• Welcome to OWYG.
  • Sales: 954-833-0125
  • Service: 954-466-0121
  • View Locations

best 50 foot motor yacht

ONEWATER YACHT GROUP LIFESTYLE

50 foot yacht: guide to buying your next yacht.

  • June 3, 2021

50 foot yacht interior

Boat owners will often move into the 50 foot yacht range when looking to do more than simple day boating excursions. While still typically owner-operated, a 50 foot yacht provides increased flexibility with regards to living spaces and can offer a wide array of amenities that suit your tastes and needs while on the water.

When moving up into the 50 foot range, yacht owners can begin expecting three stateroom layouts. With new technology and yacht design processes, owners can expect an impressive combination of interior spaciousness without sacrificing a sporty and sleek look.

Many new models in this size range are leading to extraordinary interest via buyers. Models such as the new Sunseeker Manhattan 55 and the Riviera 5400 Sport Yacht are very hot on the market today due to its gorgeous design and style mixed with incredible spaciousness and functionality.

BUYING A 50 FOOT YACHT

If you’re considering purchasing a new or used yacht, there are a few things you might consider as you narrow your options. First, what is your ideal day on the water? This will provide some helpful direction towards the type of yacht you’ll require. How much time do you plan to spend on the boat? How many people do you plan to take with you, and how many will need to be sleeping aboard the boat? How important is speed and do you have any size restrictions based on where you plan to keep your boat?

Buyers in this size range of yacht often will need to decide if they prefer a flybridge design or an express style yacht. While some buyers can’t live without the additional deck which enables 360 degree views of the open water, some buyers prefer the simplicity and ease of use of an express style yacht (or just the sleek and sporty look that many provide).

Answers to these functional questions often leads to the consideration of a few different manufacturers and models. From there, the style and design of both the exterior and interior of the yacht will often speak to the buyer and move him or her toward a buying decision. 

Having an idea regarding how much you want to spend on your yacht will also help the process. As you consider the financial components of the purchase, don’t forget to consider the costs associated with care and maintenance. Not only are these important elements of owning and operating a yacht, they will also pay off down the road during a resale process.

Choosing between a new and used yacht is also a major consideration. While a used vessel will cost less, buying new means you can have access to the latest technology and amenities while also making specific selections tailored to your tastes and style.

If you are a first time owner, a few other things to keep in mind before purchasing are: Where do you plan to keep the yacht? You’ll want this lined up prior to finalizing a purchase. Additionally, do you have insurance? Make sure you have insurance coverage finalized before taking possession of the boat (if you’re financing the yacht, this is required).

Lastly, as you consider a new 50 foot yacht purchase, it’s worth noting that there are other parties involved when a buyer purchases a yacht. The quality of the manufacturer of the yacht you purchase and the dealer from which you buy are crucial considerations. 

Does the manufacturer have a proven track record of financial stability, innovation and production quality? Can you rely on your dealer both to assist in the initial transaction and over the coming years with respect to service and guidance? Ensuring your dealer has the resources and commitment to be there every step of the way during your yacht ownership is critical. 

One Water Yacht Group is committed to providing a unique approach to both yacht sales and service. Backed with unprecedented financial strength and an unrivaled network of dealers and service centers through the eastern seaboard and Gulf coast, One Water Yacht Group is there for you wherever your new yacht may take you. 

50 FOOT YACHTS

One Water Yacht Group can provide many options in the 50 foot yacht range. Some of our featured new yachts in this range are detailed below:

best 50 foot motor yacht

Riviera 50 Sports Motor Yacht

Whether you aim to explore, entertain or unwind, Riviera’s 50 Sports Motor Yacht can serve you well. Offering the functionality and capabilities that you’d expect on a much larger yacht, this yacht can indulge you for a weekend or for a longer adventure. The three cabin and two bathroom layout includes an impressive full-beam master stateroom.

Absolute 50 Flybridge

For the yacht buyer seeking contemporary, sporty, Italian style, the Absolute 50 Flybridge delivers. The spaces both inside and out of this yacht are expertly designed and engineered giving guests a myriad of options for relaxation or entertaining. Whether it’s the extraordinarily large flybridge or the bright and airy main deck interior, every experience on the Absolute 50 Flybridge is maximum enjoyment. The yacht comes with three staterooms including a full beam master. The aft crew quarters can also be used for additional guests when necessary. 

Riviera 5400 Sport Yacht

Riviera’s Sport Yacht line is extremely popular, and the 5400 is a big reason why. The distinct silver, black and white colors are evident throughout the exterior design, and the interior style utilizes the finest materials and superb attention to detail. The 5400 Sport Yacht comes with three staterooms, including a full beam master, and two designer bathrooms.

Belize 54 Daybridge

For the yacht buyer seeking a unique combination of function and distinct style, the Belize 54 Daybridge calls out to him. With a reputation of immaculate wood work, the high end style and attention to detail of the Belize 54 Daybridge doesn’t end there. Three beautiful staterooms are paired with two bathrooms on the accommodation deck. A limited number of these yachts are produced each year specifically for yacht owners with an eye for the distinct. 

Sunseeker Manhattan 55

best 50 foot motor yacht

The new model in Sunseeker’s Manhattan line has yacht enthusiasts paying attention. The Manhattan 55 has been designed with extraordinary care to enhance both comfort and cruising and to provide a plethora of social spaces typically only seen in larger yachts. The exterior styling of the yacht will grab your attention with its curved glass and stainless-steel details. The Manhattan 55 comes with three staterooms to comfortably accommodate up to 6 guests.

Sunseeker Predator 55 EVO

Sunseeker’s 55 EVO is the latest entrant to the manufacturer’s highly popular Predator line of yachts. For buyers seeking a high-end, sporty express style yacht, the Predator 55 EVO quickly passes the eye test. Your pulse will quicken when gazing at the exterior design and the excitement doesn’t stop when entering the interior of the yacht. If you want sizzle, this yacht has it. The predator 55 EVO can accommodate up to 6 guests and has a range of up to 235 nautical miles.

Have any questions regarding the purchase of a 50 foot yacht? The One World Yacht team is ready to assist.  Contact us today .

Share This Article

More resources, 60 foot yacht: a guide to buying your next yacht, 40 foot yacht: guide to buying new and used yachts, 45 foot yacht guide: finding the best yacht for you and your family, let the yachting lifestyle enhance your quality of life, 6 incredible yachting destinations in florida and the caribbean, the history of onewater marine and its new yachting division.

  • Chris-Craft
  • Yacht Search
  • Service Request
  • Sell My Yacht
  • Charter Service
  • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Palm Beach, FL
  • Annapolis, MD
  • New York, NY
  • Tampa Bay, FL
  • Wilmington, NC
  • Dania Beach, FL

best 50 foot motor yacht

  • Subscribe Now
  • Digital Editions

hero profile

Best 50ft flybridge boats: Our pick of the secondhand market

  • Top stories

Our resident used boat expert Nick Burnham picks out four of the best 50ft flybridge boats for sale right now, from the likes of Princess, Fairline, Sealine and Beneteau.

50ft flybridges are fascinating for many reasons. Firstly, 50ft is a size that is relatively easy to manage from a boat handling point of view.

Two reasonably experienced people should be able to cope with berthing and running such a boat. Secondly, 50ft is a very handy size from an accessibility point of view. Most marinas, harbours and coves should be able to find space for a 50ft flybridge cruiser .

However, 50ft is also the size at which you start to get three good sized cabins and at least a couple of bathrooms. Some yards manage to squeeze the proverbial quart into a pint pot by shoehorning three cabins into a 45-footer but at 50ft no squeezing is required.

Here are four particularly good examples…

4 of the best 50ft flybridges on the market

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Princess_55_IMG_8520

Princess 55

Built: 1987 Price: £169,950

We’re cheating slightly with a 55ft boat but we couldn’t resist this one. It’s hard to believe that when the 55 launched in 1986, it was the pinnacle, not only of Princess Yachts ’ range, but also of British boat building.

Birchwood (remember them?) eclipsed it soon after with its 57, but the Princess 55 proved a very worthy flagship. Eight boats a year were planned but by the end of the first year of production, 12 had been built and orders stretched two years into the future.

While not as clever as modern boats (for example, there was little layering of the accommodation, where the lower deck extends back under the main deck), the sheer size of this one makes for masses of onboard space.

One of the most obvious upgrades over the Princess 45 (the previous flagship of the range) was the separate dinette area on the main deck. This boat has the three-cabin, two-heads layout, with the owner’s cabin forward, a bunk cabin to port and a larger double guest cabin to starboard (twin berths were standard).

A rare option was to lose the bunk cabin in favour of an extended owner’s cabin. But the crew cabin on this boat has been swapped for a useful utility room.

