Buying a motor cruiser should be easy, but there is a mind-bendingly wide set of choices to make. Should you buy new or second-hand? Should you buy privately from a broker or from a dealer? Do you want displacement or planning speeds? Offshore capability, or low-speed manoeuvrability for river use? Cockpit space or accommodation? Performance or economy? Ease of maintenance, or a restoration project to keep you busy for three winters? Whether buying a boat for the first time or thinking of changing your present craft, this book will help readers through the process - not only the decision-making, but also the bureaucracy from the Boat Safety Scheme to the Recreational Craft Directive - so that they can forget about the technicalities and concentrate on getting the most out of one of the most rewarding pastimes in the world. 'Invaluable to first time buyers and extremely useful to anyone changing their present boat' RYA Magazine.