a yacht you can drive yourself?

Lug_Nut · 08-15-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mets

I was recently doing more research on 50' fly bridges and I came across a manufacturer called Sealine. Has anybody heard of them? I don't see that they have a subforum here on YF so I'm guessing they're rather small. I really liked the look of the T series though. But how is the quality of these boats compared to Azimut, Ferretti, Fairline, Sunseeker, etc.? I'm assuming there either new or low volume as there doesn't seem to be much on them. I like the look though, have to admit.

Sealine is a well made U.K. built boat. It compares with craft like Fairline. The reason you don't see many here is the price of the euro compared to the U.S. $. Check out the market in Europe though.

RichLazzara · 08-10-2009, 11:07 AM

Mets,
Having read everything posted, yes I would agree it would be best for you to start in that 40-50 range. Sealine make a fine boat and you can order with pod drive system which would be something that would make owner/operator navigation much easier. However,most euro built boats right now are going to have a pricing disadvantage (compared to US built) with the dollar being so weak. May want to look at Tiara with IPS drives. You could also look at new Marquis, but I think youll find the interiors look similar to the Azimut you said you didnt like.

Captain J · 11-04-2009, 10:57 AM

Yes Sealine are a Volume UK Boat Builder 23ft to 60ft + actually owned now by Brunswick Corp, they certainly have representation in the US

NYCAP123 · 11-04-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain J

Yes Sealine are a Volume UK Boat Builder 23ft to 60ft + actually owned now by Brunswick Corp, they certainly have representation in the US

The last US rep for Sealine that I knew of was Global in Miami. Who represents them now? As for Brunswick....

Burger Boy · 11-04-2009, 03:57 PM

I recommend you check out the Jefferson Pilothouse series. They're very well laid out, can be docked single-handedly with a helper on the dock, semi-displacement, and are very attractive in my view. I love ours.

http://www.jeffersonyachts.com/pilothouse53.asp

Henning · 11-05-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mets

Hi everyone,

I've been looking at yachts around the 75-100 foot range. I'm not looking for an expeditionary vessel, nor am I looking for a mobile helicopter platform, but more of a weekend getaway vessel. My house has a dock that can dock a boat up to 110' on the ICW, so that's why I'm looking at this range. I've never owned a boat this large before, but I think it will be fun. The only caveat is, I'd really like to be able to drive the boat by myself sometimes. Obviously, if I was cruising somewhere I'd hire the professionals, but I'd love to be able to just take the boat out for a spin alone, either on the ICW or the ocean (just around the coast). I'm not trying to become a captain, but I'd be willing to take any courses necessary to do this, as this is an important feature for me, as is finding a user-friendly boat. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Is it possible? Sure, if you've got the experience and a good remote control unit, or an azipod type drive and a thruster which you can use to hold you to the dock while yoy run around and put the lines out. I frequently reposition boats to 120' by myself if I know someone will be at the dock to take my lines. I'll set them up and flake them over the rail leaving the tail where a dockhand will be able to grab them. The actual running of the boat is a secondary issue though. The bigger issue is one of maintaining the boat. Even with minimal use, a boat that size requires a permanent crew of at least 2 just to keep her maintained, otherwise you spend way more in contractors to fix things than you'll pay in crew to maintain it. There are a lot of O/Os (owner operators) who keep a deck-engineer/stew team onboard to take care of the boat and they drive. Typically though, unless you have a reasonable history with boats and upgraded over the years, the insurance company is going to require a licensed operator on anything over about 65'.

Marmot · 11-05-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henning

" I frequently reposition boats to 120' by myself if I know someone will be at the dock to take my lines."

Yes, Henning, but as you constantly remind the readers of many yachting bulletin boards, you are the rare exception, the penultimate yacht captain. There are few others who can single handedly dock their 120 footer while at the same time overhauling a generator and serving the gourmet meal they just finished cooking.

Getting back to docking that 120 footer all by yourself ... sounds like the dream of a whole herd of plaintiff's attorneys. I would love to hear you justify that little stunt. Oh, silly me, it is all but assured that we will.

Henning · 11-05-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marmot

Getting back to docking that 120 footer all by yourself ... sounds like the dream of a whole herd of plaintiff's attorneys. I would love to hear you justify that little stunt. Oh, silly me, it is all but assured that we will.

If you can't have a dock hand throw your lines at one dock, drive over to another dock and take them for you, I don't know what to say but you may rethink running boats, because it happens reasonably frequently and not just by me.

NYCAP123 · 11-05-2009, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henning

If you can't have a dock hand throw your lines at one dock, drive over to another dock and take them for you, I don't know what to say but you may rethink running boats, because it happens reasonably frequently and not just by me.

It can certainly be done by laying out the lines for an easy grab. However running any boat over about 40' singlehanded is just foolish. Too much can go wrong. I once had a dockhand grab the wrong line too soon. He put a wrap on a stern line while Iwas still hanging my bow out in the wind. Since he had control of my stern I couldn't break free to keep my bow from blowing over. When I told him to cut me lose he responded "I've got you". My next command was a bit less polite but got my line back on board. That doesn't even account for what can happen away from the dock: heart attack, siezure, accident, injury, breakdown where you need one on the helm while the other is in the engine room. Seen them all.