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Princess_55_IMG_1219

This boat has the three-cabin layout, with a larger double guest cabin than the usual twin

The 1980s square-edged origami-styling looks classic rather than dated now. The bolt-on bathing platform, the lack of a transom door and the ladder to the flybridge are all very much of the era.

Performance

We tested the Princess 55 when new with a pair of 358hp Volvo Penta TAMD 71A engines and achieved 23 knots. This particular boat was re-engined in 2014 with a pair of FPT N67 450hp diesel engines which lifted the maximum speed to 26 knots.

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Princess_55_IMG_1265

The separate dinette area is an obvious upgrade from the 45 – the previous flagship

We conducted our sea trial in a Force 6-7, reporting that “when we reduced speed to 15 knots, we made progress upwind in remarkable comfort”.

Specifications

LOA: 55ft 5in (16.9m) Beam: 15ft 8in (4.8m) Draught: 3ft 6in (1.1m) Displacement: 16 tonnes Fuel capacity: 1,910 litres Engines: Twin FPT N67 450hp diesels Location: Norfolk Contact: Norfolk Yacht Agency

Article continues below…

Best 40ft flybridges: Our pick of the secondhand market

Secondhand boat buyers’ guide: 4 of the best 45ft flybridge yachts for sale, sealine t50.

Built: 2007 Price: £299,950

Sealine has been responsible for many of the innovations we take for granted on modern boats. It came up with the idea of stairs to the flybridge rather than a ladder, for example.

Its Sealine T50 was one of the first boats to develop the now universally accepted premise that, if you want to create more internal volume within a set length, one of the most effective ways to achieve this is to build upwards.

The result is a very tall boat for its era (although not by current standards) which creates a surprising amount of space.

The lower deck sports similar accommodation to the larger Princess 55, with two double cabins plus a bunked third cabin and two heads, but Sealine used the extra height to move the owner’s cabin back beneath the forward end of the split-level main deck, layering the accommodation to create more volume and a larger cabin.

The stand-out feature is in the saloon, where Sealine was one of the first to have the now ubiquitous galley-aft layout.

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Sealine_T50_IMG_7769

The owner’s cabin has been moved back beneath the forward end of the split-level main deck

The flybridge (accessed, of course, by a stairway) of the Sealine T50 is huge. When we tested the boat we referred to it as “like a 30ft sportscruiser sitting on top of a 50ft motor yacht”.

Sealine’s SECS extending cockpit system was another innovation, allowing the transom to slide back to create more space at anchor. The only real compromise on this boat is storage. There is no conventional lazarette. Owners had to choose instead between a small crew cabin and a large storage space.

Engine choices when new were twin shaft-drive installations of either Cummins QSC 8.3 540hps or Volvo Penta’s D9s in either 500hp or 575hp flavours. This boat has the largest option, as did our test boat, hence a 33 knot max.

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Sealine_T50_IMG_7778

The galley-aft saloon layout was groundbreaking but has now become ubiquitous in 50-footers

Ocke Mannerfelt designed the hull and succeeded in creating a responsive and fun drive.

LOA: 50ft 4in (15.3m) Beam: 15ft 7in (4.8m) Draught: 3ft 6in (1.1m) Displacement: 18 tonnes Fuel capacity: 2,000 litres Engines: Twin Volvo Penta D9 575hp diesels Location: Falmouth Contact: Red Ensign

Fairline Phantom 50

Built: 2006 Price: £294,950

While Fairline Targa boats are sportscruisers and the Squadron moniker is reserved for large flybridge vessels, what’s interesting is that Fairline also used to have a third line of smaller flybridge boats that were dubbed Phantom.

The idea of buying a 50ft half-a-million-pound flybridge cruiser and having it badged as the ‘lesser’ model seems a little absurd now. But intriguingly, the Phantom badge has now been reintroduced for Fairline’s new sportfly boats .

High-gloss cherry surfaces, leather and other fine finishes reassure you that you’re in a high-quality environment. Early boats had a slightly odd bar area directly behind the lower helm, later dropped for Mk2 versions like this one.

Here, we have more seating as a result and a slightly different galley layout that opens aft rather than to the side. Both versions had the galley up on the main deck alongside the helm, freeing up space on the lower deck for a three-cabin and two-head layout with the owner’s cabin forward.

All three cabins feature double berths on this boat, although the standard layout had a pair of single beds in one of the guest cabins. A small crew cabin was also an option beneath the cockpit seating aft.

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Fairline_50_6

Each of the three cabins on this Phantom 50 features double beds

The Fairline Phantom 50 is a very simple, elegant-looking vessel with no sense that it’s trying too hard. There’s nothing that stands out as especially clever. It’s just a tried-and-tested set-up that works well.

The tender lives on the bathing platform, hoisted into place by a passerelle. The central flybridge helm is flanked by a pair of seats and there’s also a large seating zone around the table further aft.

Early Phantom 50s got a pair of D12 675 motors, later boats the upgraded D12 725. Caterpillar 3196 669hp engines were a rare alternative, and Cummins was on the options list but none of the 126 examples went out with these. Either option should return more than 30 knots.

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Fairline_50_4

Cream leather and glossy cherry wood cabinetry creates an expensive feel

A shaft-drive Fairline with an Olesinski hull means you know it’s going to be OK. And so it proved.

LOA: 51ft 10in (15.8m) Beam: 14ft 9in (4.5m) Draught: 4ft 1in (1.2m) Displacement: 20 tonnes Fuel capacity: 1,980 litres Engines: Twin Volvo Penta D9 715 715hp diesels Location: Essex Contact: boats.co.uk

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Beneteau_MC5_CBJZ8264

Monte Carlo 5

Built: 2014 Price: £534,950

Beneteau is a very successful mass producer of boats from 19ft upwards – and that’s all splendid. But that does cause a slight issue when it tries to turn its hand to high-end production boats, because it simply doesn’t have the image to compete with the likes of Princess or Sunseeker .

However, among its armament of boat brands, Beneteau owns an Italian company called Monte Carlo Yachts , which builds boats from about 70ft to beyond 100ft.

It decided to call its high-end 50ft+ production boats Monte Carlo, or MC for short, even though they’re built by Beneteau in France. What we have here then is the 50-footer, hence Monte Carlo 5 – or MC5.

A galley-aft layout sees the main deck split across three levels, with a shallow step between each one as it rises gently going forward.  It will come as no surprise to you, if you’ve read this article from the start, to hear that the lower deck sports a three-cabin two-heads layout.

But being such a recent boat, this is pretty much the current state-of-the-art model, with a huge full-beam owner’s cabin in the centre, plus a VIP guest cabin forward and a third cabin with bunk beds.

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Beneteau_MC5_IMG_9349

The full-beam master is even larger than this VIP cabin

When Beneteau launched the MC5, it wowed the world with its vibrant turquoise topsides and large, stainless steel-edged circular hull windows. In fact, the latter was very reminiscent of Monte Carlo Yachts (the other Monte Carlo…).

Other hull colours came on stream, including the rather more discreet colour you see here. And high decks are now standard issue across most flybridge boats of this size in order to accommodate that big owner’s cabin.

All that bulk gives great space but takes its toll a little on performance. Twin IPS500 and IPS600 engines were offered on launch. The best is the IPS600 option that this boat has. Top speed is about 28 knots with a mid-20 knot cruise.

best-50ft-flybridge-MBY280.sans_fma.Beneteau_MC5_IMG_9330

Equipped with IPS600s, the MC5 will hit speeds in the region of 28 knots

“The ride is excellent; soft and planted but with just enough tenacity from the pods to make things interesting – and amazingly dry,” said our man in Cannes when he tested the MC5.

LOA: 49ft 10in (15.2m) Beam: 14ft 1in (4.3m) Draught: 3ft 1in (1.0m) Displacement: 15 tonnes Fuel capacity: 1,300 litres Engines: Twin Volvo Penta IPS600 435hp diesels Location: Southampton Contact: Solent Motor Yachts

First published in the December 2022 issue of MBY.

4 more 50ft flybridge boats from the May 2022 issue

best-50ft-flybridge-sunseeker-martinique-48-exterior

Sunseeker Manhattan 48

Built: 1996 Price: £155,000

The smallest of the Manhattan range of flybridge cruisers when introduced, this model was launched as the 45 before quickly becoming the 46.

An extended bathing platform resulted in a further badge change to the Manhattan 48 you see here.

Never ones to follow the herd, Sunseeker used vee drives instead of the shaft drives far more commonly seen on 50ft flybridges of this era.

It put the engines back beneath the cockpit rather than under the saloon floor, and that created an equally unusual layout.

With an ensuite owner’s cabin up in the bow and a decent twin-bedded guest cabin opposite the galley linked to the day heads, it feels like you’re all done on the lower deck.

But aft of the galley is another door granting access to a third cabin with a double berth running transversely beneath the main deck saloon in the space you’d usually find the engines.

best-50ft-flybridge-sunseeker-martinique-48-interior

The use of vee drives allows for a novel three-cabin layout including one under the saloon

Sunseeker went for a real motoryacht style with this one, so you get aircraft-style wrap-around windscreens and slatted saloon side windows.

