A Brief History Of Nautor's Swan

Nautor's Swan is a Finnish builder of luxury sailing yachts based in Jakobstad and is known for its Swan range of yachts. The company was founded in 1966 and is today controlled by Italian businessman Leonardo Ferragamo and a group of investors. The company built its 2000th yacht in August 2012 with the launch of a Swan 56 named Freya.

Today Nautor's Swan employs 400 people and has a plant at Kallby just outside Jakobstad which moulds the hulls for all the Swan yachts and also has an indoor water test tank. This plant also assembles the smaller Swan yachts, while the Swan Maxi's – from the Swan 60 to the Swan 115 - are assembled at a plant in Jakobstad itself. The third plant is in Kronoby near Jakobstad and it is here that a team of carpenters produces the exotic hand-made wood interiors which have become a classic feature of Swan yachts.

Over the years, the company has worked with four designers, the first being the New York firm of Sparkman and Stephens which was responsible for the first 775 yachts. The two parted company in the late 1970's when the designs were not so successful in races and there were issues over the hull of the first Swan 57's. Ron Holland then became designer and created six models of which 283 yachts were built.

In the early 80's the company appointed Argentinian German Frers as designer, and so far over 900 of his yachts have been sold, some of these being the Swan 45 class which was built from 2002 – 2006. In recent years the company has moved away from its' traditional racing yachts like the Swan 45 class into luxury high end cruising yachts up to the Swan 131, also designed by Frers who continues to this day.

Marking the company's 50th anniversary in 2016, a design tender also led to the company working with Juan Kouyoumdjian who has worked on the ClubSwan 50. Other architects have collaborated with Frers, most notably Andrew Winch who worked on the styling of the Swan 36 Frers and the Swan 44 Mk 1.

A Brief History Of The Frers Yacht Design family

German Mani Frers is the third generation of his family to design high speed racing yachts and motor yachts, his grandfather German Frers having been designing and building yachts based on the Colin Archer double enders back in 1926 at his yard in Buenos Aires which had a workforce of 60 boat builders. German Frers Snr went on to design and produce over 600 yachts. In 1949 his yacht Fjord III was the outright winner of the Buenos Aires / Rio Race. In 1964 Fjord V was 2nd in class in the Bermuda Race, and in 1972 Fjord VI was 3rd in class in the same race, beginning a trend toward flush-decked no-compromise racing yachts.

Mani's father, German Frers II, caught his father's passion for design and speed and in 1965 was invited by Rod Stephens, the American designer, to join the firm of Sparkman and Stephens in New York which was at the time the best-known designer of America's Cup, off-shore, and ocean racing yachts. He spent three years there, after which he returned to Buenos Aires to take over the family business. He is still designing yachts to this day – both sailing yachts and motor yachts – including a range of yachts for Nautor's Swan - and one of his superyachts, Unfurled, won the 2016 Sailing Yacht of the Year Award. Last year he was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Showboats Magazine.

Mani himself studied at the Southampton Institute at a time when pencil was giving way to CAD. He graduated in 1993 with First Class Honours and joined his father at the studio in Milan which German II had set up the previous year. He then honed his design skills by drawing the Boomerang which won the Bermuda Race, the 40ft IMS Champion Yah-Man, and several yachts that were successful in Mediterranean races. He and his father worked together to produce a series of yachts for Nautor's Swan including Rebecca, and the 155ft Hyperion for Jim Clark which is still winning races twenty years later. Mani also designed the MY78 Bill and Me motor yacht and has a current commission for another one from McConaghy Boats in China, together with a 56m carbon world cruising yacht which, when launched, will be the largest composite sloop.

PURA – Experience a New Sailing Superyacht

Royal Huisman has joined forces with Frers Design to collaborate on a new sailing superyacht design concept called PURA.

The superyacht is available in varying lengths from 38 metres - 43 metres and is focused on customisation. The yacht comes with 80% of the engineering completed, with the rest of the design open to interpretation to meet an owner’s specifications and tastes. The completed engineering includes the propulsion, power generation, security systems and hydraulics, as well as the mast, rig, sail plan and sail handling.

The hull, deck and superstructure are customisable, with architect Mani Frers providing owners with drawings of different bow and stern profiles based on their input. Three different versions are available; classic, modern and retro as well as additional customisable options including the interior.

