Advice on taking the plunge.

[spindrift]

Ok team, its time for me to get off the pot!

My business is thriving and cash flow is fantastic. So I am running out of excuses other than the complete lack of time to take care of a larger boat. I can only jump on for a day or two at a time and cruise with the Admiral. I have absolutely no time for any kind of normal care and maintenance.

I can only think of two possible solutions. The first is to purchase a bigger yacht in the 70 foot plus range and put a competent couple on board. I have been this route before and have had serious problems with crew (such as thinking it is their boat not mine) and a fight between one couple that escalated into near mortal combat.

The second solution would be to stay in the 50-60 foot range and hire a shore side boat manager to coordinate with the boat yard and or outside contractors regarding routine maintenance to mechanical systems as well as the cosmetics. I think that this would also require supervision of the yard during the yacht layup to ensure that all required maintenance and upgrade projects are completed on schedule and properly.

Do any of the wise men and woman on the board (I am thinking of Pascal, Sky, and Angelia) have suggestions as to the pros and cons of the two approaches?

The anticipated cruising range of the yacht is from Newport to Florida (Maybe the Bahamas). I need to do this soon as I have just turned 60 and my glass if now beyond half empty.

Many thanks in advance for your advice.

Spin

 

[Boatsb]

Why a full time couple? If you are able to get a full time captain who can handle the maintenance and bring in additional crew as needed you can do better and not have the territorial issues.

 

[Dan Mapes]

We've seen a number of 70 footers with a captain aboard. Owners work lines with him to get docked, and he takes care of the rest. They bust gut getting the power, toys set up and cleaning.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I'm not even sure you need a captain, and I don't think you need a live-aboard. I think you need a maintenance contract, or a full time mate who's willing to travel part of the year. I wouldn't be real comfortable with a person living on the boat who had no other address.. they're going to start thinking it belongs to them. AND inviting their friends. Is there such a thing as a maintenance service for yachts, where they have an assigned list of things to keep track of?

I tell you what, park it in Annapolis and I'll keep an eye on it for you. If I want to live aboard, I have my own boat to do it on.

Also, FWIW, I think you should buy the size boat that will meet your needs, not necessarily the largest one you can afford. But get the best one out there of the one that will do what you want. They are all a lot cheaper these days, so you're going to have some fun shopping.

 

[yachtbrokerguy]

With a management company you can enjoy boating, with crew on board you can enjoy yachting. However finding the right crew is as hard as finding the right boat, too often a poor crew can take away the enjoyment. If you pay peanuts you might get monkeys.
One advantage of crew is that can position the boat for you if you have limited time. They can move the boat to a cruising destination and you can fly or drive to enjoy your short days on board rather than spend the time getting there. A good management company should have captains available to do the same but you might have different crew for different times who will not know the boat, and you would have to change companies if the boat moves from the north to Florida.
It sounds like a good problem to have, to decide on a big boat or a bigger one!

 

[TopHattandTails]

Spin - Sounds like you and I are having the same "internal conversations" about how to boat more actively. Albeit, we are coming to the conversation from opposite perspectives! You want to know how to spend more time aboard your boat and want white glove service to help you enjoy your time aboard. Myself - I'm looking how to spend time aboard a boat and still have a productive income. Looks like we may have something to discuss! I'd be happy to give you the best of both world's - a private land based management team on any sized boat that would oversee maintenance, management, yard services, and also be your at sea arms and legs. Responsible husband / wife team that is open to land based relocation, has a deep knowledge of most boats and systems, and can pick out good work as need be! We can talk about roles, responsibilities, your budget, and fair compensation at your leisure. Good idea to get your land based crew in the mix as you hunt for your next boat!
Sorry Randy - had to get my name in the hunt

 

[Pascal]

My perspective on this is from both sides of the fence: 53' owner and captain of a 2003 Johnson 70

I dont think you need a couple on a 70/80 footer unless you want stew service while on the boat or are thinking of chartering the boat. That size range is right where you may benefit from a full time captain but don't really need it although some underwriters will require one at that size.