Back aft, that extended platform allows you to sit a tender on the deck rather than hanging from davits as per the earlier 46 and 45, and there is a passerelle that can be utilised as a dinghy crane.

Although new enough to get the long platform, it just predates the flybridge stairs, so you have to climb a ladder to a pretty decent flybridge, complete with period winged radar arch.

Sunseeker fitted twin engines from 430hp aside up to 600hp each, which were reckoned to give a mid 30 knot top end.

We tested the boat (actually the earlier Sunseeker Manhattan 46) with similar Caterpillar 3208TA engines fitted to this example and achieved a still spritely 29 knots, making 20 knots an easy and relaxed cruising speed.

best-50ft-flybridge-sunseeker-martinique-48-helm

A sumptuous helm bench and lashings of walnut at the imposing lower helm

Four chunky lever controls at each helm (two for FNR gear shifting, two for throttles) give the brain more of a work out but repay with greater precision than traditional twin levers, and a bow thruster helps at close quarters.

In an earlier test we described the boat as having “smooth riding qualities” and impressive directional stability.

LOA: 47ft 11in (14.6m) Beam: 14ft 5in (4.4m) Draught: 3ft 7in (1.1m) Displacement: 14 tonnes Fuel capacity: 1,400 litres Engines: Twin Caterpillar 3208TA 435hp diesels Location: Portland Contact: Network Yacht Brokers

best-50ft-flybridge-Princess-50-exterior

Princess 50

Built: 2005 Price: £300,000

The Princess 480 had enjoyed a damn good run by the time it was finally pensioned off in 1999. A very gentle evolution of the 470 (extended bathing platform), that model had initially been launched as the 455 back in 1991, a boat with big shoes to fill as it replaced the seminal Princess 45 .

In fact the 455 mirrored the 45, with an almost identical layout, so the concept actually stretched back to 1982. Hence a complete “keel-up” refresh was needed, and the Princess 50, launched in 2000, was it.

Pre-dating full beam owner’s cabins (although, the later MK3 version did introduce one at a later date), the first Princess 50 had two similar sized cabins at either end of the lower deck, plus a smaller twin bunked cabin in between.

The forward cabin was designated the master with its centreline double berth. Cabin two, meanwhile, could be optioned with twins or a double.

Unlike its predecessor, there was no lower deck dinette option because the galley had been raised almost to main deck height, increasing space in cabin three and making the galley more sociable.

best-50ft-flybridge-Princess-50-interior

The galley is on a slightly lower level but still connects well with the main saloon

A whole new model ushered in an entirely new look – the 50 was a far more modern looking boat than the earlier 480.

In 2005 Princess Yachts introduced the MK2 version of the 50 you see here, but the upgrades are predominantly cosmetic changes, such as a new-style radar arch and less stainless steel trim on the saloon window surrounds rather than the wholesale reinvention that came in when the MK3 was introduced.

The year 2005 also ushered in Volvo Penta’s brand new D series engines to replace the venerable TAMD units.

In the case of the Princess 50, that meant twin D9 motors of 500 or 575hp each or D12 675hp rather than the TAMD 74 480hp units we tested the boat with at launch. We achieved 29 knots, so the 32 knots claimed for the far more powerful D9-575 units of this boat seems entirely reasonable.

best-50ft-flybridge-Princess-50-cockpit

The spacious cockpit has plenty of room for a free-standing table and chairs

The conventional shaft drive and an Olesinski hull means you can’t go wrong. The boat flattened a moderate sea with “consummate ease” and well-managed spray.

LOA: 50ft 3in (15.3m) Beam: 14ft 8in (4.5m) Draught: 3ft 8in (1.1m) Displacement: 19 tonnes Fuel capacity: 1,818 litres Engines: Twin Volvo Penta D9 575 575hp diesel engines Location: Lymington Contact: Sunseeker Brokerage

best-50ft-flybridge-fairline-squadron-53-exterior

Fairline Squadron 53

Built: 2018 Price: £999,950

The Fairline Squadron 53 marked a return to a high-end finish for a marque once fabled for its interior detailing.

From the mirror finish of the high gloss cabinetry and stainless steel detailing to the soft-touch finishes inside the helm, this looks and feels like an expensive boat.

It’s not just the finishes that set the Squadron 53 apart, it’s also the breadth of customisation available when these boats were ordered new. The galley, for example, could be specified aft on the main deck, as is currently fashionable, or further forward.

Or it could be moved to the lower deck instead of a fourth cabin, where you could choose between a full-sized galley or a smaller galley plus a third heads.

The space it vacated on the main deck was then filled with an extra settee or sideboard. This boat is the four-cabin version with the galley aft and the optional crew cabin fit out (taking total sleeping to nine, all in permanent berths spread across five cabins in total!)

best-50ft-flybridge-fairline-squadron-53-cabin

The contemporary amidships master is a key selling point of the Squadron 53

All that talk of cabins might lead you to think that there can’t be much deck space but in fact the cockpit is huge – as long, possibly longer in fact, than it is wide.

There’s also a further cockpit area on the bow with a fold-out table and sunpads, plus the flybridge which has open tread steps with lighting neatly built into them.

There is plenty of choice when it comes to engines, too, all of which are twin installations. Caterpillar C12.9 give 850hp each, or alternatively there are Volvo Penta D11s with 675hp or 725hp each side.

We tried it with the same twin Volvo Penta D11-725 EVC motors fitted to this boat. Running conventional shaft drives, we achieved a top speed of 33 knots, slightly up on the manufacturer’s claimed 32 knots, and that was with a Williams 325 tender on the bathing platform plus gyro stabiliser, full water tanks and 75% fuel. Pretty impressive stuff.

best-50ft-flybridge-fairline-squadron-53-helm

Fairline’s ergonomically sound helm stations are some of the best in the business

“Smooth and quick-witted” is how we described the handling during our test of the Fairline Squadron 53, with “a confident and sure-footed hull that soaks up bumps extremely well.”

LOA: 55ft 6in (15.9m) Beam: 14ft 10in (4.5m) Draught: 3ft 11in (1.2m) Displacement: 21 tonnes Fuel capacity: 2,412 litres Engines: Twin Volvo Penta D11-725 EVC diesel engines Location: Southampton Contact: Bates Wharf

best-50ft-flybridge-Trader-50-exterior

Tarquin Trader 50

Built: 1992 Price: £169,950

If the number one priority for your choice of 50ft flybridge cruiser is space then you have come to the right place because this boat is vast in every dimension. It’s 15ft across, sits 5ft deep in the water and towers above you in a marina.

As if the sheer physical dimensions weren’t enough, Tarquin gained yet more volume by taking the accommodation the full length of the boat. So there’s a palatial master cabin in the stern nuzzled right up to the inside of the transom and stretching the full beam of the boat.

Interestingly, Tarquin used the area of lower deck ahead of it to give a large ensuite (complete with small bath) on the port side, but a galley to starboard, which would be very handy for midnight snacks!

It means that the large saloon on the main deck, which plays host to a huge C-shaped dinette as well as the lower helm, splits off the forward lower deck area creating great privacy for the owner.

At the pointy end there is a generous VIP guest cabin forward with vee berths plus a twin-bunked cabin, although both of these cabins share the same day heads.

best-50ft-flybridge-Trader-50-cabin

Acres of timber and home from home comfort in the pair of double cabins

Running the accommodation the full length of the hull might pay dividends inside, but it can sometimes compromise the exterior as an aft cockpit is off the menu, replaced by a raised deck above the aft cabin.

In this case Tarquin has been quite cunning. As well as surrounding this space with a sturdy GRP dodger, the designers have also sheltered it with a huge hardtop, which in turn allows canopies to encircle this area.

Despite having very similar engines to the Sunseeker (the same units in fact, just detuned slightly), this boat wouldn’t see where the Sunseeker went. But that’s okay, because it just isn’t that sort of boat – a point underscored by the fact that the base engines were a pair of 210hp Ford diesels.

A pair of 450hp Volvo Pentas were at the other extreme, this boat sits in the middle with a pair of 375hp Caterpillars capable of achieving mid-teen speeds.

best-50ft-flybridge-Trader-50-interior

If you plan to live on board for long periods of time the Trader is a great option

Handling is regal rather than sporty, although these boats can tend to roll a bit.

LOA: 49ft 6in (15.1m) Beam: 15ft 0in (4.6m) Draught: 5ft 1in (1.5m) Displacement: 20 tonnes Fuel capacity: 2,270 litres Engines: Twin Caterpillar 3208TA 375hp diesels Location: Eastbourne Contact: Bates Wharf

3 more 50ft flybridge boats from the May 2018 issue

PRESTIGE 500

2015 £584,050

Prestige 500

When the 500 launched in 2011, it was a bit of a game changer. From the hull windows instead of portholes to the mirrored saloon glazing and taut clean lines, it was very much a product of the Teenies. But the real game changing took place inside.

