What's the fastest verified 53MY speed?

[MikeP]

I saw the post re the 23 mph 56MY and was wondering what the fastest anyone has seen or RELIABLY heard that a 53MY has achieved. Ours hit a touch over 18 knots (per GPS) at sea trial when we were purchasing in '04 but it was much lighter then. I did manage to hit 18 once just before winterizing a few years ago when we lived on Long Island with the fuel at about 1/4 in each tank. But now 17 is a rarity and mid 16's with a clean bottom/running gear is usually about it.

So is there such a thing as a "fast" (say, 20K+) 53MY?

 

[jlightonjr]

If you go to YouTube and google "Big Yacht Repower, Part 15 - Sea Trials, you can see a 53 MY which was repowered with new yanmar engines, she hit 24.7 knots at WOT, cool video journey on YouTube documenting the whole process, I think there are a total of 16 videos. The boat looks amazing underway at that speed. It would be so much fun to be on the water and watch a 53 MY fly past you so fast!

 

[SereneWarrior]

All I know is that it wasn't mine....

 

[MikeP]

Nice...I noticed when it was leaving the marina that the water line stripe is much higher above the water than ours is! HMMM... maybe if I just have a new stripe painted up higher, the boat will go faster!

Wonder what the fuel burn is at WOT?

Yeah, I know, "If you have to ask..."

 

[tom5518]

 

[Artzco]

Love the music at the sea trial. I almost wanted to stand up and cheer.

 

[madhatter1]

Excellant video!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[saltshaker]

Nice...I noticed when it was leaving the marina that the water line stripe is much higher above the water than ours is! HMMM... maybe if I just have a new stripe painted up higher, the boat will go faster!

Wonder what the fuel burn is at WOT?

Yeah, I know, "If you have to ask..."

Must be the full length spray/lift rails that make her sit higher and run so fast. I always thought a pair of Cummins QSM11's would be nice in a 53 Classic

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I always thought a pair of Cummins QSM11's would be nice in a 53 Classic

Me too. And if Cummins would like to donate a couple of them for testing, I am willing to participate.

 

[gbittner]

If you go to YouTube and google "Big Yacht Repower, Part 15 - Sea Trials, you can see a 53 MY which was repowered with new yanmar engines, she hit 24.7 knots at WOT, cool video journey on YouTube documenting the whole process, I think there are a total of 16 videos. The boat looks amazing underway at that speed. It would be so much fun to be on the water and watch a 53 MY fly past you so fast!

Not worth the money it cost to do this. Unless you have too much money and don't know what to do with it.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Not worth the money it cost to do this. Unless you have too much money and don't know what to do with it.

The guy who did it owns the yard. I tried to buy that boat. He was the listing broker. After I did all of the leg work on the history of her, he bought her out from under me. Nice guy.

 

[jim rosenthal]

A 53 MY would damn near fly with M11s- you could have seven hundred hp per side, and the boat easily a ton lighter, which would make a difference too. When you were done, you'd have the fastest and most up to date iteration of an obsolete design, complete with too many electrical systems, too many ACs, and small living spaces compared to modern MYs. But it would look good, and go fast. And everyone would want to see it and secretly be glad it wasn't them that did it.......

 

[SKYCHENEY]

A 53 MY would damn near fly with M11s- you could have seven hundred hp per side, and the boat easily a ton lighter, which would make a difference too. When you were done, you'd have the fastest and most up to date iteration of an obsolete design, complete with too many electrical systems, too many ACs, and small living spaces compared to modern MYs. But it would look good, and go fast. And everyone would want to see it and secretly be glad it wasn't them that did it.......

I agree on the speed, but not on the small living spaces. A 53MY has more room than any modern boat of similar size. To prove it, I challenge you to find another boat this size with 3 staterooms, 3 heads, 3 showers, galley with dinette, stand up engine rooms, 2 helm stations, etc, etc. There isn't one.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I stand corrected on the small living spaces- or rather, the number of them; living spaces on boats are small by nature. I think they were great boats in their day, and the fact that so many are around testifies to the numbers in which they were sold and to their build quality. I do think that four electrical systems is too many, although they probably didn't have any options otherwise, and the reliability of their (many) AC systems is a constant lament on this forum.

As far as exterior styling goes, they are a great deal more handsome than anything I can think of that is built now; perhaps a Fleming might be close, but not equivalent.

 

[Boatsb]

Later designs like the viking MY has larger spaces and more room like the difference between the 1510 and wide bodies that came afterwards.

Its true that the 1510 hulls sold more than just about anything in its class but there was a few short comings that later vessels did not have.

 

[SeaEric]

I agree on the speed, but not on the small living spaces. A 53MY has more room than any modern boat of similar size. To prove it, I challenge you to find another boat this size with 3 staterooms, 3 heads, 3 showers, galley with dinette, stand up engine rooms, 2 helm stations, etc, etc. There isn't one.

53 Defever POC.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

53 Defever POC.

Yeah, but it's ugly so it doesn't count. Next?

 

[captddis]

I stand corrected on the small living spaces- or rather, the number of them; living spaces on boats are small by nature. I think they were great boats in their day, and the fact that so many are around testifies to the numbers in which they were sold and to their build quality. I do think that four electrical systems is too many, although they probably didn't have any options otherwise, and the reliability of their (many) AC systems is a constant lament on this forum.

As far as exterior styling goes, they are a great deal more handsome than anything I can think of that is built now; perhaps a Fleming might be close, but not equivalent.

You mean that newer boats have less air cond systems? Do tell. Ya think that a 35 year brand x boat has less air cond problems?


My friends new 39Sea Ray has 5 units including the aft deck.

 

[jim rosenthal]

How many electrical systems?

I think five AC units on a boat is ridiculous. It's needlessly complex. Modern yacht designers ought to have a better grasp of how to design a system which takes care of the entire boat, like central air in a house, and not have five separate systems. That's lunacy.

The systems on vintage Hatteras yachts were complex, but that was what was available at the time. There's no excuse for fitting five separate systems in a modern boat, except for the fact that boat manufacturers don't build AC systems and have to buy them in from companies like CruiseAire and Marine Air Systems. A well-designed modern boat would have one or two AC units and be able to cool or heat the whole boat.

 

[captddis]

How many electrical systems?

I think five AC units on a boat is ridiculous. It's needlessly complex. Modern yacht designers ought to have a better grasp of how to design a system which takes care of the entire boat, like central air in a house, and not have five separate systems. That's lunacy.

The systems on vintage Hatteras yachts were complex, but that was what was available at the time. There's no excuse for fitting five separate systems in a modern boat, except for the fact that boat manufacturers don't build AC systems and have to buy them in from companies like CruiseAire and Marine Air Systems. A well-designed modern boat would have one or two AC units and be able to cool or heat the whole boat.

They are complex because they were versitile and could plug in anywhere. Most of the Hatt motoryachts were captain operated and the Captain took care of them and understood the systems.
I fail to see the benefit of one or two air cond units. If your one unit goes out it is game over. With multiple units you have the option of just moving to another part of the boat.

I also think that the Chris Crafts and Bertrams of the day were more difficult to figure out the systems.