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Yacht selection: Carver or Navigator or Trawler

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by jkxtreme, Feb 10, 2018.

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  1. jkxtreme

    jkxtreme New Member

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    We're looking at several Carvers, Navigators and a couple older Trawlers by Albin and Marine Trader. The plan is to retire and cruise the Caribbean. We don't want a sail boat because of my age and the work involved. Do any of you have any of these boats, particularly the Carvers and Navigators, who also cruise as far as the BVI and Grenada. What has been your experience with these brands.
  2. Lenny

    Lenny Member

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    I have done this trip three times. Once with a 48 ft Grand Banks (wood) 30 years ago, once with a 49 ft Grand Banks (glass) 8 years ago and once with a 78 Ft Jongert Dutch Built Motor Yacht, last year. I would NOT recommend doing the trip with any of those boats. There is a lot of big water between here and the BVI and then much bigger to Grenada. Any of the boats you mentioned, I would not want to be in the ocean over 4 to 5 feet. The boat will probably not sink, but those boats are not made for 10 foot seas. You can be as careful as you like but you will get caught in some big seas.
    Louis1979 likes this.
  3. jkxtreme

    jkxtreme New Member

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    Thanks for the reply... good words of wisdom.
  4. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    The boats you're talking about could all be good coastal cruisers. That leaves a lifetime of cruising to do, covering the coasts, the Great Lakes, the Loop and even the Bahamas. Just not built, nor generally the range, for the Virgin Islands or South of them.
  5. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

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    Two knowledgeable and experienced yachtsmen have expressed sound opinions.

    Judy
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I would not take a Carver out of my bath tub for open water. My rubber duckie would fair better.

    Some times, I crack my-self up. :D
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2018
  7. SeaLion

    SeaLion Senior Member

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    Lenny - Can you share why a 78' dutch built (steel? CE Cat A?) motoryacht would be inadequate to go from Miami to the VI? It seems like more than enough.
  8. jkxtreme

    jkxtreme New Member

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    Well, it looks like we'll be looking at catamarans... We started our search looking at cats but they are expensive... especially power cats. For those that know cats, what size would be acceptable in your mind.
  9. Lenny

    Lenny Member

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    Sorry I guess my post was not clear. My Jongert, 78 foot Dutch built motor yacht, has crossed the Atlantic seven times on her own bottom. She is all aluminum. Yes Cat powered. We are going to Palma, in the Med, in May. We have been in legitimate, 10 to 14 foot seas, and it was nothing. The boat loves it. Wife was reading her book and I drinking my tea. Only difference was stew would not give me my tea in a proper cup, had to use a plastic mug!! Such problems!!! Very comfortable for the passengers and crew. We go it not forecast over 15 feet. Would not be afraid to go over 15 but we are not in a hurry. When everyone is sitting in Miami because the Gulf Stream is 5 feet, we cross like it is flat. Miami to VI is nothing for the boat. Really, the Jongert, per our Naval Architect, is not a boat or yacht, but a mini ship. We are now in our third major refit. Not because it needs it, but just to stay ahead of the curve. Suppose to splash Thursday after three months on the hard. Ever time I look for something bigger, it just does not compare to the Jongert.
  10. SeaLion

    SeaLion Senior Member

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    Excellent explanation. Thanks! She sounds like a great "little" ship. I'm with you on the tea in a proper cup.
  11. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    My understanding of power cat is that they can pound even more depending on the clearance between th hulls. Pretty much anything will get you to the bahamas, the problem is the open water passage from the turk n caicos to the DR. A good trawler, preferably stabilized is your best choice.
  12. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Look at a Kadey Krogan
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Krogan are nice if you like round bottom hulls. They must be stabilized well if you want to keep your breakfast. They are a solid ship and may hold your investment well.
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Power cat's can pound when over a certain height and it hits the center of the hull. I have been very impressed with the 43/44' Lagoon power cats with the big motors. 16.5 knot cruise at 1.5 Gallons per NM, 12 knots is 2NM per Gallon and 10 knots is 3NM per gallon. I had one in 7'+ seas in the Yucatan peninsula and it rode great, very impressive......but 2' higher seas and it would've rode HORRIBLY.