Henning · 11-06-2009, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

It can certainly be done by laying out the lines for an easy grab. However running any boat over about 40' singlehanded is just foolish. Too much can go wrong. I once had a dockhand grab the wrong line too soon. He put a wrap on a stern line while Iwas still hanging my bow out in the wind. Since he had control of my stern I couldn't break free to keep my bow from blowing over. When I told him to cut me lose he responded "I've got you". My next command was a bit less polite but got my line back on board. That doesn't even account for what can happen away from the dock: heart attack, siezure, accident, injury, breakdown where you need one on the helm while the other is in the engine room. Seen them all.

I don't dispute any of that. I never said it was a great idea, nor did I advise in favor of him doing so. I just said it was possible to do, sometimes the call comes in, "Hey, can you move this boat?" and $250 is $250. Gotta pay the rent somehow, the likelyhood of me having an issue in a 15-20 minute shift between slips or into the travel lift slings is low.

Marmot · 11-06-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henning

"... the likelyhood of me having an issue in a 15-20 minute shift between slips or into the travel lift slings is low."

ROFL ... I can't believe you wrote that! Well, yes, I can, I predicted it. Keep writing, it can only get more amusing.

Of course the likelihood of something happening in the 15-20 minutes between the slips is low, it's in the final few seconds when it hits the fan.

Henning, have you ever heard the old sayings about how a lifetime of doing everything right, every time is wiped out by one second of something going wrong? All the attaboys you've ever earned are erased by one "Oh F--k", well old boy, you just wiped out all your "I am the best" posts with your last wonderful example of a boast gone horribly wrong.

I wouldn't trust you to wash a twotter, much less drive the thing. Your admission of really bad judgement (and pathetic attempts to justify it) proves that those who boast the most ususally have something missing.

NYCAP123 · 11-06-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henning

I don't dispute any of that. I never said it was a great idea, nor did I advise in favor of him doing so. I just said it was possible to do, sometimes the call comes in, "Hey, can you move this boat?" and $250 is $250. Gotta pay the rent somehow, the likelyhood of me having an issue in a 15-20 minute shift between slips or into the travel lift slings is low.

Henning, sorry to dump on you, but Marmot is absolutely right (although he could have been kinder in style).

We all heard the expression 'jumping off a building doesn't hurt. It's just the stop at the end'. Well the example you chose is full of 'stops at the end'. $250 isn't a professional captain's pay and it isn't rent. It's pocket change. How much is the deductible on that 120 footer. If the owner of a 120 footer only pays an independent captain $250 and won't spring for a deckhand in such a risk filled maneuver he surely will have you paying for the scratches, and that will be a lot of rent. If you're that desperate for work it's time to reconsider your career choice as many captains have this past year. I believe you do some work up here. Any captain up here helping to drive down salaries can count on not getting referred by other captains. That job is $400 PLUS a deckhand or even two. Otherwise let the yard use their people. Better to work at Wal-Mart and get section 8.

Henning · 11-06-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Henning, sorry to dump on you, but Marmot is absolutely right (although he could have been kinder in style).

We all heard the expression 'jumping off a building doesn't hurt. It's just the stop at the end'. Well the example you chose is full of 'stops at the end'. $250 isn't a professional captain's pay and it isn't rent. It's pocket change. How much is the deductible on that 120 footer. If the owner of a 120 footer only pays an independent captain $250 and won't spring for a deckhand in such a risk filled maneuver he surely will have you paying for the scratches, and that will be a lot of rent. If you're that desperate for work it's time to reconsider your career choice as many captains have this past year. I believe you do some work up here. Any captain up here helping to drive down salaries can count on not getting referred by other captains. That job is $400 PLUS a deckhand or even two. Otherwise let the yard use their people. Better to work at Wal-Mart and get section 8.

$250 is my minimum charge, it gets me for 2 hrs, additional time sees additional billing. Most of these gigs take less than an hour. This is stuff I am doing for the yards and custodial companies, not the owners. I weigh and manage my risks carefully. If I am uncomfortable with the situation, I don't do it. Rarely if I get in a bind is a deckhand going to be able to help me out. If I was desperate for work, I'd go back to the oilfield or tugs. I now have a full time white boat gig, but even freelancing small jobs and the occasional cruise and delivery I still did reasonably well without working much at all. Everyone has their own level of risk aversion, yours is higher than mine. I don't need captain referrals BTW, I have owner referrals. As for driving down the market, you better speak with dealers and brokers, because they are lining up captain and mate for a combined $300 a day for deliveries down south.

Henning · 11-06-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marmot

ROFL ... I can't believe you wrote that! Well, yes, I can, I predicted it. Keep writing, it can only get more amusing.

Of course the likelihood of something happening in the 15-20 minutes between the slips is low, it's in the final few seconds when it hits the fan.

Henning, have you ever heard the old sayings about how a lifetime of doing everything right, every time is wiped out by one second of something going wrong? All the attaboys you've ever earned are erased by one "Oh F--k", well old boy, you just wiped out all your "I am the best" posts with your last wonderful example of a boast gone horribly wrong.

I wouldn't trust you to wash a twotter, much less drive the thing. Your admission of really bad judgement (and pathetic attempts to justify it) proves that those who boast the most ususally have something missing.

Yes yes, and exactly what boat are you running right now?

Marmot · 11-06-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henning

Yes yes, and exactly what boat are you running right now?

A fleet of them. But trying to divert your public defrocking into a discussion about me won't get you anywhere. Not even worth a "nice try" Henning. I will let NYCAP give the coup de grace, he is pretty good at nailing guys like you.