MotorYacht Advice Docking, family, and dog

[Canyonkeeper77]

Hello everyone! I have been on and running sportfish's for the last 18 years and currently own a 38' Ocean Yacht. With this I now have a wide, toddler and a skittish somewhat large golden doodle. My wife is infatuated with the 53/54 hatt MY.

Now I have a couple of questions.

1. Docking. I am used to a sporty backing in no problem. We are currently in a finger pier or side to marina. Also, we travel alot to Sag harbor, Nantucket, Montauk, Shelter Island (we are based in East Hampton). How is the usual short handed process (wife maybe a inexperienced friend)?

2. Dog. I love the cockpit motor yachts but I am trying to stay under 60' but want 3 staterooms. Ideally like to keep under $200K. She is crazy and worried about the ladder out back for getting into the dink.

3. Speed. I don't mind paying for fuel but don't want to overload a motoryacht as most sportys have 12vs verse the 6/8vs of MYs. Thoughs on getting above 15knots.

Overall I want to space for family and friends but also want to maintain the fact we take the boat out and use every weekend.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Interesting. The docking is what it is. You get used to the situation you are dealt. I always watch the charter boats and see how they do it in marinas with lots of current like where I keep Aslan. Those blindly entering St. Johns Yacht Harbor often meet their neighbors on less than ideal terms.

I've always owned labs until I bought Aslan. The ladder and the shedding changed all that. You've solved the latter (but not the ladder) with the doodle. On the other hand, I'm in a lot less hot water without dogs onboard. At various marinas, Jill brought back two ducks, all manner of personal property, killed a hybrid goose (justifiable homicide per cops) and retrieved a chicken (twice) at a boatyard. She took a ball out of play at a tennis match at Hilton Head and never missed a chance to get in a swimming pool. Then there's that outstanding leash law warrant I have in Wrightsville Beach from the 90's. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I'd consider swapping Aslan for a MY or trawler to have a dog or two onboard.



I guess if a MY is not WOT and the temps are good you're not really overloaded, are you? Docking, dogs and how you run your boat are about as subjective as you can get.

 

[CTdave]

I'm sure the motor yacht guys will chime in soon but here are a couple of thoughts. I have a 50 Hat sport fish with big MTU's and cruise at 28-30kts. I single hand my boat all the time (until the kids are big enough to handle it) and I never ask for dock attendants to help.
I used to run yachts (100 ton master) and I feel that the larger the boat, the easier it is to handle. They don't get blown around. You can lay up on a dock and get your lines made before it starts to move. I think if your operating from the wheelhouse, it would be a bit easier to deploy lines from one level instead of up and down a bridge ladder.
My only peeve would be the speed. If your one to need to get to where you're going quickly, you'll have to think about a 12-15kt cruise. M/Y guys, what do you cruise at?
As far as getting into the dink, yes, the ladder might be an issue for many and especially someone expecting. In most cases, a boarding ladder will solve any problems but getting into the dink will pose a problem for someone with ladder issues. Maybe you can get a nice, beefy swim platform and have a better set of steps made with deeper "steps" and handrail?
Best of luck!
David
Greenwich, CT

 

[Boatsb]

Our last golden was the ultimate water dog. he loved the boat and swam whenever possible. Even when we didn't want him to.
He would dive off the bow if we didn't watch him.

I would never have been able to bring him aboard a MY. The cockpit and stairs not ladders make the convertibles dog friendly.

Our new boy ( 1 year thursday) is a golden doodle. He is learning to swim for fun not just survival. He likes the boat and goes up and down the steps plus can get on and off easily at the dock. I will NOT carry him up a ladder for the bridge. Hes going to break 80 lbs Im told. Thats just too much.

As to ride, handling and docking I will put a convertible ahead of a MY any day. Lower CG. Lower windage, and easier to get on and off. I also like the cockpit entry for water sports and fishing.

 

[Canyonkeeper77]

@Aslan cute pup! My goldendoodle is beyond a sweetheart and wouldn't hurt a fly. On the other-side she is no guard dog and or swimmer. My wife is new to boating so I have been taking it slow but now she is all in. My 2yr old is insane and bound to drive me crazy with the ladder to the bridge.

I like the idea of large swim platform and a staircase... verse a cockpit. We spend a lot of time on the hook and swim a lot in the 3 Mile Harbor. Goal is to stay under 60' as my marina basically doubles the cost per foot and it is not like the government taxes that only charge per tier. HAHA.

 

[Freestyle]

I went from a 43 MY to a 62 CPMY (54 MY with 8 foot cockpit).

I thought I handled it great in docking situations from the start. My wife bought a bow thruster ($17k) in response to my thoughtful instruction during the first cruise. It feels like cheating but it makes everything so easy.

