Looking for information about costs of owning a yacht

[phillybill]

Hello,

My wife and I are considering purchasing a motorized yacht. We are concerned about hidden costs of ownership, since the purchase price of the yachts we are interested in seem to be reasonable (between $100 - 150K for a 40 - 50 foot motor yacht... please tell us if we can find something cheaper, too)...

Some of the questions we are hoping to have answered are:

1. What are the best makes/models to purchase for a first-time owner?

2. What is a reasonable cost for a 40 - 50 yacht which sleeps 4 or 5?

3. How much does gas cost? How often do you have to fill up the tank? How far can you travel before you have to refill? What is the approximate cost per month in gas?

4. How much are docking/harbor/marina fees? Are they one fee, are separate? What is "normal"?

5. How much does maintenence typically cost for a yacht of this size?

6. Which makes/models are the most fuel efficient (within the price range of around $100 - $150K)?

7. How often do you use your yacht?

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. We are just concerned that we will purchase a yacht and then not be able to afford the maintenence and costs of running it. Thank you again.

Bill from Philadelphia