Ask a Russian Oligarch's Superyacht crew anything...
Discussion
DanL said:
Given that I assume the boat isn’t left to get covered in crap when a guest isn’t on board, this is amazing to me. Is it “just” that the expected standard is amazingly high, or that these boats really do take constant polishing, etc. to be kept looking good?
Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Quite often there will be scaffolding in place, plus the associated protection. The interior will have all carpets covered and soft furnishings covered or removed for cleaning. Areas will be maintained, but the detailing of each room can take days, which adds up to weeks. Deck furniture is off-loaded for varnishing/oiling as appropriate. Stainless is covered with a plasti-dip coating to protect it which obviously takes time to remove, and then everything must be polished. The teak decks will be regularly washed through the down time, but will still need a pre-season sand and chemical treatment, which is at least a day per deck (again, well over a weeks worth of work total). Engine room may well have major equipment stripped for maintenance. This combined with the very high standards expected and you can see it is not a case of just running round with the hoover and heading off to pick up the boss.Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
justaninnocenthenchman said:
DanL said:
Given that I assume the boat isn’t left to get covered in crap when a guest isn’t on board, this is amazing to me. Is it “just” that the expected standard is amazingly high, or that these boats really do take constant polishing, etc. to be kept looking good?
Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Quite often there will be scaffolding in place, plus the associated protection. The interior will have all carpets covered and soft furnishings covered or removed for cleaning. Areas will be maintained, but the detailing of each room can take days, which adds up to weeks. Deck furniture is off-loaded for varnishing/oiling as appropriate. Stainless is covered with a plasti-dip coating to protect it which obviously takes time to remove, and then everything must be polished. The teak decks will be regularly washed through the down time, but will still need a pre-season sand and chemical treatment, which is at least a day per deck (again, well over a weeks worth of work total). Engine room may well have major equipment stripped for maintenance. This combined with the very high standards expected and you can see it is not a case of just running round with the hoover and heading off to pick up the boss.Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Depreciation, who knows, you can't really get an idea from webuyanyboat.com.
Must be easier just to hire one when you want it?
eldar said:
justaninnocenthenchman said:
DanL said:
Given that I assume the boat isn’t left to get covered in crap when a guest isn’t on board, this is amazing to me. Is it “just” that the expected standard is amazingly high, or that these boats really do take constant polishing, etc. to be kept looking good?
Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Quite often there will be scaffolding in place, plus the associated protection. The interior will have all carpets covered and soft furnishings covered or removed for cleaning. Areas will be maintained, but the detailing of each room can take days, which adds up to weeks. Deck furniture is off-loaded for varnishing/oiling as appropriate. Stainless is covered with a plasti-dip coating to protect it which obviously takes time to remove, and then everything must be polished. The teak decks will be regularly washed through the down time, but will still need a pre-season sand and chemical treatment, which is at least a day per deck (again, well over a weeks worth of work total). Engine room may well have major equipment stripped for maintenance. This combined with the very high standards expected and you can see it is not a case of just running round with the hoover and heading off to pick up the boss.Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Depreciation, who knows, you can't really get an idea from webuyanyboat.com.
Must be easier just to hire one when you want it?
But I think at this level, it just demonstrates how super rich the super rich actually are.
eldar said:
justaninnocenthenchman said:
DanL said:
Given that I assume the boat isn’t left to get covered in crap when a guest isn’t on board, this is amazing to me. Is it “just” that the expected standard is amazingly high, or that these boats really do take constant polishing, etc. to be kept looking good?
Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Quite often there will be scaffolding in place, plus the associated protection. The interior will have all carpets covered and soft furnishings covered or removed for cleaning. Areas will be maintained, but the detailing of each room can take days, which adds up to weeks. Deck furniture is off-loaded for varnishing/oiling as appropriate. Stainless is covered with a plasti-dip coating to protect it which obviously takes time to remove, and then everything must be polished. The teak decks will be regularly washed through the down time, but will still need a pre-season sand and chemical treatment, which is at least a day per deck (again, well over a weeks worth of work total). Engine room may well have major equipment stripped for maintenance. This combined with the very high standards expected and you can see it is not a case of just running round with the hoover and heading off to pick up the boss.Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Depreciation, who knows, you can't really get an idea from webuyanyboat.com.