The galley-aft layout, putting the kitchen directly inside the saloon doors, whilst modern, was nothing new, although the one-piece glazing either side of the saloon is pretty swish.

best 50 foot motor yacht

What was unique on an aft- cockpit flybridge cruiser just under 50ft was separate access to the master. The forward companionway leading to cabins two and three is in its usual place forward of the saloon, but to reach the owner’s quarters you need to hook a sharp right as you pass through the saloon doors to your own private stairway.

A useful corollary of this layout is a narrower forward passageway as it no longer has to allow access aft, resulting in twin beds rather than bunks in cabin three.

Prestige 550

Unusually, the saloon doors slide in both directions. Slid one way, they make an easy route from saloon to cockpit, slid the other, they give direct access to the galley.

best 50 foot motor yacht

On the flybridge, creating more headroom inside results in a large sunpad next to the double helm. But that still leaves space for a generous L-shaped dinette further aft.

PERFORMANCE

Twin Volvo Penta IPS600s gave 435hp aside for a top end of 28.5 knots when we tested it, for 20-25 knots of cruise speed.

A main benefit of IPS is siting the engines further aft than traditional shaftdrive, which is what creates space for the big mid cabins.

Unusually though, Prestige chose to sacrifice a little of that by positioning the engines slightly further forward and linking to the pods with jack shafts. Doing so moves the centre of gravity forward to keep the bow planted.

Length 49ft 10in (15.2m) Beam 14ft 9in (4.5m) Draught 3ft 5in (1.1m) Displacement 13.5 tonnes Fuel capacity 286 gallons (1,300 litres) Engines Twin Volvo Penta IPS600 435hp diesel

FAIRLINE SQUADRON 52

2000 £249,950

Fairline Squadron 52

The Squadron 52 is a great example of the confidence Fairline portrayed at the turn of the century.

Rather than another three-cabin cruiser, Fairline set out to produce a mini superyacht aimed at luxury and comfort rather than maximising sleeping space. The result was an intriguing, offbeat alternative to the mainstream.

The best thing is two huge cabins rather than three, almost unheard of for a boat in this sector. There’s no obvious master cabin but both are equally spacious and luxurious.

Fairline Squadron 52

Ensuites include separate shower stalls and even bidets – rare on anything under 80ft! On the main deck, the helmsman is surrounded by a console that wouldn’t look out of place on the Starship Enterprise, and the saloon and dinette are a feast of gentle curves, highly lacquered cherry and cream vinyl and carpet.

You’ll find a galley tucked away low down on the port side and even a small utility room off it complete with washing machine.

The curved and fluted aft-side sections of the superstructure look fantastic and ease access to the side decks. The flybridge gets a vertical mast- style radar support rather than the ubiquitous arch, and the stanchions supporting the deck rails are similarly superyacht vertical rather than canted forward.

Fairline Squadron 52

Add the imperiously aircraft-styled sweep of curved glass around the helm and you end up with a boat that exudes class and style and stands the test of time.

Caterpillar 3196TAs were an option but most got twin Volvo Pentas, earlier boats the TAMD122s at 610hp a side, later ones the electronically controlled D12s at 675hp each. All these options should be achieving circa-30 knots, the D12 with a little more economy.

Fairline Squadron 52

Classic Olesinski hull design combines with classic shaftdrive layout to create reassuring heavy-weather handling with steady directional stability.

PRINCESS 500

1992 £125,750

Princess 500

Launched in 1991 and a mild (mostly cosmetic) evolution of the Princess 48 that launched a year earlier, the 500 was the first of a new ’90s styling wave for Princess, introducing sexy curved windscreens in place of the squared-off designs of earlier boats and toning down the distinctive but dated double-knuckle hull moulding halfway up the topsides of ’80s boats.

In production during the introduction of Princess’s high-gloss burr maple ‘superyacht’ finishes, the busy-looking woodwork looks rather dated now.

This boat just predates the era, being fitted out in tasteful grained light oak, the alternative to standard teak. But the big news (literally) is just how huge the interior is on this boat.

Princess 500

The saloon is massive – there’s a generous galley that hovers neatly twixt main and lower decks. On the lower deck, the master is forward, with matching twin-berthed cabins either side.  A twin-berthed crew cabin beneath the cockpit seating was a popular option.

Princess 500

Twin slats on the aft saloon side windows are the key differentiator between the 500 and the short-lived 48, though the boat is actually slightly longer.

It’s of the era that gets the transom door but not the moulded steps to the flybridge, so it’s a raked ladder to the top deck, but masses of space once you get there.

Engineering is reassuringly classic – simple shafts linked to large-capacity diesel engines. Princess fitted Volvo Penta or Caterpillar, the latter being the big V8 3208TA 435hp motors, the green (at least in colour) option fitted to this boat being the straight six TAMD 72 430hp motors.

Princess 500

Both options should give a mid-20-knot maximum with a 20-knot cruise.

Shaftdrive and Olesinski hull means steady predictable handling and seakeeping, combining a soft ride with excellent directional stability.

Length 52ft 5in (16.0m) Beam 14ft 7in (4.5m) Draught 4ft 0in (1.1m) Displacement 17 tonnes Fuel capacity 385 gallons (1,750 litres) Engines Volvo Penta TAMD 72 430hp diesel

If you enjoyed this…

Be first to all the latest boats, gadgets, cruising ideas, buying advice and readers’ adventures with a subscription to Motor Boat & Yachting . Available in both print and digital formats, our monthly magazine will be sent directly to your home or device at a substantial discount to the usual cover price. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

Windy SR28 CC review: world class driving in a smaller package

Infynito 80: first look at this new ‘smaller’ yacht from ferretti, world’s coolest boats: hinckley picnic boat, latest videos, yamarin 80 dc tour: a new direction for the nordic day cruiser, is this the best compact cruiser money can buy aquador 250 ht tour, exclusive tour of this €1.4million cruiser with a stunning teak interior: solaris power 52 coupé, quarken 35 cabin tour: all-new 36ft adventure boat.

an image, when javascript is unavailable

  • Motorcycles
  • Car of the Month
  • Destinations
  • Men’s Fashion
  • Watch Collector
  • Art & Collectibles
  • Vacation Homes
  • Celebrity Homes
  • New Construction
  • Home Design
  • Electronics
  • Fine Dining
  • Baja Bay Club
  • Costa Palmas
  • Fairmont Doha
  • Four Seasons
  • Four Seasons Private Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia
  • Jacob Cohën
  • Reynolds Lake Oconee
  • Wilson Audio
  • 672 Wine Club
  • Sports & Leisure
  • Health & Wellness
  • Best of the Best
  • The Ultimate Gift Guide

This 50-Foot Yacht Is Built to Tackle Rough Seas—All the Way Down to Its ‘Indestructible’ Wet Bar

The beautiful brute can handle waves above 13 feet and gale-force wind., rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

  • How to Become Younger, According to a Biohacking Expert
  • Can a Wearable Help Heal Trauma? This Psychiatrist Says Yes

This New 89-Foot Custom Catamaran Has Its Own Nap Station on the Flybridge

  • Share This Article

Dutch Built 50

Stratos wants to make the provenance of its debut yacht crystal clear.

Related Stories

  • How Blended-Wing Planes Are Helping Aviation Fly to a Net-Zero Goal
  • This Sleek New Zero-Emissions Jet Will Fly on Liquid Hydrogen
  • We Took a Ride in Porsche’s Record-Breaking 1,092 HP Taycan Turbo GT. Here’s What It Was Like.

Dutch Built 50

The yacht was penned in partnership with Dutch designer Bernd Weel and was fully engineered by the naval architects of Dutch firm Sea Level. The robust hull is constructed out of extra-dense, high-end composite materials, while the superstructure is made of lightweight carbon. As a result, the vessel has a low center of gravity and thus increased stability on the seas. In fact, it can handle waves above 13 feet and gale-force wind. It also has an impressive top speed of 36 knots and a range of up to 450 nautical miles.

“I felt the 50-foot category needed a tough, resiliently robust vessel, one that is truly seaworthy and built to superyacht standards,” Lengers adds. “A yacht that could cruise with ease even in the toughest of weather conditions: an SUV on water.”

Onboard, however, you can expect “supercar GT quality.” The carbon hardtop, which required a year of research and engineering, even has an automated sunroof like your favorite Ferrari. You’ll also find ergonomic pilot seats with shock absorption and an “indestructible” wet bar. Below deck, there are large windows in the hull to ensure the living quarters receive plenty of natural light and cabins for up to four guests.

Lengers says the yard will build a limited number of yachts each year to ensure quality craftsmanship. Now that’s what you call Dutch built.

