Express cruisers offer boaters the benefits of sporty performance, sleek profiles and entertainment-focused layouts. From dayboating excursions to weekend and longer cruising, these vessels are true multi-taskers. To help boat buyers who are seeking pre-owned express cruisers, we go in-depth on 10 midsize yachts that are ready for new owners today.
2017 Tiara Yachts 53 Coupe – Newport Beach, California
“This Tiara Yachts 53 Coupe express cruiser is a head-turner at the docks with sporty lines accented by a raked windshield and a piercing Navy Blue hull.” Galati Yacht Sales has this California-based Tiara C53 listed at $1.349 million.
“The yacht’s split-level bridge deck is nearly as bright as the outdoors, with a white-accented color palette, teak soles, windows from the ceiling-to-settee level, an electric sunroof and butterfly sliding glass doors aft. Bamboo White Chilewich wall coverings throughout, not only warm the interior, but also create an inviting textured effect.”
2020 Azimut Atlantis 51 – Utopia – Lewisville, Texas
“Azimut Yachts’ Atlantis 51 is an express cruiser aimed at families looking for a vessel with home-like cruising comfort, multiple entertainment spaces and admirable performance. MarineMax currently has Utopia, a 2020 Azimut Atlantis 51, listed for $1.199 million, which represents a $100,000 price reduction.
Utopia’s sleek lines are accented by a raked windshield, which is accented further by elongated and tinted hullside windows that visually lower the yacht’s profile.
A shallow 4-foot, 3-inch draft makes the 53-footer beach- and sandbar-accessible, while twin low-hour (191) 600 hp Volvo Penta D8 diesels push Utopia to a reported 35-knot top hop and a 32-knot cruise speed. It’s also outfitted with a Seakeeper NG6 gyrostabilizer to make the ride as stable as a table.”
2018 Sunseeker Predator 68 – Gravitas – Miami, Florida
“It’s not every day that prospective owners have the chance to purchase a zero-hour used yacht, but that’s exactly what’s available with Gravitas, a 2018 Sunseeker Predator 68. The supersize express cruiser is listed with Allied Marine for $2.195 million; however, the 68-footer has two brand-new 1,200 hp MAN diesels with a full engine warranty from the manufacturer.
A powerful combination of design elements come together in the Predator 68 with stylish, sleek lines, 38-knot performance and a variety of onboard entertainment spaces–inside and outside.
Done with your morning swim and looking to catch some sun? Take your pick between the foredeck sun pad or the cockpit sun pad. The cockpit has alfresco dining space for everyone aboard at a U-shaped settee and fixed folding table. The grill makes serving the aft dining space a breeze.”
2016 Zeelander Z55 – Fancy – Dania Beach, Florida
This Dutch-built Zeelander Z55 listed with Atlantic Yacht and Ship at an asking price of $1.745 million looks like a little ship. From its proud bow to its robust, heavy-duty hardware, this express cruiser seems ready to roam.
And roam it can. Power is a pair of 900 hp Volvo Penta IPS1200 diesels that reportedly gives this 55-footer a 32-knot cruise speed and a 38-knot top hop.
Fancy, as this Z55 is called, is all about connecting guests on board to sea and each other. Nearly 360 degrees of glass create a constant connection to the sea, bring in light to the salon and helm and provide unobstructed sightlines for the skipper. Need more natural light? There is a retractable sunroof over the helm and dinette.
2021 Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin – Coronado, California
“The Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin is fast, fun, adventurous and capable. Listed with Jeff Brown Yachts, the asking price is $369,500.
With a reported top-end speed of 47 knots, the Axopar XC Cross Cabin is a fast and responsive vessel. Powered by twin 300 hp Mercury V8 outboards, this boat turns heads as it dices a seaway. Cruising speed is about 31 knots. Dial it back to 3,500 rpms and roughly 28 knots, and range is about 280 nautical miles.
