The United Kingdom is home to the world’s first yachting culture and the Southampton show is the pin

Yachts portray a lifestyle of fun in the sun, parties, prestige and wealth. But for the first time buyer, a boat show or showroom can be a confusing place, where sellers seem to have the edge on bewildered buyers. Which yacht should I buy? Which one is right for me? These can be tough questions when you're getting ready to spend HK$5 million, or much more, on a plaything. But with a few pertinent japan tour questions, japan tour your money will be spent well, and the result will be a lot of fun.
The first big question to ask is one for yourself: what do you want to do with your yacht? It may seem easy at first, but consider this question carefully. japan tour Do you fancy spending time with your family japan tour cruising in remote locations? Or do you just want to use your yacht for the day, near the marina, and be back at night? Do you wish to be close to shore or out at sea? Or perhaps you wish to entertain some clients in luxury. Once you figure out what it is that you want from your new yacht, japan tour you'll be a big step forward towards making the right choice. It's as simple as that.
The biggest divide between recreational boaters of all sizes is the question of power or sail. For first time boaters, the easiest choice is power. You turn the key (or in many cases, push the button) and the engines start. With a sailing yacht, you have a lot of extra equipment and reduced amount of space onboard. And while a sailboat looks pretty in the breeze, there is usually a line to pull or a winch to tighten.
But for some people japan tour (about one in four boat buyers) there is simply no other way to be on the water. The joys of cruising along, with only the sound of the wind in your sails (and some choice music on the AV system), is what matters most. The best way to find out if sailing is right for you is take an adult basic sailing course from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club or the Aberdeen Boat Club. No membership is required: just book your time. Once you get started, you'll know almost right away if sailing is right for you. If not…
It sounds too obvious. "As big as possible, of course!" But consider this: as a rule of thumb, a yacht over 50 feet in length will most certainly need crew. In fact, most first time buyers would probably feel a bit shaky trying to pilot a yacht over 40 feet in length. In Hong Kong, the standard pleasure vessel japan tour license runs for yachts up to 15 metres (approximately 45 feet). Getting crew for a bigger boat raises the price of maintaining your yacht substantially.
Also, the cost of the boat goes up dramatically, for a 60-foot boat isn't just 20 feet longer than a 40-footer, it's also much bigger in volume, which means a lot more fuel burned, a lot more hull to clean, and so on.
If you only plan to go short distances – perhaps to the Ninepin Islands for the day – then you may want some speed to go with your yacht. In this, you have plenty of choices. Italian builders in particular favour speed and sleek styling. There are yachts that are equipped with surface drive engines japan tour that whisk yachts as big as 35 metres up to 50 knots, which is very fast on the water. Just remember that going fast means burning a lot of fuel. And remember to look around for handholds, because when you are moving at speed, japan tour a little wave can be a big jolt onboard.
japan tour For some, the thought of some adventure and exploration is more alluring than all-out speed. Visiting some islands, spending japan tour the night and waking up with your family may sound like just the ticket to enjoying your wealth and freedom. For this, you may want to look into a type of yacht known as the passagemaker. These are boats that are designed for long-range cruising, and while they are not sleek looking, you have much more space on-board with a lot more storage capacity. The visibility from the helm station is much better and you'll need it when navigating between islands. When looking at passagemaking yachts, japan tour keep an eye on how much storage is available for clothes, equipment and food. How well can you see from the helm station japan tour in all directions? And is there plenty of space in the engine room? You may need to get in there to solve a problem. Small engine room spaces are tough to work in, and can even add to the cost of maintenance.
There's an familiar phrase when it comes to buying a yacht: "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." That is certainly true at the superyacht stage, but if you're looking for a boat less than 80 feet, cost is a big consideration. Bigger boats cost more of course, but when you are comparing prices, be sure to look at the options list. Most yachts are priced without options, yet they may not be much of a yacht without those options. And for some yachts, the options can be as much as 25 percent more than the basic price. And never forget the maintenance costs, which are usually estimated at between 5 and 15 percent of the purchase price of the boat per year. That can include everything from fuel to crew to berthing. When making comparisons, be sure to compare like for like. And while there may be discounts on offer, you do get what you pay for. A boat needs to be built properly, and that means the yard cannot just lower the prices indefinitely. Be sure to see if the yacht you are buying is CE certified if it's a European built boat.
