How to Buy a Superyacht

Superyachts are the summit of success. They offer adventure, comfort, privacy and security. But ownership means responsibility, and, potentially, liability. Of course, you don't have time for steep learning curves, and some will try to exploit this. Benjamin Maltby, an English barrister and Director of independent superyacht consultants MatrixLloyd, provides a little guidance for those thinking of joining the élite fleet.

What is a Superyacht?
Yachts over 24 metres in length are generally considered to be superyachts. Why such a precise division? Because above this size the rules and regulations really start to kick in, crew must be employed, and the whole adventure becomes a little more exclusive. Thankfully, charter income can contribute significantly towards running costs and some vessels have been specifically built to be profitably chartered.

Choosing Your Superyacht
Superyachts are the embodiment of the truly successful individual's personality. They should genuinely reflect the owner's character if he or she is going to truly enjoy time spent onboard. Sailing yachts have a more natural feel at sea and can be raced competitively. Motor yachts provide more space, can be faster and built to more individualistic designs. There exists a warm-hearted rivalry between the two camps. At this scale, there is little difference in running costs.

As an aspiring owner, you may have spent at least some time chartering a superyacht, and will have an idea as to the sums involved. Yet new owners should still be realistic as to how much they are prepared to invest. A good rule of thumb is that you should expect to spend 10% of your vessel's value each year in running costs. It's common to start with a modest vessel, and progress to something larger every few years.

New or Existing?
Superyachts are not built on production lines. Your input will be sought at every stage. They are also complicated, with much to go wrong. Owners like to push back technological and aesthetic frontiers. Unproven combinations of materials and concepts are often incorporated. The results are awe-inspiring, but teething problems can take time to be resolved. Superyachts often take years to build. Buying an existing vessel gives you immediate use, and a subsequent refit can soon provide individuality and a box-fresh feel.

Having Your Superyacht Built
Having spent some time leisurely researching the market, you may know which builders and designers will be capable of delivering your dreams. Builders may offer you their "standard" contractual terms. With this amount of buying power, these terms, which may favour the builder in ways you may not have thought possible, will need amending. For example, legal title may not be allowed to pass until completion, meaning that your (substantial) deposits paid before that time may be lost if the builder goes out of business.

Specification
There is no point finding a designer who pens the perfect superyacht, which the builder then interprets in his own cost-cutting way. The specifications must be highly detailed. Further, a separate interior designer will be instructed, as well as a naval architect and independent technical surveyor: a lot of voices. The contracts with these parties should be incorporated into a single build agreement, to ensure all sing from the same hymn sheet.

Builders must adhere to a complex array of regulations. This will depend on where the vessel is to be used, whether it is to be chartered and which country's flag it will be sailed. The contract must reflect these requirements in exquisite detail. Modifying a superyacht afterwards can be particularly expensive.

Payment
It's not just the total cost of the project which must be agreed. The builder may need instalments paid to cover the cost of materials. Far better, though, to pay following the completion of various stages, to encourage the builder to stick to the schedule. The builder will also need to factor-in fluctuations in materials costs and exchange-rates, to prevent surprises later on.

Suppliers
The builder will often employ outside suppliers and sub-contractors for the trickier parts of the process. This is normal and does not mean that the builder is incompetent. The builder should, however, always remain liable for any of the suppliers or sub-contractors' mistakes. It is also important for the builder to have paid the suppliers for materials as soon as possible to prevent anything being reclaimed later.

Risk
Builders' yards are hazardous places. The yard should be obliged to carry insurance against your superyacht being damaged or destroyed even before it hits the water. Meanwhile, you should have the option of a refund on payments made to the builder, or for the insurance payout to be used to repair both yard and project.

Security
If the builder goes bankrupt during the build - it happens - the builder will be obliged to repay any instalments. But you will be at the end of a long queue of creditors. Far better, then, to have this obligation backed by a bank guarantee. Alternatively, you can have legal title to the half-built superyacht, but the builder may then ask you for a guarantee against not paying the remaining instalments.