Besides maintenance and keeping the boat in top shape, a good captain will save you money on maintenance by troubleshooting issues and cutting down repair costs. I could give you a long list of stuff i routinely do instead of calling the yard or tech. At alomost $100 /hr labor in most markets, a simple issue can end up costing $1000 service call...

Management services are great for convenience but terrible for your budget. It often takes some shopping around to find quality service at a fair cost... It s not just shopping for price, but bang for the buck from reputable yards/techs. Kickbacks are common in this business and some "managers" don't have yr best interest in mind. And neither do some captains...

A company managed 50 footer may cost you the same than a captain run 80 footer...

It all comes down to what level of service you want to receive while on board and how much you want to do

 

[Canuck Dennis]

I have been owner/operator of my 70ft Stephens MY here in the PNW, do most of my own maintenance,am now in my late....( pulling pension) and just did full oil/filter/fuel filter change for twin V12's and 2-20 KW gensets and dispose of all the waste oil etc....time for a nap..lol...

If you don't want to do that stuff a well qualified Captain can look after all that stuff and more, docking is easier the bigger the boat so line handling should be no issue, I can dock and undock myself if pushed.

Worst case, you may need a monthly Yacht detail outfit to do a real spiff up job. The beauty of a larger Yacht is the ability for good privacy for Captain, guests and most important. the owner and of course, storage.

If can afford it, buy the most yacht that is practical and enjoy it.

 

[Freeebird]

Spin - Sounds like you and I are having the same "internal conversations" about how to boat more actively. Albeit, we are coming to the conversation from opposite perspectives! You want to know how to spend more time aboard your boat and want white glove service to help you enjoy your time aboard. Myself - I'm looking how to spend time aboard a boat and still have a productive income. Looks like we may have something to discuss! I'd be happy to give you the best of both world's - a private land based management team on any sized boat that would oversee maintenance, management, yard services, and also be your at sea arms and legs. Responsible husband / wife team that is open to land based relocation, has a deep knowledge of most boats and systems, and can pick out good work as need be! We can talk about roles, responsibilities, your budget, and fair compensation at your leisure. Good idea to get your land based crew in the mix as you hunt for your next boat!
Sorry Randy - had to get my name in the hunt

Hey, unless Spin wants to leave his new boat around my place, I wouldn't be a prospect anyway.

No offense, but while I can understand having someone keep up the maintenance on the boat, having some couple basically living full time on my boat wouldn't be of interest to me. That would be "my" toy, and I wouldn't want other people onboard it all the time. Add to that the additional expense (both operational and maintenance) of having to keep the thing climate controlled (among other things) for someone else's comfort, and it seems to be a no brainer.

 

[krush]

Can you give e a hint as to what business you are in that is thriving right now?

Seems to me if you are really considering a full time captain and do not want to charter the boat out, it would be much better for you to charter a boat when you want to be on it. Much more flexibility and much less headache and tied up cash.

 

[GJH]

A little more information on how you want to use the boat, where'd you cruise, how often, anchoring out, mooring etc, would help. When I was in your position a few years ago, we looked at much bigger boats (in fact there was a 67 Stephens and a 70 something Burger my wife adored) , but dialed back to this one as being "just right" for the two of us to run on our own, and being more than adequate for living on with occasional guests. Back to the old saying "buy the smallest boat YOU can be comfortable on, not the biggest boat you can afford".

And as experience has since taught us, there are many great experiences we couldn't have had or would have passed on out of caution if we had gone much bigger, such as the moorings in Boot Key Harbor and other places with length limits. Little anchorages where another 10 or 15 feet would have made me uncomfortable, nice docks and marinas where we were already stretching the limit. For actively cruising the east coast, bigger size is a limiting factor.

But if you are going to be an absentee owner, depending on where the boat will be, if you can find a good local captain that specializes in such things (and thereby isn't wandering off for weeks at a time doing deliveries or charters), he can in turn hire the detailers, technicians and mechanics as needed, run the boat on a regular basis to exercise engines and systems. He may already promote himself as a yacht maintenance company for that matter. I am in a marina here in NC with a lot of very high end custom and production sportfishers and you see both. Saw the same thing in at the swank Turnberry Isle in Aventura Florida when we were there, almost all the boats were absentee, and a few captains and maintenance companies looked after multiple boats. The owners may or may not actually run themselves when they come to use it.

