1990 Californian 55 CPMY

Step aboard and you’ll notice how much real-world thought went into this layout. The wide side decks, solid rails, and secure cockpit steps make line handling and docking far less dramatic, even with a small crew. Inside, the raised salon offers excellent sightlines, so you’re not running blind from a cave-like interior. The galley has the volume and storage to stock up for serious time away, with full-size appliances rather than compact weekend gear. Up top, the expansive flybridge becomes the social hub, with seating that keeps guests forward and close to the helm while still leaving space aft for toys or extra storage. This is a yacht that feels properly “big ship” without being intimidating to manage.

The 55 CPMY really shines in this cruising area, where you’re often mixing open-water runs with tight harbor entries and crowded marinas. The cockpit makes boarding from floating docks or a tender straightforward, and gives anglers and divers a proper working platform. Its semi-displacement hull and stabilizers smooth out the afternoon chop and swell that are common off the coast, while the generous fuel and water capacities support longer hops to less-serviced harbors and islands. With a full-beam aft cabin and generous guest spaces, you can comfortably host friends for weekend raft-ups, yet still enjoy a quiet owner’s retreat when the anchorage gets lively.