| Buying a new motor yacht is a long emotional process. | | | | “Phwoar." They were all good brands but none |
| We found it very difficult to choose between so many | | | | of them created a statement of individuality. |
| models. It’s not like buying a new laptop where | | | | Then, soon after, my skipper called me from Italy. And |
| you have a specification on memory, screen size, or | | | | told me that he had found THE boat that would satisfy |
| processor. Buying a laptop, for me, came down to | | | | me and my family’s needs—-style, line, within |
| price really. I bought a mid priced laptop that could do all | | | | budget, build quality, safety, practicality and imaginative |
| that I wanted. Now buying a motor boat was a whole | | | | use of space. He gave me the website, [ and advised |
| different kettle of fish. It’s like buying a house. | | | | me that we could have a sea trial the following week |
| We wanted something that suited our lifestyle and | | | | in Italy. He had visited the boat yard, had taken one of |
| suited our personality. THEN, we would have to come | | | | their boats out and fell in love. The boat builder was |
| up with the money to match that. Buying a motor boat | | | | called Gianetti Yachts and had been manufacturing |
| was not a logical process. It also required visits to | | | | motor yachts for 30 years with an excellent pedigree. I |
| several marinas on the South coast of England and | | | | was slightly dubious and asked him about the |
| three visits to Italy to meet and get to understand | | | | company because I had never heard of them. His |
| possible “editions to the family.” | | | | answer was simple and clear: he had said they make |
| It was never simple. We had to really examine how | | | | twenty motor boats a year and did not spend millions |
| we spent time on our old motor boat (Fairline Targa) | | | | on marketing. All of their sales come from word of |
| and, more importantly, where we used it. We also had | | | | mouth and repeat business. The line of the motor boat |
| to consider how (in an ideal world) we wanted to | | | | was uniquely beautiful. “Follow your heart,” |
| involve the motor boat in our lives over the coming | | | | he said, “you have to have a look.” |
| years. For example, propositions like having | | | | I found out that their 55 foot model had four cabins |
| grandchildren on board next year would bring in safety | | | | which not only fit our budget, but also handsomely |
| issues that we may not have otherwise thought of. So | | | | suited all of our needs. I booked my £28 flight to |
| buying a motor cruiser suddenly became a whole lot | | | | Viareggio for the following week. Taking the time to |
| more complicated! | | | | see this very well kept secret was the best decision I |
| When looking at the different models, we could never | | | | had made during the whole boat buying process. I |
| compare apples for apples. There were always subtle | | | | arrived in Viareggio to find that it was full of Italian |
| differences that either enthused us toward a particular | | | | designed boats and realised what the English built |
| motor yacht model or turned us away from another. | | | | motor boats all lacked, the X factor. Italian design is in a |
| All through the four month period of our search, an old | | | | separate league to British design as with most things |
| friend always gave the same advice, “follow | | | | Italian, for example cars, architecture, furniture, shoes, |
| your heart! Follow your heart, and you will find the right | | | | ice cream. |
| motor boat for you.” | | | | Upon arrival at the boat yard, I saw astounding images |
| The criteria that I looked to meet when buying a boat | | | | wherever I looked. I saw craftsmen taking pride in their |
| was fairly simple. I looked at the overall design and line | | | | product. I saw boats being built by hand with care and |
| of the motor boat. If I liked it still, I looked at the | | | | attention to detail. The three boats that were in |
| performance figures. Then, I would finally look at how | | | | production were the pride of everyone in the boat |
| many people can sleep aboard. If any one or two of | | | | yard. Each boat had its own production manager, each |
| these boxes got ticked, I took a closer look. My wife | | | | with over twenty five years of boat building |
| looked at the interior and practicality of the motor | | | | experience, overseeing every detail of the |
| boat’s design. A more logical approach, I have to | | | | boat’s construction. I then was shown a finished |
| admit. To her, “it’s just a motor boat and all | | | | 55 in the water and got a chance to see the high |
| that matters is if we will be able to fit everyone | | | | specification levels of the interiors. I was astounded by |
| in.” This included allowing for a rather tall uncle | | | | quality of the finish throughout. For instance, granite or |
| who constantly bangs his head. | | | | marble worktops as standard instead of marble effect |