Lots of businesses are doing very well right now. Some by simply taking advantage of the down times in other industries, others by attacking more timid competitors. There are also big opportunities in following demographic trends, such as the aging Baby boom population. Taking advantages of shifts in technologies is yet another. I know or work with a variety of entrepreneurs in each of these. The biggest limiter is access to reasonably priced capital.

 

[Kiwipushrod]

To the O.P. ; On the "Mortal Combat" boat, by chance was there any crystal onboard/present?

Kiwi

 

[captddis]

Maybe a firepit too?

 

[rsmith]

I would go with the Capt/girlfriend/couple senario. since your in your 60's it would be preferable for one or both having some medical backround. I cant tell you how many "type A" guys I've seen over the years hit the boat and whamo! I think its the sudden tension release that does it. Like you said your glass is half full and you need to be realistic about what you can physicly handle. To be honest in your 60's its close to empty. Also a couple can keep your "admiral" entertained when your not aboard. I've hung out with a lot of the single boat captains and if your not aboard your boat could end up being "party central" as most of the young bucks have a string of hotties that follow them around. But then again the party scene can be a lot of fun if your into that. Like my dad says hanging out with younger people keeps you young.

 

[ron6785]

No offense, but if you only have a "day or Two" to be on the boat with your Admiral, why do you want own a boat in the first place?? I assume you don't want to live on it?? For the time you have to spend on it Charter, for much less annual expense you can travel on a much much larger yacht with full crew etc and walk away at the end.

A 50-75' boat is a mid to small size yacht in todays terms, easily run by a couple if set up right.

That being said, if you just need an extra large hole to throw you money in so it won't weight down your pants , go for it.

I've been in marinas full of big boats that never move, are cleaned every week, maintained by a boat manager that just sit there month after month. A 72 hat sat in our marina for a year because the owner, a successful business owner, didn't have the time to take it 200 miles back to his hailing port. Hey the Bank Loves him.

 

[MikeP]

" it would be much better for you to charter a boat when you want to be on it. Much more flexibility and much less headache and tied up cash."

Totally concur.

 

[rsmith]

" it would be much better for you to charter a boat when you want to be on it. Much more flexibility and much less headache and tied up cash."

Totally concur.

Thats like the guys that tell me I can buy fish cheaper at the fish market. It aint about that!

 

[spindrift]

Thanks to all for your feedback on this. The Admiral and I are going to begin shopping seriously in November when I return from the Middle East.

For those who comment on why I was thinking of a couple versus a single captain, a mature couple would make the wife more comfortable. Also, she does not want to be a galley slave any more. Thus, if we adopt the approach of the smaller boat (without a full time crew) and use a shore based captain most of our destinations will have shore side waterholes / galleys.

I am in pretty good shape and have done over 15 offshore deliveries (e.g. Newport to Bermuda to Tortola) so I can handle just about anything in reason. What does concern me is being alone on the boat with wife (who has only modest experience in boat handling) is what if something happens to me.. e.g. throwing out a back.

Either way that I choose to go, I have convinced the Admiral to go the the Chapman School in Florida to take the one week boat handling course. I think would be a good start that should be followed up with some one on one lessons from an experienced older captain who has a lot of miles under his keel. I think this would really build up her confidence and reduce my anxiety.

Thanks
Spin

 

[Pascal]

There is now doubt that having a couple will free both of you from working, incl provisioning etc and allow you to enjoy your time aboard

Another issue will be crew quarters for a couple. Most boats under 80/90' really don't have more a accommodations for a single captain, you re not going to find a couple willing to live in the typical crew cabin unless the layout has the master at the stern and your crew can use one of the guest SR at the how

Another scenario would be having a full time captain and hire a freelance stew/chef when needed. That s a viable option in your case

 

[MikeP]

"Thats like the guys that tell me I can buy fish cheaper at the fish market. It aint about that!"

I'd be one of those guys!

OTOH, I throw away a lot of money on a variety of hobbies so I certainly understand the "ain't about that" part. It's one of the reasons Leica sells every M9 camera they can make at the 6995 USD list price...

No, I don't have one.