The yacht can accommodate a maximum of 8 guests, and includes an owner’s ensuite stateroom and three twin guest cabins, one of which is convertible into a double. Various accommodation layouts available including placing the owner’s stateroom fore or aft.

No two Pura yachts will look the same. What they do share is Huisman quality and Frers performance, together with a level of management that takes away all the headaches of yacht ownership. Just as Rolls Royce know exactly how each of their aero engines are performing on aircraft around the world, Huisman engineers can monitor every aspect from engines to electronics remotely and minimise downtime. And like the aerospace industry, there is a programme to upgrade systems to new technologies and renew interior and exterior layouts at 6-yearly intervals to maintain each yacht’s timeless youth and reflect the passion of each owner and her creators.

For further details visit: http://frers.design/sailing-yachts/work-in-progress/pura/

A Holiday With A Difference – Cruising On Your Own Floating Hotel

When it comes to holiday time, many people book a hotel in Spain and jet off for their two weeks in the sun. However, why spend two weeks sitting on a beach when you could be looking at many different beaches from the comfort of a superyacht? For about the same cost as renting a villa, you can step on board one of the chartered superyachts for hire and have your own floating villa complete with a team of staff. It's like having a five-star floating hotel.

Modern superyachts are likely to have such things on board as personal sound systems, an infinity pool, and on-board spas, but the sheer privacy of a chartered superyacht means that you don't have to share them with anyone other than your own family or group.

As docks and airlines are becoming more connected and switched on to the needs of the holidaying class there are increasing numbers of "must see" holiday destinations, but of course they are becoming ever more crowded too. Superyachts provide you with your own personal resorts that move with you, taking you to hidden coves and beaches that the hoi polloi will never get to.

You could travel the fjords of Norway which has 12,500 miles of coastline with towering waterfalls, majestic glaciers, and is full of wildlife. Why not go whale-watching? On your own private superyacht you can do that. You could also stop off at a quiet village port and hire a bike or do a spot of fishing. On top of that, if you go in the winter you can see for yourself the Northern Lights. You will still be warm and comfy in your private floating hotel.

Of course, the French Riviera is another highly sought-after area. You can stop off in Monaco and go to the casino, and you can laze in the sun on deck while cruising gently around the white sandy beaches admiring the amazing scenery that inspired French painters such as Monet and Renoir. And all of this is just outside your own porthole in your luxury floating hotel.

A Much More Comfortable Ride With The Volvo Interceptor System

The Volvo Penta Interceptor System is a boat trim system making for easier, safer, and more comfortable driving.  Volvo Penta's Vessel Control System – the company's electronic platform – integrates with the Volvo Interceptor System which makes it very easy to handle. The system can be used in any planing or semi-planing Volvo Penta-powered boats of 35 feet or larger, making driving safer and more comfortable.

The Volvo Interceptor System has a precise manual control mode, but this can be extended with three automatic modes, each of which has been develop with the intention of improving the boating experience in terms of comfort, visibility, and reduced fuel consumption. The Auto Trim and List mode automatically controls the boat's trim and list, optimising performance in all sea conditions. In the Auto Trim, List, and Co-ordinated Turn mode the system is capable of automatically adjusting the list when turning, based on a predetermined value, which is specific to each boat model. In a sharp turn the system keeps the boat more upright, and results in the people on board feeling no sideways force while the boat turns.

The third mode is Active Ride Control and has been developed over several years of improving on board safety and comfort. The system uses the interceptors to dramatically reduce pitch and roll motion at cruising speed by up to 60% which makes for far greater comfort and a much-reduced chance of sea-sickness. The whole Volvo Interceptor System is automatic so that the skipper can concentrate on navigation and enjoying the trip. In automatic mode, the system continually adjusts the boat to the most favourable running angle, and in addition to comfort, this also reduces fuel consumption, saving money and reducing any environmental impact.

In comparison with a boat with a traditional trim system, a boat with the Interceptor System in automatic mode moves more quickly up on to the plane and stays stable and upright during sharp turns, which provides considerably improved visibility ahead and therefore improved on board safety. The Interceptors themselves are made from corrosion-free materials and do not require protective anodes that need replacement.

Sailing superyacht Spiip returns to Royal Huisman for refit

The 34.17 metre sailing superyacht Spiip has returned to her home yard for a winter refit. The German Frers-designed Royal Huisman superyacht arrived at the Netherlands-based refit facility Huisfit after completing a summer cruise in Scandinavian waters.