    Turks and Caicos to DR is an easy passage really....only 180NM...I've done it in as little as a 45' Searay Sedan Bridge. It's D.R. to PR where you can get it handed to you, but still pick your weather and go.......it's about 50 NM across the Mona Passage......If you go across the Northern end.

    I am not a roly poly trawler fan in the under 60' size range. The only time I've REALLY had the OHHH $%$ feeling in rough seas were in trawlers.......doing 90 degree turns where the boat doesn't respond at all to steering in following seas......and the wallowing around NO THANKS. Give me a semi displacement hull, that won't do U turns when a following sea makes it hit hull speed and plants the bow.
  15. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    It's pretty well a given that any slow long distance vessel would have to be stabilized.
    KK42s have been known to cross oceans.
  16. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Yes, The Krogan group had a few Atlantic crossing partys. With the help of several weather forecasting companies scheduling and directing them over.
    I don't mean to take anything away from Krogans, I stated they are a solid ship.
    Still slow rollers.
    Other than an old & fast Fisher-Potter, I'd recommend a stabilized M/Y that can move out of her own way when needed.
  17. jkxtreme

    jkxtreme New Member

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    Can you give me an example of a motoryacht you would suggest
  18. SeaLion

    SeaLion Senior Member

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    Take a look at the Dashew FPB's. They look like excellent passagemakers.
  19. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Not near as rigged like the Dashew (or as expensive), But ole Hat LRCs, Hat & Bertram M/Ys.
    Solid, No metal (black iron) fuel tanks. Can move along if needed. Not too bad at 6-8 kts. Lots of room.
    You wont feel like a sardine when the weather is bad. You wont feel like a fried sardine when the weather is good.
    Your not going to make the MPG a lil Albin will.
    You will have much more comfort. Just go slow. Works for us..
    Louis1979 likes this.
  20. Juan Galan

    Juan Galan New Member

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    You probably bought a boat by now, but if you have not, I agree with others regarding open ocean trips on Navigator/Carver on the Atlantic Ocean. In the Pacific Ocean, they are frequently used for an over 800 mile trip from San Diego to Baja, without a problem!
    I chose a Navigator over a Carver and used it for 11 years:
    5 in the Great Lakes; then out the St Lawrence Waterway to Gaspe/PEI/Nova Scotia/Maine and on to Florida;
    6 years in the Bahamas with cruises throughout the islands, with no issues!
    She was custom built in 2000 and delivered to Morris, Illinois dealer for commissioning, so I had 450hp Cummins and duplicate electronics as well as dual Racors,etc. She had all the amenities:Washer/Dryer;Dishwasher;Trash Compactor;Direct TV; Zodiac jet dinghy; special storage under galley,etc. She served us very well for 11 years and frankly had quality parts built into her[Water strainers; dual FW pumps; etc. We had to add power steering as her original steering was inadequate and contributed to a bad experience we had in the Chesapeake!
    She is fine at 18-20 knots, up to 4' waves but after that you need to slow down as the Pilot house is forward so you feel the waves much more than in a sports fisherman. Remember in a PH boat you are 15-20' from the bow whereas in a SF you are 15-20' from the stern!
    We love a Pilothouse layout, so after owning a 55' Viking SF in winter of 2015[great fast SF], we now have a 52' West Bay Sonship [600 hp MAN's]which is very similar to 53' Navigator layout, but a much better seaboat[17+ Beam; much higher hull profile, etc.] If you can find a West Bay Sonship, you will pay more but you will have a much better seagoing vessel!!
    Happy to answer any questions from those looking at a Navigator as I visited factory during build and operated her for over 1,000 hours, etc. Navigators are great for coastal & Bahamas use. In the hands of a seaworthy captain, she can take you to lots of places and she is a very comfortable live aboard! We spent five summers living on her in the Great Lakes and did not ever regret her!!