TAKING OWNERSHIP

WILL BRUTON ON BUYING AN 'EVERGREEN' DESIGN

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A yacht with a cult following has advantages.With an enduring appeal and pedigree they tend to hold their value - though owners are often reluctant to part with them. But what's the secret to joining the club?

Whisper it quietly, but yachts, and perhaps their owners too, quite often have an archetype. A well-worn Amel Super Maramu 2000 anchored in the French Caribbean may have something of an insouciant air about it, and the brand is known to have a cultish following. An Ovni and a Land Rover Defender occupy overlapping spaces on a Venn diagram, and inspire similar loyalties. Swan owners, rich or not-quite-so-rich, have invariably been seduced by their yacht, rather than sold to. But what are the keys to buying a perennially popular design?

PART OF THE CLUB

Buying into a respected name in boatbuilding comes with benefits from day one. A well-established owners’ association can help fill gaps in a yacht's history before you even commit to purchase. It's also likely that owners share a similar mindset, forming an international network that can be invaluable when you need an obscure part number or advice on a brand-specific quirk.

Joel Tatham bought his 1994 Hallberg-Rassy 42F (above) in Scotland after owning a Dufour and a Colvic. "As soon as we bought the 42, we were in touch with Hallberg-Rassy, who could provide all sorts of information – even down to where to get new sliders for the curtains.

"When you buy into the brand, you also get access to all this knowledge. They retain the original plans and specifications and know what tends to go wrong, as well as the best way to fix it," he explains.

Tatham's boat is a popular model and arguably the quintessential Hallberg-Rassy, with over 400 HR42s built. His future sailing plans include a transatlantic.