MY vs Convertible

[Funat50]

In my search of late I have observed that foot for foot, year for year, and beam for beam, the convertibles are much less than the MYs. I have given great consideration to changing my focus from a CMY/Yachfish to a Convertible. There are some great buys out there in the 55 & 60 range. My feature list included 3 stateroom w/ head, aft deck, walk around, draft, upper open deck. to some degree the Convertibles offer all these options and a few extras like galley up, go fast if you want, and at an exceptional price. I don't fish but what's the down side to motoring about at 8-9 knts in a hot rod if the price is right?

 

[ThirdHatt]

It's really a personal choice. I have always admired the lines of a convertible and overall, they are more pleasing to my eye in the 40-80' range than most motoryachts. What to watch out for with convertibles is that most are fished and usually fished hard, meaning they are not run easily at 8-9 kts like motoryachts. Sportfish are often run a few hundered rmp off the pins and the mains do not last nearly as long between rebuilds as in a motoryacht.

It is also nearly impossible to single-hand a sportfish because it is so hard to get to a spring line or to the bow. Another point to consider is that most sportfish are not stabilized but most motoryachts that you are considering are which is a MAJOR plus for any extended cruising, especially at hull speeds. While some do use sportfish as motoryachts for cruising and no fishing, most serious cruisers will opt for a motoryacht due to the much greater interior space per foot and the other comforts that are common in motoryachts.

Sportfishing boats are really designed for serious fishing and therefore make many compromises to accomodate the ultimate in fishability where motoryachts are only about luxury and comfort without compromise.

Normally convertibles hold their value better than motoryachts due to all the serious anglers that are well heeled and will spend whatever to fish. Often anglers will put together to buy a fishing boat but that is less common in a motoryacht.

You were alreadly looking at cockpit motoryachts which is really the best of both worlds, so why stray?

 

[krush]

I also think sport fish are much easier to keep going mechanically because you can actually access the engine room and have space (especially in a 60footer). In many of them you can lift the engine out through the salon.

Whenever I get a boat, it will be a sportfish. I think MY's look ugly and I like the cockpit that is low and near the water. If I wanted a condo, I'd buy a barge and put a double wide on it.

 

[Boatsb]

Welcome to the sport fish mindset. The boats were designed to be run and in the worst conditions imaginable. Tournament and serious angles go out in almost any weather and without stabilizers. You will give up some additional space and maybe a bit of comfort compared to a similarly sized MY but the boats are usually lower to the water and have less weight above so that they do handle well. Its a different ride but not objectionable. Get out on a similar boat to what you are considering in slightly rough weather and see if it's for you before you buy one.

 

[Funat50]

ThirdHatt makes some good points I hadn't considered. I do want to go it alone at times and docking is a consideration. As for length and year it seems the convertibles are taking a worse whipping in the current market. A 58 yachtfish or comparable CMY is probably the best solution over all. Thanks for getting me refocused.

To boatsb: I will spend most of the time on waterway or bays. If it's rough enough to be concerned about the security of my boat or spilling my beer I will be docked.

 

[Pascal]

pulling an engine out of a 53MY, 58YF and many other MY is no harder than on a sportfish.. it will come up out the door...

sportfish have a lower CG and will roll less than a MY so they may have an edge at low speed in beam seas.

on the down side, teh cockpit while great for swimming, diving, etc... isn't as cool, vented and comfortable as an aft deck...

compromises... what boating is all about.

 

[Genesis]

The biggest "gotcha" on a Sportfish is that unless you have cockpit controls they are basically impossible to dock single-handed and they're difficult to do so even WITH cockpit controls.

While you can control the boat from the cockpit with them (obviously) you can't see forward, which is a major problem.

I HAVE docked my (former) 45C single-handed, but I won't tell you it was fun.

It was not.

By comparison if you have a MY with a door right there next to the wheel and a spring cleat one step out, well, that makes it easy, doesn't it?

The other thing is that in truly nasty weather having an inside station is a blessing you won't recognize the value of until you don't have it. I've had to run from the flybridge in UGLY conditions and its not fun - curtains or no curtains.

 

[MikeP]

Certainly it's a matter of what you want to do with the boat. If you want tocruise/spend lots of time on board, that's what an MY was made for so it's a better boat for that. If you want to primarily fish/do a lot of water sports, then the SF/convertible is a better choice.

If you want to cruise and do water sports but NOT fish, then the YF would be the ideal choice in my opinion. As I've said before, if I had it to do over, we'd look seriously at the 58YF for that cockpit and the same living space as the 53MY.

The point about SFs being easier to maintain - I don't know about that. The 53MY has engine rooms that you can walk into and, with the passageway panel, has good access all the way around. The engines will lift straight up out of the 53Ms eng rooms into the salon and out the back door. From the SFs I've seen, I'd say the access is more difficult since you have to lift floor/deck panels to get to the engine areas at all. But I'm comparing a few SFs I've been on with the 1510 series MYs - I don't know about comparisons among a wide range of SF/MY models.

And, as Pascal has often noted, one person can dock a 53/58MY. Whether or not that is valuable again depends on how you plan to use the boat. But the lower station makes that very easy and is a GREAT place to operate the boat in general. We run it more often from there than from the FB.

