Yachts in Rough Seas

If you search threads on YF from the mid to late-2000s, I think you'll find our members may have influenced current design trends, such as plumb bow benefits.

Good videos above. A reminder that we're all at mercy of the sea.

Looks like a **** hobby horse. Note the commercial ship in the background - 17-28 sec - not trying to max out his engines - quartering the waves, like we normally do.

I always think the same thing, no matter the boat. How does it REALLY perform. Pretty much all boats look great in calm seas. Or even worse at the dock.

I've gone on many sea trials with buyers, and I think the brokers hated me. They'd always try to run in flat seas and I always pushed for rough. If nothing else I'd find wakes to cross at bad angles. That boat in the first video was running nice. The 2nd one? Yeah, hobby horse is a good description. It almost looked like the fault of that bulbous bow.

My most recent sea trial on the buy, owner had no idea of my intent to gut and refurbish to the gills. He ordered up a cook with a really nice lunch served aboard while we trialed. My surveyor was in the engine room weeds, knowing full well that my aim was to have reliance upon major propulsion items, not nuance items. Surveyor knew I was going to tear her down. I knew Hargrave boat was well designed structurally. I enjoyed my lunch. I kicked hard at out-of-water, and knew he'd choose to close. Fun day. We were tearing her apart on the hard before escrow even cleared.

Thread brought back a fun memory.

I’ve seen the Gene machine roughs seas video before and I’m glad someone started this thread. My question is during a crossing like that what does the crew do with all the hundreds of loose furniture items, decor objects etc. Just imagine a showcase on a mag of a yacht like that and try to remember all the stuff you see and imagine that yacht running in rough conditions with all those items. Would love to know from someone in the business. I’ ve chartered many times albeit never a yacht that big, but also never did a crossing longer than 2-3 hours and not with rough seas. Thanks for all the replies, stay healthy.

If it can fly, roll or slide it gets wedged in and tied down. Transports aren't fancy no matter how fancy the boat.

I have wondered this too. When I see a yacht with a dining room table with 12 chairs & a chandelier I wonder where do they put the stuff ?
Not like they are folding chairs and a card table.

My theory is that good design, be it architecture or interior, doesn't require the layers upon layers of pillows, decor accessories, etc. Good furniture design is appealing to the eye as well as comfort. Show me a sofa with a myriad of pillows, and I'll show you a designer who struggled to introduce color, or worse, a furniture maker who specialized in form over function.

That being said, so many large yachts are overwhelmed with our home-life creature comforts. Watched a crew this fall spend three days preparing a gal for the annual NY to FL trek, taking down pictures, mirrors, televisions, bundling pillows and tables, all in preparation for the relocation.

Although all cabinets will generally have locks they sometime don't hold. Moved a 60' Sunseeker down to Fl. once and the owner loved to eat. He had the 2 fridges packed. First day out we hit rough seas. Those fridges blew open and kept blowing open. What a mess. Duct tape is a wonderful thing.

Saw similar when I was operating a Johnson 70 fifteen years ago:
Owner said I could take it out as much as wanted, invited my wife for cruise around the harbor in Fort Lauderdale, then a quick spin out the inlet in light conditions: Noisy downstairs, sent wifey down to investigate: The dishwasher had come lose and ripped across the floor boards. (Secured it, no further damage)
The plasma TV jammed and numerous other headaches, boat was not commissioned right, or built by a questionable yard, or both.

I've had several owners offer me their boats, and that's one of the big reason I always said No thanks.