Which 50ft boat would you buy?

Steruth1 - hit the nail on the head so to speak - 'ips gives you massive confidence'. Not short of confidence as have had to restart docking a few times due to wind (and inexperience). IPS would alleviate that. Also costs - the cost, while not irrelevant, isn't the primary focus (the right boat is), but having said that you always want value for money!
 
What about the sealine t50,Pershing 50(for sale boatshed riviera), azimut Atlantis 48 (for sale boatshed sud med), predator 52, sessa c48,princess 50, fairline phantom 48,trader 535 etc
 
So after visiting Cannes and Southampton have finally come to a decision. Brief personal view on each:

Sunseeker manhatten 52: for some reason I didn't warm to it. Don't know why and as more than most of the rest discounted it.
Prestige 560. Not much extra than the 500
Monte Carlo mc5: nice boat but no gyro option
Sealing f530: didn't like this either
Azimut 50 fly: galley downstairs so no good for the med.
ferretti 450: lovely boat, bit too small
Ferretti 550: preferred 450 and this was double the price!
Princess 49: third bedroom has bunk beds.

Also decided I wanted to fit in a 15x5m berth. So that effectively left 2. Absolute 50 fly & prestige 500. I did like the absolute with a large VIP cabin a big plus. However as a new hull I decided this was a negative as sealine are still making changes even now.

So in the end went for a prestige 500. As in the med would prefer a tender garage (even with reduced engine access) and this is the only one to have one. But also managed to get some other options including a gyro, glendinning, anchor cam (read somewhere that it is a must have), removable carpet, etc. TBH to save time I think I have chosen almost every extra going :). Quality levels I thought were pretty good overall - but then again I don't go into great detail so maybe others will disagree. In this aspect ferretti and princess were on top.

Ancasta have been excellent throughout the process. Have asked for quite a few extras not on the price list and they have managed to get them all priced up to be fitted. I would also say from being shown around various boats by various people they know more about the product they are selling than all the rest I spoke to. TBH some I spoke to I knew more about the boat than they did!

Doubt it will be my last boat, but hopefully have this one for more than 6 months. Appreciate people's comments as a few things I had not thought about.

Now to sort a mooring in portals for may 2017!
 
Shame, a Squadron 53 would have fitted all your requirements (other than the tender garage) but I appreciate that you're in the market now and not in a couple of months time.

Anyhow, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with the Jeanneau and Portals is lovely too (orange German aside) :).
 
Well done Tony -wise choise from I can tell ticks the most of your boxes .
They are v popular here in SoF ( no surprises )
Iam surrounded out numbered by P500 and Azi 47/50 ,s
They are a strong seller for a reason -I,ve seen em in sea state ,that bow flare cum Carolina flair works
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Great to hear Tony.

You will be delighted with the boat and Ancasta. I am still delighted with their aftercare three years in to ownership.
Fred and James are the ones to get to know, they know the boats inside out.Nick is a great but a bit of a lightweight at the bar! :)

Was it your boat that got Nick asking about the Brig 310, I sent him a link to the launch process...

Enjoy the boat and pm me for any questions....

btw the loa is 14.92m, You'd be amazed at how much the 8cm will save you in fees over the years!!!
 
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Was it your boat that got Nick asking about the Brig 310, I sent him a link to the launch process...

Quite possibly! Have been in discussions most of the week with Nick and Lee. Have felt very comfortable in the buying process. Have known ancasta since purchasing my first boat in January, they leave no stone unturned in order to get you the spec you want - regardless if on the price list or not.
 
Not sure why you're hung up on pod drives because that rather limits your choices and there are some stonking shaftdrive 50 footers out there. You can get joystick control on some shaftdrive boats as well if you really must have one. In any case with bowthruster and sternthruster plus throw in a couple of hours tuition you would be manouvering a shaftdrive boat around a marina like a pro without a joystick

+1

Twin shaft drive with bow thruster can be easily manoeuvred with precision and parked on a sixpence even in windy conditions.
 
So after visiting Cannes and Southampton have finally come to a decision. Brief personal view on each:

Sunseeker manhatten 52: for some reason I didn't warm to it. Don't know why and as more than most of the rest discounted it.
Prestige 560. Not much extra than the 500
Monte Carlo mc5: nice boat but no gyro option
Sealing f530: didn't like this either
Azimut 50 fly: galley downstairs so no good for the med.
ferretti 450: lovely boat, bit too small
Ferretti 550: preferred 450 and this was double the price!
Princess 49: third bedroom has bunk beds.

Also decided I wanted to fit in a 15x5m berth. So that effectively left 2. Absolute 50 fly & prestige 500. I did like the absolute with a large VIP cabin a big plus. However as a new hull I decided this was a negative as sealine are still making changes even now.

