Walking among yachts at a boat show easily sparks the imagination. One boat draws you in with its spacious flybridge, another with an elegant silhouette, and a third has you picturing morning coffee in a quiet bay. Once you have explored the boats on display, take time to turn those impressions into a clearer picture of your future yacht.
The choice begins with a simple question: how do you want to spend your time at sea? Your answer will help you identify which of the appealing models suits your lifestyle, the people you cruise with and your plans at sea.
Start with your ideal day at sea
Imagine an ordinary day aboard your future boat. Will you head out as a couple for the weekend, or set off with family for several weeks of cruising? Do you enjoy changing destinations frequently, or prefer staying in your favourite bay? How many guests will you welcome during the day, and how many will need to stay overnight?
These answers give meaning to comparisons of dimensions, layouts and equipment. For some, the priority is space for shared meals outdoors. Others will value cabin privacy, a sheltered saloon or visibility from the helm.
Write down three things your next boat must offer. That short list can be more useful than dozens of saved photographs.
Which concept suits your cruising style?
The organisation of outdoor space strongly influences life aboard. It is worth comparing different concepts, even when you have already settled on an approximate yacht size.
If you imagine longer Mediterranean cruises and socialising on the upper deck, the Monachus MY70F Fly is a flybridge motor yacht worth exploring. When viewing this type of model, consider how your group would use the different spaces throughout the day, from breakfast to evenings outdoors.
If classic lines and a spacious open cockpit appeal to you, the MY47RC Retro Cruiser offers a different expression of Mediterranean cruising, with its distinctive lobster styling. This concept suits cruising plans that place outdoor living at the heart of the day.
For day trips and weekends in favourite bays, the MY44HT brings together a walkaround layout, outdoor living and the shelter of a hard top. Freedom of movement around the deck connects the different outdoor living areas, supporting swimming, socialising and relaxed time close to the sea, as a couple or with friends.
Each approach reflects different priorities. The right choice becomes clearer when you connect it with your own cruising style.
Check the details photographs cannot show
At your next viewing, slow down and move around the boat as though you already own it.
Can people pass each other comfortably in the passageways? Where will you store travel bags, provisions and swimming equipment? Are handholds where you naturally reach for them? How easy is it to enter the water and return to the deck?
Sit at the table, stand at the helm and walk from the galley to the cockpit. Open the storage spaces you expect to use and consider where wet towels, shoes and everyday supplies would go. If you plan to cruise with children or guests with limited mobility, discuss boarding, steps and movement around the deck during the viewing. Make a note of anything you would like the team to explain or demonstrate.
Where a sea trial can be arranged, use it to assess visibility, noise, comfort and the boat’s behaviour in the conditions you encounter. Before setting out, agree which questions you want the trial to answer. Can you see clearly from the helm while seated and standing? How comfortable does your group feel in the main seating areas? Afterwards, note the conditions and the configuration of the boat you tested, and ask which aspects may differ on the yacht specified in your offer.
Compare offers on the same basis
Before deciding, check what each offer includes: engines, navigation equipment, air conditioning, onboard power systems, finishes and the extras that matter to you. Ask for taxes, delivery costs and any additional services to be clearly itemised.
When comparing the Monachus MY70F, MY47RC and MY44HT with other yachts, consider what the specific configuration includes and how well it matches your priorities. Create a short comparison sheet for your shortlisted boats, separating included equipment from optional extras. Mark any unanswered questions and ask for a revised written offer where details remain unclear.
Discuss berthing, maintenance and running costs alongside the purchase price. Ask for estimates based on your intended cruising area and expected use, with separate entries for a berth, insurance, routine servicing, fuel, winter storage and any crew or management support you may need. Check what each estimate covers and which assumptions it uses, so you can compare the options on the same basis.
If you are considering a new build, ask early which adjustments are possible, when they must be confirmed and how they affect the price and delivery schedule. Request a written specification for the agreed layout, equipment and finishes, and clarify how later changes would be documented. Before committing, discuss the payment milestones, handover arrangements, warranty terms and who will be your contact for questions after delivery. Ask what the handover will include: a walkthrough of the onboard systems, operating manuals, maintenance information and a written list of any outstanding work. Agree how follow-up questions and unresolved items will be handled.
Get to know the people who will build your yacht
Buying a yacht marks the beginning of a relationship that continues beyond handover. Alongside exploring the boat, take time to meet the team who will answer your questions during selection, construction and subsequent ownership.
Monachus Yachts builds yachts in Croatia in limited numbers, working directly with owners. This approach creates opportunities to discuss personal priorities and the adjustments possible within a particular model.
A shipyard visit is an opportunity to see how a boat takes shape, meet the people working on it and ask about materials, workmanship and support after delivery. Your idea of owning a yacht then becomes much more tangible.
Your next step towards the sea
Turn your boat show notes into a short brief before your next conversation with the team. Include your intended cruising area, usual number of guests, preferred time aboard, three essential features and target season. Separate those essentials from features you would simply like to have, and list the questions still unanswered. Give yourself time to compare impressions and confirm yacht availability or build slots for your plans.
Thinking about your next yacht? Contact the Monachus Yachts team to discuss your cruising plans, explore the right model and receive a proposal tailored to your priorities. The next step could be a shipyard visit or a viewing of an available boat.
