I Want To Buy A Yacht: A Beginner’s Guide

Santa Baby, I Want (To Buy) A Yacht

The smell of cinnamon spice is in the air, streets are adorned with beautiful decorations and the children are already getting over-excited – it can only mean one thing. Christmas is just around the corner, and alongside the multitude of presents you’re buying this year you deserve to treat yourself. But if you’re the woman who has everything, then deciding what gift to get yourself can be a challenge.

With more diamonds than days to wear them and enough cashmere to keep the whole of Scotland cosy, you need a treat that blows all other presents out the water. Helpfully you remember ‘Santa Baby’, that ultimate ladies’ Christmas list. So what’s on it? It opens with a car but that’s a little predictable. A platinum mine sounds like an administrative nightmare. Houses and checks you already have, but a yacht? Now that sounds perfect. Yacht purchase, however, is a slightly more complex matter than waiting for Santa to drop off the keys and legal papers. That’s why we’ve listed the most important questions you should ask yourself when buying a yacht this Christmas.

But really, why would I want to buy a yacht?

Everyone knows that they’re the ultimate status symbol, but other than the glamorous lifestyle you’re not quite sure what benefits they bring. So why buy a superyacht? A yacht is the ultimate private escape, a permanent holiday home that you and your family can enjoy any time you choose. Owning one of these beautiful vessels is a great way to spend more time with loved ones. Yes you could charter, but there is nothing quite filling your own yacht with memories that you can return to year after year.

Unlike typical holiday homes, where you are tied down to just one location, a yacht gives you the opportunity to explore the entire world. Always wanted to see the Northern lights away from all the tourists? Your new yacht is the perfect way to do it. Craving an island-hopping vacation around Croatia? You certainly won’t find a land-based residence that can accomodate you the whole time. A yacht is both your luxury home and your means of transport, meaning that all travelling becomes completely stress-free.

If you’re so busy that you can’t see yourself using your yacht all year round, fear not. As a yacht owner you have the option of chartering out your yacht as little or often as you please, something which can be a good way to make a little money out of your gift. Simply select a good charter broker and let them handle all the legwork while you live your best life onboard.

So I do want to buy a yacht, but which type is best?

Whilst a motor yacht is powered by its engines and a sailing yacht is primarily moved by its sails, the motorsail is a crossbreed, driven by its sails and engine(s) in equal measure. The differences between motoring and sailing are quite stark, with motorsail yachts bridging the gap.

If you’re a hands-on kind of person and love nothing more than learning a new skill, then a sailboat is definitely for you. However, if your motivation for buying a yacht lies more in pure relaxation – glass of champagne in hand – then there are so many elegant motor yachts for sale. If you think your yachting mood will change on a day-to-day basis, a motorsail is the one for you.

That all said, all yachts are fabulous, so it’s just about what suits you.

I want to buy a yacht, but what features does it need?

Once that’s sorted, the real fun can begin! With so many extravagant features to include on your yacht it’s easy to get carried away. And why not… after all, it is the season of giving!

Yachts for sale with hot tubs are always in high demand, for obvious reasons. There’s simply nothing better than being immersed in warm bubbles on the deck of your new on-the-water home, watching the world go by. Likewise, a swimming pool will delight the whole family, perfect for gentle lengths swimming or boisterous dive bombs. Bonus points if it’s perched up high, delivering incredible panoramic views.

With the trend for wellness showing no sign of stopping, it makes sense to build in a spa centre. This will typically include a sauna, steam room and a state-of-the-art gym in which to work up even more of a sweat. However, if you have a penchant for a good massage, why not also have a couple of dedicated massage rooms? Some superyachts even have onboard beauty salons, so you can make sure you’re looking your best when you arrive at every new destination.

If you’re a movie-buff, treat yourself to a private cinema onboard. Available both indoors or outdoors, these rooms take the cinematic experience to the next level, with technology that rivals commercial theatres enjoyed in the comfort of your own boat. Lastly, no yacht is complete without a beach club – the waterside alfresco lounge at the back of the yacht, providing quick access to the sparkling ocean. Perfect for diving off of or simply dipping your feet on a sizzling summer’s day.

I want to buy a yacht, but what size is best?

Now that you know just how many features you want onboard, you need to decide what size of yacht you want. The more features you desire, the bigger yacht you will need. Most first time buyers generally buy in the 35-70 ft (7 – 20m) bracket, but cinemas, massage rooms, and hot tubs only really start to appear in vessels over 100ft (30m). The most impressive and well kitted-out yachts tend to be in the 130-196 ft (40-60m) range, and that’s where amenities and design get the most exciting.

Do bear in mind though that a bigger boat will cost more in marina berthing fees. Also, consider which ports you will want to visit; many simply don’t have space for many of today’s gigantic superyachts. Glitzy marinas like Monaco, Montenegro and Antibes have the capacity, but many other popular destinations will not be able to host you if your yacht is too large.

At the same time though, this is a treat for you, so be sure to buy a boat that can meet your needs and has enough space for all your loved ones (and crew if required). Should you plan on chartering out your yacht, a 4 cabin yacht is the most commonly requested, and with crew quarters these tend to start from 80 ft (24m).

I want to buy a yacht, but how to name it?

After you’ve bought your perfect yacht, there’s only one thing left to do – give it a perfect name. If you want to give the boat a family feel, why not try some variation on the name of your husband, boyfriend (if serious!) or kids? However, it’s important to keep it snappy, otherwise no-one will remember it.

Think about what kind of aesthetic you want the boat to have and what it means to you. For example, if you think of your boat as a retreat, try ‘Escape’ or ‘Peace’. If you pride yourself on your humour, try a ‘punny’ name like ‘Seaductress’. And if all else fails, take inspiration from mother nature – after all, a yacht spends its life cruising from one beautiful location to the next, and this wouldn’t be possible without her. ‘Endless Horizons’ anyone?

Last but not least, if you plan to blog about your adventures on your brand new yacht and make everyone else insanely jealous, try to pick a name no one else has used so you can snap up those social media accounts for yourself. After all, if you treat yourself to a boat and no-one knows about it, did it even happen?

So there we have it – the ultimate guide to treating yourself this Christmas. Enjoy!