Yacht Draft in the Caribbean

I have a similar questio. I am in the market and people keep pushing me towards 2 meter drafts over 3 m. For my purposes, the extra weight trumps the dragged out the deeper draft. The one I am currently looking at between 2.2 and 2.3 light and 2.7/2.8 loaded. Brokers keep objecting to that deep draft, on the basis of ports and Bahamas seems to be at the top of their list.

It depends where you ll be going. In the Caribbean, from the DR on East and South, draft is rarely an issue.

in the Bahamas though, once you go beyond 6 1/2 feet you start loosing many fantastic anchorages.

How many people are you talking to? You say brokers? How many brokers are you using? You need to find one good broker you really trust and who knows what they're talking about.

Now, you've asked about the Caribbean. Yet, you only talk about the Bahamas. The Bahamas are technically part of the Lucayan Archipelago and they and the Turks and Caicos are the only part of the Caribbean Islands that are located in the Northern Atlantic and not the Caribbean Sea.

My point is that there's a huge variation in the Caribbean from the Western Caribbean to the Eastern and then the Bahamas are an entirely different world when it comes to boating. 9' draft, as you're discussing, is very limiting in the Bahamas. However, it's manageable. Does lead to some anchoring and tendering in, limits marinas, but many boats with such drafts go there. Still the vast majority of boats that go to the Bahamas have much shallower drafts with most under 6'. In the Western Caribbean, draft is seldom an issue. In the Eastern Caribbean it may be occasionally but depending on the country and in some areas 9' drafts would be very much the norm as they're frequented by large charter yachts.

So you really need to get more specific to your boating plans and desires, then determine the boat that fits them best.

The 1st round would be the Northwest Pacific where I have some knowledge. The 2, beyond merely blue water, expectations I have is to be able to leave port at Beaufort 7 and not tern back till Beaufort 10, and to be able to round Alaska to visit North coast OUTSIDE of summer months. Right because of some of the port limitations where I am and I am trying to keep under 64' under 60 would be better but I'm trying to have something that is the size inside of like an 80' FPV or Northaven. My current plan is to do this by being be me or and definitely more air draft and compensate for that enter draft by being heavier and deeper draft then a Northaven. What I'm looking to have is a boat that straddles the long line between a couple's cruiser and a crew yacht the way of the 8O foot range FPBs do. The compromise is between a crewed like the CDM Darwin 92 and a couple's cruiser like the Northaven 475. I would go bigger engines for faster cruise speed ( wile maintaining full displacement Hall) then either ( Well maintaining a 3000 nautical mile range at 10 knots with any reserve). Similarly greater storm and ice seaworthiness.
Longer term I'm looking towards circle navigation. That's where some of these shallower Atlantic ports and anchorages come in to consideration.

Draft is the least of your problems.

I cannot in good conscience offer any advice to someone who desires leaving port in 15 and 20' seas and staying out until they hit 40'. I hope you're just a troll.

You have many fallicies.

First- a displacement hull has a set speed that it will do based on a formula and waterline length mostly determines it's speed. Bigger engines will not make it go any faster.

Second- a heavier boat does NOT ride better. Ride is determined mainly by hull design, and WHERE the weight is located. Each hull is designed for a certain weight, above that it rides worse/ not better. A heavier boat does not necessarily ride better than a light one. Stabilization ALSO determines a large part of the ride, and the heavier the boat, the harder (and larger) the stabilizers have to work.

15-20' seas??????? You would be absolutely nuts to leave port in those mentioned unless they're a giant swell with a 20-30 second period.

The boats you mentioned are not ice breaker rated or any of that. There are SO many things you do not know. Honestly, take some safe boating courses, get yourself a 60' yacht that fits your needs now and a Captain to train you and do some local trips, or relatively short (under 500NM) for a few years and figure out what you really want.

You actually understood what he wrote?

Just was able to pick out bits and pieces. Didn't need more. I am interested in that new brand he refers to many times, "Northaven."

Well if you're not planning on cruising the Bahamas, just ignore what the brokers have to say. For the most part 3m draft is not necessary - unless it's on centerboard sailing yacht (1.5m up/3m down). Most ships that I've seen in American waters have less than 2m draft. The extra weight works against you. Hull speed can't be overcome by more horsepower, which is why I scratch my head when I view large catamarans with 700hp.

Delete the "e"
Northhavn 475 https://www.seamagazine.com/nordhavn-n475/

Gotta do more than delete the E.

" DRAFT 19'8 / 6m " is listed on the specs for the Maltese Falcon. That is with the 'board up'.

That would be my input as well. Whether in the Bahamas or further south, the deeper the draft the further from the beach at anchor. And typically the further from the beach equates to more exposure. Even if the harbors and marinas can handle you, your best moments will often be on the hook.