Performance
As no two superyachts are ever identical, their performance in terms of speed, noise levels, vibration and range, are difficult to predict - even with today's computer-aided design techniques. So it's normal to agree a fixed sum as compensation which the builder must pay if the performance criteria aren't met but still fall within certain limits, but still allow you to pull out if even these limits aren't met. Quibbling over discrepancies is an expensive business, involving expert witnesses. It's also difficult to put a figure on your disappointment. The builder will also be able to insure more easily against the design not working as expected.

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The Beauty of Luxury Yachts

Luxury yachts usually refer to very expensive privately owned yachts, but ones that are run and operated by a professional crew. A luxury yacht can be either a sailing or motor yacht. It was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that this term appeared for the first time and it was when the wealthy population started constructing large private yachts for their personal use and pleasure. The early luxury yachts included sailing yachts and motor yachts and were referred to as S/Y and M/Y respectively.

Over the past few decades the popularity of luxury yachts has grown significantly, especially in areas like the Mediterranean and Caribbean. This is most likely directly related to the increase in the wealthy population. These are also areas in which many people like to travel to remote areas so having a personal luxury yacht makes this much more accessible to do. Since there has been such an increase in demand for these yachts, there has been a huge increase in the amount of yacht charter companies and brokers too.

The building of luxury boats and yachts are predominantly based in the United States and some areas of Western Europe. Today, the production is also spreading into areas of Australia, Asia and Eastern Europe. There are many European yacht companies, but some of the most popular ones are Ferretti, Azimut Benetti, Feadship and Lurssen. These companies are on the very top end of the spectrum when it comes to building personal luxury yachts.

There are many different reasons that you may purchase a personal luxury yacht. Some people buy them to use exclusively for their own travels while other people purchase them to be used all year round as charter businesses. It is not much more cost effective though to charter a yacht from an owner than to purchase your own because it is still extremely expensive and you only get to use it for that set period of time. However, the benefit of chartering an already owned luxury yacht is that you get to utilize the crew that works on it for your own personal needs. This also allows you the opportunity to choose from a large variety of yachts as opposed to always having to travel on the exact same one.

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What to Look For in a Luxury Yacht Charter

The place to be for the person who likes to fish is boats and on the water, there are many ways to be out on the open water with all the amenities that anyone would expect to make this a perfect trip.

What can turn in to the most relaxed trip on the open water is with a luxury yacht charter, there is no stress and there is a boat filled with amenities. Fishing in the ocean and with many charters a crew to do all the sailing and work aboard ship. Meals are prepared by a chef and an on board win cellar to with wine to compliment every meal.

One pleasing item that will not need to be looked for is the amount of people aboard ship; unlike a cruise ship the only people on the yacht charter are the friends and family that are invited. Luxury yachts are for relaxing and for many people this includes sport fishing. Many yacht rentals are equipped with all the connivances that a sport fisher needs like lockers for the catch of the day and a station to prepare gear for fishing.

Charter boats are a great advantage to many people that want to spend their free time on the water. There is no up keep on the boat and no need to worry about where it would be docked when there is no time to be on the water. This makes yacht rentals an easy choice because of these benefits and along with that there is the fact that the sailing can be done by the crew. That makes a sport fishing charter a prefect way to be on the water without any of the responsibility except catching fish.

These motor yachts also are a great choice for the person that does not fish to relax and feel pampered with the comfort and the amenities that are found on luxury yachts. That makes the luxury yacht charter a choice that many people find the perfect vacation. For the person that fishes and the person that does not because there are comforts for each of them. The amenities that people look for with yacht rentals are the plush sleeping accommodations, the complete fitness centers that are offered on some charter boats, the finely prepared food. They look for this in rental yachts for an enjoyable get away and sport fishing trip.