| The final person included in our decision making | | | | worktops. Solid wood units instead of laminates or |
| process, our son, was mainly concerned about safety, | | | | veneers. Porcelain sinks instead of moulded plastic all |
| but also wants to address the usual problems with | | | | done with Italian flair. We then took her for a spin. Then |
| motor boats such as noise levels and vibration, etc. | | | | I realised that I had found The One. |
| Although I lead the buying process, it was more than | | | | At 30 knots, the builder then told me that the engine |
| likely that I would have to make compromises to meet | | | | bay was doubly lined to prevent engine noise in the |
| other people’s needs, but I still believed that if I | | | | cockpit. I then realised that he didn’t need to |
| followed my heart, my family would also make similar | | | | shout this, he just spoke whilst doing 30 knots. In our |
| compromises on those aspects they found important. | | | | Fairline at that speed, we would have definitely needed |
| We all knew the budget, and we all knew that we | | | | to shout. |
| would be using it in the Mediterranean, and we all knew | | | | Everything about the boat was ergonomic. From the |
| that we wanted three cabins. That was all we could | | | | chart plotter to the fridge, everything was where I |
| agree on. So we looked at all of the alternatives. | | | | wanted it. |
| Firstly, with the usual suspects: Fairline, Sunseeker, and | | | | I met the head of the company and realised that it |
| Princess, all offering options on this style of open | | | | was a family business. A very successful family |
| offshore cruiser. We also looked at European | | | | business that was very happy with its product range, |
| Manufacturers such as Azimut, Mangusta, Windy, | | | | the levels of quality and its financial status. They did not |
| Conam, Cranchi, and Apreamare. All offered | | | | aspire to be a mass producer of boats. They wanted |
| imaginative uses of their space. Some were well | | | | to build as good a boat as they possibly could. I |
| above our budget, some were surprisingly below our | | | | realised that these family built boats were stylish, |
| budget. Each manufacturer had their own line and | | | | immaculately finished and presented. They offered the |
| design signatures. In my opinion, Azimut and Mangusta | | | | highest standard of build quality with practical solutions |
| were well ahead of the others but fell short, in my | | | | to clients’ specific requirements. I realised that if I |
| opinion, in other areas such as space below deck, | | | | bought one of these boats, they would be building for |
| some safety issues as well as being out of our budget. | | | | me and only me all within my budget and my time |
| Fairline, Sunseeker and Princess all fell into our budget | | | | scale. |
| and ticked most of our boxes. But with all of these, | | | | Now I could have bought a Fairline, Princess or |
| there was always something not quite satisfying my | | | | whoever but they did not give me 100% of what my |
| criteria of design, line and style, namely the | | | | heart wanted which is all of the things they I have |
| “Phwoar” factor. The other manufacturers | | | | talked about, 100% of what I saw that day to |
| gave imaginative solutions but seemed to fall short on | | | | Viareggio at Gianetti Boat Yard. Take a look at their |
| build quality and finish. Another motor boat, the Conam | | | | website and take the time to visit them in Italy. |
| 48, came substantially under budget whilst offering | | | | I am not writing this to assert that they have the best |
| three cabins and good performance. This had me | | | | boat in the world. I am writing this to say that they |
| seriously thinking about it for a whole week and almost | | | | have the best boat in the world for me. So whatever |
| became a serious contender. My heart then told me | | | | criteria you have, you need to take the time to look at |
| that I would worry about resale value. More | | | | all of the options of motor boats. Some options you |
| importantly, my own elitist views on owning a boat that | | | | might not be too familiar with. They are out there and |
| I could be proud of and proud to be seen on. I wanted | | | | perhaps you can find a boat in a small boat yard that |
| a Mercedes Benz not Ford Mondeo. | | | | ticks more of your boxes than the usual brands. |
| I found myself in a funny situation. I had three good | | | | Buying a boat is a very important purchase and should |
| options to choose from, all of them good with good | | | | not be limited to the usual options. After taking the time |
| customer care packages and good reputations, but | | | | to find my magnificent motor yacht, I know that I have |
| none of them had the spark that I needed to ignite my | | | | found the right boat for me. So follow your heart. |
| passion in them. They were all good but no | | | | |