60ft-ish Recommendations

[Certeza]

Hello eveyone. Brief background... Looking to transition to liveaboard situation. I have experience with sailing excursions and powerboat excursions for weeks at a time. Originally liked the idea of a 46-49ft powercat. More recently I've come around to the idea of a 60ft-ish trawler/cruiser style mono. Anything from 58-70ft would be considered, but I recognize that 70ft is considerably large and is the extent of my comfort range.

Unfortunately, I'm less familiar with the nuances regarding full vs semi displacement and the various reputable boat designers/builders in that realm. Some desires are;

-4 cabin
-robust & trustworthy design
-stability both at rest and cruising (assume the use of stabilizer fins)
-draft less than 5.5ft preferred
-naturally aspirated twin diesel
-great fuel efficiency below 10kn
-1500nm range below 10kn.
-top end speed at least 15kn but preferably 20kn in a pinch.
-fly bridge with controls
-spacious swim deck

I'm fine to do the homework, but would love any recommendations for models I should be looking at. Assume 10-30 years old. Willing to pay for a refit if necessary. Budget around $300-320K.

Really appreciate the help guys!

[Lepke]

Much will depend on where you plan to travel - ocean, river, lake. Semi-displacement can go faster with the right engines for a big fuel bill. Displacement is probably going to draw more than 5.5', speed is relative to actual hull speed, Going fast takes really big engines and a lot of diesel. Hull speed is 1.34 x sq. root of the waterline length in feet. 60' boat about 10 knots. A narrow hull might raise that a little as will twin engines. I liveaboard an 83' boat and cruise easily at 10 knots (8.5gl/hr), and can do 12 without hurting the engines. For my boat to do 20 knots would require 2x horsepower and 30gl fuel/hour, maybe more.
Boats in the ocean roll and pitch. Without the pressure of wind on a sail, even more rolling. A power boat is going to roll more than a cat. Stabilizing fins help but don't stop the roll. Stabilizing planes do a better job, but are expensive to buy and to install. There are internal gyro stabilizers, but also not cheap and require strong hull structure. If you're somewhere the ocean is mostly flat - S.Cal, Texas, Florida, it won't be too bad without stabilization.

No model recommendation. What I would pick isn't made.

[Tillsbury]

Be aware that there are significant regulations that apply to boats over 20m. Read up on those and see whether that’s something you need to keep an eye out for before going to 70’

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

Be aware that there are significant regulations that apply to boats over 20m. Read up on those and see whether that’s something you need to keep an eye out for before going to 70’

News to me, care to fill us in as to what they are?
Perhaps it depends on where you are in the world?

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Lepke

. Hull speed is 1.34 x sq. root of the waterline length in feet. 60' boat about 10 knots. A narrow hull might raise that a little as will twin engines.

In theory yes but doing 10 knots for us uses probably 3 x the fuel and reduces range dramatically in comparison to our 7.5 knot cruise speed

[Certeza]

I'm not really looking for model specific. The top 10 makes would be fine. I can search through all the models.

[rsn48]

I suggest you join the Trawler Forum, which covers more than trawlers and also ask your question there.

I suggest you really think through what size you want, and check out marinas for available space before you buy.

I just read a good article in Pacific Yachting about what type of boats to purchase for Alaska cruising. The one piece of advise that really stuck out for me was this - "Plan on the length of boat you want, then knock 10 feet off that figure." People tend to over boat, the larger you go, the more a "project" you have on your hands.

Size is important in boat handling, sea worthy, marina usable, and all the dribs and drabs of money needed to maintain such boats.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Certeza

More recently I've come around to the idea of a 60ft-ish trawler/cruiser style mono. Anything from 58-70ft would be considered,

-naturally aspirated twin diesel
-top end speed at least 15kn but preferably 20kn in a pinch.

Budget around $300-320K.

These are all competing requirements.

You might look at some of the Hatteras long range cruiser (LRC) and motor yacht models.

Originally Posted by rsn48

I suggest you join the Trawler Forum, which covers more than trawlers and also ask your question there.

Yep. trawlerforum.com, sister site to this one.

-Chris

[plumqik]

Look at Fleming Yachts-best trawler but expensive and rare to find used. Search YouTube for their videos and see how they are made-very impressive.

[HankB971]

Certeza,

Another thing to consider is insurance. Not knowing where you live, and going by your post, you might have problems getting insurance. We recently upgraded from a 31’ boat to a 43’ and had to document our experience. This from the same insurance company we had been using for the past 10 claim free years.

I’m not saying it is insurmountable, but could complicate your purchase. It might pay to check with an insurance company to see how they react to your boating resume and future plans.

And if it turns out you are, say a retired Admiral, never mind!

H