How big is too big for two people?

[Byresch]

We are thinking of moving from a 48 (not a Hatteras) to a larger boat, preferable a Hatteras. We have handled our current 48 with just the two of us for almost 15 years. We are wondering if a 70 foot is too big for two people to handle.

 

[SeaEric]

I saw husband and wife owners running their 85' Pacific Mariner. Just the two of them. They were obviously very familiar with the boat and had their procedure down to a science. It was a pleasure to watch them.

 

[Pascal]

It s not about the size, it s about the layout.

Most hatteras MY have side doors at the pilothouse so you are only a few steps from your spring lines making it very easy to single hand th boat.

When backing into a slip, visibility aft can be limited on some boats with galley up and partitions but that can be easily addressed with engine controls on the aft deck as well as a stern camera.

 

[capttonyf]

If the person running the boat is good at dock side maneuvering and the spouse has properly prepared the lines entering the marina there is no reason a couple couldn't handle a large boat. Especially if it has a bow thruster. I sold an older couple in their 60's a 67CPMY with walk around decks. They moved up from a 55C and have never had any trouble. Walk Around Decks are a huge advantage for older people because they're not forced to walk along skinny side decks with fenders and lines while attemping to hold onto the rail, not to mantion from a cleaning stand point as well.

I would say so long as your boating skills are good and both of you are in reasonably good health I think you would be fine with a larger boat.

Tony

 

[holtcl]

All good points but I think another REALLY important question is that of maintenance. Unless you want to hire out for everything- when you go up, it's more to wash, more to polish, more bottom paint, more everything. More dockage and can you get in everywhere you want to go with the bigger boat? Is draft an issue?

I think the rule of thumb is the smallest boat you can be comfortable on - but comfort IS important. I live aboard and I don't think I could (or would want to) do it on anything smaller than my 53- mandatory for me are the separate washer/dryer, dishwasher, storage, etc.

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[GJH]

It completely depends who the two people are, first.

Then the design of the boat.

You probably can't get a more dyslexic, ADD stumblebum couple than us (nickname: Mr. and Mrs. Bumble). But we managed many thousands of happy miles , just the two of us, on our 56, into our mid-sixties. Handling-wise, lengthing it another 15-20 feet would not have made much difference at all, given the same design or better yet the same design with a cockpit. We looked at boats in the 70ish range but for us didn't see what it would benefit the two of us and occasional guests comfort wise, and we lived aboard full time for five and a half years, and it was a second home for another year. I could see it maybe if you were consistently going to have six to ten people staying on board. We used and cruised the thing all the time, year around In fact we saw nothing but extra expense, and more limitations as to where we could moor, dock and anchor. We were increasingly happier with our choice with every passing year.

As noted above the ergonomics of our boat made a huge difference; the walk around covered decks, the doors at each side of the lower helm, the near-perfect 360 degree visibility; even I could single hand the thing pretty effectively and wasn't afraid to do so. We had no desire to back into a slip; the boat really is not set up for it connections-wise and we prefer the privacy and views of having the aft deck and the master cabin on the fairway. I did have to back in a few times but with Ann stationed back there it was no big deal. Having a set of real stairs to the flying bridge was an excellent add on by one of the POs.

There is a great saying, I believe coined by the cruising guide author Skipper Bob "Don't buy the biggest boat you can afford, buy the smallest boat you can be comfortable in" That means different things for different people. For us that was the 56. Others I know, a 36. Maybe you, a 70.

 

[jim rosenthal]

All good points. And maybe some reasons why the 53 MY and its variants were in production for such a long time. They built and sold them for twenty years, I think.

 

[Freestyle]

I have spent considerable time running a 43 DC, 53ED, and 67 CPMY.

The move up from a 43 is pretty significant. I single handed the 43 quite a lot. It had a lot fewer systems and cost about a third of the maintenance on the 67. I was younger and poorer then and did more and deferred more so maybe it would be 50% cheaper if I had kept it in the same condition. It was a comfortable boat until the third kid arrived and they grew like weeds.

Both the 53ED and the 67 CPMY really require 2 for safe operation and I miss getting underway for a few hours by myself now and then. The 67 is actually a little easier because of the bow thruster and cockpit. Both have 3sr's and heads and loads of living space. The extra 14 feet affords a nice aft deck seating area and a cockpit but I think the ED's salon is roomier. Both afford the fun of having a nice tender that the 43 did not. Maintenance costs are the same except for things like hull cleaning where they charge by linear feet but that difference is minimal when compared to the overall cost of maintaining more AC's, generators, etc.

So I guess my point is that the break point in cost and comfort is somewhere between 43 and 53 and then after that get all the boat you want probably until the low 70 foot range.