We have a pug and 2 French Bulldogs. The cockpit gives us lots of options for getting on and off. Floating docks we always use the cockpit. The stairs to the cockpit give us a number of boarding levels for fixed docks in addition to the ladder.

Hatteras motor yachts of all sizes can be run at about one gallon per nautical mile. You can do a lot worse but not much better. Fuel spend and fun are directly proportional at the right speed.

Spending time with your, children, family and friends on a Hatteras motor yacht will define your memories of that phase of your life. I highly recommend it.


Bruce
Freestyle
1986 62 CPMY
Tampa

 

[CTdave]

To Bruce

"thoughtful instruction" LOL LOL!! Now thats funny!

 

[CTdave]

Canyonkeeper
I had the same issues with my kids and the bridge ladder when they were really little. Put a chain across and stick to "nobody up or down the ladder when the boat is moving" rule. If you have an opening for the ladder, consider a hatch to close it and always face forward on any ladder (made that mistake a few times over the years). Complacency kills.
A couple of other things that we always subscribed to:
No kids outside in the cockpit when docking
Nobody goes to the bow when running
No up and down ladder
Everyone (including wife) was taught to read our position and make a distress call if something were to happen to me. We all know 30-50 year olds who haven't made it home.

 

[Pascal]

Docking a MY is a lot easier than a SF as from the lower helm you are just a few steps away from your spring lines. Backing into a slip they’re the fist one going on to prevent the boat from backing into pier. Same when tying up along side... secure a spring and spring on it. It s right there. No ladder to go scramble down

I often single end my 53... as David said the bigger thebboat the easier it it. I run an 84 MY and often single hand to go to the fuel dock or if Naomi is busy inside although on larger boats having engine controls on the aft deck is a must

Dogs? Depends what size. Some MY have bigger platform giving more options. You can replace the ladder with steps along the stern from either corner. Still may be too ateep for dogs

Speed... most older Hatteras can cruise on plane. Just. No speed demons that’s for sure. Working trim tabs are a must. I replaced mines with larger tabs during the repower, it really helps lifting the stern up You either run at 9.5 kts or fully on plane at 17/18. Anything in between is a waste of fuel and heavier loads on the engines. At 13kts you will burn close to what you ll burn at 17 At 12kts you will burn over twice with just 25% more aoeed

 

[Canyonkeeper77]

Thank you for all of this. Making me feel better. Anyone looking for a 38' Ocean Yacht with basically brand new 3208s... Haha. The engines in my boat is a story within itself.

Interesting on the fuel burn. I am cool with 1NMPG as I am about that now but cruise at 22-24Knots which is nice.

There is a 53 up in Mystic, CT I have been keeping a eye on. We may run the boat over there and take a look. Anything to avoid driving on 95 in CT!

Here is our pup with full on summer cut. The usual shag makes her melt during the summer.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Maybe you should look at a YF model. The 58 YF is a lot like a 53MY but with that small aft deck that might make it easier for a dog to board the boat- and other folks as well.

As to docking, I think the vision is better from the flying bridge of a convertible, but the line handling is easier on a MY, generally. With practice, a competent captain can manage either one. Including singlehanded. As to the people helping you, doing it all yourself is much preferable to having inexperienced help who may hurts themselves in the process, not to mention your boat or other people.

 

[Boatsb]

Thank you for all of this. Making me feel better. Anyone looking for a 38' Ocean Yacht with basically brand new 3208s... Haha. The engines in my boat is a story within itself.

Interesting on the fuel burn. I am cool with 1NMPG as I am about that now but cruise at 22-24Knots which is nice.

There is a 53 up in Mystic, CT I have been keeping a eye on. We may run the boat over there and take a look. Anything to avoid driving on 95 in CT!

Here is our pup with full on summer cut. The usual shag makes her melt during the summer.

View attachment 32223

Doodle pic.

About 10 months in the pics

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Maybe you should look at a YF model. The 58 YF is a lot like a 53MY but with that small aft deck that might make it easier for a dog to board the boat- and other folks as well.

As to docking, I think the vision is better from the flying bridge of a convertible, but the line handling is easier on a MY, generally. With practice, a competent captain can manage either one. Including singlehanded. As to the people helping you, doing it all yourself is much preferable to having inexperienced help who may hurts themselves in the process, not to mention your boat or other people.

Amen re inexperience. Despite repeatedly instructing folks that the captain says what lines go over and when, invariably dockhands (read teenagers) demand and get the lines of their choosing often messing up an otherwise smooth maneuver. #2 dreaded is when someone tosses a line like a bundle of dirty laundry. How many times have I seen that at my marina! They never should've done away with flogging.

