing it, and more revs as the outdrives have less leverage out the back than IPS pods do (a bit) further toward the centre.

It's not a bad system, and it does work, but it can feel a little mechanically unsympathetic and look less under control.

A good bow thruster and the ability to 'point' the props at the back give all the handling needed, with the advantage of looking more under control and less of that in/out of gear stuff.
 
re stern drives and joysticks - had a few reports the clutches go quickly (@ 500 hours) as the joystick control is not very subtle when it comes to parking. As per others once you have mastered a boat without a joystick you really don't need it. A decent bow thruster should prevent any red faces if it gets windy. As per others - save a heap of money, keep things simple (and reliable) and spend a little on some lessons. Well worth it.

As for boating around Jersey etc it's the Atlantic so you want something that is good if it gets a bit rough. Look for sharp hull entry at the bow with a deep V hull at the stern, avoid flat-ish bottomed boats that will slam - it gets pretty tiring very quickly and things start coming loose (cupboard doors, lockers, etc)
Have you considered Windy boats as well as Sunseekers? You really only find out how "good" a boat is when it gets rough. At that moment what it looks like and how shiny it is becomes completely irrelevant.
 
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Brilliant answers thank you all for taking time out to reply. So much to take on board (if you pardon the pun!) & having taken another look around the GT 40 we do not think it is the right boat for us. We looked at the Four Winn’s 355 and as we were kind of talked into going for 40 disregarded it but now looking again at that and the sea ray too. As for the joy stick I don’t think it would worry us too much on a 35 footer. It’s back to the drawing board so please any more advice please keep it coming as it really is very helpful. Thanks again ????
 
I would go for the sunseeker over the French thing!
Have you actually had a price to fit the joystick to the sunseeker. It’s not going to be cheep......
 
The windy seem expensive and no Hard tops unless I’m missing something. We are definitely back to the drawing board now. Selling our flyer separately so we are in a better position to buy. The joy stick is not something we are adamant about now either having listened to everyone’s answers on here although if it is fitted on a boat we happen to find we would still go for it. Beneteau is now off the list. I love the Sunseeker but it’s talking the husband round. Have also seen a fair line targa 38 that looks good too. Thanks.
 
We will definitely be getting tuition so we are confident in whatever we get and we have decided not to go for GT 40. Still liking the Portofino but also still looking. Thanks.
 
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