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Questions on operating a new to us bigger boat

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Silver Lining, May 14, 2025 at 10:37 PM.

  1. Silver Lining, May 14, 2025 at 10:37 PM
    #1
    Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2008
    Messages:
    138
    Location:
    Chesapeake/Florida
    We just took ownership of a 2006 68 ft Viking Princess. The boat is near immaculate as it was a great lakes fresh water boat most of its life (stored indoors 7 months/yr) with light usage during the season. It had a recent major interior refit so inside and out it is in excellent condition. It also has low hour CAT C-18 engines which is huge plus for me. My questions are:

    1) What are the best headsets for communications. We need a 2 or 3 station set of headsets to communicate during docking.

    2) The boat was up north but will now live in Florida. What is the best wax to protect the gel coat? On my current 50 Viking Princess that we owned for 16 years, the gel coat took a beating after years in Florida and we don’t want to repeat this.

    3} I have always been afraid to run my ACs when not on the boat and instead used a dehumidifier. But this is not an option on the new boat. It has 5 compressors and 7 air handlers, what is the best strategy on running the ACs in Florida, how many compressors and what temperatures?

    4) The fenders that came with the boat are mostly 18 in by 40 in Taylor Made rubber inflatables. Are the bigger yacht inflatable vinyl looking fenders better? There is no easy way to store the big rubber inflatables.

    5) I have always closed all my thru-hulls when leaving for more than a week. On a boat like this do you close your thru-hulls not in use? I always exercised all thru-hulls when opening/closing.

    6) Do you keep the aft crew quarters air conditioned when not in use or blow a fan with a vent.

    7) The boat has Starlink. Can you use the lower cost Roam option or do you have to go with the marine plan for near coastal and ICW use?

    Thanks in advance.
  2. Capt Ralph, May 14, 2025 at 10:47 PM
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,679
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Never operated a boat before, uh?
  3. Silver Lining, May 14, 2025 at 11:06 PM
    #3
    Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2008
    Messages:
    138
    Location:
    Chesapeake/Florida
    Well, we have a 50 ft Viking Princess that I put about 2500 hours on going from the Chesapeake to Florida and back 4 round trips and maybe 25 or 30 trips to the Exumas and Abacos, so yes we have operated a boat before.

    But this boat is bigger and its a little tight and harder to see backing in to the slip. So there are 3 cameras facing back, but it seems like having a headset to talk with my wife while docking is a good idea. So I google headsets and lots come up. I am asking for advice on the best choice. Other boats this size and bigger seem to use headsets to communicate while docking.
    slorner likes this.
  4. Norseman, May 15, 2025 at 6:35 AM
    #4
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2005
    Messages:
    3,227
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    Silly question Capt: Mr. Silver Lining described his experience quite well.

    1) Don’t know about headsets, but we have used small walkie talkie type radios for similar situations, it beats yelling for sure. :cool:

    2) This is my favorite wax, use it on boats and cars, excellent product. IMG_8269.jpeg
  5. ranger58sb, May 15, 2025 at 7:15 AM
    #5
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2013
    Messages:
    928
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, USA
    1) We use SENA SPH-10 headsets, and they work well. The other typical brand, Eartec, is also said to work well...but we have no experience with those. Differences tend to be radio technology (Bluetooth vs. standard RF (UHF, maybe)), how the band crosses over (behind the neck or over the head, latter said to be potentially slightly less secure), and whether you can hear other ambient noise when the headsets are in place (we can easily hear dock hands and so forth). The SENA battery change when eventually necessary is a PITA, but not impossible using a set of small drivers as for eyeglasses.

    Before, we tried cell phones with and without ear buds, family radios with and without VOX, neither great. We also use hand signals anyway, but visibility from the bridge on our current boat limits that somewhat... so we decided to augment with tech.

    3) We've tended to use "dehumidify mode" or AC mode during hottest summer months even when not aboard. In Florida, and here in the Chesapeake during at least July and August, usually more AC than dehumidify. We often use the highest available temps (80°F on our current systems) but there's some zen involved balancing interior climate versus mold abeyence and how hard the freezer and fridge have to work.

    4) I can't say yet whether inflatable fenders are better or not, but... during our last winter in Charleston a winter storm bounced most of us around quite a lot... and the inflatable fenders most larger boats (larger than ours) used seemed to survive fine. Because of that experience, we've added some inflatable fenders to our inventory.

    5) We leave thru-hulls open, except with the boat is winterized in the water (every other year or so).

    -Chris
    Last edited: May 15, 2025 at 7:21 AM
  6. Capt Ralph, May 15, 2025 at 9:48 AM
    #6
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,679
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Sorry my post came out as a smart asp blast, but IMO, usually folk moving to a large boat have already figured most of this stuff out.
    And during your 2500 hours and 25 or 30 island trips, you may already have some ideas already.

    YF has a couple of StarLink users that have been working with the product from near day one. Hopefully they will join this post.

    Congrads on the big Viking.