Spiip is one of seven yachts currently being refitted at the Dutch yard over the winter period.

Improvements scheduled to take place on Spiip includes service work and various electric and electronics upgrades.

Read more at German Frers yacht design

Still winning after 72 years!

Fjord III, the iconic classic yacht designed by Mani Frers’ grandfather Gérman Frers Snr won her class at the recent 200-boat strong Regatta Royal in Cannes. Designed and built in 1946 for his own pleasure, this 50footer is still very much a family heirloom, for Mani’s father Gérman Frers saved her from oblivion and had the yacht restored to her former glory. And it was Gérman Frers, seen here at the helm who steered her to victory in the Marconi rig class.

Fjord III is one of the cornerstones in the history of the Frers design dynasty. Her build began in something of a rush for Frers Snr. set himself a three-month deadline to launch the yacht in order to compete in that year’s Buenos Aires / Rio race. He missed the start by 47 hours but promisingly set the fastest elapsed time to Rio. Two years later, she won the Race outright and went on to win her class in the 1954 Bermuda Race.

Read more at Frers design

“Messing About On the Water” Will Never Go Out Of Fashion

One of the finest pastimes that is never going to go out of fashion is “messing about on the water”. There are so many things that you can do if you have a small motor boat, and there are so many different types of water to explore. There are lakes, there are endless numbers of rivers, and you can potter around the coast, or you can travel across the channel to France. You can also put to sea and cross oceans in some of the larger motor yachts. This is why at any given moment there are so many motor boats in build because being on the water is something that so many people want to do in their spare time these days.

You can go fishing, you can swim, you can water-ski, you can dive, and you can explore places that get you away from the crowded streets of city life. It is wonderful on a Saturday and Sunday to get away into the countryside for some peace and quiet and potter along at four or five miles an hour rather than the hustle and bustle of the working week.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to do away with the 21st century pleasures that we have such as TV, wi-fi, the internet, chatting on Facebook, and so on, although it has to be said that in some places out in the wilds there is no internet connection. But that is part of the beauty of it: being able to get away from it all and actually relax – properly relax - because there is no urgency to do anything. It is why boatbuilders are busier than ever with motor boats in build for people who want to do just that.

Owning a boat is not what you would call a “cheap” hobby like playing darts or chess – both of which can relieve the stress of 21st century life as well – but once you have one you will wonder why you never thought about it before. If you Google “motor boats in build” it returns 227 MILLION results! This includes things like “Build your own motor boat”, “How to build a speedboat”, “Build a boat in your back garden”, and a whole lot more.

A Look At The Processes Involved In Yacht Design

Yacht design begins with a brief from a client, or perhaps just an idea. While any motor yacht design should look at the project as a whole, there are three main areas of development. The basic design side is where the overall arrangement and styling are developed, and this has to include the technical spaces for engines, electrics, perhaps a passerelle, a garage for a tender, and so on. The whole has to come together so that the end result is a thing of beauty with plenty of space and as comfortable as can be. For the interior, it is customary to include an interior designer to create the desired effect. 

The desired underwater shape is part of the naval architecture process, and the hull will be designed according to the use for which the vessel is being constructed. For a racing yacht, performance is the key consideration, which is very different from a motor yacht for round the world sailing where comfort and stability in the water may be the most important consideration, along with low fuel consumption and achievement of the desired speeds. This can involve tank testing, and/or CFD (computational fluid dynamics) programmes which can include RANS code testing to achieve maximum stability in rough weather.

The yacht design engineering is the other important consideration. Yacht design engineering analyses the deck loads and hull stresses and loads in order to produce a reliable yacht and also with the object of working out the optimum build procedure with the builder. 

Another part of the yacht design engineering involves consultation with the skipper or owner of a sailing yacht to work out the optimum layout for equipment and fittings. This is also a very important part of the design of motor yachts where the overall styling and aerodynamics have to be not only functional but aesthetically pleasing as well. Many owners today are very concerned about the environmental footprint of their motor yacht and require a design that uses as little fuel as possible, while still producing the performance and comfort they require for themselves and their guests. 

Avoiding Seasickness

If you have ever been seasick it is something that you don’t forget in a hurry, and if you haven’t, you are one of the lucky ones. A boat that is rolling about can not only produce seasickness, but it can also cause difficulty in moving about, and even lead to serious falls, to say nothing of the broken dishes. This is why we set such store in all-weather stability with all out yacht and motor yacht designs.

