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What 50 to 60 Fly would be suitable for the Caribbean

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Cannook, Aug 20, 2020.

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  1. Cannook, Aug 24, 2020
    #41
    Cannook

    Cannook New Member

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    Hey OLDERBOATER , I have appreciated all your comments. Take care
  2. KoffeeCruising, Aug 24, 2020
    #42
    KoffeeCruising

    KoffeeCruising Member

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    881973BF-C4AD-4C53-8462-28D868D35F42.jpeg I second Older Boater; what you think you want changes the more you do-know-see. My 10 year ideal concept of a 44’ trawler to do the loop and Bahamas morphed into a 54’ Flybridge Motoryacht. I realized I could have the economy of a trawler if I kept to 8kts- but I could go 24kts if I want to beat weather or Cross Gulf Stream to get somewhere. I have 700 gals so with 20% reserve my 550ish useable fuel can get me 500nm@10kts or 350nm @ 20kts. Good range, but not awesome range.

    I was looking at Krogen Express and Fleming’s- both awesome- but stumbled onto a well kept 2007 Pama 540 with twin Volvo D-9s. Built in China - sort of like the Genesis car brand- high fit and finish for an Asian maker. Actually I looked at 2 of them; one was awful- not kept well— then saw ours. Couldn’t believe it was the same brand and age.

    For us she has been awesome; great layouts, engine room and lazzarette, teak & holly, and a great Flybridge, davit and 13’ tender. The bimini on the Flybridge is great shade and rain protection, and I bought 2 blow up kayaks that we can use for sight seeing.

    we have 210 gal water tank so our 2 heads with showers are great: maybe more pressure than home. Maybe not Multiple 10 mins due to my heater capacity, but plenty long. We just refill &Marina and I also have a water maker. Laundry on board is awesome, and the grill on FB among with my convection microwave and 3 burner range - we can seriously cook. And the ladies can get seriously foxily dressed up for a night on the town. The only thing I wish I had were stabilizers; the Side power fins or a sea keeper; I could retrofit but don’t want to spend that serious money. Maybe put that in your list

    You’ll probably never regret getting a bigger boat than you thought you wanted.

    We have 2 queen staterooms and converted an office into a 3rd bunkroom where we sleep if we have 2 couples with us, or where my Cap’n sleeps when I bring him to someplace new. He always came rhe first 6 months , and now I take him the first time we go anywhere tricky, Abacos or to/thru the Keys/Naples/ Okochobee waterway.

    your TdF France metaphor is apt; maybe more so than you can appreciate. Some days unfortunately the trip is like climbing Alpe d’Huez or Col du Colubier.... some days feel like a time trial... some windy/rainy nights are like the Paris-Roubaix cobblestones—- after 2 years of cruising I find my guests like being there more than getting there.

    Not sure where you live but guessing Midwest; so seeing and stepping onto a boat is way more important than reading and researching. PM me if and when you get to South Fla.

    Finding a 50-60’ boat to charter will be hard; most are much bigger. You can find big motor cats to charter in the BVIs ...

    As a Midwesterner I (and my guests)love cruising experience from FLL to Palm Beach or FLL down to Miami without having to worry about crossing oceans or international flights.... the we reached out to Bimini, Abacos, Keys....

    This summer we had planned to head up East Coast but COVID stopped the trip: we’ll do it when things tx settle down- and luckily the Illinois River work should be done so I can make progress on the loop: my wife will join me in dun cities and I’ll have pals to be my “peloton” until we meet up.

    it’s a good goal and time well spent. Good luck in your search.
  3. Cannook, Aug 24, 2020
    #43
    Cannook

    Cannook New Member

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    Hey guys , a fellow boater at my marina (Georgian Bay, Ontario) saw my posts on the Forum here and asked the dock-master for my cell. I had never met him but he called and we had a great discussion. He was on a buddy's Tiara 50 Coupe last year in some interesting seas off of New Providence on a run to Marsh Harbour. He found the boat outstanding and the ride safe. He thought that the 50 coupe or the 50 Fly would be what I was looking for.
    Tiara to me simply was the maker of nice 30 to 35 foot boats. I never was a 'looker' for the sake of looking and we do not have a lot 50 foot plus boats in the area of any make.
    I have spent the last hour on the web checking the specs on both. These models have been around since 2013/14 so if I wanted used I might be able to find one with the right equipment. Each weigh in around 45000 lbs plus and both have a 275 to 300 NM range with a cruise of 27 topping out at 30 to 34 KTS. Water-maker, sea-keeper, gen, etc The newer models are the 53 Coupe & 53 Fly. More or less the same boat with some improvements.
    Everybody has suggested some solid boats just not what the wife and I were looking for. These look like the Prestige model that I originally asked about but weighing in at 10 to 12 K lbs more. The bow has what appears to be a nice flare. Materials and the manufacturing process used seems that they might be making a better than average production boat.
    Any opinions about the serious offshore use with these Tiara models. Made in Michigan. The Prestige was mentioned as a nice coastal boat. Not what I want. I really appreciate real offshore sailors helping out a 'saltwater rookie'.
  4. Cannook, Aug 24, 2020
    #44
    Cannook

