Ooops seem to have ended up in the Sunseeker sales office....

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Greenhorn

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My lovely wife bought some tickets for the London boat show as a Xmas present. Having never owned a boat before I seem to have ended up in the Sunseeker sales office and put a returnable deposit down on a Manhattan 52.

I'm recently retired, have a wife and a 2 year old and want to do some travelling before she starts school in a couple of years. We've got a motorhome and really enjoyed spending a couple of months travelling through France and Spain in October/November. The only downside were the campsites they tend to be stuck in middle of nowhere, so we stayed a few times in marina car parks and "wild camped" which we much preferred.

I wouldn't want to use the motorhome in the summer as I'm sure wild camping would be a lot more restrictive and it would be far too hot on campsites and boring. Hence the idea of a boat!

I'm not too bothered how it looks as there is always going to be someone with a bigger, better looking one they I can afford, so really it comes down to practicalities and budget.

I'd like at least 3 births, because I want friends and family to visit. Having never driven a boat before it needs to be easy and safe for me to operate. The easier to "dock" the better. I also like the travelling part, so the potential to go on a journey around the med in reasonable comfort would be ideal.

Budget is between £500k-£1m. As far as I can work out depreciation is likely to be the biggest cost, so I'd definitely consider something that has suffered the worst of its depreciating.

Thank you in advance of any replies!
 
You put a deposit down on a Manhattan 52 on impulse?! :encouragement: When I get up off the floor I will follow this thread with much interest. I love your style, but, for advice I'm not sure you have the personality to take it. Well done! I love your style :D
 
Greenhorn said:
I'd definitely consider something that has suffered the worst of its depreciating.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the madhouse, but I'm not sure to understand: if you already bought (albeit the deal is not yet finalised, as I understand) the 'hattan, why are you still "considering" anything else?
Regardless, I can only second BruceK comments! :encouragement:
 
It was a returnable deposit, as they haven't launched the 52 yet. If I don't like it when I see it, then I get my money back no questions asked. So really I have nothing to lose and it gives me the impetus to do some proper research, hence my post. Plus it blagged me a look around the Sunseeker 131! :cool:
 
I also like your style!

Boating is a great activity, but it's not for everyone. The usual advice is to try a charter holiday first, to make sure you and your wife like boating, and to help you decide what's important to you in a boat without spending a fortune on something unsuitable.

If you've made up your mind to buy, then the 52 doesn't seem to be a current model, so I assume it's a used boat. The obvious first question therefore is have you seen it and been on it? Sunseeker are a respected builder, but you may also want to look round used models from the other mainstream builders to be sure it's the best model for you. Is it "med spec", with a hydraulic gangway, flybridge sun canopy and air conditioning? If not you may be better looking for a boat that already has these. Is it already located in the med? If not you have shipping cost of about £10-20k. As a beginner it will help to have a stern thruster, so you may want to get one of these fitted if it doesn't already have one.

Having decided on the boat you'll need to think where you want to keep it. The main areas in the med are mainland Spain, Balearics, Côte d'Azur, Italy, Croatia or Greece. It's worth searching back through the threads on here as there is much useful advice on the pros and cons of each area. Whilst it's entirely feasible to cruise the whole med in a boat like the one you've chosen, don't forget that you'll be traveling at 25 mph and burning 3 gallons of fuel for every 2 miles you travel, so most people either choose an area and cruise within a couple of hundred miles of it, or slowly work their way through the med over a number of years.

Get yourself some quality training when you first get the boat as it will reduce the stress of your first few trips.
 
Pinnacle said:
I am guessing its this one;

http://www.sunseekerbrokerage.com/sunseeker-manhattan-52-4920988/?make=&model=&min-year=1971&max-year=2015&min-length=3&max-length=164&min-price=0&max-price=17000000&search=true&p=21&sort=length&order=desc&cabins=0&tax=

That's quite a starter boat! The advice above from Nick_H regarding training is sound.

Best of luck with your new adventure!
Click to expand...

If it is that one it doesn't mention a passarelle ( gangplank). There is a flap in the transom steps, so it probably has one, but worth double checking so that you could get one fitted as part of the deal if not.
 
Hi Greenhorn
Exciting times for you!
Most of the advice I would offer has already been covered by Nick H.

Make sure boating will suit you all.
Don't rush in to anything. (Maybe too late?) Buying a 50+ footer on impulse may be regretted when you see alternatives that you didn't consider (although we do like your style!)
Have a really good look around.
Take advice (which you are)

I will be shot down in flames for this one.... Im sure plenty manage fine.... but for me boating with very young children was stressful... there... I said it! I came out of boating for a few years when my twins were born (25 years ago). The enjoyment had been replaced with concern for their safety. Difficult perhaps because it was 2 inquisitive toddlers on board at once. Fine with plenty of crew around or a full time nanny I guess...

Good luck with the search and the purchase.
 
Epic! I love your idea, vision and plan. You might want to think of where you want to have a base. Berthing costs can be steep, but there will be many who will be along to help if you want some Med tips!
 
CLOUD9 said:
I will be shot down in flames for this one.... Im sure plenty manage fine.... but for me boating with very young children was stressful... there... I said it! I came out of boating for a few years when my twins were born (25 years ago). The enjoyment had been replaced with concern for their safety. Difficult perhaps because it was 2 inquisitive toddlers on board at once. Fine with plenty of crew around or a full time nanny I guess....
Click to expand...

No shooting down from me, I completely agree with you. My wife, in particular, found that she couldn't relax on board when our son was v. young, not just down to safety fears but also because they need constant attention. We overcame it partly by installing a stairgate across the patio door opening and the entrance through to the dinette to contain him in the saloon, and partly by employing a stewardess for the summer whose main duties were childcare.
 
Nor me. I have a sports cruiser with an open cockpit. My youngest was 5 but even then she was on a tether that would bring her to a halt 1 foot away from the cockpit sides when I let her loose to do some maccy bashing. She's well aware of the dangers but excitment can get the better of her judgement.
 
LittleShip said:
Sod the boat......
I'm more impressed with
"just retired have a wife and a two year old" :encouragement:
Click to expand...
Me too! I must have done something wrong with my life because I've got a 22yr old and still haven't retired:disgust:
 
Welcome to the forum.

Assuming the boat linked to is the boat you are looking at then I would suggest you have a look around the Princess stable. I may be biased but like for like I think you get more internal space in a Princess for a given length. Look at either the Princess 50 flybridge or 54 flybridge they feel a lot more spacious inside.

There are a few other advantages: Dual helm seats rather than a single seat. It's nice to share the work load, someone looking at the chart plotter whilst someone helms the boat and keeps a look out. Safer hand rails on deck. You said you weren't worried about the looks, well the Sunseeker is all about looks to the point where they failed to fit hand rails to hold onto as you walk down the sides of the boat. Get a bit of a rock on and something to hold is essential. Both the P50 and P54 feature full sized fridge freezers in addition to drinks fridges etc.

I looked at Sunseeker but have always ended up with a Princess, not for reasons of vanity or brand loyalty - we were Fairline owners when we first bought a Princess but because they offered a better all round package for us.

There are no right or wrongs but just make sure you've taken the time to have a good look at what's out there. Avoid anything oddball for your first boat because you may end up selling it and that's not the time to discover there isn't a market for them. Pop down to Princess at Swanwick marina and have a chat to them. Tell them Henry sent you and they have to treat you like a king :)

Henry :)
 
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