Narrowing search for next boat

Richie89

Richie89

Active Member
Aug 20, 2012
599
Miami Beach, FL
Boat Info
450 Sundancer
Engines
Twin Cummins 480 Zeus
i posted before about how I’m starting my search for our next boat, a 40-50’ flybridge. After looking, I have ruled out Prestige and Azimut boats. We love the Sea Ray 400 Fly and 460 Fly. Every boat we go see are being compared to those. The boat that is taking the lead on paper, tho, is the Cranchi 43 Eco Trawler. Planning to see one in a few weeks and am loving what I’m seeing on the internet about this boat. Anyone have knowledge of one? Or Cranchi boats in general? Where we boat, they are common enough to be available and serviced. Very impressed with the company, from what I’ve seen so far. With what’s up with SR, I’m a little hesitant buying a new or close to new SR right now.
 
Don’t know that boat but had some shopping experience in the last two years.
Started out looking for another Sea Ray but saw a couple of other brands/models in the size class that I really liked too while I was looking. Also great boats.
Only problem with them was that there weren’t nearly as many of them to choose from as there were Sea Rays. The limited number made shopping for them tough. I wound up with another Sea Ray and have no regrets.
I understand the apprehension, but while looking at other brands I found that they don’t support previous models with parts either so regardless of what the future holds for Sea Ray I don’t think it matters all that much.
 
Hi Richie - curious as to why you ruled out Azimut?.....as for the Cranchi, my only experience with the brand is 10 or so years ago there was a "dealer" in Newport RI and I spent some time on a couple of different express style boats - at the time, I dont remember being overly impressed.........but compared to other production boats (including sea ray) the quality seemed on par.....i like the galley aft layout of the 43 you are looking at (a lot like an '08 47 DB) but that appears to be a pretty slow boat compared to the sea ray..... (fine for the intracoastal, but what about trips to the keys or Bahamas?) I know you're focusing on fly style boats (and my wife and I love the sea ray 40 fly too), but check out the aforementioned 47' db......they have a huge bridge, the galley aft with the lift up window and a HUGE full beam master and head....although at 50' LOA with the hyd platform, it sounds like its a bigger boat than you've been considering....keep us posted - we will be down 2/18 - 2/25 if your around, let me know....
 
Ididntdoit said:
Hi Richie - curious as to why you ruled out Azimut?.....as for the Cranchi, my only experience with the brand is 10 or so years ago there was a "dealer" in Newport RI and I spent some time on a couple of different express style boats - at the time, I dont remember being overly impressed.........but compared to other production boats (including sea ray) the quality seemed on par.....i like the galley aft layout of the 43 you are looking at (a lot like an '08 47 DB) but that appears to be a pretty slow boat compared to the sea ray..... (fine for the intracoastal, but what about trips to the keys or Bahamas?) I know you're focusing on fly style boats (and my wife and I love the sea ray 40 fly too), but check out the aforementioned 47' db......they have a huge bridge, the galley aft with the lift up window and a HUGE full beam master and head....although at 50' LOA with the hyd platform, it sounds like its a bigger boat than you've been considering....keep us posted - we will be down 2/18 - 2/25 if your around, let me know....
Click to expand...


Can't say enough about the 47 DB. Richie, have you boarded one, it surely seems as though it would suite all of your needs?
 
One must have is an inside helm for us. So I think that rules out the 47 DB as they don’t have that do they?
 
Richie89 said:
i posted before about how I’m starting my search for our next boat, a 40-50’ flybridge. After looking, I have ruled out Prestige and Azimut boats. We love the Sea Ray 400 Fly and 460 Fly. Every boat we go see are being compared to those. The boat that is taking the lead on paper, tho, is the Cranchi 43 Eco Trawler. Planning to see one in a few weeks and am loving what I’m seeing on the internet about this boat. Anyone have knowledge of one? Or Cranchi boats in general? Where we boat, they are common enough to be available and serviced. Very impressed with the company, from what I’ve seen so far. With what’s up with SR, I’m a little hesitant buying a new or close to new SR right now.
Click to expand...
I'm in the same boat (no pun intended). I looked at the Bavaria 420 Virtess, Prestige, Regal 42 fly, and the Galeon. The quality of the Sea Ray is by far superior, and I like that it has the V drive vs the pods. I keep hearing how hard it is to get any work done on the pods along with higher maintenance costs but they are more efficient. My dilemma now is whether to buy new vs used but it is hard to find a good 400 used in my area (west coast). It seems to me that you a looking at a bit of apples and oranges as the Cranchi is more of a trawler in terms of speed, capacities, and aesthetics. If you are looking for slow cruising, the Cranchi may be your boat but the interior quality will still not match the SR. If you want to have the option to get ahead of the weather or just get somewhere so you have more time to enjoy the destination, I would go with the SR. Good luck.
 
