Making the Leap: Upgrading from Midsized Cruiser to Luxury Motor Yacht
Would you buy a 52-foot luxury sports cruiser without sea-trialing or even seeing it yourself?
Would you buy a 52-foot luxury sports cruiser without sea-trialing or even seeing it yourself? Anton Marmot bought a boat in Australia after viewing a YouTube tour while on a European adventure through the Alps, exploring the quaint villages and lakes of Switzerland.
Above: Anton hosting a gathering onboard his Fairline Targa 50 luxury motoryacht. Image via Anton Marmot.
Upgrading From Weekender to Long-Distance Cruiser
For many, boating is an adventure waiting to happen. This rings especially true for Sydney-Harbour-based Anton Marmot, who embarked on his first boating journey during the pandemic. This year, his adventure took a thrilling turn as he upgraded from a Benetti Azimut 34-foot sports cruiser to a Fairline Targa 50 GT, a vessel designed for long-distance cruising and boundless exploration.
Most people bought a toy to keep them entertained during the pandemic. For Anton, that was a 34-foot sports yacht. Over the past four years, he has built a bank of precious memories of having adventures at sea. The Azimut was berthed at Sydney Harbour, conveniently located opposite his penthouse apartment and close to the white-gold sands of Bondi Beach.
To read about part one of Anton's journey, read A Diary Of A New Boat Owner on our sister site, YachtWorld.
Four years later, Anton and his co-owner Gary Montgomery were ready to upgrade to something bigger.
Boat Sales And The Economic Climate
When the boys bought their first boat, it had only 60 hours on it and was in excellent condition. Despite racking up 750 hours on the boat, Gary and Anton still managed to sell it for the same price. It's all about timing.
Upgrading From V-berth Settee To Cabin
Even though the first boat could technically sleep four, guests found it a squeeze. Anton says that while having to put down a V-berth table gives you flexibility, it could have been more enticing for guests to stay over. He found that merging the living areas with the guests' quarters could have been better. He wanted four definitive staterooms separate from the living and entertaining areas for the next boat.
Above: Fairline Targa 50 a luxury yacht cruising through the water. Image via Anton Marmot.
Features and Layout. An Owner-Operator Boat
Initially, Anton kept the search for their luxury cruisers on the market open and eyed up a few different cruiser brands. While he loved Riva's RIVERIA for the style and quality of the build, the layout with the kitchen and living space on the top deck didn't suit his lifestyle. Anton is an extroverted social person with an extensive friendship network.
Above: The staterooms on Fairline's Targa 50 are are vast and inviting. Image via Anton Marmot.
British boatbuilder Fairline's luxury cruisers caught his eye. “It’s classy and timeless.” says Anton, whose primary goal was to buy a boat designed for hosting large gatherings. "The major benefit of upgrading to a 52-foot boat is that three spacious cabins are already set up and guests have full privacy." Anton says.
The full length of the Targa 50 is dedicated to entertainment, featuring a height-adjustable table, a fridge next to the cockpit, a dinette with a large fridge-freezer and an electric cooker, and a small wet bar, a sink, and a bbq abaft.
Above: One the Fairline Targa 50 a luxury superyacht the entertaining space is vast. Image via Anton Marmot.
Above: The Fairline Targa 50 aft deck. Image via Anton Marmot.
From hilltop villages of the Swiss Alps, Anton was streaming YouTube boat tour videos of the Fairline yacht to see if it was suitable. "I was drawn to the fact that the full length of the boat is dedicated to entertaining. There are no steps either on the upper level, everything is flush. There's a clear distinction between the living areas and the cabins on the lower deck. The layout is simple, open-plan, and it just works."
Above: Boat buying virtually from the Alps. Image via Anton Marmot.
The 13ft beam feels generous, and the space continues right up to the bow, a long way forward, increasing the size of the foredeck and bow cabin below deck.
There are 2 seatings areas close to the helm, one of which is raised for great viewing. Both these areas can accommodate 9-10 guests and everyone can sit together. When boat owners operate a boat, they want their friends or family beside them right by the helm. There is also more seating and a table outside towards the stern that can accommodate another 8 guests.
Anton is an avid fisherman, and the boat came with a fish finder and plenty of space for casting and barbecuing, which appealed to his laidback beach lifestyle.
Sporty In Looks and Performance
The Fairline model that caught Anton's eye was fitted with twin 1100-horsepower Volvo Penta engines. A true sports cruiser, it can reach a top speed of over 34 knots, enabling it to reach destinations quickly.
Boat Buying: Negotiating A Really Good Price
The boys made contact with Chris Lynch at One Brokerage Marine in Sydney who was recommended and had what they were looking for, but the boat was based in Queensland. Gary travelled from Sydney to Queensland to sea trial the British-built Fairline yacht, but the wind was taken out of his sails when one of the engines wouldn't start. "We were not impressed. But it did pay off because it was what was needed to kick the owner into touch; he agreed to get the boat fully serviced and ready for sale."
They were presented with the invoice and there was over $50,000 AUD worth of work done on restoring the yacht.
The sports cruiser had been on the market for a while, and the seller was keen to strike a deal as soon as possible. Anton is a businessman and comfortable haggling hard to negotiate a good deal. The seller ended up dropping the price significantly. "We managed to knock 20% off the asking price. Boats are moving slowly at the moment, partly due to the high interest rates associated with financing a boat," says Anton.
Collecting The Yacht From Queensland
Once the yacht had been fully serviced, the boys organised a finely tuned plan to survey the boat, hire two Volvo Penta mechanics to check the engines, sea-trial the boat, buy the boat, and courier it home all within 48 hours. A lot was at stake. The truck was waiting to courier the yacht long before anybody had given it the all-clear.
Co-owner Gary Montgomery went to complete the transaction while Anton was gallivanting around Europe. "I didn't see purchasing it remotely as a gamble because we carried out extensive due diligence to assure that it was in great condition."
An Owner-Operated Yacht
As far as owner-operator boats go, a 52-footer is about as large as a motorboat before you need to think about appointing a crew, unless you are incredibly experienced in manoeuvring large yachts. "While I was used to operating the Azimut myself, docking a boat of this size is on a new level. I will practice manoeuvring around Sydney Harbour before venturing future afield." Through the help of Chris Lynch they had a yacht controller fitted to help with manoeuvrability and vision when docking.
Anton's excitement for his new yacht is palpable. He's planning to take it on relaxing trips with friends and some fishing as well to the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater, setting the stage for a summer filled with unforgettable boating adventures.
Above: The oceans as wide and as deep as your appetite for adventure. What will be Anton's next upgrade? A 200-foot superyacht? Stay tuned. Image via Anton Marmot.
Browse for used and new luxury cruisers boats for sale.
If you are in the market for a sports cruiser check out 10 Best Sports Cruiser Brands.