Click here to see all photos of Dutch Built 50.

Stratos Dutch Built 50

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

Read More On:

  • Netherlands

More Marine

A boat on the water

This 29-Year-Old Is the First American Woman to Sail Around the World Solo and Nonstop

The Colossea yacht

This Massive Megayacht Concept Has a Built-In 347-Foot Blimp That Lets You Steer From the Skies

Two Oceans 870 Catamaran

Tiara’s New 54-Foot Yacht Has a Deck That Transforms Right in Front of You

magazine cover

Culinary Masters 2024

MAY 17 - 19 Join us for extraordinary meals from the nation’s brightest culinary minds.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

Superyacht Loon

10 Fascinating Facts About ‘Loon,’ the 221-Foot Superyacht That Gets the Coolest Toys First

Two Oceans 870 Catamaran

Two Oceans 870 Power Catamaran in Photos

More from our brands, we tested the covergirl foundation that gave america ferrera a fresh, flawless complexion at the 2024 oscars — and it’s up to 65% off today, wrexham lands ally financial as sponsor for u.s. summer tour, gwyneth paltrow posts video rejoicing over robert downey jr.’s oscar win; she cheered on her ‘iron man’ co-star from home, head of german museum foundation that canceled candice breitz show over gaza statements quits, this best-selling magnetic rowing machine is $185 off on amazon today.

Quantcast

Yachting World

  • Digital Edition

Yachting World cover

Best luxury yacht: Our pick of the top options

  • Toby Hodges
  • March 17, 2023

Toby Hodges takes a look at all the nominees and the winner of the best luxury yacht category in the European Yacht of the Year Awards

best 50 foot motor yacht

There are many categories in the European Yacht of the Year awards, from the  best family cruisers  to  performance yachts . But some of the most jaw-dropping options come when it is time to choose the nominees and winner in the best luxury yacht category.

The European Yacht of the Year awards are selected by a broad panel of expert judges from across the globe. These are people who spend their professional lives sailing and comparing yachts, so you can be certain that the yachts which stand out in this field are truly the best of the best on the market.

What constitutes luxury for you? Price, quality of finish, comfort (at sea or at anchor)? The broad selection for this category this year includes two from Group Beneteau which show how appealing space can be today, as well as offerings from more typical premium brands such as Swan and Hallberg-Rassy. Pricing is equally as broad: for the same length, one can cost three times the amount of the other.

A spacious production yacht, a premium bluewater cruiser and a highly customised Italian performance cruiser shows the variety on offer in the 50-60ft+ market, while giving the jury some tricky comparisons to make.

Best luxury yacht

Best luxury yacht winner – oyster 495.

It is hard to imagine that the decor of a yacht can change its look and feel quite this much, yet the layout of this second 495, Eddie Jordan’s dramatic looking Tuga , is in fact identical to the first boat that I spent several days aboard last summer.

At its heart is a wonderfully (Humphreys) designed and engineered luxury bluewater cruiser conceived from the ground up, built in a new dedicated facility to a repeatable quality very few yards are capable of.

The 495 offers consistent passage making speeds in real voluminous comfort – whether enjoyed from the deep cockpit or the best-in-class aft cabin. Deck stowage and mechanical space is also superb.

Then factor in the family appeal of Oyster’s after sales and world rally programme and you start to appreciate the premium world this sub 50-footer gives access to.

The first yacht fully conceived under CEO Richard Hadida’s reign, this is also the smallest completely new Oyster 495 since 2005 – and it’s a triumph. It was our September 2022 cover star in which we featured the full review from our Oyster 495 three day test .

Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 60

The Oceanis Yacht 60 is a very different beast indeed to the 62 it replaces as flagship for the Beneteau range. The yard has learned plenty from the success of the First 53/OY 54 and wanted to create a 60 in this style and with the same deck layout (albeit larger and wider) and ease of circulation.

The construction experience of the smaller model clearly helped too, as this is a whopping five tonnes lighter than the bulky OY62 and with a deeper (2.6m) keel. The telling result is on the water. It feels sporty to helm and we averaged a knot slower than the single figure 6-8 knot windspeeds upwind and matched them reaching with Code 0 and a slight swell.

The vast cockpit works well, sheltered below the semi rigid bimini, it has plentiful lounging space with sailing systems led aft to the twin helms. The interior sees a 3+3 layout, where Beneteau wanted to get rid of the corridor effect of the OY62. The galley is forward to help open out space, while the forward suite with offset berth and headboard aft works well to give space with privacy.

This is an attractive, voluminous yacht that leaves a good overall impression whether under sail, on or below decks.

Ice 62 Targa

It all looks pretty funky below decks on the Ice 62 Targa too, especially if you’re watching the masthead fore and aft cameras (plus bow and prop cam) on central displays mounted in the saloon while you slip out of the dock! The Ice is a seriously impressive, contemporary yacht, one that in looks, performance and execution, won over many of the judges.

The first to launch is a highly customised project for a passionate sailing owner who covers long distances solo – he’d already sailed it 3,000 miles around the Med that autumn. It’s impressively stiff, sails handsomely and, thanks to a telescopic keel, points well. We matched single figure windspeeds, and clocked up to the high 9s in 12 knots wind.

Umberto Felci’s team spent 4,000 hours on the design, providing lots of space and light to the interior and a chillout zone in the semi raised saloon. This was easily the coolest looking yacht, with its aggressive reverse bow, chamfered gunwales and carbon T-top bimini, and all engineered and built to a high standard.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.
  • BOAT OF THE YEAR
  • Newsletters
  • Sailboat Reviews
  • Boating Safety
  • Sailing Totem
  • Charter Resources
  • Destinations
  • Galley Recipes
  • Living Aboard
  • Sails and Rigging
  • Maintenance
  • Best Marine Electronics & Technology

Cruising World Logo

Best Midsize Cruiser 40-44 Feet

  • By Herb McCormick
  • Updated: December 12, 2017

Elan gt5

Winner: Elan GT5

This is going to be a tough category,” said Bill Bolin of the Best Midsize Cruiser 40 to 44 Feet division. “We have three very different but very good boats in this class — the Elan GT5, the Hallberg-Rassy 412 and the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440.”

To begin, Bolin said of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440, “It’s the best Jeanneau I’ve ever seen.” The judging panel agreed, crowning the boat the fleet’s Most Innovative design for 2018.

And what, exactly, led to that designation? “One big reason is the side decks,” said Tim Murphy. “One of the design features is wide-open side decks all the way aft” that permit easy egress going forward without the need to scramble over cockpit coamings. “It’s a clean path ahead,” he noted. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, it’s something we expect to see on more boats, including a scaled-up Jeanneau 490, in the very near future.

“You go down below and, maybe for the first time, Jeanneau has separated the mast compression post from the main bulkhead,” he added. “Now there’s just a compression post that runs down into the main saloon, and the main bulkhead that would’ve come to that position is now several feet forward. So they’ve opened up more space in the main cabin and taken it away from the forward cabin, where they’re arguing you don’t need it quite as much. I think that’s also a fine change. It has twin rudders, and under sail, I thought the helm was beautiful. It’s a solid boat.”

jeanneau sun odyssey 440

So, too, thought Bolin, was the Hallberg-Rassy 412. “This is the largest aft-cockpit model Hallberg-Rassy has built,” he said. “There is a 40-foot center-cockpit model, but this is a different hull entirely, optimized for upwind performance, with a code zero sail for downwind work. There’s a retractable bow thruster — we saw a lot of those this year — to reduce drag and get the thruster deeper in the water and farther forward as well. The boat we inspected had upgraded sails, and when we went sailing, they were ­spectacular. There was a beautiful full-­battened sail and the boat sailed very well.

“It had a slippery hull and moved nicely,” he added. “We sailed it in 12 to 14 knots of breeze, so there was decent wind. Most of the time we were making 6.5 to 7 knots. As we fell off on a beam and then a broad reach, I think this was the first boat where we didn’t see a drastic drop in speed. It performed well on all points of sail. It had a nice big wheel and great visibility forward. It would be an easy boat to single­hand. I really like it.”

“This is a mainsail-driven boat, and I think that might explain why it’s so peppy off the wind,” said Murphy. “So the sail plan is a small jib with a big main. They’re one of the few remaining builders that are giving us a true traveler but also genoa sheet-lead controls from the cockpit, showing that they’re concerned about sail shape, and rightly so. Going down below, it’s the classic Hallberg-Rassy mahogany interior, and it’s just lovely, as lovely as it ever was. We’ve talked about good handholds, but on this boat, they weren’t just good, they were also beautiful. The fiddles are these beautiful rounded shapes that are perfect for your hand. They look great and feel great. Very nice.”

That left the Slovenian-built, 43-foot-4-inch Elan GT5. The company builds dedicated lines of racing and cruising boats, but, said Murphy, “The GT5 is sort of a hybrid between those two lines. It has a high-­performance hull and a very comfortable cruising interior.

