Biggest Boat without crew?

I do not think that this even entered the OP's head.
I don't think the OP had any idea of what they were asking.

It seems to me, some people sign up to YF just to bait us and stir the pot to get "us'' going..lol. This is not the first vague, short sided question to coming along. I'm not sure at times the question is genuine.

Excellent advice!

I hope that did not chase the OP away.

OTH; even with Carl's help reminding us of a few past & great threads on the same subject, you kids came together again and with some new thoughts.

I'm a total do it your self owner both Captaining and all repairs maintenance for a few reasons, first I don't have the extra money to spend for others to do it, second here in Cape May and many other local spots, you can not get the help/competent people to do the work no matter how much money you have. Most yards around here do not even have the people to do the work. This includes many places on the Chesapeake. So I do it myself and get it done right, well most of the time...

Let me tell you , washing, waxing, varnishing, painting, etc a 42' boat compared to a 55' boat( 1971 Pacemaker MY/parents boat ) is huge, especially if you are doing it on your own. My 42 Ocean aft cabin takes me 3 to 4 hours to wash...that means hard top, the underside of it, bridge, cabin top, deck, hull, transom, and waterline/8'' below it to remove the scum line. It's an #%@ kicker! Add 10/20 more feet? WHATT ! Most wash companies over look a lot from what I have seen over the years and charge a lot of money for poor work. This is just one example..I rolled and tipped (painted) the entire bridge/cabin top and deck this winter , myself . 42' quickly felt like 84'.

You guys in Florida have it made on all of the companies you can hire out to for help, which pisses me off! Lol..we don't up yonder. So depending on where you keep the boat, how much you can afford to spend for real help etc, size does matter..Lol, .

As far as running the boat, yes 40ft to 84 ft is similar, 84ft is quite big...60ft is the biggest I ever ran. Yes the spring line is your friend and is the first line to put on, if the dock hand listens and knows what they are doing. Unfortunately, that is very far and few between as many of you have said.

All this being said, IMO, anything over 60 feet can be a handful with no help, what so ever for running/docking etc... Up keep and maintenance anything over 13' ; based on older Boston Whaler with Varnish Mahogany seats and helm and cable steering..LOL

I know, I know, some of you had a Lyman with cable steering to take care of I'm sure. Even more work!

Well it really was!

My Biggest Boat without a Crew is 28’, which is my present boat: An Albin 28TE: Easy to clean, easy to dock, easy everything including single diesel and a Vetus bow thruster.
First boat I owned was 44’, next 33’ and finally settled on the 28’.
(Not counting numerous skiffs, runabouts and dink’s, lots of those in the previous and present boat portfolio)
As for how big without a crew?
I operated a Johnson 70 for a while, same as Pascals previous office:
I could easily take it out with just my wife as the deck hand, bow thruster and stern thruster, both 25 hp, triple stations and fingertip steering.
Cleaning, maintenance and upkeep however was a different matter: Lots of systems and stuff kept breaking. Had to hire and fire quite a few contractors and the occasional mate.
No way would I own a big boat: Nature and water is the same on a small tub, so is comfort if you only go out as a couple. (Obviously a big family or 3-4 couples can’t do on the 28’, but I sure can, and wife loves it for the size.)
Also, my boats are paid for, so is my Waterfront properties and my vehicles.
Sleep good at night, no debt and money in the bank, but if I won the lotto, look for me on a Tiara 65, Norhavn 62, or an Offshore 66, but there will be a cleaning and maintenance crew waiting for me every time I come back to homeport. In the meantime, this is my favorite boat without a crew:
www.odincharters.com

I like the rugged look of the older 62 Norhavns! Just can't take that 6 knots for all the short, weekend cruising we do. Cuts heavily into quality time enjoying friends and adult beverages.

6 knots, is that all they can do?
Never looked at the specs, just visited onboard during some boat show in Fort Lauderdale, expected 8-9 at least.
Back to the Albin 28TE then, she will also do 6 knots, and 8-9 if needed, even 17 knots cruise @ 3600 RPM, or 21.5 knots at “war-power” @ 4000 RPM.
Getting used to fast, had sailboats for 20 years, life was good at 5.5 knots, but now spoiled and can never go back.
Offshore 66, or even the 54 then: Beer taste the same, food is just as good and the wife is the same good or bad, nobody to impress at some remote anchorage in the Exumas and no crew needed, except for maintenance, cleaning and upkeep.
Stay tuned, lotto tomorrow..

Ed McMahon says I may have already won !!!!!

Nice..
I looked at my ticket, wrong date, no Offshore 66 tomorrow.

The S.S Baychimo was a 230' cargo vessel that managed for nearly 40 years without a crew. Granted that was floating as a derelict in the arctic ocean, but no crew is no crew.

Duh, a dead whale will float for a while with no crew.

I'm always fascinated when I read about these old, derelicts just floating around for years undiscovered - belongs in the Mad Max series. There was one find a few year ago of a recreational sailboat that contained the mummified remains of the skipper sitting at a table below where he apparently passed, if I remember correctly.

I suspect "the biggest/longest" has to do with maneuverability in a harbor/mooring. A crew lives aboard and leaves the dock. At most any harbor you can find some help with cleaning and maintenance, hopefully competent. That is not crew.

Docking is clearly the most challenging part. In the marina where I am there are many guys who run 45-50 ft boats alone without a problem. If it gets windy though they get stressed and ask for help (med style stern docks). Outside docking, it is not prudent to operate a vessel above 40 ft single handed frequently. Things break, you would need the help and it is more fun with people (and alcohol).

Weird thread, this one.
Posted by someone upon subscription 3 years ago, not to be heard again since then.
And now, resurrected by another newly subscribed chap with no meaningful reason.
Makes me wonder who else will come up with another comment on this topic in 2025, after it will be long forgotten...