Questions on operating a new to us bigger boat

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.

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.

Thanks for the response. The SENA and Eartec are the two that look good on a search. I like the idea of a headset vs handset when docking and sound clarity and being able to hear whats going on around you are important.

I think I'll buy a couple of the big inflatable fenders as they are easier to store un-inflated.

Hi Pascal. Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely look into temp sensors for the ACs. I am always worried about the sea water pump running and it starts leaking or overheating the AC systems. I will set something like you suggested up, and wireless makes it a lot easier. Ill also try to put an internet accessible camera on the compressors and water pump. I installed a few of those on my 50 Viking and can log in and check electric panel, entryway etc. very easily. The camera also sends a notification if triggered.

It sounds like getting a few of the larger inflatable fenders will be useful. The slip is maybe only 21 or 22 feet wide so its tight backing in and I think I have to have fenders to protect the boat from the pylons.

I guess I have to try and get the seller to transfer the Starlink to me. If the lower cost Roam package works, that will be very nice and then I can hook my cameras and security system to internet through the Starlink.

My wife and I are very excited about the new boat and cant wait to learn all the systems and start using it.