One break-through design is the Frers MY78 motor yacht Bill and Me built by Baltic Yachts. The unique aspect of this design is the strong crossover she has between sail and powerboats” Says Mani Frers adding. “Our client was making the transition from sail to power, having previously sailed around the world, and now wanted the convenience of a power boat matched to the better sea keeping and comfort qualities of his yacht.

Read more at Seakeeper stabilisers

A History of Mani Frers Yacht Designs

Germán ‘Mani’ Frers is the third generation of a family of yacht designers all bearing the same name. His grandfather began designing yachts back in the 1920’s and by 1930 the Frers yard employed 60 boat builders, mostly constructing his own designs.

Germán Frers Snr began by designing and building Colin Archer styled double-enders in Buenos Aires back in 1926 and went on to draw more than 600 boats ranging from plywood day sailers like the Yachting World Light Crest to a range of motor yachts, and a series of very successful ocean racing yachts.

More detail visit now motor yachts

German Mani Frers Yacht Designs Have Been Built By Several Major Yacht Builders.

German Mani Frers is a brand of yacht design descended from three generations ago when German Frers Snr began designing yachts in Argentina back in 1928. His son, also German Frers, and grandson, German Mani Frers, between them have designed something over 1,300 different yachts over the years, and the German Mani Frers design is recognised throughout the world. 

These designs of yachts have been built by several different yacht builders, among them Royal Huisman Yachts in Holland, Nautor Swan in Finland, and Wally Yachts which is based in Monaco.

Wally Yachts was founded in 1994 by Luca Bassani Antivari and over the succeeding years has built 46 sailing boats and over 120 motor yachts. Wally combines the latest technology with contemporary design and is always looking at ways of improving enjoyment and fun on the water with performance, style, and comfort. Luca Bassani Antivari is quoted as saying: “We will always keep our soul as a company that always brings something new and functional to the market. We never consider the adventure, the design experience, as being over.”

Nautor Swan was founded in Finland in 1966 by Pekka Koskenkyla who had a passion for cruising and racing in contact with nature and the water. Pekka was educated in the USA and designed his first sailing yacht in fibreglass trimmed with wood in conjunction with one of the best-known yacht designers at the time, Sparkman and Stephens of New York. At that time, nobody had built a boat over ten metres in fibreglass. The result of the design was a boat that had greater steering stability and living space, but with less weight.

Nautor Swan has used many of the German Frers designs for its’ boats over the years and has produced over 700 yachts in these designs including Frers first ever Swan, the Swan 51 in 1981. In 2006, to commemorate Nautor’s 40th anniversary, Frers designed the Swan 66, a model that is the quintessence of everything that ‘Swan’ stands for. The Swan 66 was conceived using forty years’ worth of knowledge in premium yacht building and cutting-edge technology.

What’s New In The World Of Superyachts?

There is a trend in the world of yachts today that seems to suggest that bigger is better. This became the way forward some 15 years ago when Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, took delivery of Octopus in 2003. At 414ft it was then the world’s largest explorer yacht with room for 26 guests, a cinema, a recording studio, and -would you believe – a basketball court. It also has two helicopter landing pads and not one, but two submarines on board, one of which is big enough to seat ten people.

You might think that a yacht of 414ft is about as big as people might want to go, but just ten years after the launch of Octopus came Azzam built for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan with a length of 591ft. That’s the length of two football pitches. At present it is the world’s biggest superyacht, but who knows for how long it will hold that record?

However, not all today’s superyachts are being built just, it seems, as though to outdo the last one. Among yachts in build at present is Mystique which is being constructed in Germany and is a comparatively tiny 250ft. Nonetheless, it has an amphibious light aircraft, a submarine (let’s face it: you just HAVE to have a submarine these days if you are not to be a nobody), and a catamaran. In addition, it has a hydroponic garden, a solar powered fish farm, and a food laboratory! You might wonder why it needs a fish farm when you are sailing through nothing but fish and could just drop a line over the side.

Among the yachts in build are some which are moving towards eco awareness by using more fuel-efficient engines and hybrid propulsion systems. Some yachts in build are also designed to use the heat of gas from exhaust systems to heat water, which leaves the yacht cooler and you get hot water as well. Some of the newer explorer yachts that are designed to go anywhere have systems to make potable water, while a number of others process all their own waste so that nothing goes overboard and they are then able to visit protected waters.