So in the end went for a prestige 500. As in the med would prefer a tender garage (even with reduced engine access) and this is the only one to have one. But also managed to get some other options including a gyro, glendinning, anchor cam (read somewhere that it is a must have), removable carpet, etc. TBH to save time I think I have chosen almost every extra going :). Quality levels I thought were pretty good overall - but then again I don't go into great detail so maybe others will disagree. In this aspect ferretti and princess were on top.

Ancasta have been excellent throughout the process. Have asked for quite a few extras not on the price list and they have managed to get them all priced up to be fitted. I would also say from being shown around various boats by various people they know more about the product they are selling than all the rest I spoke to. TBH some I spoke to I knew more about the boat than they did!

Doubt it will be my last boat, but hopefully have this one for more than 6 months. Appreciate people's comments as a few things I had not thought about.

Now to sort a mooring in portals for may 2017!
I'm in Portals now , looking around there are a few moorings to rent , nice but very expensive place.
 
I'm in Portals now , looking around there are a few moorings to rent , nice but very expensive place.

I currently have some moorings at the end of pontoon 4. I admit not the cheapest, but has some benefits. Have an apartment overlooking the port so, for convenience, kind of stuck there. Not that I mind! Not a big port which is another aspect I like.

If you are still in portals then I would recommend "Lila", a restaurant that overlooks the beach behind the marina boat yard.
 
I currently have some moorings at the end of pontoon 4. I admit not the cheapest, but has some benefits. Have an apartment overlooking the port so, for convenience, kind of stuck there. Not that I mind! Not a big port which is another aspect I like.

If you are still in portals then I would recommend "Lila", a restaurant that overlooks the beach behind the marina boat yard.

I'm there next Tuesday and was considering having some lunch there. Is there anywhere else that's a bit, ahem, cheaper that you'd recommend? Maybe somewhere that does a nice Menu De Jour?
 
I'm there next Tuesday and was considering having some lunch there. Is there anywhere else that's a bit, ahem, cheaper that you'd recommend? Maybe somewhere that does a nice Menu De Jour?

Nothing I would call cheap in the port. For lunch capaccino is fine, €20 for a beer and club sandwich. TBH I dont usually eat lunch in the port. Either snack in the apartment or out on the boat.

Evenings I like Spoons (tuna tartare and avocado starter is great) and Flanigans (nice fish and paella). For something cheaper you would need to go the village - portals nous. Nice food there but not paying the marina premium. Am sure Lila does a cheaper set menu, but they dont seem to advertise that on the website. Have never had a poor meal (yet).
 
Sunseeker 52 hands down. 20+ sold I am told till 2018. Saw it yesterday. Headroom created from an increase in freeboard mind blowing. All the room, quality and more. A super yacht in a totally usable package. Having ran an 80 for four years this reminded me of pretty much the same. Very impressive.
 
Nothing I would call cheap in the port. For lunch capaccino is fine, €20 for a beer and club sandwich. TBH I dont usually eat lunch in the port. Either snack in the apartment or out on the boat.

Evenings I like Spoons (tuna tartare and avocado starter is great) and Flanigans (nice fish and paella). For something cheaper you would need to go the village - portals nous. Nice food there but not paying the marina premium. Am sure Lila does a cheaper set menu, but they dont seem to advertise that on the website. Have never had a poor meal (yet).

I've got no chance of getting the wife to accept a meal in the village when she can sit on the front overlooking the sea. Looks like Lili do a set menu for €18 so will give it a go. Had a nice cooked brekkie at Cappucino last November but that was €15 IIRC (including a cup of coffee).
 
Mmmm I was told the same by SS staff at the show, then offered 2 slots for Jan and may!!
Lovely boat shame the staff don't know what's going on ...
 
There's one here in La Napoule -susect it's off the Genoa next w/e? .Looks like a medium spec demo ave boat .
Any how they tell me all 2017 slots have gone .Thats not bad + 2 weeks from debut .
Still aesthetically chalanged -but hey-ho. It's keeping the wolf from the door .
There's a Priny 50 near it .looks so last year ,or even last decade ?
I think it's exceeded expectations 20+ deposits in 2weeks
 
There's one here in La Napoule -susect it's off the Genoa next w/e? .Looks like a medium spec demo ave boat .
Any how they tell me all 2017 slots have gone .Thats not bad + 2 weeks from debut .
Still aesthetically chalanged -but hey-ho. It's keeping the wolf from the door .
There's a Priny 50 near it .looks so last year ,or even last decade ?
I think it's exceeded expectations 20+ deposits in 2weeks
 
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