Long distance cruising in a Motor Yacht

[Scarlett]

Has any one done a long distance open ocean cruise in a Motor Yacht. By long distance I mean like coast to coast or equivalent. Do you think these boats are capable of doing so comfortably if you watch the weather?

 

[SEVEN]

John you need to move up here to fresh water. Although you will need your heaters in good working order.

 

[Boatsb]

They're not made for long crossings. Just because you can doenst mean you should.

Look at the difference between the size, shape and weight distribution of an LRC or other passage makers. It's quite apparent.

 

[Freeebird]

Define, "coast to coast". Range is going to be the biggest issue with the old Hatt's. The boat itself wouldn't bother me a bit, but weather obviously comes into play.

 

[Pascal]

I don’t know what you mean by coat to coast. Depending on tank size, you can run anywhere between 500nm and 1000nm at hull speed it slightly below. Stabiliers would be a must.

Problem with weather is that it can change. Often hard to get more than a 3 day reliable window

 

[jim rosenthal]

Actually not a great idea, in my estimation, although I am not a veteran of such voyages. If one owned a MY and just HAD to have that experience, better to sign on as crew on a well-found vessel designed for such adventures, don't you think?

 

[Freeebird]

I don’t know what you mean by coat to coast. Depending on tank size, you can run anywhere between 500nm and 1000nm at hull speed it slightly below. Stabiliers would be a must.

Problem with weather is that it can change. Often hard to get more than a 3 day reliable window

I think three days at hull speed in a 53MY would be pretty miserable... even with stabilizers. That assumes we’re talking offshore.

 

[Scarlett]

It would be a 70 MY with stabilizers from Galveston Tx to San Diego. I think fuel stops can be found to handle the range problem. I am pretty sure that many of the MY’s out on the west coast came here on their own bottoms. Might be a better option to ship, but would probably have to go to Ft Lauderdale to do that. John

 

[Freeebird]

It would be a 70 MY with stabilizers from Galveston Tx to San Diego. I think fuel stops can be found to handle the range problem. I am pretty sure that many of the MY’s out on the west coast came here on their own bottoms. Might be a better option to ship, but would probably have to go to Ft Lauderdale to do that. John

I would make that trip in a heartbeat. Let me know if you need a co-captain, but my Mezcan is pretty limited.

 

[Freeebird]

Oh yeah, you should have seen the logbook on Guzman’s 67. It made that trip and then some. I was actually looking at bringing a 70CY back to Florida from CA when I was in the market several years ago. Fuel stops wouldn’t be an issue.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

I did it in my 70 Ft stephens MY, Ft Lauderdale to Vancouver BC thro the Panama, also did Vancouver to Mexico and return plus Alaska etc..
Big thing is being able to fix most things underway and source parts if needed, good crew is a must and dry boat until port. Be sure the crew has deep water experience or you will be the nursemaid. It's the trip of a lifetime. I miss it but past it now.

 

[Scarlett]

I just did Seattle to San Diego on a 65 Pacific Mariner and it was exciting to say the least on some days even going down hill. I have lots of long distance experience on sail boats but not much on powerboats. We sailed our sail boat from Mexico to Thailand over a number of years. Thanks all of you for your comments. John

 

[RonNP]

I know my 63 CPMY came through the canal. The log books show it was bought in Fort Lauderdale and took a month trip to make it up to Orange County, California. Lots of fuel stops along the way.

 

[doc g]

My last boat (61 cmy) went thru the PC at least 4 times and traveled from southern California to Alaska to as far south as Ecuador, Galapagos, Central and South America all throughout the Caribbean and up and down the East Coast. She also made numerous trips to Columbia during the 80's during which her dinette was converted into "extra sleeping quarters" by her then Columbian owner. So, yes the MY's are capable..............Pat

 

[oscarvan]

There's an old saying in the aviation business that "Absence of accidents is no evidence of safety".

I will readily agree that a 61' Hatteras is a reasonably well built vessel, and if properly maintained and equipped and prudently operated can do these voyages with a good chance of success.

It's the "prudently operated" part that makes the difference. All the cruising described in this thread is close enough to land that trips can be made within weather windows. Are you going to get snotty weather? Yes. Are you going to run into force 9+ weather? PROBABLY not if you don't want to.

Would I consider a Hatteras 61 a "Blue Water Boat" that one could take thousands of miles from home in ANY weather and, for instance, take a 30 foot breaker on the windows and doors? (a la Nordhaven) Nope. Has it been done? Yup. Would I? Nope.

So it's all about personal risk tolerance and skill and experience level. Which begs the question:If you have to ask .....

 

[Glory]

A good chance of success, yeah,,,, that is what Columbus said!

 

[jim rosenthal]

Bring the Bird along. His Spanish is limited, as he says, and maybe his English, too, but you'll have an interesting time. Just be prepared to make the trip on one engine.

 

[Freeebird]

Bring the Bird along. His Spanish is limited, as he says, and maybe his English, too, but you'll have an interesting time. He'll also be prepared to make the trip on one engine should the need arise.

El fixo la posto for da gringo.

 

[lumina]

FWIW, we popped out of the intercostal on our great loop trip, while our YF certainly held her own in 6 to 8 footers, but it was somewhat miserable

 

[Dazed338]

Bring the Bird along. His Spanish is limited, as he says, and maybe his English, too, but you'll have an interesting time. Just be prepared to make the trip on one engine.

LOLI couldn't resist on that one