Another of our must haves is no Isenglass. We want the fly bridge open and a lower helm for those quick showers that pop up in Miami. I am getting more and more interested in the Euro trawlers for more long distance cruising in our future. They are striking, as I’ve seen a few different ones down here. And their speed is actually not a lot slower. I think the Cranchi is probably almost as fast as the 400 Fly, but the open spaces are phenomenal. The bow on the Cranchi is the best I’ve seen, and we spend lots of time up there at sandbars.
 
A hair bigger, but incredibly well built American made vessels with outstanding fit and finish. Haven't been on their 54, but their 60 was nothing short of stunning. Upper and lower helms, aft joystick, unreal staterooms.....etc etc etc....

 
Richie, I feel the pain.

When you start thinking about that next boat - the requirements come easy. They did for us.

But what we realized is that a boat is a series of compromises.

We had a "must have" of a lower helm. Then when we saw the boats that it was an option - then what some other models offered - we decided we could live without a lower helm.

Two cautions I would offer.

#1 Don't let recent corporate transactions scare you away from Sea Ray. At the end of the day Sea Ray has too much brand capital to not be protected by any purchaser. They just went to the west coast of FL and sold tens of millions of new boats in 3 days. Sea Ray is not going away.

#2 Don't buy an Italian boat. Have never heard a positive story, but have heard so many negative ones. Parts, repair, etc.

Just my 2 cents.

Mark
 
My friend of 10 years has a 48' Fly Cranchi with Volvo's & Westerbeke gen. He still loves it today as much as he did 10+ years ago... I believe it's 2000 model year. They went to Italy this past year & went through the factory and he was very impressed. This same friend owns 2 Lamborghini's one for his Texas house and one for his Seattle home.
 
Make sure the lower helm in the boat you get is practical for how you may use it.
I had a lower helm on an old Silverton I owned back in the 80’s. It took up a lot of valuable real estate in the cabin and I think I used it one time in the 4 years I owned the boat. I got caught in an unexpected torrential downpour. Visibility from the lower helm was horrible and not practical in the bay so after a few minutes I bit the bullet and went back up and braved the downpour.
Granted, that old Silverton was a lot smaller than what you’re looking at so the space it takes up probably isn’t as critical for you.
A lower helm probably makes sense in the open ocean where you don’t have to maneuver around lots of other boats and obstructions.
 
Fly'n Family said:
A hair bigger, but incredibly well built American made vessels with outstanding fit and finish. Haven't been on their 54, but their 60 was nothing short of stunning. Upper and lower helms, aft joystick, unreal staterooms.....etc etc etc....

Click to expand...
That is a very nice layout!!
 
I can attest that the 47 sedan bridge is a great lay out and the bridge is a ton of space. We love ours and if the lower helm doesn't become a must have at some point I would suggest taking a look. Its a lot of boat for the money.

We have ours for sale only reason being a job change that does one of two things has us relocating in the next year or leaving for the great loop in the next three.
 
I have to say that we were very disappointed with the new Prestige yachts when we toured them at the St. Pete Boat Show. The Sea Ray 400 Fly is a great boat, although we prefer the Coupe. What about Tiara or Carver for a similar size fly-bridge?
 
We are interested in the Marquis (Carver). We are hoping to see those at the Miami Boat show next month.
 
Marquis and Carver are both owned by the same holding company, but are different hulls. Not interchangeable.

At least that's my understanding.

Mark
 
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