Open the pilothouse’s sliding doors, sunroof and Gullwing doors and guests can enjoy an open- air environment while blazing across the water. Relax on the foredeck sun pads, or in fold-down cushioned seats on the roomy aft deck. As guests take a swim, enjoy a few drinks from the wet bar. Shower off on the aft deck before heading in for a short lunch break to cool off.
2012 Riva 56’ SportRiva – Gabriela – North Miami, Florida
“The Riva 56′ SportRiva is a yacht where Italian elegance and luxury meets innovative design. The focus of the 56′ SportRiva’s design is on the huge curved windscreen glass,” Yachting previously reported. “The windscreen panels extend across and up and over the lower helm and what looks like a secondary windscreen above is purely a contrasting decorative panel. The flybridge has its own prominent reverse-angle windscreen that challenges the flowing lines and adds a hint of aggression to the style but you reap the benefits of this screen out at sea when traveling at speed.”
Now step aboard Gabriela, a 2012 Riva 56′ SportRiva.
2018 Pershing 62 – Behike – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
“Gilman Yachts currently has Behike, a Pershing 62, listed for sale with an asking price of $1.75 million. This 2018 hardtop express cruiser is known for its combination of luxurious appointments and 45-knot speed.
“As for cruising, hold onto your hats. Like all Pershing yachts, the 62 goes like the ballistic missile that is her namesake,” Yachting previously reported. “Her standard pair of 1,550 hp MAN diesels mated to Arneson ASD 14 surface-piercing drives propelled the 62 to a 45-knot top end and a fast cruise of 36-plus knots, according to Pershing. At these speeds, those MANs would burn well over 100 gph, but hey, one has to put 3,100 horses to work occasionally, right?””
2008 Sea Ray Sundancer 60 – Three Sons – Washburn, Wisconsin
Three Sons, a Sea Ray Sundancer 60, is listed for sale with Atlantic Yacht & Ship and has an asking price of $769,999. The 2008, 34-knot-plus express cruiser has cruising accommodations for six within its three-stateroom layout.
Three Sons is powered by twin 1,100 hp MAN V-10 diesels, which is the same propulsion setup Yachting experienced during our initial sea trial of the Sea Ray Sundancer 60.
“With the luck of the draw, winds and seas were such that running offshore would have been at best unpleasant. Even the Intracoastal Waterway was stirred up, but the 60 had no problem slicing through the chop,” Yachting previously reported. “Her two 1,100 hp electronically controlled, common-rail MAN diesels reached maximum turns in approximately 30 seconds without hesitation and I recorded a maximum speed of 34.8 knots.”
2013 Riviera 5000 Sport Yacht – Optimist – West Palm Beach, Florida
“Gilman Yachts has listed Optimist, a 2013 Riviera 5000 Sport Yacht, with an asking price of $649,000. The express-style cruiser has a two-stateroom, two head, layout that can sleep seven thanks to a convertible sofa in the lower salon that converts into a Pullman berth forming upper and lower bunks.
One of this yacht’s highlights is the helm-station experience. Yachting has previously reported how well Riviera designed the double-leather-seat helm space on the 5000 Sport Yacht, including its sightlines: “Two forward-facing windows have uncluttered views and are served by decently sized wipers. Add the long side windows and the open after bulkhead, and you have a near-flawless, 360-degree line of sight.” Additionally, there is a retractable sunroof in case the skipper wants to bring breezes and more natural light into the salon. The helm is also set up with a Garmin electronics suite, including multifunction GPS, displays, radar, autopilot and more. There is also joystick driving and a Skyhook vessel-positioning system.”
2021 Riva Dolceriva – Epica – Huntington, New York
The 48-foot Riva Dolceriva Epica, listed with Allied Marine, is for sale and is asking $1.9 million. The 2021 build has only 175 hours on its Volvo Penta diesels, has a 40-knot top hop and has two staterooms for cruising with family and friends.
The outside spaces aboard this yacht include two sun pads that flank the teak-sole cockpit. Immediately forward and to port is a four-person L-shaped settee and a table that folds out to create a larger dining space with the three-person bench sofa to starboard. The helm is forward and to starboard.”
