What defines an Expedition Yacht?

Have a look at that bow. Thats what I mean with ice breaking capable.
And yes I do like aft superstructure type boats. Turmoil is one other favorite
of mine. The guys from Vripack have some great designs like this.

Sorry to disagree, but that bow represents the same stem construction of most yachts, as do most "expedition" yachts. An ice breaking bow actually flattens out going aft right at the waterline so that the ship can ride up on top of the ice whereby the weight of the ship actually "breaks" the ice.

But to paraphrase Carl when he saw my first "shadow boat" Paladin Shadow at FLIBS, you can tell the expedition yachts because they are the ugly ones!

Have to agree that in my experience in the 150+ foot range, there is no more actual capability in an "expedition" yacht than a normal yacht, they just do not look as sleek and fine of line. Square superstructures do provide more volume for storage, but there is no evidence that ugly is more seaworthy or the the word expedition means anything else. Most 150 footers whether semi- or full displacement have ranges and construction that can easily cruise the northern and southern extremes in the summer without problems, and who wants to go there in the winter?

I'd suggest that they at least need to be ice hardened to some extent, which not all big boats are (the consequences of this can be titanic).

Oh and hey, there is nothing wrong with the North in winter. It's quite beautiful up here right now. You can make it up to the southern edge of the Bering sea reliably with out an ice breaker. Perhaps you could do some heli-skiing or just enjoy the snow covered coniferous forests from the comfort of a yacht.

Gentleman, thats all I need and all I want. No active icebreaking to open
frozen waters for trading lines. An all purpose retirement boat.
Owner of the copyright of the picture is the shipping company
of Hanse Explorer

That, sir, is a handsome vessel.

Hi,

I was looking for a good Ice Breaker bow picture to post and came across this little beauty.

This would make one heck of an Explorer unless you wanted to dock it in NZ after going to the Antarctic.

50 Years of Victory - the largest nuclear-powered icebreaker in the world | Quark Expeditions

Taking on bunkers may get a little pricey.

So might discharging the used ones.

That is really a nice subject we have not talked about. Nuclear powered yachts! Nice long range. That little bit of radiation. Its a retirement boat, nobody wants children anymore.

Discharging of nuclear waste is no problem for the Russians. They throw the whole reactor away and dump it in the bay. In the vicinity of the cola penincula you might find a few hundred of those rotting in the open.

Nuclear power in civilian hands has been discussed here before. It got closed before there were too many health scares of the members.

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/general-yachting-discussion/5254-why-not-nuclear.html

You forgot to mention the change of hull color from blue to black.

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/g...what-defines-expedition-yacht.html#post170415

But I did mean this boat. The Vripack yacht Turmoil.

MotorSailer Expedition Yacht

Being in the minority on this forum I guess I have to step up and defend the 'sailor's' point of view, ....or more explicitly, the motor & sailing point of view


I read thru this thread and saw almost NO mention of vessels with some sail power, and very little with the world motorsailer, and most every thing was big yacht sized. I would want to go with family, and maybe a few friends, and likely without having to have a paid crew onboard. I want to go explore at a leisurely pace.

I vote for a motorsailer to get me to remote areas, and to get around those remote areas as well....many likely shallow, and some with no fuel...
..like the Line Islands out in the Pacific,

..or the Royal Charlotte Banks off of Brazil,

..or this trip up the coast from Peru to Hawaii

..the Baltic sea, the fiords of Norway..Etc


...maybe something like this
Gamefishing Design - a 65' mast-aft sailing catamaran.
"capable of greatly extending your exploration of the world. In the next couple of years you could be visiting Bora Bora, Hong Kong, the King's Cup in Thailand, fishing the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, attending the America's Cup races in New Zealand, then back to France for the start of the next RACE around the world. Now, there's an adventure!"

...or this, http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/general-sailing-discussion/6710-motor-sailers-philip-rhodes-john-alden.html

...or perhaps something like this concept
http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/general-sailing-discussion/8127-new-age-trawler-motorsailer%3B-kite-assisted-poweryacht.html

Domino Power Cat

Here is another vessel out there committed to an extensive exploration. ...look thru their blog

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/general-yachting-discussion/16781-expenses-cruising%3B-budget-examples.html

Hi Fishtgua,
BTW, I do like the looks of her too

I do like the idea of a big sailing catamaran as a retirement boat. Besides my personal problem, that my beloved wife denies my/our future sailing, it combines the two worlds of boating. Envinromental friendly and energy saving travel but upright sailing with superstructure above the main deck level and a lot of comfortable living space. Even a flybridge setup looks perfect on a large catamaran.

When designing a large Cat with 499 GT volume (to stay below the SOLAS trouble), you will get a lot of living space for the owner, his guests and very important adequate quarters for the permanent crew. And most important those marbles have great sailing performance.

But there are some negative arguments with cats.

- every harbour master in world will hate you and/or rip you off with mooring costs.

- the most (and maybe best?) catamarans are designed and built by french companies.

- somebody has to convince my wife about this splendid idea.

Cheers

Are you saying that your wife does not like sailing? Or would have to be convinced?

Take her on a good charter. Take her aboard a few big ones at some yacht shows, and watch her eyes light up with the space, and privacy offered. I found women much perfered level sailing cats.

Too bad I never got to complete the 110 foot 'daysailer' I was working on with a potential Italian gentleman and his partner. ...for cruising around the Med shorthanded.

Something Larger?

How about a larger version of this with a more conventional rig.
http://www.runningtideyachts.com/dynarig/
Layout & Profile Accommodations Drawing
...note the retractable propulser...rim drive prop...shallow water capable


Or how about even bigger,
Catamaran 'Douce France' - Luxury sailing yacht charter

"Douce France", second largest catamaran in the world - YouTube

Oceanography

I noted on your profile that you have an interest in oceanography. I used to as well.
Owner/Charter Options
Sole Owner, Foundation Placement. There exist an alternative to the private use or charter scenarios mentioned above. It would require an owner/investor(s) who could take advantage of certain tax deductions presented under such a plan. One scenario would have the owner donate his/her/their vessel to a nonprofit, scholastic foundation whose purpose would be to make the vessel available to a consortium of colleges involved in ocean research projects. I'm sure the patriarchal donor would always be welcomed back aboard in between scholastic projects. For longer excursions I'm sure the foundation could arrange very favorable charter rates.
Having always had a keen interest in oceanography myself, I can't think of a better scenario for one of our gamefishing cats to alternatively be involved in fisheries research.