A History of Mani Frers Yacht Designs

Germán ‘Mani’ Frers is the third generation of a family of yacht designers all bearing the same name. His grandfather began designing yachts back in the 1920’s and by 1930 the Frers yard employed 60 boat builders, mostly constructing his own designs.

Germán Frers Snr began by designing and building Colin Archer styled double-enders in Buenos Aires back in 1926 and went on to draw more than 600 boats ranging from plywood day sailers like the Yachting World Light Crest to a range of motor yachts, and a series of very successful ocean racing yachts.

Read more at motor yachts

When Considering Custom Yacht Design You Need To Take Your Time

There is nothing quite like having a sailing yacht designed that incorporates all of your own requirements. 

Of course, you can buy a superyacht on the second hand market and many of them are the last word in luxury, but there will always be things that you think like “I wish it had this” or “I wish it didn’t have that”. When you have custom sailing yacht design you can have your yacht built EXACTLY as you want it.

However, when you are considering custom sailing yacht design you need to sit down and think about it long and hard. You don’t want to be in a position after you have taken delivery of your brand new toy and then think “Oh, I wish I had thought of this or that!”

You also want to have many meetings with your designer. Unless you have many years of sailing under your belt you probably don’t know nearly as much about custom sailing yacht design as a yacht designer. After all, it is what they do for a living so they will be very much aware of what works and what doesn’t. For instance, you may tell the designer that you want to incorporate a particular idea but he knows that if you do that your yacht won’t do something else or it won’t go as fast, or be as safe, or whatever.

For example, you say that you want a narrow hull with high length to beam ratio for maximum performance, but he knows that a narrow hull tends to roll badly. It’s his job to know that, but you may well not be aware of it. If you insist on it, then he can probably design it the way you want it, but at least he has pointed out the disadvantage. 

So, yes, be prepared to spend many weeks or even months when considering custom yacht design because when push comes to shove you are only going to build it once, and it needs to incorporate everything that you want. It has to be right first time.

Several Ways To Buy A New Motor Cruiser

If you are considering the purchase of a new motor cruiser there are various ways of going about it. There are many boat builders who have a standard design of motor cruiser and can build one for you. They may even have motor boats in build so that you can see what the design looks like as it is being constructed. 

Of course, another way to obtain a new motor cruiser is simply to buy a second hand one. Second hand motor boats are for sale up and down the country and there are many motor boat and yacht brokers who can help you find something akin to what you have in mind. 

Another way to buy a new boat is simply to outline your ideas to a designer who can then produce the drawings and you can have your boat built from scratch incorporating all your own ideas. However, if you are going to do this you will need to have several meetings with the designer in order to thrash out the final specification, and you would do well to listen carefully to ideas that the designer may have. The reason for that is that a professional boat designer will know what works and what doesn’t, while if you are not as well-versed in design as the designer you may want to incorporate things that may not be such a good idea from a performance point of view. 

There are times when it is best to compromise on some things. A designer may also be able to take you to see some motor boats in build so that you can see for yourself.

Yet another way to buy a new boat is to have one built to a standard design, but incorporating some of your own ideas. In other words, it would be semi-customised. Quite a number of boat builders are happy to incorporate customisation into the boat and may also have motor boats in build for you to look at. Doing things this way will ensure that you get a boat that is seaworthy and safe, and of a proven design, yet incorporating your special requirements.

What Is A Superyacht?

Many people may wonder what it is that defines a superyacht. Since the 1990’s more and more of these beasts have been built, including the Lionheart owned by British businessman Sir Philip Green which is based in Monaco and cost over £100 million. Sir Philip also owns three other yachts – Lioness, Lionchase, and Lion Cub. (Quite why anyone needs four yachts is a matter of mystery to some). However, even Lionheart is overshadowed by some of the yachts owned by Russian oligarchs, and the world’s most expensive yacht is the History Supreme which was commissioned by an anonymous Malaysian businessman, is covered in gold and platinum, and cost $4.5 billion!

A superyacht is defined as any yacht that is 24 metres or more in length, is commercially operated, and has a professional crew. It can be sail or motor powered, but most are motor powered. 

Read more at superyacht

Safety tips to help you sail your yacht like a pro

Sailing yachts are nothing but fun. Despite many people being experienced in sailing, accidents still continue to happen. No matter how much experience you have, review basic sailing safety rules before and after any trip. Let’s refresh your memory with these top safety tips for sailing.

