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When it comes to amazing experiences and fantastic holidays, nothing beats yachting. What could be more wonderful than spending summers in the Mediterranean and winters in the Caribbean enjoying the sunshine and gently bobbing on the azure sea?

If you love the water and want a fantastic way that you, your family and friends can holiday in style whenever you like then a yacht could be just what you’re looking for.

But before you buy, consider these ten questions carefully to make sure you get the right vessel for you and your family.

To sail or not to sail?

There is something wonderfully romantic about manning the rigging and seeing those sails billowing in the Atlantic cross winds, but do you want to have to go through the effort of setting your sails all the time and lose all that extra deck space that you could be sunbathing on? If you want the ultimate in luxury and convenience then it has to be a motor, which will give you more time for sitting back and relaxing.

Does size really matter?

However much people may try to tell you it doesn’t, size really matters – especially when it comes to yachting. Go for the biggest yacht you can find within your budget so there’s plenty of room for all of those friends and family members. A 100 to 150 ft boat can carry up to 12 passengers comfortably and is a good size in terms of finding moorings.

Bespoke or brokerage?

Commissioning a build for your very own yacht can be exciting, but it can also be a very complex process that can take years to plan and implement. If you want a yacht and you want it now then choose yachts for sale over a bespoke build. When you buy an existing boat it’s still possible to customise it and make additions as you see fit, but you’ll be able to get your yacht much more quickly.

Where do I buy?

There are lots of yacht brokers online, or you can ask a friend to recommend the broker they used. If you choose to go online you’ll quickly be able to gauge the quality of a site, but you can look for testimonials and review if you want more reassurances.

Try or buy?

If you’re thinking of buying a yacht most good brokers will allow you to test drive it for a few days to see if it’s the boat for you. Being able to try before you buy is a great way to get a feel for a boat and make sure that it’s right for you and your family.

Brand or bland?

The right brand name tends to give a sense of quality, trustworthiness and efficiency, but when it comes to yachts, brands aren’t all that important. If you’re spending a significant amount of money on a boat then you would expect a good service and a high quality, so focus more on the style and design of the boat you want, rather than the brand.

Do I need a crew?

You don’t have to employ a crew on your boat but if you want to be able to relax without having to worry about anything then hiring a crew can be a great idea. There are lots of agencies where you can hire crew so ask for recommendations from friends who’ve had good experiences with their crews.

Where can I moor?

Finding decent moorings is becoming harder and harder but it can help if you’re willing to travel to more unusual destinations. If you already know where you’re planning to take your yacht then check with the local marina to find out if moorings are available. You could always moor further out to sea and travel inland on a smaller vessel if you’re finding it hard to get a space in a decent harbour.

Is chartering worthwhile

It’s possible to charter your yacht so it can be used by other people when you’re not using it. However, it isn’t a massive money maker and although it will create some revenue it certainly won’t make you a fortune.

What about running costs?

Different yachts will of course take different amounts of money to run. In general, keeping a 150 ft yacht going for a year, including things like fuel costs and repairs, will cost around £650,000 to £800,000 a year, but this doesn’t include insurance or moorings which will be a further expense.

For yacht sales and charter visit http://www.osyachting.com