What makes a yacht special?

To me a special yacht has a certain feel to it. Most of these European yachts, don't have enough accomodations (refrigeration, storage, freezer space, galley space) for a week long trip with the number of guests they have berths for. One of my favorites was a 1988 75' Hatteras MY I used to run. In fact I did a 2 month long trip on it, a month long trip, and several week or 2 trips on it.....plenty of freezer space and storage space that we had to re-provision just veggies on a 2 month trip.........It's COMFORTABLE. Has a great FB with a full size gas grill, frig next to the grill, sink, etc. and plenty of seating for all of the guests to eat up there. Everything on the main level is flat and there are no steps and good headroom throughout the salon, galley, pilothouse. The galley was plenty big to cook for it's 8 guests, and easier to cook in than a 100' Hargrave or 105' Johnson I've been on....... The staterooms were quiet and comfortable and somewhat roomy.....Great views outside from the salon. It had a beautiful aft deck that was elevated and had a great view at anchor.......A lot of the newer yachts are very nice and have very nice features, but really really suck if you try to spend a week on them.......nonetheless, I have great memories of that Hatteras and the trips I've done on her.......she had her faults.....rolly in a beam sea......noisy in certain area's of the boat with the split engine room and Detroits......but the old girl always took care of you and got you there......

True, but a lot of those boats that you dislike are meant for weekenders for as many people as possible and more than likely only require the owner and guests to go short distances.

So what "floats your boat" is something practical

Far

I'm talking about something like a 70' Azimut seajet wouldn't be considered a weekender, and has a galley that I can only stand in. A refrigerator that you cannot fit 2 cases of beer or soda's in. Same with many other European yachts......Dayboats or not, if you're putting a lot of people on for the day, you need to put the refreshments somewhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even though I agree with Captain James on many boats, but I have to step in for Azimut this time!

I used to have a 75' Flybridge, the galley had a full size stainless steel reefer/freezer, a BIG ice maker, 36" range with oven, dishwasher and enough space around. In the cockpit, another ice maker and a drawer type fridge both in the wet bar to the starboard side. On the flybridge, another set of ice maker and drawer fridge in the wet bar below a good sized grill (it was bigger than I have seen on most other boats). Another good size minibar in the master stateroom at the portside cradenza and another smaller (very small!) minibar in the VIP stateroom also in the portside cradenza. It had 2 crew rooms astern, between them, guess what!.... another drawer type fridge.

My friend had a 55' sport, also had a full size fridge in the galley.

I still agree with you on many boats out there, but for sports or cruiser boats like Azimut, I have to disagree on the setup.

Cheers,

I have never been on a '75, but I have been on a 2007 and 2-2001 68' FB's and they all had a tiny galley, the 58' seajet I manage has a tiny galley, and so did a 70' seajet I managed and '50.......the 62' sunseeker I manage has a larger galley with a tiny 3 burner cooktop, and tiny refrigerator.

The most is already said. Apart from that emotions, emotions, emotions and a question of taste.

In my mind it is not the size only. Al salamah looks more like a cruise ship as a yacht

There was a 35 Meter Benetti with a 7,5 Meter sailing yacht on the deck. That was very special

I think the sport series prior to 2000 was more spacious! The 55' I mentioned was 1998, the galley was not big but the fridge was, not sure if it was a custom request. The flybridge series prior to 2002 had lots of waste in the interior because of the curved everything (i.e sofas, tables, etc.) in my opinion. After that, I think the fever of having a "Tender Garage" made the flybridge series smaller, In my opinion, Azimut sport series (Even though am a fan of anything Azimut Benetti) should be limited to day cruising and not have staterooms, instead have a larger salon with better head room, a toilet, separate shower, country style galley and dinning setting forward.

All that said, I still think comparing sports Italian or British boats to American sport fishers like bertrams and such is not fair, like it won't be fair to compare bertram with nordhavn in terms of range and other stuff. They are different categories after all.

One last note on Azimut, I feel the length to beam ratio it better on the flybridge series is bigger on hulls 70+ which could explain the interior setup, I never liked sports series of almost any maker, am into flybridges and deck space.

Thanks for your input Captain James.

Cheers,

simple - It's mine, for me and mine to enjoy

jongert sail boat

rene this was the yacht of mr dahm and the tender was built at jongert...

I concur with most of the preceding comments. My criteria:

1. Gorgeous lines along with the appropriate details on the exterior.

2. A tasteful but elegant interior that the owner and guests can enjoy.

3. Exceptional seaworthiness in a variety of conditions. It has to be useful as a boat and not just a floating condo.

I probably don't have any business posting on this thread, but I'll post my two-bits anyway.

I'm not a big motor yacht fan. I prefer sailing vessels, but anything that moves on water is okay with me. The old Gulfstars and Swans I helped sail back in the early 80s were nice vessels. Clean, sleek, the rigging was organized, lots of deck space, and fast for a sailing vessel.

I think any vessel that you can guide to a destination, and that will respond to your touch, to me at least, is what makes a vessel special.