Largest Motor Yacht you can handle without a crew?
Largest Motor Yacht you can handle without a crew?
Author
Discussion

Simon Bags

Original Poster:

672 posts

198 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Morning. I'm in Lottery win mode this morning, and with that comes a certain amount of daydreaming. I'm single, early 40's, no wife, no kids, I'm a playboy. I'm James Bond!

So, with that in mind, I'd obviously be looking for a yacht to do my island hopping round the Balearics. What's the largest motor yacht that, with obvious training etc, that I could quite happily run myself without the need for a crew of any kind? Does it come down to size as to when a crew (and by crew I mean a Captain and at least someone manning the engine room full time)?

Put it this way, could I easily run this around on my own?

http://www.sunseeker.com/showboat.php?bid=28

Simon.

NDA

24,817 posts

248 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Simon Bags said:
Morning. I'm in Lottery win mode this morning, and with that comes a certain amount of daydreaming. I'm single, early 40's, no wife, no kids, I'm a playboy. I'm James Bond!

So, with that in mind, I'd obviously be looking for a yacht to do my island hopping round the Balearics. What's the largest motor yacht that, with obvious training etc, that I could quite happily run myself without the need for a crew of any kind? Does it come down to size as to when a crew (and by crew I mean a Captain and at least someone manning the engine room full time)?

Put it this way, could I easily run this around on my own?

http://www.sunseeker.com/showboat.php?bid=28

Simon.
I think the main issue is mooring at harbours on your own and your confidence! I have a 22' motorboat and I don't feel massively confident taking it out on my own - but others would have no problem at all. But a large sunseeker entirely on my own? Not sure.

Engines don't require 'manning' particularly, they're either working or their not. smile

Simon Bags

Original Poster:

672 posts

198 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
NDA said:
I think the main issue is mooring at harbours on your own and your confidence! I have a 22' motorboat and I don't feel massively confident taking it out on my own - but others would have no problem at all. But a large sunseeker entirely on my own? Not sure.

Engines don't require 'manning' particularly, they're either working or their not. smile
Confidence wouldn't be a problem, I am James Bond after all. Well, for today anyway.

Well that's given me food for thought on what I can buy tomorrow.

Cheers.

mrloudly

2,815 posts

258 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Depends how windy it is... Having single handed a 47' Fairline I can confirm it's bordering on impossible if the elements are not in your favour spin

Piersman2

6,675 posts

222 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
NDA said:
I think the main issue is mooring at harbours on your own and your confidence! I have a 22' motorboat and I don't feel massively confident taking it out on my own - but others would have no problem at all. But a large sunseeker entirely on my own? Not sure.

Engines don't require 'manning' particularly, they're either working or their not. smile
But, but.... I thought boats needed an grease soaked mechanic with an oil can constantly making sure the big piston bearings are lubricated?

Or is that only on ships? smile




Simpo Two

91,323 posts

288 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
You're missing a trick here - Bond would have a few bikini girls to do the work for him...

Simon Bags

Original Poster:

672 posts

198 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
You're missing a trick here - Bond would have a few bikini girls to do the work for him...
Now that's true. Sod it, 37m Tri-Deck it is then.


MOTORVATOR

7,469 posts

270 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Simon Bags said:
Simpo Two said:
You're missing a trick here - Bond would have a few bikini girls to do the work for him...
Now that's true. Sod it, 37m Tri-Deck it is then.
Just one would do you in that case.



daz3210

5,000 posts

263 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
I wouldn't put to sea without some training in any event!

But in the wrong conditions even a small 20 footer can be a handful for a single handed voyage. As has been said above, wind is sometimes a problem.


essayer

10,352 posts

217 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Simon Bags said:
Put it this way, could I easily run this around on my own?

http://www.sunseeker.com/showboat.php?bid=28
No chance!

You could drive it on the open sea easily enough, engines/navigation etc would all be easy single handed and pretty much completely automated. Modern yachts use big marine diesels that for the most part look after themselves.

Mooring that boat (and IMO, anything over about 30-40ft) would be near impossible single handed unless it was a completely still day and your boat control was perfect. Harbours in the Med are usually arranged stern-to, basically like parking backwards in a supermarket carpark, only you bounce off the boats each side on your way in.

You really, really, really need someone (probably two people on a boat that size) at each side to fend off and grab/tie the ropes once you arrive. If you don't, sooner or later fibreglass will hit fibreglass and break.

