5 used motor yachts ready now for spring cruising

There’s no better way to enjoy the water than to get out there on it, wrapping yourself in a motor yacht with all the comforts to allow you to live aboard for days, and even weeks, at a time.

With this in mind, we’ve taken to the boatsales classifieds to sift through what’s on offer and pick what we’d reckon will make a great spring boating package for those whose budget and wants are significantly more than the average boatie, but still stopping short of champagne tastes.

So pull up a deck chair, crack a hard seltzer, and let us stump up the pick of the used luxury motor yachts for you. We’ll set the budget at around $1.0 to $1.5 million.

d’Albora Marina has this Australian-delivered Sunseeker Predator 64 priced at $1.49 million. The attraction of this vessel is the fact it has just been serviced, so is ready to take you and your family wherever you want to go.

What is the Sunseeker Predator 64? It’s a British-built luxury motor yacht best described as a stylish and sexy express cruiser.

Performance comes from a set of standard 1100hp MAN turbo-diesels with this particular boat running twin 1200hp versions.

The big attraction of the Predator 64 is the amount of living space onboard, including areas that can close up when spring turns to wet, but open up to let the sun stream in when it breaks out.

Below decks, the Sunseeker Predator 64 features three cabins with a full-beam master and an atrium galley. 

Upstairs, the saloon deck is open and spacious, with a sliding glass bulkhead connecting to the aft cockpit.

A big lazarette includes a jet tender, making it easy to get to and from shore for the weekly food deliveries.

Maritimo introduced the Aegean line of motor yachts with the option of either an open or fully enclosed flybridge deck, with the latter option allowing owners to extend the amount of time they spent on the water each year by fully weather-protecting all of the under-roof space onboard.

Even though this particular boat was built in 2010, its lines still look sleek and modern.

Onboard, three cabins accommodate up to six people in comfort, with amenities shared across two bathrooms including an ensuite for the master stateroom.

The benefit of this Australian-made motor yacht is the dual helm configuration, with one located in the main saloon and another on the flybridge deck. If the weather is a bit bleak, you can skipper in comfort downstairs, but once the sun comes out, head upstairs.

The Maritimo A50 Aegean is powered using a pair of 775hp Volvo Penta D12s turning twin shafts via a ZF 325 gearbox. With 3000 litres of fuel capacity, the efficiency of the shaft drive, and 800 litres of water-carting capacity, this motor yacht is made for extended cruising.

The lazarette houses a tender for getting ashore from the anchorage.

What’s the best about this boat is it is priced at $879,990, a great price for anyone wanting a boat that sits right in the middle of the extended cruiser market’s sweet spot.

No one does single-level entertainers like Riviera, and the former entry-level Riviera 4800 Sport Yacht is a prime example of how good it can get.

When it launched, this model was right-sized for a lot of owners stepping down from flybridge cruisers into smaller boats that were a lot more family- and weekend-friendly.

Riviera designed the 4800 Sport Yacht with plenty of outdoor living space, extending from a large and accessible swim deck to an aft cockpit with decent overhead protection via the overhanging saloon hardtop.

Fitted with an extended awning and a set of clears, this space could become an extension of the comfy saloon on days that are not so outdoor-amenable.

This particular one looks very well-maintained with the previous owner sparing no expense to keep it looking showroom-fresh. It is for sale for $1.39 million, indicating this is much more than a base boat in terms of fit-out.

Powering it is a pair of 600hp Volvo Penta D8 IPS800 turbo-diesel engines connected to  IPS15 pod drives that give this boat stand-out handling at speed, and joystick control when nudging into the dock.

A 2000-litre fuel capacity gives this motor yacht a 300-plus nautical mile range, so if the idea is to spend Christmas at a far-flung beach, it’s entirely within this vessel’s remit.

The appeal of US-based boat-maker Grand Banks is its mix of old-world charm but with a distinctive nod to new-world comforts.

It’s motor yachts such as this bluewater-ready Grand Banks 52 Heritage EU that are the best example of how these two different streams of thought can combine in one package.

The big appeal of this boat, apart from the attractive $1.15 million price tag, is the fact that it is a boat that bides its time getting places. Everything else we’ve seen here is made for getting to wherever in as short a space of time as possible, but the Grand Banks 52 Heritage EU moves at a slower pace. 

The big benefit is range, with this semi-displacement cruiser easily able to jump between Sydney and Brisbane on less than a single 4500-litre tank of fuel.

The boat features a three-cabin layout with the master suite amidships with its own ensuite, a vee berth in the bow and a set of bunks.

One thing the Grand Banks 52 Heritage EU is known for is its use of entertainment space, with an extended saloon, protected side decks and a spacious aft cockpit shaded by the extended flybridge deck above.

To make life onboard more pleasant, the boat comes with its own tender and an ice maker.

Powering the shaft drives is a pair of 540hp Cummins turbo-diesel engines that will push this hull up to a maximum speed of around 24.0 knots, but with more comfortable cruising at around 17.0 knots.

Yep, Sea Ray once made big boats, and of the range it built, the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge would have to be one of the finest-looking.

These motor yachts were made to look fast even while at anchor, with a long bow leading back to a short saloon framed in the bridge deck above. This particular one represents pretty sharp value for its length, priced at just $975,000.

Those greyhound looks were backed up on the water, with twin 680hp MAN turbo-diesel engines easily capable of pushing this cruiser along at more than 30 knots, with a mid-20-knot extended cruise speed.

Of note, the flybridge helm on this boat is mounted amidships, giving good vision to the aft cockpit and swim deck. This motor yacht was built with a transom live bait tank so that rearward vision would come in handy when backing up on a fish.

One of the other features you’ll find owners talking up is the inclusion of opening side windows in the saloon that allow natural airflow through the space.

Below decks, the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge features three staterooms including the forward master with ensuite, and to each side separate suites with a shared head and shower.

Onboard, the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge boats a 3000-litre fuel capacity – probably a bit small given the size of the motor yacht and its ability to get places fast – and 750 litres of water.

The owner of this boat has semi-enclosed the bridge deck with clears to make it a comfortable space even when the spring weather isn’t at its best.