Hallberg-Rassy 412

“Sailing it was pretty joyful,” he continued. “We sailed in very light air and it was still moving very nicely. It looked really good on the water. It really seemed to have answered the performance side of Elan’s DNA.”

“The company is doing some progressive things in terms of systems,” said Ed Sherman. “The electrical system on the boat has a nice, graphically designed power distribution panel with push buttons that light up things to let you know, for instance, that the running lights are on and that sort of thing.”

“I was really taken with this boat,” said Bolin. “It looks like a race boat from a distance, and as Tim mentioned, its DNA is rooted in that. But you go below and it’s very unique, with lots of special features. I like the galley-­forward arrangement a lot. You come down into the main cabin and you’ve got max beam where the living quarters are, you have a great sense of entry. Figuratively speaking, you’re not walking through the back door and the kitchen to get into the house. I think this layout makes very good use of space. And there’s lots of storage. Finally, I’d say it’s a high-tech boat, vacuum-bagged with 100 percent vinylester. There’s a lot to like about it.”

At the end of the day, Bolin’s colleagues agreed, which is why they chose the Elan GT5 as the Best Midsize Cruiser 40 to 44 Feet.

Other Winners:

  • Best Midsize Cruiser 44-47 Feet/Overall Winner
  • Best Pocket Cruiser
  • Best Full-Size Cruiser 50-54 Feet
  • Best Full-Size Cruiser 54-58 Feet
  • Best Cruising Catamaran
  • Best Luxury Cruiser
  • Most Innovative

More Information

  • Specs, Prices and More
  • Meet the Judges
  • More: Boat of the Year , Boat of the Year 2018 , hallberg-rassy , jeanneau , Sailboats
  • More Sailboats

Bali 5.8 rendering

Meet the Bali 5.8

Sailboat near Capraia Island

Celebrating a Classic

Italia Yachts 12.98

New to the Fleet: Italia Yachts 12.98

Leopard 40 at dock

Leopard 40 Prelude Listed For Sale

Dubrovnik Old Town

The Moorings Expands in Croatia

C-Map interface

C-Map Updates North America Charts

Italia Yachts 12.98

St. Vincent Court Orders Deportation For Hijacking Suspects

  • Digital Edition
  • Customer Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Email Newsletters
  • Cruising World
  • Florida Travel + Life
  • Sailing World
  • Salt Water Sportsman
  • Sport Fishing
  • Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Cruising World. A Bonnier LLC Company . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

SYS Yacht Sales - New and Used Boats and Yachts or Sale

Used Yachts For Sale From 41 To 50 Feet

Listed below are used yachts for sale worldwide from 41 to 50 feet. Use the search tools to narrow your exploration. SYS Yacht Sales offers a wide range of used yachts for sale, including motor yachts, trawlers, express cruisers, sportfish yachts, flybridge yachts, center consoles, sailboats and everything in between. Search top brands like Sea Ray, Ocean, Tiara, Grand Banks, Riviera and much more. Need assistance? Contact our experienced yacht brokers. We look forward to helping you find the yacht that's right for you.

2011 50' Maritimo-A50 Aegean Enclosed Key Biscayne, FL, US

Maritimo A50 Aegean Enclosed

Mail

Hatteras 50 Convertible

1984 50' Custom-Spronk Day Charter Cat 50 pax Saint Mary's, JM

Custom Spronk Day Charter Cat 50 pax

Kool change.

1990 50' Hi-Tech-Motor Yacht Wilmington, NC, US

Hi-Tech Motor Yacht

1988 50' Waterline-50 Lumut, MY

Waterline 50

Tin soldier.

1995 50' Valiant-50 Warwick, RI, US

Dufour 500 Grand Large

2024 50' H&H Marine-catamaran 50 Sint Maarten, MF

H&H Marine catamaran 50

2019 50' Cruisers-50 Cantius Miami, FL, US

Cruisers 50 Cantius

1978 50' Custom-Philbrooks Shipyard Cruiser Port Orchard, WA, US

Custom Philbrooks Shipyard Cruiser

1988 50' Vista-50 Sportfisherman Dania Beach, FL, US

Vista 50 Sportfisherman

2006 50' Cabo-48 Bodrum, TR

Azimut 50 Flybridge

2008 50' Pershing-50 Miami, FL, US

Pershing 50

2014 50' Jeanneau-509 Tortola, VG

Jeanneau 509

2018 50' Hanse-505 Old Lyme, CT, US

Custom Carolina Alex Willis

2009 50' Cigarette-50' Marauder Terrell, TX, US

Cigarette 50' Marauder

1980 50' Tuna-Rose Brothers North Kingstown, RI, US

Tuna Rose Brothers

2016 50' Fountaine Pajot-SABA 50 Corse, 20, FR

Fountaine Pajot SABA 50

2011 50' Atlantis-50x4 Québec, QC, CA

Atlantis 50x4

2016 50' Azimut-50 Miami, FL, US

  • Event Details
  • Pontoon Boats
  • Personal Watercraft
  • nauticalknowhow
  • Nautical Knots
  • Tools and Calculators

Best Yachts – Top 15 Picks for 2024

Carver 52 Command Bridge

Carver 52 Command Bridge

Hatteras M75 Panacera

Hatteras M75 Panacera

Sabre 58 Salon Express

Sabre 58 Salon Express

Chris Riley

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a yacht? Probably those huge luxury cruisers reserved for the high society folks, right? Well, that’s true, but those are a special group of ships referred to as luxury yachts.

The questions you need to be asking are – What is a yacht? At what point is a yacht regarded as a ship? And, what exactly makes a yacht a yacht? Here’s a little boating lesson for you.

A yacht is any fast cruising watercraft used for pleasure or sport. Yachts can be classified into cruisers, superyachts, and mega yachts. The difference between them all boils down to their respective sizes.

Luxury vessels that are less than 12 meters long fall in the class of cabin cruiser yachts – or simply, cruisers. Those that measure more than 24 meters are classified as superyachts. Anything that’s 50+ meters long is a mega yacht. Anything larger than a mega yacht is generally referred to as a ship and generally describes a working vessel as opposed to something recreational.

So, as you can see, you don’t necessarily have to be swimming in a ton of money to become a yacht owner. The only difference will be in the size of the craft you get. Clear enough?

Without further ado, here are the 15 best yachts, as well as a few useful tips on how to choose the best one.

Top on our list of best yachts is the Carver 52 Command Bridge. Its unique design, spacious salon, expansive foredeck seating area, and well-thought-out amenities make this one the best yachts bar-none.

It comes with a master head, a spacious stall shower, and a full-beam master stateroom that even has its own private entrance. It doesn’t get any better than that.

 Carver  →

● Designed for long-range cruising ● Ample living space ● Comes with loads of convenience amenities

● Not ideal for use in icy waters

The Hatteras M75 Panacera yacht is the perfect embodiment of superior craftsmanship and timeless elegance. One look at it, and you can tell that it was built with impeccable attention to detail.

Everything from the galley layout and the open-concept deckhouse salon to the 360-degree panoramic windows and state-of-the-art amenities adds a completely new dimension to luxury yachting.

 Hatteras  →

● Ample space ● Exquisite interiors and exteriors ● Fully-customizable

● High maintenance

Yachts don’t exactly come cheap. So, the term “budget” yacht might be a bit of a stretch when referring to the price. Nonetheless, if you’re shopping for a watercraft that delivers excellent value for money, the Sabre 58 Salon Express is a great option to consider.

It has an open yacht design that seamlessly merges the interior with the exterior and has large windows that flood the interior spaces with lots of natural light. The Sabre also has three en-suite cabins, abundant storage, and several other great features that make it stand out from other boats in its class.

 Sabre Yachts  →

● Great value for money ● Spacious interior ● Ample storage

● Not ideal for use in the high seas

Tiara Yachts 53 Coupe

Tiara Yachts 53 Coupe

The Tiara Yachts 53 Coupe is the perfect family watercraft. It is designed for indoor and outdoor living. The bridge deck space and salon offer breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of the ocean. It also has comfortable living quarters below deck that are guaranteed to give the entire family an exceptional cruising experience.

 Tiara  →

● Great for making memories ● Comfortable living quarters ● Offers panoramic views all round

● High maintenance costs

60 Cantius

The 60 Cantius from Cruiser was built for long-distance passages. It has spacious living quarters both above and below deck, as well as lots of comfort and convenience amenities that allow you to spend extended periods out on the water.

You’ll particularly enjoy the retractable sunroof that allows you to bask in the sun while enjoying breathtaking panoramic ocean views as you cruise along.

 Cruisers Yachts  →

● Ideal for long-distance passages ● Beautiful, elegant design ● Spacious living areas above and below deck

● Pricier than other boats in its class

93 Motor Yacht

93 Motor Yacht

If you’re looking for a watercraft that can go the distance, it doesn’t get any better than the 93 Motor Yacht from Viking Yachts. First impressions: It is gorgeous.

