There has been a consistently increasing trend towards purchasing or chartering Luxury boats, or more appropriately, yachts, for the occasional weekend of fun out at sea. People from all sectors are now actively hosting corporate and social events on yachts, to add an exotic feel to the ordinary humdrum meetings. However, the most common problem people face while chartering/purchasing a luxury Boat is that of choosing the appropriate one.

The handful of people who are well-versed in boat-lore and know their starboards from their larboards and foredecks from aftdecks can easily comprehend all the imperative necessities of their boats, but for the layman choosing the right luxury boat is still sometimes a game of hit and miss. Which is why, today, we shall broadly discuss the five main considerations while choosing a luxury boat, for both hire and purchase.

The Five Considerations of Choosing a Luxury Boat

There are five main aspects of luxury yachts you need to consider while choosing the appropriate luxury boat. These are – size, design, entertainment, connectivity, and storage and maintenance. Let us see each of these in further detail.

• Size of the Boat

This might seem like an obvious suggestion, but it is nevertheless the most important factor while choosing a luxury boat. There are different kinds of luxury boats depending on the size of the boat, such as megayachts, superyachts, classic sailing yachts, high-performance sailing yachts, catamarans, etc.

Megayachts are over 165 feet long and can accommodate hundreds of guests in addition to amenities like spas, pools, gaming arcade, cinemas, performance arenas and more. Superyachts are sized between 100-165 feet and are generally a smaller version of megayachts for a smaller number of people. Classic sailing yachts are around 80-100 feet and perfect for a week at sea with friends and family. These can have traditional sails or motors. High-performance sailing yachts are for more hardcore seamen who want to indulge in active water sports as opposed to a relaxing vacation. These are smaller in size and not as comfortable as the other boats although they are fixed up with all the modern amenities necessary. Catamarans are the smallest size-wise in this category and generally used in shallow water where you want to explore otherwise inaccessible locales with your family.

Out of these categories, which luxury boat you choose depends on the application you seek it for, the number of people that need to be accommodated on the boat, the number of days you are chartering it for, and most importantly, your budget. There are stringent sea-safety regulations that limit the maximum people on board boats, depending on the size, which is another factor you need to consider. If you are planning to purchase the yacht, the size will also be affected by where you will be berthing the boat, the available space at the dock and the docking expenses.

• Design of the Luxury Boat

Boat design has evolved to a great extent over the years, with new, futuristic designs being introduced that improve comfort and sustainability of the boat. This very design is an important consideration while choosing your luxury boat. Ergonomics play a central role in luxury boat design. When you are out at sea for days in a row, your boat is like your home. Hence it is necessary that it be comfortable and well-designed.

The areas of the boat where you will be spending most of your time, such as the deck or the cabins should be designed to have enough space and comfort and at the same time give enough privacy to your guests.

An experienced crew is an invaluable asset for any boat and hence should be chosen carefully. The overall design of the boat should be convenient and geared towards making the guests feel welcome.

• Available Entertainment on Board

For the inexperienced seafarer, sailing can quickly become tedious if he/she is not kept entertained through the duration of the cruise. Which is why, it is important to check what means of entertainment are available on board the luxury boat and whether they meet the expectations why you are purchasing the boat. For instance, you can have a number of water toys like jet skis, waterboards, scuba diving equipment, etc. for the water bugs on your boat. For those who cannot or do not want to take part in these activities, indoor entertainment areas like a cinema or pool can be useful.

• Connectivity of the Boat

Connectivity is important in today’s day and age, to ensure complete safety of the boat and everyone onboard the boat. Although you might be taking the vacation to get away from the noise and bustle of daily life, it is important to stay connected to the mainland for regular updates on any natural or man-made hazards you might encounter.

On megayachts and superyachts, this is generally taken care of by the crew, but on smaller boats, you might need to actively look into the communications system to check if everything is in order.

• Storage and Maintenance in Luxury Boats

Last but not the least, the available storage space and the maintenance required by the boat is a very important deciding factor while choosing the boat. The storage space of the boat should be ideally enough to accommodate all the rations you require for the duration of your trip and a few more. The luxury boat should be well-maintained and cleared on inspection for the voyage ahead.

In case any unforeseen circumstances occur to delay your voyage at sea, the boat should be well-provisioned to cater to all the people on board.

To Summarise

As we have seen from the overview above, a lot rides on why you are hiring/buying the boat, the duration for which you’ll be using it, and the number of people you want to accommodate. Of course, these things are not set in stone and you can always choose to tweak the parameters as necessary.

There are a number of luxury boat manufacturers in India who have designed and manufactured various luxury boats suited to different requirements of the public. You can further consult professional yacht brokers for in-depth insights and advice on the kind of luxury boat you should choose.

What are your thoughts on the factors mentioned above? Any other consideration you wish to add? Let us know in the comments section below!

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