Bruce

Freestyle
Tampa

 

[Fanfare]

We have found the 50MY (same layout as the 53MY) to be ideal for two. Now that we have married off all our kids we seldom have more than one other couple visiting. We found that the three cabins were fine for 6, 8 were tolerable using the salon sofa bed, but when it came to using the double dinette it did not work. As long as all guests could get their coffee/breakfast as they awoke, then return to their bedroom all seem happy.

My bride and I have run Fanfare from Florida to Nova Scotia mostly by ourselves. For long passages I do prefer a third person for their additional set of hands in case of trouble. Unfortunately most of our friends seem to like the destination, not the voyage.

I'm not big on single-handing but that's because I normally steer from the flybridge.

 

[Dan Mapes]

I know folks that handle an 80 footer by themselves without issue. Since it is a cockpit m/y docking is quite safe and easily facilitated. Of course, they have bow and stern thrusters, and a video system the captain can monitor progress with when backing.
Line throwing is something that can come into play if you choose a boat without thrusters. The lines have to be longer and they are heavier.
Most of the folks that seem happiest are those with cockpits and protected safe side walks with hand holds.
I would think a m/y with a cockpit, a raised open aft deck and adequate walk around space and protection would be best for two.

 

[GJH]

Several of the bigger CPMY and MYs we looked at had controls on the aft deck.

 

[Pascal]

I m not sure how a cockpit helps vs a raised aft deck like on many hatt MY. It really makes no difference in line handling. It is easier to get an and off the boat as you won't have to set up heavy stairs but that s about it as under no circumstances should anyone get off the boat until it is tied up

While I agree that a bow thruster will make line handling easier, I really think stern thrusters are a waste of money on a twin diesel as splitting the gears will accomplish exactly the same effect. I wouldn't let the presence of a stern thruster affect my decision between two boats

 

[carolinacoast]

Beam may be a factor in ones decision. There are some marinas that we frequent that have 19 or 20 foot beam slips that won't fit those with a beam beyond 16' after fenders are considered.

I single hand our 53 very occasionally and would not be comfortable on anything larger without a bow thruster. I really prefer to have someone to help unless conditions (wind,current) are pretty ideal.

 

[nor'easter]

In so cal the overwhelming majority of slips are floating, so the cockpit is helpful there. Need to get off to tie up and the jump down probably not the best option for frequent crusers especially if they are not "kids".

Going up in beam with added length, you might get what you want well short of 70 feet with the big increase in useable space, for less cost, ease of use, etc etc

 

[JLR]

My wife and I run our 74. We are approaching our 60's. The bow thruster helps and the cockpit and swim platform help as well. We have always found that the bigger and heavier the boat, the slower things seem to happen when docking. The move up from our 56 was easy. We do miss the easily accessible side decks but our 74 has very small walks rounds for once at the dock. We do not handle the washing/waxing ourselves. Most of the routine maintenance I do myself unless I get lazy and have a local mechanic handle it.

 

[Dan Mapes]

Pascal the cockpit provides options. Like going through a lock, or when arriving at a floating dock. I've done both on an 80 and the cockpit made the job more convenient. All of the tables and such were up on the raised aftdeck, and the cockpit was clear and easy to move around in while locking or docking at a floating dock.
At a fixed dock, pulling in is usually a breeze if the aft deck is open.

With regard to dual stations with one being aft, more and more boats are showing up with remote controls. These can be installed after the purchase if the need is there. Just don't get off the boat with one active

 

[bobk]

Ditto Dan Mapes. My 48MY is a breeze for one or two to handle most times. The one place we had trouble were in the locks of the Erie Canal. We found serveral where wind and water flow made it difficult for two old timers (70 and 74 at the time) to hold the boat in place. There is no doubt that a cockpit would have been a big help.

Bobk

 

[Pascal]

Remote control set up take time getting used to, at least for me... It just feels weird. Hard to explain but I found that I kind of lost the feel of the orientation of the boat. Only used one a few times but didn't like it. I prefer fixed controls on the aft deck

My point about cockpit is that while much easier to get on and off at a low dock, when maneuvering and tying up lines, it really doesn't make much difference whether you re in a cockpit or 5' up on an aft deck.

 

[rsmith]

We are thinking of moving from a 48 (not a Hatteras) to a larger boat, preferable a Hatteras. We have handled our current 48 with just the two of us for almost 15 years. We are wondering if a 70 foot is too big for two people to handle.

Safely with out injury to yourselves or damaging other peoples property in all conditions NO!
A 70'r will require 1" lines can your mate tighten up and belay a water soaked 40' 1'" spring line before you slam into a dock or other boat? Yeah sure the internet blowhards and braggarts will tell you how they do it blind folded with one hand tied behind their backs but it dosent take a genius to figure out the bigger the boat the more CAPABLE hands and eyes you need on deck for a safe operation.

 

[Pascal]

If you need someone with a line to prevent you from banging into a dock you have no business driving the boat.