You may find someone on shore hands you ropes, but it's pretty rare. Plus people prefer to point and laugh than actually help*

Also, in terms of safety, the Med can be quite calm, but if you fall overboard and nobody knows about it, you are dead. The Spanish police will also think you are drug / people smuggling wink

*been there, done that

Simpo Two

91,323 posts

288 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Not long ago I was approaching my marina (quite able to moor up solo being 27' with thrusters) and hooted to acknowledge someone I recognised ashore. To my surprise two people emerged from their boats and came out to take lines - I must have stumbled on a secret code!

Benjaminpalma

1,214 posts

205 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
I help first-time buyers for a living.

You would need at least one crewmember (preferably two) for fendering and line-handling in port. It's something mates can help with - you wouldn't necessarily need professional crewmembers. But they would still need to have some common-sense, and, crucially, remain sober.

But if you're going to relax, and actually have a drink or two, then you can hire a captain and mate for the day.

I would go for something quite a bit smaller - say about 45-50 feet. You'll rattle about in it less, and it won't be quite so ruinously expensive (especially in the Med).

NDA

24,817 posts

248 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Not long ago I was approaching my marina (quite able to moor up solo being 27' with thrusters) and hooted to acknowledge someone I recognised ashore. To my surprise two people emerged from their boats and came out to take lines - I must have stumbled on a secret code!
Lucky you! smile

Trying to manage a biggie, on your own, in somewhere like Cowes Yacht Haven, is a nightmare. A bit of wind and it's hellish.

I watched someone making a complete hash of it last year, despite me being ready to take a line.... I was ignored by the snooty bugger. Served him right when he put a nice mark on the side of his boat.

Simon Bags

Original Poster:

672 posts

198 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Benjaminpalma said:
I help first-time buyers for a living.

You would need at least one crewmember (preferably two) for fendering and line-handling in port. It's something mates can help with - you wouldn't necessarily need professional crewmembers. But they would still need to have some common-sense, and, crucially, remain sober.

But if you're going to relax, and actually have a drink or two, then you can hire a captain and mate for the day.

I would go for something quite a bit smaller - say about 45-50 feet. You'll rattle about in it less, and it won't be quite so ruinously expensive (especially in the Med).
Hi Benjamin, are you actually in Palma? What a lovely part of the World. I've got a place in Alcudia so dreaming over yachts is a hobby, especially on the way back from the bar.

So 2 bikini clad Bond Girls could quite happily berth me? Or, if I've got the Predator 74, I could drop anchor and jet ski my way to shore?


Simon Bags

Original Poster:

672 posts

198 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
MOTORVATOR said:
Just one would do you in that case.

Dear God. I think an apartment might be better then.


Benjaminpalma

1,214 posts

205 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Simon Bags said:
Benjaminpalma said:
I help first-time buyers for a living.

You would need at least one crewmember (preferably two) for fendering and line-handling in port. It's something mates can help with - you wouldn't necessarily need professional crewmembers. But they would still need to have some common-sense, and, crucially, remain sober.

But if you're going to relax, and actually have a drink or two, then you can hire a captain and mate for the day.

I would go for something quite a bit smaller - say about 45-50 feet. You'll rattle about in it less, and it won't be quite so ruinously expensive (especially in the Med).
Hi Benjamin, are you actually in Palma? What a lovely part of the World. I've got a place in Alcudia so dreaming over yachts is a hobby, especially on the way back from the bar.

So 2 bikini clad Bond Girls could quite happily berth me? Or, if I've got the Predator 74, I could drop anchor and jet ski my way to shore?
Lovely part of the island, Alcudia. I don't live there permanently anymore, but do visit regularly.

As for the James Bond girls (deck-fluff one owner/client calls them!) - where there's wealth, there's beauty! wink

MOTORVATOR

7,469 posts

270 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
Simon Bags said:
Dear God. I think an apartment might be better then.
You're right.

Some Bond girls just don't cut it but to get you back on track. smile


Simon Bags

Original Poster:

672 posts

198 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
MOTORVATOR said:
You're right.

Some Bond girls just don't cut it but to get you back on track. smile

Sweet Mother of all that's good and pure. No lack of bike parking there.


Simpo Two

91,323 posts

288 months

Friday 22nd June 2012
quotequote all
So that's the boat and the girls agreed.






Now you just need the loot hehe

mickrick

3,748 posts

196 months

Saturday 23rd June 2012
quotequote all
I don't want to spoil your day dreaming, but, who will wash off all that red rain, and coal dust from the coal barge that unloads in the port?
It's not really the "Lifestyle" that the Sunseeker salesman with the perfect hair is trying to sell to you.
You need crew, and deep pockets! I don't think a lottery win will do it somehow. laugh

A trailer sailer, with somewhere to park it is the answer. wink