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Hot Tub on fly bridge

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by Pelagic Dreams, Feb 9, 2011.

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  1. Pelagic Dreams

    Pelagic Dreams Senior Member

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    I have seen new builds offer a small hot tub, usually at the yachts 80' or better. I want to know if say a 65' LRC could have one installed or would there have to be extensive structrual work done to support it? If it was a new build could it be worked into the design?
    Would the added weight affect the balance of the boat with it being so high on the bridge? A two person tub would have about 200-250 gal.
    Party on!
  2. AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    I know a 170´where they had problems keeping some water in the flybridge tub. You will need zero-speed stabilizers I think...
  3. 'RoundTheHorn

    'RoundTheHorn Senior Member

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    The first Nordhavn 68 has a hot tub on its flying bridge. Granted the boat is full displacement and three feet longer than your 65 footer, but I doubt your bridge deck would be as high as on the Nordhavn. You could check with Ken Williams (owner) at http://www.nordhavn68.com/aspx/m/Home

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 9, 2011
  4. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    Ugh, that's another candidate for the rogue's thread.
  5. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

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    I know of three trawler builders who would happily accommodate the request for a built-in hot tub in that size-range: Bering 55 or 65 and Cape Horn 68. Sea Spirit has one on their Passagemaker 60, hull # 5, for 8 at the owner's request, although hot tub for 4 is the recommended size.
  6. Capt Buddy

    Capt Buddy Member

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    there are a couple Hatteras 75s that have hot tubs.
  7. myobsession

    myobsession New Member

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    Hot Tubs on Board

    I am in the Spa/Hottub business. I have been involved in above deck installations. (freestanding) Most yachts with this configuration drain a portion of the water during travel. I have seen solid plastic sheets with holes drilled in them to create a type of baffle.This reduces the roll and splashing out that occurs while underway and has had some success. Several baffles are inserted vertically in the water.
  8. Pelagic Dreams

    Pelagic Dreams Senior Member

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    wow, I hope that Nord is like an iceberg, most of it below the water, it looks like a stiff wind would roll it over
  9. carelm

    carelm Senior Member

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  10. caboken

    caboken New Member

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    Hot Tub On Deck

    Pelagic:

    What's your definition of a "stiff wind?"

    I figured that a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are a couple of pictures of my boat (the N68 that is the topic of this discussion) in 55 knot winds:

    http://tinyurl.com/4cd8doe
    http://tinyurl.com/4v6gts6

    Also check out this video (compare the Nordhavns to the freighters):

    http://tinyurl.com/y8v2tdx

    And, this picture shows the hot tub ready for relaxing near Glacier Bay Alaska:

    http://tinyurl.com/4epm54e

    I am very careful to drain the hot tub before heading to sea, and checked with a naval architect before tackling the Bering Sea. Our boat weighs roughly 120 tons, and much of that weight is below the waterline (twin engines, twin generators, Atlas shorepower system, dual watermakers, etc)

    -Ken Williams
    Nordhavn 68, Sans Souci
  11. Pelagic Dreams

    Pelagic Dreams Senior Member

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    Nice, that is some rough water my friend. Your Nord seemed to handle it great. Great view with the hot tub in the foreground.....ahhhhhhh!
    It's a tall ship, ready for tall seas.....my compliments!
  12. caboken

    caboken New Member

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    Pelagic - Thank you for the kind words...

    When we built the boat, we really had no idea if the hot tub would get used or not. We worried that it would be a headache to fill, clean and empty, and that it would be too much weight, too high, on the boat.

    As it has turned out, we use it VERY often, and it hasn't been much trouble at all. You can't imagine how decadent it feels to be anchored under the stars sitting in the hot tub. How many people can say they've sat in their hot tub in a dozen different countries?

    As a tip to future people who read this posting, that are considering a hot tub:

    We designed ours to be heat-exchanged from a Kabola Diesel furnace. This allows it to be heated within two hours. This has been great, when it has worked, but there have been an endless series of problems associated with the process. Most of the problems have been with leaking on the hoses that attach to the heat exchanger, at the hot tub. Although, there have also been problems with the complicated series of valves that route heat between the boat's fresh water system, the chilled water loop, and the hot tub heat exchanger.

