Need help selecting a Hatt

**Angela** · 04-08-2008 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Sir_Cruisealot

Hi,
We intend to hire a captain for a week's training after purchase.
/Sir Cruisealot

I would HIGHLY recommend PASCAL from this forum for that purpose. He is a most excellent and capable captain. I trust him to operate our 58MY anywhere, anytime, and in any conditions he deems prudent.

**Pascal** · 04-08-2008 02:15 PM

welcome to the forums...

when you say Caribbean, you mean Caribbean islands, right? reason i asked is that some actually means the Bahamas which have different requirements.

Draft is important in the bahamas, not in the Caribeans where water is deeper. Also, there are a couple of offshore passages to get to the Carib. (caicos to Puerto Rico) and BVI to St Maarten that can be an issue for comfort, and waiting for the rigth weather window.

For the islands, having a cockpit is really nice in my opinion or at least a BIG swim platform altough going up and down the ladder to the swim platform is quickly going to get old with a baby...

A 58 Yachtfish will give you the best of both world... cockpit AND aft deck. It also has very good ventilation in teh saloon, better than a convertible thanks to the side doors.

Also, a YF (or MY with extra big platform) will have a lower helm with side doors which make the boat MUCH easier to handle when it comes to docking, although you will find yourself spending a lot of time on the hook. Lower helm is also a plus on longer runs when the weather gets nasty... If you go the SF route, you can add engine controls in the cockpit if the boat doens't have them.

They will also have a crane to hoist the tender aboard, nicer than towing on passages and more secure.

Although... dont' discount the a sportfish, they make GREAT island cruising boats.

Galley up? well, most 1510s have galley down which i don't find to be a problem. one beneft to the galley down is that not having a bulkhead in the saloon, increases ventilation from the pilothouse doors...

as to equipment, going into areas where spares and good mechanic are scarce, two generators woudl be a plus although a large battery bank and inverter will be a must. if you loose the genny, you coudl still recharge with one of the main, as long as you have a large alternator. Water maker a must as water is expensive down there and that would force you to pull in a dock every few days.

**Pascal** · 04-08-2008 02:16 PM

LOL...i replied before seeing the second page... thanks angela... :-)

**yachtbrokerguy** · 04-08-2008 02:37 PM

With your limited experience and ambitious cruising plans, I would check to see if you can get insurance for a boat before getting too involved. I have had clients in the past who had difficulty in getting insurance and had to change their plans.

Tucker Fallon Fort Lauderdale

**st.tully** · 04-08-2008 02:58 PM

Here is the 58YF for charter:

http://admirals.com/mcgregorii/

**Sir_Cruisealot** · 04-08-2008 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by yachtbrokerguy

With your limited experience and ambitious cruising plans, I would check to see if you can get insurance for a boat before getting too involved. I have had clients in the past who had difficulty in getting insurance and had to change their plans.

Tucker Fallon Fort Lauderdale

The insurance issue is interesting. Is it the liability part that is hard to get underwritten for novice boaters, or is it the damage I might cause to my own vessel that is hard to get?
Is is a viable option to be "self-insured"?

**Sir_Cruisealot** · 04-08-2008 03:27 PM