Gas vs diesel, motoryacht vs trawler?

Yachting newbie · 03-19-2007, 03:23 PM

I know I know, I was urge to buy a pre-owned trawler ( DeFever, Marine Trader, etc at $250,000 range ) instead of a motoryacht ( ChrisCraft '70 Commander at $50,000 range) the argument is, fuel cost and sea worthyness . But I see it this way (1) If all things beng equal, say both vessels will need a $50,000 refit , that wil bring the cost to $300,000 and $100,000 respectively, say the diesel engine on the trawler will cruise at 3 gallons per hour , and the motoryacht runs a gas engine or even twin gas engine at 15 gal per hour but may be double the speed. Won't the lower cost of the motoryacht be able to offset that of the trawler and more? As for seaworthynesss, I know the motoryacht won't match that of a trawler, but for $200,000 cheaper to acquire, may be I won't be so adventureous and head toward higher sea instead? My bottomline is if I can get a boat of a compatable size and at cheaper initial acquiring cost, I am willing to tade fuel economy and seaworthyness to a certain point. Do you guys see any holes in my thinking? I am playing the devil's advocate here , so do forgive me. But I do value the advices from you, the more experienced folks.

theyachtsman · 03-19-2007, 03:34 PM

Hi ,I think the best solution for you will depend on many things,not the least of which include,where you plan to cruise,type of cruising 8 kn-22 kn?,and how much cruising you will do,as to wether the different costs will offset each other.Oh and dont forget resale value.Good Luck

Yachting newbie · 03-19-2007, 04:36 PM

If I am to base near Baltimore or NYC , (1) I plan to go north , Chesapeake / Delaware canal over to NJ, up the coast along Log Island Sound, up to Cape Cod, Maine, Nova Scotia, up P.E.I. into St.Lawrence River and pass 1000 islands into Lake Ontario. Back south thru the Oswego canals into Hidson River, down thru NYC. (2) South from Baltimore, intecoastal waterway thru Key West, shoot over to the Bahamas. (3)Continue on n do the Great Loop.

Speed is not of the utmost.

MacMcL · 03-19-2007, 06:23 PM

Newbie,

You must also consider engine durability - those diesels will be running long after those gas engines give up the ghost. Safety - I would rather not have hundreds of gallons of gas on board, with its much higher flash point, and economy - the diesel will outperform any given gas engine in an equal environment - but you have to compare apples to apples, not trawlers to cruisers. I would also think that resale value of vessel equipped with diesels that have been properly maintained will be higher than a similar vessel equiped with gas engines.

Yachting newbie · 03-19-2007, 06:47 PM

honestly, if I can afford a trawler, even a pre-owned at that, I will get that. If my finance force me to buy just a pre-own gas ChrisCraft, I will cut down my cruising plan to regional. More sitting at the dock than sailing far off away from my base. But before I get a Chriscraft, I will entertain the idea of chartering a trawler even a month out of each year instead. I would rather spend $10,000 a year chartering for 10 yrs than buyng a old gas cruiser and face with the headaches and uncertanties.
But theres the difference beween chartering a generic trawler instead of owning the one tha U liked, and equiped to your taste.

JWY · 03-19-2007, 11:49 PM

"I am willing to tade fuel economy and seaworthyness to a certain point."

Another important factor is range. Trawlers tend to have greater fuel capacity and engines that have better fuel efficiency/economy. The fuel or gas consumption does not just equate to money saved or spent, but also the distances one is able to travel between fuel stops.

I'm not sure what you mean in saying you're willing to sacrifice seaworthiness to a certain point. Your cruising plans include open water and areas that might have seas kick up. Expect the unexpected. Compromise length or vintage, but why would you compromise anything related to seaworthiness which translates to safety aboard?

Your itinerary is a realistic one in the right vessel. Don't just dream it - make it happen, but with your priorities in order.

Judy

KCook · 03-20-2007, 02:40 AM

I bet one shorty charter would answer a lot of your questions ....

Kelly

Loren Schweizer · 03-20-2007, 11:10 AM

The old saw kind of goes like this: "If you search for the perfect boat, you will never go boating."

So, go ahead and buy that clapped out, er, slightly used Chris.
What's the worst thing that can happen? That you gain some experience and have some fun and, fer Gawd's sake, just get out there on the water.

If you have the wherewithal to acquire this yacht as well as the time to spend poking around Hell's Gate and Sandy Hook, you'll figure it all out pretty quickly.

Yachting newbie · 03-21-2007, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCook

I bet one shorty charter would answer a lot of your questions ....

Kelly

I will start with a one week NY canal charter on a 24' Nimble Nomad w/ 50hp outboard. Head out to Lake Ontario and see how thats feel, then take a 34' Trawler training cruise from Baltimore for a week. Poke around Chesapeake Bay. My real test should be a Baltimore - Long Island Sound 2 weeks charter where I should try to get familiar with my home water, the boat, how it handles, etc. Then we can decide whether to stay chartering or get a trawler of our own.

Yachting newbie · 03-22-2007, 01:46 PM

I have to apologize for not being responsive to all the replies to my previous threads. I learned from other forums that if you have nothing to say, keep the space clear and keep everything else simple . I do have to say I am keeping all the advices, and am thankful for every advices given. Hope this message will clear the air. Inexperienced me! So sorry!