Its beauty isn’t skin-deep either. The 93MY was built to navigate the rough, choppy waters of the high seas, making it the perfect vessel for anyone who wants to go on an ocean-crossing adventure of a lifetime.

 Viking Yachts  →

● Stunning exterior and interior design ● Built to navigate rough water conditions ● It is pretty massive

● Requires a small crew to operate it

Jeanneau NC 37

Jeanneau NC 37

The Jeanneau NC 37 is an excellent beginner boat. Its fluid layout and ergonomic design make movement in this yacht a breeze. It comes with large panoramic windows with an open sunroof that bathe the living space in lots of natural light.

There’s an owner’s cabin, as well as a guest cabin that both offer ample standing headroom. Its well-proportioned interior alongside the multitude of comfort and convenience amenities it comes with makes it one of the best beginner yachts in the market today.

 Jeanneau  →

● Ample living space and storage ● Great value for money ● Open ergonomic layout

● Not ideal for ocean crossing

Regal 36 XO

Regal 36 XO

If you’re looking for a yacht that combines both comfort and functionality, the Regal 36 XO delivers on both fronts. This beauty is powered by two outboard engines and offers multi-bow seating that also doubles up as casting decks.

It has a spacious cabin, open-air salon, seamless galley that integrates the aft seating area with the roomy saloon, and a windshield walk-through that provides easy access to the bow.

 Regal  →

● Versatile ● Spacious interiors and exteriors ● Fully-customizable

Back Cove 390

Back Cove 390

If you thought yachts were reserved for ocean-use only, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are several models specially designed for lakes. The Back Cove 390 yacht is the perfect example.

Its smaller size makes it ideal for lake cruising. It has a fully-enclosed helm, as well as an owner and guest cabin below-deck, making it perfect for overnight stay.

 Back Cove Yachts  →

● Perfect size for lakes ● Ideal for entertaining ● Delivers optimal handling and maneuverability

● May not be ideal for a long extended stay

Formula 45 Yacht

Formula 45 Yacht

The Formula 45 Yacht is the perfect liveaboard watercraft. It has all the comfort and convenience amenities you would expect to find in any standard land-based home. It is spacious with a well-thought-out practical layout that makes movement on the yacht easy. It has enough room to comfortably accommodate a small family of four.

 Formula  →

● Best yacht for the money ● Spacious interior ● Comes with lots of convenience amenities

Ocean Alexander 36L

Ocean Alexander 36L

If you’re thinking of venturing out into the rough seas, you’re going to need a yacht that can hold its own in the sloppiest of weather conditions. The Ocean Alexander 36L is built to do just that.

Beyond its stunning exterior and interiors, this yacht’s overall rugged construction is focused on giving passengers the smoothest ride possible regardless of the water conditions outside. Its deep V-hull design and its 324,500 lbs. displacement capacity are largely responsible for the exceptional stability it displays when cruising through the high seas.

 Ocean Alexander  →

● Exceptionally stable ● Packed with loads of comfort and convenience amenities ● Expansive interior and exterior

● Needs a crew to run it

Westport 112 Motor Yacht

Westport 112 Motor Yacht

As far as luxury yachts go, the Westport 112 Motor Yacht is in a class of its own. This 111 ft. 8 in. long watercraft is built to deliver extraordinary performance inside and out.

It has four en-suite staterooms that sleep eight individuals and can accommodate up to five crew members, including the captain. The interior oozes luxury, sophistication, and a timeless elegance that’s hard to come by these days.

 Westport Yachts  →

● Spacious indoor and outdoor living areas ● Exquisite interiors ● Suitable for cruising the high seas

● Expensive

Beneteau Oceanis 60

Beneteau Oceanis 60

The Beneteau Oceanis 60 is by far the best sailing yacht we’ve come across. It is built on a hull that guarantees safety and unmatched performance at every turn.

This luxury sailing yacht has a unique deck plan that allows for single-handed maneuvering across the water. The glossy woodwork, cozy upholstery, and the spacious living quarters below-deck make it the perfect sailing yacht for your ocean getaway.

 Beneteau  →

● Exceptional fuel economy ● Spacious living areas ● Ideal for single-handed sailing

● May not be as fast as other non-sailboat yachts

Antares 9

Having a crew is great and all, but it’s also nice to have a yacht that you can operate on your own for that measure of added privacy when you need it. The Antares 9 is the perfect owner operator yacht.

It is modern, stylish, and compact, allowing you to run it on your own and discreetly slip away from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life anytime you need to.

● Elegant design ● Can be operated solo ● Comfortable and safe navigation

● Not ideal for the rough, choppy waters of the high seas

Prestige 690

Prestige 690

Let’s get to what yachts are best known for – hosting memorable parties. The Prestige 690 has everything you need to keep the party going all day and all night.

Its open design layout and its expansive deck make it the perfect yacht for entertaining. The elegant, timeless design of its exterior, alongside the breathtaking finishing, are just a few of the 690’s attributes that add to its appeal.

 Prestige  →

● Massive open deck ● Comes with lots of comfort and convenience features ● Sleeps up to 10 people

How to Choose the Best Yachts – Buyer’s Guide

A yacht is a pretty big purchase. So, you need to know what to look for when choosing the right one for your needs. Here are a couple of pointers that might come in handy.

Type of Yacht

The type of yacht you buy depends in large part on your intended use for it. Most yachts tend to fall into one of three categories – For water sports like wakeboarding , fishing motor yachts, or the overnight cruising variety. Once you know what kind of recreational activities you plan on engaging in, that should help narrow down your choices.

Next, you need to consider what size of yacht you should get. Do you have a young family that you intend to expand in the coming years? Do you plan to use the vessel for day cruising, or do you intend to spend a couple of nights on board from time to time?

Will the yacht be just for you and your significant other, or do you plan to frequently entertain several guests on board? This will advise whether you should buy a cabin cruiser yacht, a superyacht, or a mega yacht.

In a perfect world, you would have all the money you need to buy any kind of watercraft you want. Sadly, that’s not the reality we live in. Keep in mind that yachts don’t exactly come cheap. So, even if you’re planning to purchase a small yacht, you’ll still need to spend quite a bit of cash to get it.

The best thing to do would be to set a budget and compare the different models on offer from different manufacturers . Aside from the boat’s purchase price, you also need to think about the costs associated with owning a yacht. These include insurance, repairs, maintenance, cleaning, and the vessel’s general servicing.

Figure out what kind of comfort and convenience features are a must-have for you. How many cabins should it have? Do you need it to have a summer grill up top? Or will the one in the mini kitchen below-deck suffice? Ensure that the yacht you get has all the amenities you need.

Last but not least, before you sign any purchase contract, ensure that you schedule a sea trial with the dealer. That way, you get a true feel for the boat before you buy it.

Look Before You Leap

If you’re in the market for a shiny new yacht, any of the 15 vessels we’ve detailed in this guide will make an excellent choice. Do your homework beforehand, and make sure your desired craft has all the features and amenities you seek.

Use the tips we’ve outlined in this guide to help you choose the best yachts from all the different options that are hot on the market right now. Happy yachting!

In the meantime, if you’re looking for the best aluminum fishing boat , we’ve got you covered. Check out our review for our top picks.

' src=

About Chris

Outdoors, I’m in my element, especially in the water. I know the importance of being geared up for anything. I do the deep digital dive, researching gear, boats and knowhow and love keeping my readership at the helm of their passions.

Categories : Yachts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More in Yachts

best 50 foot motor yacht

Lonian Yacht: An Insider's Guide

best 50 foot motor yacht

A Closer Look at the Madsummer Yacht

best 50 foot motor yacht

Your Insider’s Look at Steve Jobs’ Yacht Venus

best 50 foot motor yacht

Your Insider’s Guide to the Aviva Yacht

best 50 foot motor yacht

The People’s Poncho Review and Ratings 

best 50 foot motor yacht

Oru Lake Kayak Review

best 50 foot motor yacht

What Is A Gunwale?

Best Snorkeling in Maui

131 of the Best Hawaiian Boat Names

best 50 foot motor yacht

167 Patriotic Boat Names

About boatsafe.

Established in 1998, BoatSafe is your independent guide into the world of boating, fishing, and watersports. We provide expert insights and detailed guides to help you find products tailored to your needs and budget.

