98' Yacht Sinks | 7 Boat-Buying Checks | Beach Club Built In - 8/26/2026

PLATFORM DOWN Riviera's new 5000 Sport Yacht Platinum drops a hydraulic swim platform down to water level, complete with cascading steps, so it doubles as a private beach spot at anchor. Below the aft deck, a tender garage stores a 2.8-meter tender with its own electric winch. Power comes from twin 600-hp Volvo Penta D8 IPS engines.
 

ROOM TO MOVE The 210 Vantage has a U-shaped bow, an open dual-console layout and convertible seating aft, with options including a portable head, freshwater shower, ski pylon and cockpit table. Her 8'6" beam remains trailer-friendly, while the 225-hp Mercury V6 pushed our test boat to 42.4 mph and delivered 3.25 mpg at 27.7 mph.
 

ONE OPEN DECK The Conquest 220 SE makes good use of her 23'5" deck with long forward lounges, an aft lounge plus a rear-facing bench. The single-level layout leaves a clear path fore and aft, with storage tucked beneath much of the seating. Our 115-hp Suzuki test boat reached 39 mph, with optional power-assist steering fitted.
 

FIVE STATEROOMS This 2024 Ocean Alexander 28E is a 94-foot pilothouse cruiser based in Cabo San Lucas, MX, with five staterooms sleeping up to 10. Twin MAN V12 diesels, 1,650 hp each, hold a 19-knot cruise, and a 2,980-gallon fuel tank backs up long-range trips. The full-beam master suite sits on the main deck under a curved skylight.
 

FOUR BOATS TO CHOOSE Go dual-console in St. Pete with the Pursuit DC266, step aboard the Robalo R317 or Axopar 28 in Bradenton, or take an Axopar 29 out of Palm Beach. SBF currently offers all four by the day or through multi-day packages.
 

DAYS AFTER DELIVERY A 98-foot Amer F100 superyacht sank off Sardinia's Costa Smeralda on August 11, days after being delivered to its newest owner. All 14 aboard got off safely. Local media report an engine-room fire before she listed heavily to starboard and went down in about 7 meters of water, with no fuel leak reported so far.
 

DO THE HOMEWORK Boat shopping involves more than comparing layouts and performance. BoatTEST's seven-point guide looks at the questions that matter before money changes hands, from establishing exactly what is being bought to checking the protections that remain after the sale. It applies to both new and used boats.