Looking for Advice on First Large Ship

[scoobert]

WELL, much has happened in the last few months.

i started a new business, transportation still, and tripled my income.
i am on track for a Halloween boat.

i came across a Hatteras 78' yacht, for 250K. very much in my price range.
is there something wrong with them?
i know they dont have a sail, but same plan.
buy it, remove engines, place in 4cly kabotas or john deere's.
i know they are from the 80's but they dont look too bad, very large, and hot tub equipped.
what do ya think?

[simonmd]

You want to buy a perfectly good motor yacht for a quarter of a million dollars, rip the engines out and stick in two smaller ones?? Unless u want to cruise at top speed all the time, putting smaller engines in will NOT save any large amount of fuel. All you'll end up with is a big boat with small engines working hard all the time just to get it moving.

After all the advise youve been given about saving money etc in this thread, this latest idea proves you're insane, I have no other explanation.

[scoobert]

i do not wish to go fast. if i did i would buy another jet ski. if it takes me 10 years and 15,000 gallons of diesel to circumnavigate, i will.

[simonmd]

You dont get my point. A big boat is a big boat, it will need alot of energy to move through the water. If you put small engines in, then they will have to work hard just to get it to move, where as the original large ones would be just ticking over lazily at the same speed.

What youve suggested is a false ecconomy and will upset the balance of the boat.

If you want to use less fuel, buy a smaller boat or get one with sails like lots of EXPERIENCED people have been telling you for a few months now.

[boatman61]

Its not just speed mate... those big boys could just save your butt in certain circumstances where the smaller ones might not...
Those motors were'nt just fitted to go fast... they were to deal with the windage and weight as well...
Power has its uses... never seen a Cruise ship struggling to park in a gale...

[Vyndance]

Is this real?

[captainKJ]

Might want to look at a used fishing boat,, they are built for the seas better than a trawler,,,,,just have to redo the inside,,,commercial engines and generator,

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Its not just speed mate... those big boys could just save your butt in certain circumstances where the smaller ones might not...
Those motors were'nt just fitted to go fast... they were to deal with the windage and weight as well...
Power has its uses... never seen a Cruise ship struggling to park in a gale...

never seen a ship "park" at all, lol.
cannot say i have ever used full power in my little boat to dock.
that little 100hp engine with a 4.5:1 ratio should have plenty of low speed torque. if i get a good long gale i would put out the sea anchor anyhow.

the fact that is can go 18kts says to me anyhow, its overpowered for what i want. a slow leisurely cruise 90% along coast lines. and it will spend 90% of its time at anchor anyhow.

and yes i am for real. i may be eccentric, odd, and a loner, but i am real.

[scoobert]

new question.
mono's lean, sailing.
do they lean when they are reefed?
i mean could i do a reefed circumnavigation?
i don't want to be at 15-30 degrees for 35,000 miles....

i am still 4-6 months from my final decision, and i am keeping an open mind.

[Pato]

It sounds like you should buy a cat because even large power boat in a strong beam wind will still heel and an underpowered boat can be very dangerous

[scoobert]

the issue i have with the cats is you either spend 800,000 or you end up with a tiny living space. that's fine if you are a minimalist, but i like to have my life along for the ride. not to mention the 500lbs of dog food needed for a year at sea.

[CalebD]

Are you a dog?
Sorry, couldn't resist!

[scoobert]

yes, great dane.
lol
the food i give my dogs, if i ran out of food i could eat it.
google taste of the wild

[CalebD]

I've been known to eat the odd Milk Bone myself now and then too,
Great Dane's can eat a lot but the boat you're looking for will be able to carry plenty of 'taste of the wild' as emergency rations.
Don't forget to pack some fishing gear in case you have to eat the dogs and their food. Better yet, teach the Danes to fish and train them to eat it!
(Kidding again, I hope, obviously... I adore dogs.)
You seem to have a sense of humor (lol) so I wish you good luck in your quest.
My best.

[scoobert]

i am the great dane, my dogs are labs.
my labs are smart enough to run the boat without me, so i best treat them well.
anyone who has had a lab knows how smart they are.
my dogs work every day to outsmart each other.
one will be sitting next to me,
if the other one wants the spot, they will run to the window, and bark, then wait until the other one comes to investigate, then will take the spot.
sorry, but i think that a dog being vindictive is awesome.