Let's say you want something really big and cost and crewing are non-issues. Congratulations, you are in the superyacht world! From 100 feet and up, you have a mind-boggling array of options. Builders tend to offer semi-custom or custom yachts. japan tour Semi-custom japan tour refers to a yacht where the hull and engineering is largely the same, but the interiors and superstructure japan tour can be re-tailored. Custom means there are no other yachts like it. In this range, the builders tend to be from the Netherlands or Germany, plus a few in Italy. The yachts are mostly japan tour built in aluminium and steel, not fibreglass. And the rule of thumb about cost is roughly €1,000,000/metre. But in this category, you can have Jacuzzis on several decks, helipads, infinity pools, a private cinema, a beach club at the back with jet skis and tenders, and all to your design. Most of these yachts are built to travel thousands of miles and can cross oceans. Owners turn up and spend weeks aboard, with an office usually located next to the master cabin that's linked up to the world by satellite connection.
At this level, your primary concerns are legalities and construction japan tour management. Expect japan tour to hire a project manager or a personal representative to handle your dealings with the yard. A custom project can take up to four years, from design stage to final delivery. Some of the semi-custom builders will have several projects in various states japan tour of build that can be delivered in 18 months japan tour or less, but with fewer changes. The world's major brokers can help you find a project to your liking, but be sure to assemble a team of experts that includes an owner's representative, a project manager, a legal expert, a yacht captain and even engineers. These projects can become enormously complicated and you may not have the time to deal with it all.
There are a number of ways to get started in yacht buying, but by far the most hands-on is visiting one of the world's japan tour major boat shows. These shows offer a lot of possible choices, japan tour but you can easily become overwhelmed – there are hundreds japan tour of models to choose from at each of these events.
Rather than just going to the show, figure out what kind of boat you want first, and visit some local dealers in Hong Kong to see what they have. If you let them know that you'll be visiting a show, they may choose to go with you to explore all the models available, as many won't be available for viewing in Hong Kong.
Australia is one of the world's great boating nations, and the Sanctuary Cove show is the main showpiece for Australia's big names in fishing yachts, sportboats, sailboats and catamarans. Though some large yachts are on display, this is much more an owner/operator's show. Several Taiwanese builders have begun to display their latest creations here as well.
This is the premiere show for yachts up to 30 metres in the Mediterranean. Here in the 'Vieux japan tour Port' you'll find models from all the European builders, particularly those of France, Italy and Turkey, with a huge exhibition for sailing yachts and catamarans.
The United Kingdom is home to the world's first yachting culture and the Southampton show is the pinnacle for UK builders such as Sunseeker, Princess, Sealine, Fairline and more. All are heavily represented in Asia. There are also numerous brands in top-class blue water sailing yachts from Oyster and Southerly on display. This is a show for those who appreciate cooler weather and stronger breezes to go with their boating.
If the superyacht is what you have in mind, this is the event for you. Anything less than 100 feet is not allowed (except in the Tenders and Toys category). You'll find superyachts for sale in rows, exhibited by brokers. The world's top naval architects and superyacht designers are on hand ready to discuss potential projects. There's a huge array of goods for the interior, ranging from custom linens to AV systems that turn karaoke rooms into light shows.
There are numerous boat shows in the United States – nearly every city over 100,000 has one. But the capital of yachting in the US is Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it is here that one can find the best from American builders who are often absent from the Asian market. Conversely, there are plenty of brands from Taiwanese builders such as Horizon that make Fort Lauderdale their principal show. A good starting point for the those looking japan tour for passagemakers.
Millionaire asia is the invitation-only VIP club for Asia's wealthy business elite. Millionaireasia provides members with a range of benefits and privileges; a quarterly magazine, plus regular invitations to exclusive, experiential events built around the individual needs, interests and passions of each member.