Looking for brand recommendations for long range cruising motor yachts

[Pizzazz]

My view is somewhat different. You want a regular motor-yacht, in the 45-50 ft range. Fir example, my Riva would be perfect for this. Good seakeeping hull, ocean rated, low superstructure and plenty of internal space.

Most of the time you would be on the plane @ around 20 knots, with fuel consumption around 0.9 nmpg depending on load in typical ocean conditions. You will need to add fuel bladders to extend the range. It should not be a problem to target 700 gallons in fixed capacity and another 1,000 gallons in flexible tanks, extending the range to 1,500 nm. If you want to drop down to displacement speed at 7.5 knots, your range will triple to 4,000 nm.

The biggest benefit is that you can make medium distances quickly, efficiently, taking advantage of the weather windows. If you are caught in weather, you can still manage quite well to run with the waves as long as you have power. For the occasional ocean crossing (you are unlikely that you will do more than 3-4 in your lifetime), you can either go slow and take the beating or just ship the boat. But you will have a blast once you get to your destination, going from island to island, etc.

Trawlers have their place, they are big and comfortable but just slow. The same is true for sailboats but at least that is romantic and more connected to the water. There is nothing romantic chugging along on a trawler at 6.5 knots, for days on end, IMHO.

[mcarthur]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

...
There is nothing romantic chugging along on a trawler at 6.5 knots, for days on end, IMHO.

I'll change your ending: there is nothing romantic thrashing through waves and swell at 20kn using 150lph and throwing $100 into fuel tank every 17minutes and either being on the fly where it's wet and bouncy yet you can talk to each other (romance?!), or being in the cabin at a 15degree bowrise so you can't sit in a comfy chair and see out, let alone hearing each other. Personally, 6-7kn allows a lot more romance to occur

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

... There is nothing romantic chugging along on a trawler at 6.5 knots, for days on end, IMHO.

"It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop." ~ Confucius

[Pizzazz]

Originally Posted by mcarthur

I'll change your ending: there is nothing romantic thrashing through waves and swell at 20kn using 150lph and throwing $100 into fuel tank every 17minutes and either being on the fly where it's wet and bouncy yet you can talk to each other (romance?!), or being in the cabin at a 15degree bowrise so you can't sit in a comfy chair and see out, let alone hearing each other. Personally, 6-7kn allows a lot more romance to occur

Good point. My argument was different though... you can cover 400 nm in a day on a powerboat, which means that you will get to the destination quickly and you can choose your weather windows wisely. Then you can romance at the destination.

A case in point. I go from Sozopol on the Black Sea to the Greek islands, a 350 nm trip in about 20 hours, including rest while refueling. Sometimes the weather is perfect, sometimes it is bashing against wind and waves. But for about 20 hours only. You can always stop at Istanbul for a nice dinner. My friends on sailboats, it takes them 2-3 days to get there and 3-4 days against wind and waves to come back. And for the record, it is 110 litres/hr, it is closer to 5 deg bowrise at speed and the cost, when averaged out over the season with all the other trip costs, not much different.

There are very few trawler style boats in the Med. The only time yachties operate at displacement speeds is when delivering a newly purchased boat to the Black Sea in an attempt to minimize cost.

[Junglebike]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

Good point. My argument was different though... you can cover 400 nm in a day on a powerboat, which means that you will get to the destination quickly and you can choose your weather windows wisely. Then you can romance at the destination.

The OP is looking for a boat capable of a circumnavigation, meaning thousands of miles of range. Not remotely possible in a Riva 48 or any twin engined planing powerboat.

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

You can cover 400 nm in a day on a powerboat, which means that you will get to the destination quickly and you can choose your weather windows wisely.

You might (or might not) cover 400 nms in a day with only 700G diesel. Somewhere in the ballpark of $3,000 USD just for fuel. For context, We just ticked-over 2400 nms and burned around 500 gals diesel - $2500 USD at Mexican rates.

Given the OP's budget which seems to be in the $200k range, I doubt he'd be thrilled with spending $3k/day in fuel.

BTW - idea to carry 1000+ gals in diesel reminds me of the Ray McCormack feat to Hawaii on the Sunseeker a couple months ago. Surprised he made it - boat didn't look great when it arrived.