Ensure you and everyone else is wearing life jackets. Insist on your guests and even crew wear life jackets. Over 70 percent of fatal boating accidents drown because they weren’t wearing life jackets. Ensure you always have enough life jackets on board. Jackets are even more important in cold water areas in that hypothermia is a risk factor. Victims will lose body heat 25 times faster in cold water. This will lead to the onset and progression of hypothermia. Life jackets will make all the difference.

Track the Weather. Check local weather conditions before departure. See what sailing conditions will be like before sailing out. Pay attention to wind direction, and visibility. Sometimes the weather can be quite unpredictable so check the skies for signs. It is always safe to head back to dry land if you sense a storm brewing. Most sailing yachts can hold their own during storms.

Have an Assistant Skipper. An assistant skipper knows all about your boat’s handling and operations. It is important to make sure there is a backup person who can follow the proper safety rules.

Have a float plan. Always let someone else in on your float plan. A float plan includes your destination and route. A typical float plan will have all these essential bits of information:

1. They contain your name, address, and phone number of trip leader
2. A name and supporting phone number or contact details of all passengers
3. Details of the boat type and boat registration information
4. Your logged trip itinerary
5. Easy access communication and signal equipment onboard the boat, such as an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

Aside from all of these you would be advised to always carry an emergency toolbox on deck with you. Accidents can happen anywhere, so be sure to always have a first aid kit that contains at least the basics. Plasters, bandages, antiseptic, painkillers and sunscreen. 

Save alcohol for dry land. Sailing mishap probabilities double with alcohol use. Many studies have shown that sun and wind aggravate alcohol effects.

Be your own handyman. Ensure that you have the knowledge and skill set so that you can at least make minor repairs on your yacht. Investing in basic boatman skills will save you time and money. Spare fuel, fuses, and engine belts are must-haves for you. Lastly, can you swim? This skill is invaluable if you plan on sailing for a long time. This singular skill is the difference between life and death in sailing mishaps.

Avoiding Big Problems When Buying A Used Yacht or Luxury Boat

Buying a used yacht
According to statistics, 60% of first-time boat buyers choose to buy a used yacht. Part of the lure is the price and of course, if you’re just starting out, you may not be ready for a big financial investment. Another popular reason with most people is that the yacht has been used and it thus tested and trusted. But is a used yacht really reliable? The fact that it was pre-owned may or may not result in unpleasant future surprises. Here are four pitfalls to avoid buying a used yacht. 

How safe is the engine, have you checked?
The engine may have been patched up. The engine of any device is the most important. Yachts are not any different. The engine’s water jackets may have cracks, which mean it hasn’t been properly winterized. The engine mounts may have also been worn out causing the engine to be misaligned. The cylinder compression and exhaust system should be checked as well.

Consider the Yachts wiring
Do you know whether or not the wiring on the boat has been replaced? Wiring problems on a yacht is a nightmare for any owner. Yacht wiring schematics often run under deck into closed compartments. If you are looking to buy a used yacht, you will need to turn on every electrical item. Even if you take a peek at the fuse box, you might not know exactly what is wrong. To be sure of the wiring, you may need to hire a professional to take a second look. This service won’t come cheap and after a few years the multitude of issues you might discover occur over time with a used yacht could have you questioning whether or not it would have been better to consider a brand new purchase, perhaps something with a German Frers yacht design instead.

Have you checked your Hull?
The Hull is the foundation of a yacht or indeed any naval vehicle. Most hulls will have blisters which are pockets of moisture trapped between the layers. Over time, these blisters will grow and pop and this is not good for the resale value of these boats. The rub rail is also one area to check. A damaged rub rail indicates a stressed joint. A stressed or incomplete joint seal might eventually need a repair.

Have you checked your steering systems?
A worn steering system is both dangerous and expensive to repair. The cables and mounting areas are the most common areas of wear. Experts will check for a limited slack while testing the steering before buying. Steering issues are major safety issues that are very expensive to repair. 

Cracks are concerning- Any used yacht will definitely have a crack or two. However, many cracks or cracks in a pattern could show structural or impact damage. Multiple cracks could also mean delamination.

Essentially, buying a used yacht entails some inherent risk and ultimately might not even be much less expensive. If the used yacht or luxury boat passes through this checklist, you could consider forking out your money to buy one, however our recommendation would be to consider something with a German Frers Yacht design to help maintain its value over time.