    Recently, the controls to the heat exchanger died, and I almost drained the hot tub when I remembered that it had a simple 3kw (I think) electric heater built in. I had never tried the built-in heater. I turned it on, and within about eight hours, I had a nice warm hot tub! We have swapped to it since, and have found the simple electric heater is quieter, not as bad on electricity as we feared, and does a perfectly good job.

    The lesson here is -- on a boat, the simple solution is almost always the best one.

    Ken W
  13. Yachtjocky

    Yachtjocky Senior Member

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    I saw an installation on a Sunseeker that had a dedicated fresh water tank for the hot tub. This tank was below the Master stateroom bed and had heating elements in it. When the tub was in use the in-line electric heater was only used to maintain the temperature.

    As soon as the ignition keys were turned on the drain valve opened and was dumped or if you remembered the tub could be drain back to the heated storage tank.

    On a similar theme the large "shadow" boat has a 20' swimming pool up top that can be emptied with a few minutes down into a dedicated storage tank low down by the engine room.
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    It would make a lot of sense to have an insulated storage tank that can be kept hot, however that's a lot of added weight to carry around.

    What about using one of the instant tankless hot water heaters on the supply line to the tub to get the temperature up, then the hot tubs heater to maintain it. The tankless water heaters are pretty small in physical size.
  15. zudnic

    zudnic Senior Member

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    Found this thread looking for Nordhavn info for someone else. Past on the links to the vids. Thanks for the links!!!!!

    On topic. My favorite feature in my house is the hot tub, use it daily. So this is on my must have option list. :D
  16. MontanaGal

    MontanaGal New Member

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    Hello Ken,
    I am under contract on a Nordhavn 86 and it formerly had a hot tub but a previous owner removed it. Apparently the drains, etc. are there but I wondered if you could ballpark how much it would cost to put one back in. I believe the unit itself is about $8k, but I’m not sure how much to estimate for the installation/structure as well as a cushioned vinyl top one can lie on?
    Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
    Thank you, MontanaGal

    When we built the boat, we really had no idea if the hot tub would get used or not. We worried that it would be a headache to fill, clean and empty, and that it would be too much weight, too high, on the boat.

    As it has turned out, we use it VERY often, and it hasn't been much trouble at all. You can't imagine how decadent it feels to be anchored under the stars sitting in the hot tub. How many people can say they've sat in their hot tub in a dozen different countries?

    As a tip to future people who read this posting, that are considering a hot tub:

    We designed ours to be heat-exchanged from a Kabola Diesel furnace. This allows it to be heated within two hours. This has been great, when it has worked, but there have been an endless series of problems associated with the process. Most of the problems have been with leaking on the hoses that attach to the heat exchanger, at the hot tub. Although, there have also been problems with the complicated series of valves that route heat between the boat's fresh water system, the chilled water loop, and the hot tub heat exchanger.

    Recently, the controls to the heat exchanger died, and I almost drained the hot tub when I remembered that it had a simple 3kw (I think) electric heater built in. I had never tried the built-in heater. I turned it on, and within about eight hours, I had a nice warm hot tub! We have swapped to it since, and have found the simple electric heater is quieter, not as bad on electricity as we feared, and does a perfectly good job.

    The lesson here is -- on a boat, the simple solution is almost always the best one.

    Ken W[/QUOTE]
  17. MontanaGal

    MontanaGal New Member

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    What kind of price range should an owner be prepared to spend for a 4 person tub?
  18. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    How long is a piece of string? It entirely depends on the yacht and what is involved to install it. Is the deck strong enough to support that weight? Do you have a watermaker to make enough water to fill the hot tub? A generator large enough to power it, What needs to be done to the deck once it's finished, such as teak or painting? etc. etc. etc.
  19. MontanaGal

    MontanaGal New Member

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    The yacht previously had a hot tub and I am seeking to replace it. Yes, the deck can accommodate it structurally, and the water maker can supply it from what I have been told...
  20. AKH

    AKH New Member

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    Does anybody know of any hot tub or jacuzzi installers that have jacuzzis in stock? We are looking to install one on the bridge of our 85 OA asap that is located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Thank you.