Must be easier just to hire one when you want it?
Depreciation is an interesting one. Like high-end cars, if you can afford to run one, you can afford to buy a new one. The Superyacht industry has exploded in the last 20 or so years, and there are some older vessels on their second, or third or more owner. Believe it or not, just like new Porsches, people buy shipyard build slots with no intention of ever taking delivery, then selling their place in the queue as the waiting times can be so long. If you suddenly found yourself in a position to be buying then like many cars you'd be buying used or waiting a long time. Fortunately the number of billionaires has also exploded in the last 20 years with more and more buyers from 'developing' nations. Trickle-down economics in action for us.
People use the 10% of the purchase cost, (just like the old £1M per metre rule) when discussing costs. These can be useful guides, but are based more on smaller vessels. Our non-operational winter works can cost millions. Total annual cost comfortably into the tens of millions, but it obviously depends on use, vessel movements, and which big projects/refits are going on that year. Some interior designers will charge thousands of EUR per square metre, so for a large salon the designer costs will be into the millions before you even buy the stuff they are recommending.
The spinner of plates said:
Hiring makes sense to mere mortals - my brain thinks the same as yours.
But I think at this level, it just demonstrates how super rich the super rich actually are.
Indeed. This point makes me think of the phrase 'if it floats, flies or fBut I think at this level, it just demonstrates how super rich the super rich actually are.
ks, then rent it' I used to do some work for a local marina (Leather restoration) One of the staff there once said to me 'if you own a yacht the two happiest days of your life are the day you pick it up, and the day you sell the fker' They really are cash cows.
justaninnocenthenchman said:
Chartering can be cost effective - but if you can afford it, to know that nobody else is sleeping in your bed etc... It's not as if there is any hassle for the boss either way. They don't deal with the running, and they have management companies, accountants etc to deal with the finances.
Depreciation is an interesting one. Like high-end cars, if you can afford to run one, you can afford to buy a new one. The Superyacht industry has exploded in the last 20 or so years, and there are some older vessels on their second, or third or more owner. Believe it or not, just like new Porsches, people buy shipyard build slots with no intention of ever taking delivery, then selling their place in the queue as the waiting times can be so long. If you suddenly found yourself in a position to be buying then like many cars you'd be buying used or waiting a long time. Fortunately the number of billionaires has also exploded in the last 20 years with more and more buyers from 'developing' nations. Trickle-down economics in action for us.
People use the 10% of the purchase cost, (just like the old £1M per metre rule) when discussing costs. These can be useful guides, but are based more on smaller vessels. Our non-operational winter works can cost millions. Total annual cost comfortably into the tens of millions, but it obviously depends on use, vessel movements, and which big projects/refits are going on that year. Some interior designers will charge thousands of EUR per square metre, so for a large salon the designer costs will be into the millions before you even buy the stuff they are recommending.
ThanksDepreciation is an interesting one. Like high-end cars, if you can afford to run one, you can afford to buy a new one. The Superyacht industry has exploded in the last 20 or so years, and there are some older vessels on their second, or third or more owner. Believe it or not, just like new Porsches, people buy shipyard build slots with no intention of ever taking delivery, then selling their place in the queue as the waiting times can be so long. If you suddenly found yourself in a position to be buying then like many cars you'd be buying used or waiting a long time. Fortunately the number of billionaires has also exploded in the last 20 years with more and more buyers from 'developing' nations. Trickle-down economics in action for us.
People use the 10% of the purchase cost, (just like the old £1M per metre rule) when discussing costs. These can be useful guides, but are based more on smaller vessels. Our non-operational winter works can cost millions. Total annual cost comfortably into the tens of millions, but it obviously depends on use, vessel movements, and which big projects/refits are going on that year. Some interior designers will charge thousands of EUR per square metre, so for a large salon the designer costs will be into the millions before you even buy the stuff they are recommending.
i find it easy to understand the concept of someone with billions spending hundreds of millions on a boat.Looking at the reality rather than the abstract is interesting. Understanding just how much a billionaire has.
bristolracer said:
Does your Yacht have a Russian design feel to it?
In the days when I used to do some work in high end houses in London, you could have a guess at the owners nationality by the taste (or lack of!) of the decor.