Single handing is easy enough on a convertible. Toss a spring from the flybridge while leaving a coiled line on the transom. Stern line can easily be grabbed from the dock once the spring is set as the boat pins itself on the dock in gear. It's a good plan to practice even with no current of off-dock wind.

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

Interesting. The docking is what it is. You get used to the situation you are dealt. I always watch the charter boats and see how they do it in marinas with lots of current like where I keep Aslan. Those blindly entering St. Johns Yacht Harbor often meet their neighbors on less than ideal terms.

I've always owned labs until I bought Aslan. The ladder and the shedding changed all that. You've solved the latter (but not the ladder) with the doodle. On the other hand, I'm in a lot less hot water without dogs onboard. At various marinas, Jill brought back two ducks, all manner of personal property, killed a hybrid goose (justifiable homicide per cops) and retrieved a chicken (twice) at a boatyard. She took a ball out of play at a tennis match at Hilton Head and never missed a chance to get in a swimming pool. Then there's that outstanding leash law warrant I have in Wrightsville Beach from the 90's. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I'd consider swapping Aslan for a MY or trawler to have a dog or two onboard.

View attachment 32222

I guess if a MY is not WOT and the temps are good you're not really overloaded, are you? Docking, dogs and how you run your boat are about as subjective as you can get.

Golden Doodles don’t shed. Bold faced lie....
Probably still some of her hair on the boat and she’s been gone 2 years.
She was afraid of everything like Dave’s but what a character she was.
We spent most of our time at marinas so I think I carried her up and down the ladder maybe 3 times on a hook. She Squirmed and changed her center of gravity so much it was like trying to carry a 90 lb bag of jello.
It did provide plenty of entertainment for the masses though.

 

[Canyonkeeper77]

Awww. haha. Believe it or not Steevie truly never sheds. We have barely found any of her hair anywhere. We got lucky. She is truly afraid of everything. Plays dead when I carry her. Once carrying her down Duryeas dock in Montauk people were dying as this lanky doodle was being carried like a baby through the restaurant and down the dock.

As for teenagers not quite there yet and I am strict when it comes to hands in the boat. I can repair a rub rail but not a smashed hand.

It is worth looking around for the right boat. I love the 53/54 flush deck MY with the walk around side decks.

How is the stairs to the bridge deck on each? Is it worth building a better less steep or circular to the top?

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

Doodle pic.

About 10 months in the pics

yeah, i know that look from the first pic. you want me to do what? what do you think i am, a dog?

 

[bigbill]

if you are an offshore fisherman, stick with the sportfish. if not the 58yf is what you want, all the room that you are asking for, a cockpit and easier to dock from the salon station. i went from a 46sf to a 58 yf and would not look back. the only thing different is that i quit offshore fishing.

 

[riverrandy]

I grew up running a 54' WOODEN sportfish up and down the entire east coast. for the past 20 years have been running a 40' sportfish. The 40 is Fast, efficient and fun as hell, but so light it would "Beat the starch out of a biscuit". I have graduated back to Big, Slow, and easy. Having your crew on the same plane seems to help, and the weight difference in a 38 Ocean and any Hatteras will please and amaze you. Speed vs. Fuel burn... As a young man it was all about the speed, now it is about the trip. Traveling by boat is about the Journey, not the destination in my opinion.

Boat dogs are great, and will adapt.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Right.. if I needed a lot of room, didn't care about high speeds, and wanted to get a dog on and off the boat, I'd look at YFs at least to see what they are like.

 

[scottinsydney]

I have previously owned a 44 convertible and now the 70CPMY. The smaller boat was easier to reverse into a pen, but the larger boat is very predictable and everything is just done slower. Form the wheelhose, you can easily handle the larger MY's in picking up swing moorings or coming side on to a wharf, departing and maneuvering about in close quarters. A portable reversing camera can help. I would have difficulty reversing the CPMY into a pen without help or a stern control station. I've never had a bowthruster.

The larger boat stays put in low winds and is predictable when coming along side and corkscrewing into/leaving a wharf. Obviously both boats are affected by tide flow. The golden rule is do everything slowly and make sure you have a set plan and also an exit strategy if things go pear shaped.

Having a cockpit is easier for getting on and off with a dog. My Westie had 13.5 wonderful years on our boats and accumulated more sea hours than most humans. Jock demanded to be on the flybridge, could run down the steps into the cockpit and would patiently wait on the swimming platform if I was using the dinghy. We had a special way of lifting him up the stairs and ladders. A true friend and loyal first mate.


Vale
Jockey Fuller
2005 - 2019