automatic yacht?

[case-sensitive]

I'm really keen to get off the land once and for all, unfortunately I got zero interest in actually sailing. I do not know why but sailing has never appealed to me ever. Ideally I would take a power boat but after calculations the fuel usage would be out of control.

What is available in the absolute least input required in regards to a sailing vessel? Need something for one person at least 40' + (say 46 to 50 ft). Live a board. Is there anything with 1 sail only? What about an automatic yacht, I see that Maltese Falcon comes close but of course way out of reach. Are there any yachts today for the general buyer with such a hard sail and it is all computerized?

What is available taking out the equation of actually having to sail the thing.

Budget would be around 500K.

[appick]

Umm nope not really. Nothing is free if you don't want to have the fuel bills you have to work for it. If working or fixing is not your thing you might really want to reevaluate your thinking to leave the land haha. Not trying to be rude but is this a day late april fools joke? I sure hope so!

[David M]

The problem with highly automated is that things still break, wear out and still need maintenance. Highly automated also means that systems are more complex. The greater the complexity of any system and the more likely it is to break. There is no getting around that.

If sailing does not appeal to you then get a power boat and drive it slow, you would be astounded at the fuel savings between driving a power boat fast and driving it slow. Stay off a plane and you save tons of money.

For $500,000 you could get a very nice used Grand Banks trawler.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1997...s#.UzxMrqhdU2Y

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...294955787+1506

[case-sensitive]

This is what caught my attention

Technology

Wing sail, computerized, sailed itself from West Coast to Hawaii.

All it needs to be is bigger for human cargo.

I do recall reading years ago about an actual sail boat that was full automated i.e. you sit in the cockpit and press buttons and it does all the manual labor for you. I cannot relocate that article again.

What modern vessel exists with one sail that you put up and go? That would automatically adjust or move itself to catch the wind?

[Jammer Six]

You need one of our highly skilled bow bunnies.

Be sure to check for the bunny dip.

[ontherocks83]

I'd suggest looking at trawlers. Decent fuel mileage and good range. As far as your question yes I have heard things like that do sorta exist but you are talking millions not 500k.

One of those friend of a friend deal has a beautiful 70+ footer sail boat that is all automated and he essentially controls it from a touch pad screen. But again you are talking millions not thousands

[case-sensitive]

Ideally this is what I would get in a heartbeat

Leopard 51 PC | Leopard Catamarans US

but my plan is to spend the last 20 years going everywhere, around the world, across oceans etc. etc.

Surely the fuel costings would be astronomical?

[a64pilot]

A Nonesuch? did I get the name right? Doesn't it come close to what he wants?
Whittaker Yachts I think has one for sale, I think actually you can get a real deal on one as they aren't highly sought after?

[jostalli]

For your budget I would suggest a Leopard 46 Powercat. This will yield the best fuel economy and would be the most comfortable live aboard. You can pick up a used one for around $400k.

[MarkJ]

The type of boat you are looking for is a displacement motor boat like a Nordhavn. The smaller ones can still go around the world, but their price is below $500,000 and fuel would not be much higher than an advanced sailing boat's tech stuff to automate.

But like the mountaineer who asked for a lift to be built alongside Mt Everest the answer is "sure. But its sure cheaper to just climb the f'er!"

[rw58ph]

Sounds like you want a power boat. Single engine full displacement long range boat/trawler. Like our boat the Eagle. We get 2 to 3 miles per gallon depending on the conditions, 2500 miles range. The boat is self sufficient/contained for a month at a time, but it has to be set up correctly using alternative energy sources, propane/diesel/sun/wind. So there is a cost and if an older boat/trawler with in your budget.

We had a motor sailor boat, 60ft, that was basically automatic as he could contol the sails from the enclosed pilot house. However, he motored the majority of the time espcially loging from point A to point B. If you took away the sails it basically was the same as our trawler as it was about the same displacment, powered by the same DD 671 engine and capability. Why people wnat to sail is been a mystery to me.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by rw58ph

Why people wnat to sail is been a mystery to me.

Possible answers:

1. It's cool.
2. It's macho.
3. It's romantic.
4. Perceived (true or not) as cheaper than a power boat for cruising.
5. To get away from smelly, noisy power boats.

[nimblemotors]

This is a April Fools joke right? $500,000 for a boat, and you are worried about fuel costs?
How about you spend $400,000 on the boat, and leave $100,000 for fuel?

A sailboat was built for a handicap man in a wheelchair who sailed across the atlantic by himself, sailing the boat with only a handheld remote control.
And I think $500,000 might not be enough for that boat, but close.
Again, that is was somewhat silly exercise for a billionaire, as noted above, the fuel costs are not much when talking building million dollar boats. Good he could fund the technology, but could be done in a much smaller boat.

I am building a 40ft solar powered boat, and it will cost under $100k...fuel costs none,
but will be a slow boat. I am going to change my username to 'solar turtle' soon.

[a64pilot]

OK, again I'll ask why not one of these, aren't they about as simple as it gets? Or as usual am I not understanding something?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonsuch_(sailboat)

[atoll]

you could build a big raft,and just use the ocean currents to drift around the world,get a tug to tow you in once in a while if you wanted to stop occasionally,in the southern ocean you could do this indefinitly.

having a small helicopter would allow for trips ashore when passing continents