Ha, an ex I know works for high end boutique Estate Agents based in the heart of London’s west end. In the days when I used to do some work in high end houses in London, you could have a guess at the owners nationality by the taste (or lack of!) of the decor.
She says exactly the same and is right 9 times out of 10!
Tyre Smoke said:
I suppose it's akin to someone having £100k of savings/assets spending £600 a year looking after their caravan.
Perspective.
Agreed. Perspective.
It’ll be the equivalent of a PHers weekend car.
Serviced, insured, taxed, MOT’d all year ready for those 1,000 annual sunny miles when they find a bit of the time / inclination to bother getting it out the garage.
A pure indulgence that makes no sense financially - but so what.. it’s fun, affordable and life is short.
bristolracer said:
Does your Yacht have a Russian design feel to it?
In the days when I used to do some work in high end houses in London, you could have a guess at the owners nationality by the taste (or lack of!) of the decor.
I think if I walked you around this boat you'd struggle. There is little dark wood, no Swarovski-covered antlers, no solid gold swan taps.In the days when I used to do some work in high end houses in London, you could have a guess at the owners nationality by the taste (or lack of!) of the decor.
justaninnocenthenchman said:
HocusPocus said:
How long would it take to steam to the Black Sea sporting a snazzy blue and yellow colour scheme and bristling with SAMS.
Four or five days. If we could get the MANPADS and paint underway. We are lacking in countermeasures or CIWS so might not last too long against Kalibr AShMs.At least the crew might make a quick getaway from the burning ship using the tenders.....and evacuate using the waterside.
Edited by HocusPocus on Saturday 5th March 12:59
Whatsmyname said:
Seeming as the hierarchy is
Putin - boat owner - yourself
Are you bothered?
There are a couple of intermediate steps but ok.Putin - boat owner - yourself
Are you bothered?
Bothered how? Worried about Ukraine? Happy about the invasion? Concerned about my job?
Nobody is supporting the war. Our boss is not 'politically involved'. Is there some concern about the industry? Perhaps. My job personally? No, I don't think so.
Whatsmyname said:
Yeah should have been a bit clearer apologies
Say how relatives friends view what you’re doing, like how the media is going to sway their thinking.
And are you looking at jumping ship?
No, I'm not going anywhere. Some concern from parents and wife about job security naturally, especially with headline news about boat seizures. Not many of my friends outside the industry would know which boat I'm on anyway.Say how relatives friends view what you’re doing, like how the media is going to sway their thinking.
And are you looking at jumping ship?
I know Russia has been crossed off everyone's Christmas list lately, but this will probably be over in a matter of weeks. A few slapped wrists and then business as usual.
Personally I have no issues with what I do or the guy I work for. Seems odd to demonise an entire nation but I understand why it is happening, and the harder we hit them, the faster a regime change will come. In theory anyway.
justaninnocenthenchman said:
I know Russia has been crossed off everyone's Christmas list lately, but this will probably be over in a matter of weeks. A few slapped wrists and then business as usual.
I don't want to steer this (excellent) thread off topic, but I'm curious about why you think this? Because of your position do you have insights that aren't expressed in the mainstream media?
Slowboathome said:
justaninnocenthenchman said:
I know Russia has been crossed off everyone's Christmas list lately, but this will probably be over in a matter of weeks. A few slapped wrists and then business as usual.
I don't want to steer this (excellent) thread off topic, but I'm curious about why you think this? Because of your position do you have insights that aren't expressed in the mainstream media?Mainstream media regularly get things wrong, pick any story which you know better than the media - I can think of one in the last few days which is completely wrong and was reported globally - and then extrapolate that to all the other news stories. How much of it is really true? As log as they are getting hits on their pages then they'll keep printing things which they either don't know, or don't care are false. Rant over and off topic (ish) anyway.
justaninnocenthenchman said:
Agreed - no insight other than life experience, and knowing how much post cold war Russians are enjoying their capitalism and freedoms. Take those away as we have been doing and the people who can, will change this. IMHO anyway.
Thanks. Fingers crossed it's over some soon.Back on topic, do you ever get tension or personality clashes between crew members? How do these get resolved?
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