 

[doc g]

I would rather go slow 11kn or less on a CMY/MY than a convertible anytime. Stabilized or not the cmy/my is more comfy going slow than a SF........Pat

 

[harnett]

Fact is there is no best boat, it's just the one that works best for your needs. I am one of those people that uses a convertible for cruising. Never have fished on her. Couple of engineering facts that should be pointed out though. I'll focus on the 53C and 53 MY form the 70’s.. These boats have the exact same hull. The MY is lighter and has a higher center of gravity. To say that a MY is more stable at slow speeds than a C just has no basis in engineering fact. Heavy and low center of gravity equals more stable. That doesn’t mean the MY has a bad ride, just not as good as the C. I single hand my boat all the time without a problem. I have cockpit controls and rarely use them. I have my fenders and spring lines ready before I get to the dock and have never had a problem. Not sure I will be able to go up and down the ladder as fast when I'm in my 70's though. The MY would definitely have an advantage there. Engines swaps and service seem easier in the C but not sure the difference is enough to be a decision maker. I have seen many times when I longed for the inside helm station. Got to envy those MY's on those days. I enjoy the large cockpit for entertaining and water sports. If you need the extra accommodation space of course the MY has an advantage. Bottom line is they are both great boats and both have trade offs. You have to weigh these against how you want to use your boat.

 

[krush]

Convert with enclosed bridge solves the weather thing. Like being outside? Tuna tower (or half tower)!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Hey Krush... how was Sponja Roberto pantalones rectangularo? Hows the new gen station job goin? ws

 

[Boss Lady]

I chose the 48 YF because you can single hand it, it has a lot of deck space, enclosed lower helm that is not in the salon (it is as high as the fly bridge on most sportfish) and the fly bridge is as high as a tuna tower when the weather is nice. You can see what is going on in the cockpit from either position. The cockpit is small but it does have a tuna door and large outriggers. One of my changes (one day) is to extend the cockpit another 3 or 4 feet and add a bait station/ tackle center, along with an above deck fish cooler. The walk around deck can't be beat, and sun bathers have plenty of space on the salon roof. The visibility from the salon is fantastic for anyone hanging out there while cruising.

The downside for this model. Only made for two years, and they are very old and slow as originally equipped. Unless you find one that was a fresh water queen, most of them are dogged out and need everything replaced. The original interior layout is not a good use of space, unless everyone likes sleeping in single beds (not!). I did a redesign to make two full size bed staterooms and two heads, the master head is huge, plenty of real storage, and the galley got a redesign. The salon will convert into another stateroom for when we have more than two couples aboard. The swim platform and fresh water washdown, make water sports a reality. It is best overall design unless you are a hardcore Marlin fisherman, but for everything else, it is great. You can have a large number of people aboard for a booze cruise, or you can liveaboard and have plenty of space. I mostly fish for tuna, wahoo, and king mackerel on standup gear, with a couple of buddies, and this boat is adequate but not ideal. The bigger cockpit will solve that problem. I repowered to get the cruise speed I wanted and still get decent mileage at slow speeds. The 58 was too big for my needs. The 53 was too heavy to get the cruise without resorting to massive power. The 48 was just right.

 

[bigbill]

i had a 46 sf and now i have a 58yf, i fish 3or4 times a year, and cruise the rest of the time. the yf is a much better design for what i do, if i fished a lot more, maybe i would choose the sf for the cockpit room, and one step from the salon to the cockpit instead of 10 feet and down three steps in the yf. unless you are serious about fishing alot i would look at yf"s . bigbill

 

[SKYCHENEY]

As others have stated, it's all a matter of personal preference. Some advantages of a MY that I like are:

Large hand rails and toe rail.
Walk around decks on one level.
Bow seating area.
Lower inside helm.
Covered back deck.
Shorter climb to flybridge.

 

[thoward]

I like the convertible better most of all because it is not ugly. I also like the outside entrance to the engine room. That makes repair and maintanence easier. While the bow has plenty of room I like the cockpit as it gives an area that is multifunctional and easy to clean. I can drink, eat, cook, and fish all at the same time if I choose. Who needs wicker chairs and glass tables when you have all that gunwale? Spilled your dirnk? No worries I've got a hose right there. Hand the kids a fishing pole and they will stay at the back of the boat until the bait runs out. Dont fish? Replace that fighting chair with a nice table for those evening poker games. Want an area to swap lies? Head up to the enclosed bridge for cocktails and tall tales. What a view up there. To me being on a boat is about fun and sun on the water and those 1/2 walled covered decks don't get it for me. Did I mention M/Ys are ugly?

 

[Funat50]

Skycheney has hit on a lot of good reasons. I rarely fish but the kids like to throw a line off the back and other water sports launch well from a cockpit. It's got to be a CMY to satisfy everyone in the house. I just wish I could find more 58YF optoions. seems like I may have to move to the 63-67 CMY. Fortunately I am not in a hurry and the right boat will come along.

 

[Walter P]

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" While each type of boat offers advantages over the other, it really boils down to what you plan to do with the boat. I have had MYs and convertibles and I prefer the MY for my present use of a boat. Obviously I don't fish from my boat and actually the only fish that come aboard are fileted & broiled.

Insofar as MYs being ugly..... If it's a Hatteras MY it is NOT ugly.

Walt

 

[MikeP]

First time I've ever heard a Hargrave designed Hatt - or any other Hargrave design for that matter - called "ugly." As stated, it's truly in the eye of the Beholder. I guess some folks would call a Ferrari 328 ugly!

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I think we have the best of both worlds. Our '86 36C has an inside helm, so the docking argument goes away. Our Hat rides like a dream, is bone dry, and does not roll in seas. Ours is a Jim Wynne design, not a Hargrave. We have prop pockets like the newest Hats and a deep and almost full length keel. Our ride is good at 8 knots, awesome at 16, and squirlly at 25 knots. The boat tracks so straight that we have never found the need for an autopilot. I found the docking comments interesting because I always wondered how the motor yacht guys could see behind when backing up. The view from either helm on our sportfish is great and docking is extremly easy in all conditions. Once the boat is in the slip I just let it rest on the pilings while I go around and hook up the mooring lines. Our Hat is great, I just wish it had another stateroom with a queen bed.