After spending over a year in the market for a new cruising yacht in the 60 to 70ft range, I concluded that the best option for family cruising was a fishing boat, the Bertram 630. At the top of my list of priorities were seaworthiness and a 30+ knot cruising speed. I wanted a hard top on the flybridge for weather protection, and I wanted a boat with outside space for the kids to play and where I could entertain guests. Cruising range was also important to be able to travel comfortably from Miami to the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean.
My search began with the beautiful European boats: Ferretti, Sunseeker, and Azimut, among others. At first glance, European cruisers are quite impressive: their décor is impeccable, fine lines are sleek, and finishes are very sexy. Many of these boats are designed for Europe, however, and its three month summer; not for Florida or the Caribbean where we are blessed with sun practically year round.
It makes no sense for a $2 to $3 million boat to have a canvas bimini top on the bridge. If it is too sunny, you have to go inside; if it is windy, you have to go inside; if it rains you have to go inside. As I see it, all the "going inside" could be solved with a hard top with Isen glass so that you can adapt to the environment.
In my opinion, the European style cruising boats have small engine rooms, accommodating motors in the 1,000-1,350hp range; their cruising speeds are all under 28 knots (at least when I test drive them) and they work well only in seas below three feet. In stronger seas four feet and above, commonly encountered in the Gulf Stream, everything started shaking and I had to go down to 15-20 knots (depending on the boat). I also found these boats to have a second helm uselessly taking up half the saloon.
The best way to summarize what I found was that these European yachts are elegant floating second homes for people that have a crew to run them, not for boaters that want to participate in navigating their vessel. This was a big disadvantage for me, as I was planning on doing part of the work on board with a captain.
Much to my surprise, I found that the best boat to fill our needs was a fishing style boat. The flybridge on a fishing style boat is very comfortable and the cockpit is a highlight. It is a fantastic, huge outdoor space that is used all day for fishing, swimming, lounging and barbecuing. Remember that the cockpit on a fishing boat is practically at water level, versus a cruising boat where you are about five feet higher than the water. This makes a big difference when you have kids swimming around the boat. And it comes in handy with accommodating adult guests as some can enjoy Mojitos in the water while others relax on deck.
To best meet our needs, we made a few customizations. We designed a table on the flybridge that converts into a sunpad, an ideal place to relax and enjoy the view. The cockpit was covered with a removable bimini top and we installed a barbecue and misters for hot days. We also alternate the fighting chair with a removable dining table. This cockpit area has proven to be incredibly multifunctional.
Another priority was the ability of the boat to carry a large dingy, as we like to move around the islands. So, on the bow, we fit a 14ft Novurania dingy with a 60hp engine.
To me the ideal fishing boat was the Bertram 630 because of its performance, and the willingness of Allied Richard Bertram to work with us. Plus the 630 is the only boat in its class that has a fiberglass staircase instead of a ladder.
If I was designing a boat from scratch, what would I change? I would like to see crew quarters in the cockpit outside the main quarter's area. I hope that in the next few years, fishing boat manufacturers will consider the cruising market and design boats in the 80ft range for the demanding cruiser.
-Alberto Peisach | 