Another thing that the person wanting to rent a luxury yacht charter looks for is a reliable yacht company for yacht rentals; this is because the sport fishing charter should be an enjoyable time and not a problem trip. Many places offer boat charters and but not all offer the amenities that the luxury yacht can offer, like the expertly designed yacht for sport fishing. It is also the expertly trained crew on a fishing charters that know how to find the perfect spots and how to treat the guests on the boat that makes it well worth finding the right luxury yacht charter.

By: Callie Morris

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The Luxury of Renting Private Yacht Charters

You can relax on a private yacht and travel at your own pace, pampered all the way, for much less than what you end up paying for a crowded cruise ship. Private yacht charters are becoming increasingly popular for intimate and flexible vacations. And most yacht charters are just as attentive to your needs as any cruise ship.

The private yacht charter allows you the freedom to spontaneously change your mind and stay an extra night at your favorite island or to explore an uninhabited island close by.

Your location is the single most important point of your entire vacation. Pick a calm, protected location with many islands all within sight, with many gorgeous lagoon anchorages.

Private yacht charters are favored by honeymooners, family reunions or by close friends who want to spend their time together undisturbed. Buddies looking for an opportunity for fishing in tranquil waters, deep-sea diving, water skiing or just relax on a secluded beach can also find private yacht charter a fulfilling experience.

Generally, individuals who want to enjoy a quiet vacation prefer small motor yachts staffed by a crew. Such charters are easy on the pocket as they cost anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000 a week, depending on the size of the yacht.

Since it is a cheaper alternative, college youths can also afford to enjoy their dream vacation aboard a small boat, surrounded by the blue sea or a lagoon amidst a cluster of islands, particularly in The Bahamas, the Virgin Islands or the Mediterranean near Greece.

You have the freedom to choose a yacht, its route, anchorage and stopovers, cuisines that you would like to have for every meal, assortment of drinks and beverages and activities, such as water sports and sight-seeing on land during your vacation.

By: Richard Romando

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Unforgettable Luxury Yacht Birthday Party Experience

People often are looking for something new and unique to do for their birthday celebration or special event.

When it comes to a yacht birthday party, the is no other party that compares. A birthday cruise is one of the most unique and greatest ways to celebrate your special day with family and friends.

La Paz, Baja Mexico is most definitely amongst one of the hottest destination spots for anyone who may be thinking of a luxury yacht birthday party.

Birthday cruises are certainly packed with fun, excitement memories to last a lifetime, from a wide assortment of outstanding activities and not to mention the whole yachting experience itself. A yacht charter can make any special event much more memorable, host your wedding, reception, corporate party or other events aboard a fine yacht charter.

Imagine sharing your special event and experiences of chartering a yacht for your very own birthday, or for that of a loved one or anyone dear to you.

No doubt a birthday cruise is a wonderful opportunity to leave your cares behind, envision how you want to celebrate your special occasion with colleagues, clients and friends. In Baja, the Sea of Cortez Cruises are the perfect setting to lounge or play aboard a luxury yacht, the experience is nothing less than a world all of your own; from your very own custom itinerary right down to the exquisite gourmet dining, on or off-shore excursions and an array of water sports all planned according to your birthday wishes.

The ideal weather in Baja Mexico make yacht charter cruises available all year long, allowing ease to plan your yacht birthday party from La Paz or all through-out Baja California Sur at any point of the year. Cruises vacation packages are known to offer luxury as well as affordability to everyone.

For the most part yacht charter companies will work with all kinds of people with various budgets.

Most yacht charter companies prices will vary for hosting a yacht birthday party, dependent on the number of guests as well as how extensive you want the experience to be.

For most, birthdays are a special time, whether you plan to celebrate alone or with friends and family, go fishing, swimming, diving or snorkeling in crystal clear warm azure waters, or simply relax in the Baja sun; a unforgettable Yacht Birthday Party at sea in Baja Mexico may just add the unique touch you're looking for.


By: Anita Mckenzie

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