Contact Boatsafe

  • Address: 4021 West Walnut Street. Rogers, AR 72756
  • Phone:  (479)339-4795
  • Email: [email protected]

Site Navigation

  • How We Test
  • Corrections Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Editorial Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure

Our Reviews

Boat Safe BBB Business Review

All content is © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

IMAGES

  1. 2019 Cruisers Yachts 50ft 50 Cantius Yacht for Sale

    best 50 foot motor yacht

  2. The Absolute 50 Flybridge Is A Seriously Fun Cruising Yacht

    best 50 foot motor yacht

  3. Yacht Rental in Marina, Jumeirah, Marasi

    best 50 foot motor yacht

  4. Riviera Announces New 50 Sports Motor Yacht

    best 50 foot motor yacht

  5. Tested: Okean 50 Flybridge Motor Yacht

    best 50 foot motor yacht

  6. 50 Foot Azimut Italian Luxury Motor Yacht Sleeps 6 Port City Marina

    best 50 foot motor yacht

VIDEO

  1. $68 million super yacht

  2. Affordable Luxury Superyachts

  3. Motor Yacht Andreza

  4. Top 10 lavish expensive yachts in the world for a BOSS!

  5. The TOP 11 Superyachts Everbuild

  6. A 2nd YACHT For Your MAIN YACHT!

COMMENTS

  1. Top 5 Motor Yachts Under 50 Feet

    Regal 38 Fly. 2023 Regal 38 FXO. Image via Sundance Marine. This express cruiser made its debut at the Miami Boat Show in 2022. The Regal 38 Fly features two guest cabins, one head, and two berths, which can accommodate a couple or a small group. Sliding doors open up the salon onto the deck, ideal for indoor and outdoor entertaining.

  2. The New Outback 50 Yacht: A Personal Design That Turned ...

    Written by: Emma Coady on December 13, 2022. The Outback 50 is a brainchild of Michael Peters and Andrew Cilla. Combined, they have over a century of yacht design and boating experience and are hailed as 'the brain trust' of the marine industry. Above: The Outback 50 has a range of 1,200 miles, enabling the owners to go anywhere in the world.

  3. 15 Best Motor Yachts in 2024

    Fleming 55. The Fleming 55 motor yacht is stylish and designed for comfortable long range cruising and boasts a huge storage capacity with a total area of over 250 sq ft. The nautical design displacement hull has a range of 2,000 nm with an environmentally friendly low fuel burn of just over 10 gph.

  4. Best Family Cruisers: 7 Top Picks In 2023

    3. Cutwater C-32 CB. Another great rugged family cruiser similar to the Ranger R-43 but sportier. If speed is a concern and you don't want to slowly cruise from a to b. If you want to put your foot down, this is an ideal choice. cruise since it has a sporty speed of 30 knots and a top speed of 47.7 knots.

  5. Best Full-Size Cruiser 50-54 Feet

    Three French boats of similar size and price points came together to form the Best Full-Size Cruiser 50 to 54 Feet class. The Beneteau Oceanis 51.1, Dufour 520 and Jeanneau 51 were built from three of the world's most established and well-known high-volume production boatyards. The Beneteau 51.1 was a fresh, new design, not a scaled-up add-on ...

  6. 50 Foot Yacht Guide: Buying Tips

    June 3, 2021. Boat owners will often move into the 50 foot yacht range when looking to do more than simple day boating excursions. While still typically owner-operated, a 50 foot yacht provides increased flexibility with regards to living spaces and can offer a wide array of amenities that suit your tastes and needs while on the water.

  7. Best 50ft flybridge boats: Our pick of the secondhand market

    Our resident used boat expert Nick Burnham picks out four of the best 50ft flybridge boats for sale right now, from the likes of Princess, Fairline, Sealine and Beneteau. 50ft flybridges are fascinating for many reasons. Firstly, 50ft is a size that is relatively easy to manage from a boat handling point of view.

  8. This 50-Foot Yacht Is Built to Tackle Rough Seas—All the Way Down to

    Stratos wants to make the provenance of its debut yacht crystal clear. The nascent Dutch yard's new 50-footer has been christened somewhat patriotically: the Dutch Built 50. The inaugural model ...

  9. Best Full Size Cruiser Under 50 Feet

    Xc 45: Best Full-Size Cruiser Under 50 Feet The category for cruising boats ranging in size from 45 to 49 feet boasted a quartet of strong contenders, but when the votes were tallied, the class winner was the sweet-sailing Xc 45. Billy Black. Azuree 46 The Azuree 46 is the least expensive of the 4 contenders, and comes from a fine pedigree of ...

  10. Best performance yachts: Our pick of the top options

    Italia yachts 12.98. At 5ft longer and from the board of Cossutti (who Polli once worked under), the Italia Yachts 12.98 is another cruiser-racer in the same grain as the GS40, but with a markedly ...

  11. Best Full-Size Cruiser Over 50 Feet

    Passport 545: Boat of the Year; Best Full-Size Cruiser Over 50 Feet The judges awarded the category prize, as well as the overall trophy, to the Passport 545. "Considering the degree of workmanship, it's even a good value," said judge Alvah Simon. The Passport 545 is an heirloom-quality boat with decades of service to come.

  12. 50 Foot Boats & Yachts For Sale

    Used 50 Foot Boats & Yachts For Sale. Explore used yachts and boats for sale worldwide between 50-59 feet. Often, people who are considering a 50 foot yacht are looking to extend their time on the water. A 50 foot boat frequently offers two or three staterooms, making cruising or fishing with family and friends much more comfortable.

  13. Used Motor Yachts for Sale from 50 to 60 Feet

    Search used motor yachts for sale from 50 to 60 feet worldwide, including a range of Flybrige yachts, Trawlers, Sportfish, Express yachts & more! New Yachts. Belize Motoryachts; ... Hyatt 60 Motor Yacht. Sweet Caroline Length: 60' Year: 1998 Model: 60 Motor Yacht. Location: Madisonville, LA, US. Price: $ 159,000. Details. Yachts for Sale - SYS ...

  14. Best luxury yacht: Our pick of the top options

    Best luxury yacht winner - Oyster 495. It is hard to imagine that the decor of a yacht can change its look and feel quite this much, yet the layout of this second 495, Eddie Jordan's dramatic ...

  15. Motor Yachts: A Definitive Guide

    Living Aboard Motor Yachts. For a solo nomad, the ideal size sailboat to live on would be 35 feet for most people. However, if you are planning to live aboard a boat with a family, you will need a boat between 45-50 feet. Any boat below 35 feet would be too cramped for living, and you would quickly get cabin fever.

  16. Future of Luxury Yachting: The 25 Best Yacht Brands

    Beginning with superyacht brands (150 ft. plus boats) and giga yachts (260 ft. and longer), our list continues with the most sought-after 50-100 ft. boats and finishes with the coolest 30-50 ft. vessels. So, let's kick-off. Superyacht shipyards: the 10 best yacht brands Benetti. Top Benetti yachts for sale

  17. 5 Sleek New Motor Yachts For 2022

    Galeon 400 Fly. The Galeon 400 Fly made its FLIBS debut in Fort Lauderdale in October 2021 just in time for buyers looking for a new sleek family yacht for the 2022 season. The highlight of this boat is what the builder calls "beach mode" - innovative side balconies on either side of the cockpit that fold out to create massive amounts of ...

  18. Best Midsize Cruiser 40-44 Feet

    This is going to be a tough category," said Bill Bolin of the Best Midsize Cruiser 40 to 44 Feet division. "We have three very different but very good boats in this class — the Elan GT5, the Hallberg-Rassy 412 and the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440.". To begin, Bolin said of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440, "It's the best Jeanneau I've ...

  19. Used Yachts For Sale From 41 To 50 Feet

    Search used yachts for sale from 41 to 50 feet worldwide. We offer a wide range of used boats, including motor yachts, trawlers, express cruisers, flybridge yachts, center consoles and more. Contact our yacht brokers for assistance.

  20. Best Yachts

    As far as luxury yachts go, the Westport 112 Motor Yacht is in a class of its own. This 111 ft. 8 in. long watercraft is built to deliver extraordinary performance inside and out. It has four en-suite staterooms that sleep eight individuals and can accommodate up to five crew members, including the captain.

  21. FIVE AMAZING DREAM YACHTS UNDER 50 FEET

    I'm excited to tell you that tomorrow I shall be back out at sea filming some yachts. The first yachts is the Sichterman "LIBERTAS". Actually, every time I g...

  22. Power Motor Yachts for sale

    All 25 miles 50 miles 100 miles 200 miles 300 miles 500 miles 1000 miles 2000 miles 5000 miles. from your location ... The best motor yacht. Some of the most popular, masterful builders of motor yacht boats currently include: Sunseeker, Azimut, Sea Ray, Princess and Fairline. ... Motor Yacht for sale on YachtWorld are listed for an assortment ...

  23. Best Shallow Draft Yachts of 2021

    Fountain Pajot Alegria 67. Sailing yachts over 60 feet in length commonly have drafts that prevent them from entering many shallow areas, but the Fountain Pajot Alegria 67 manages to keep draft below 5.6 feet. The catamaran design does the trick, while providing a massive 2,156 square-foot footprint and the ability to carry 1,400 square feet of ...