    Cannook New Member

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    Koffee, sounds like you are enjoying life. Hopefully in a years' time I can write down some 'pearls of wisdom' as well. I am sure you are right when you say that many a time people are not enjoying the journey only the destination. That is one reason I would like a boat that can cover a 90-100 mile hop in 3+ hrs or less when needed. An early morning departure on a smooth sea and having lunch by 1 pm at your stop for the night. Be it a cove or a marina. Seas not co-operating no problem simple enjoy another day or two where ever we are. Safe travels and I hope you can complete some miles on the loop
  5. olderboater, Aug 24, 2020
    #45
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Tiara makes a 53' flybridge and it has decent performance and range, comes in both shafts and IPS. Sabre has fans but in flybridge they skip from 48' to 66'. The 66 is worth considering. Hunt (Hinckley) has a 63' flybridge. Fleming 58 would be a great boat if you could get them to install a bit bigger engine. Unfortunately cruise with 800 MAN's is only 16 knots or so. (WOT 20).
  6. Capt J, Aug 24, 2020
    #46
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    That's a ridiculous thing to say. With a watermaker and the right stateroom, the owner should be as comfortable in his/her stateroom and his/her shower. NO 2 minute showers or any of that, or CAMPING, we're talking about yachting here. Given your new objective, the answer is easy. A Hatteras 54' GT or equivalent sized Viking SF. 2 generators can be had in the 54' GT as well as water maker, plenty of freezer space, seakeeping, speed, range and anything else you're looking for.

    The Sunseeker 65'/66' is a great boat and would serve your purpose very well, but outside of the size limitation......
  7. Cannook, Aug 24, 2020
    #47
    Cannook

    Cannook New Member

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    Would really like to stay under 55 ft
  8. Cannook, Aug 24, 2020
    #48
    Cannook

    Cannook New Member

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    Hey Capt J, as I said to oldboater I would really like to stay under 55 ft. You are obviously passionate about yachting. I love boating as well but to us, after 25 odd years of weekends and holidays living on the water we would like to change that around. To me using a great boat to transit the beautiful waters of the Carib would be outstanding/a dream. Then to sample the fabulous accommodations that many of the islands offer is simply 'icing on the cake'. We do not want to live on the boat. It is a means of transportation, Great transportation-fun-enjoyable-a satisfying accomplishment with views and memories en-route that would make it onto postcards. That said I will look into the two you have mentioned. Thx
  9. Captain Dufy, Aug 24, 2020
    #49
    Captain Dufy

    Captain Dufy Member

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    Nobody has written about the Riviera in that range. Any reason why??
  10. Captain Dufy, Aug 24, 2020
    #50
    Captain Dufy

    Captain Dufy Member

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    Riviera 54 fly looks like a solid contender for Michael’s needs
  11. olderboater, Aug 24, 2020
    #51
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Why? Just asking why that number is so important to you?
  12. olderboater, Aug 24, 2020
    #52
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    It's a possible. Didn't cross my mind as I'm less familiar, then some aspects I don't like, such as the lack of lower helm and the lack of outdoors space due to the enclosed bridge, but OP may be fine with those.
  13. Pascal, Aug 24, 2020
    #53
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Tiaras are very well built and solid boats. Way above prestige overall. About three years we did a tandem charter in the Exumas Along with a 50/52 tiara coupe. Solid boat, nice layout. Stabilized (gyro)

    now, again Bahamas is one thing
    ... carib is another but a tiara is probably a Good place to start
  14. Captain Dufy, Aug 24, 2020
    #54
    Captain Dufy

    Captain Dufy Member

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    Olderboater, the riviera 54 or 57 fly offers a lot more space than SF and a beautifull aft kitchen with access to the aft deck. I do not know about blue water capacities but some other participants probably can comment. After reading some of the boat tests, it seems these boats have the range for island hopping. I would love to have Cap.J comments .
  15. Cannook, Aug 24, 2020
    #55
    Cannook

    Cannook New Member

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    Captain Dufy
    Never considered it. Not a brand that we see much in my area of the Great Lakes. However after a quick look on the web I will spend some time tomorrow researching it. Thank you
  16. Cannook, Aug 24, 2020
    #56
    Cannook

    Cannook New Member

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    Oldboater
    I have been looking at this as a two to three year adventure. At the end I would sell the boat. However we have also considered that if the final choice of the boat starts approaching the 1.5 to 2 range that maybe, after finishing up down South, we would do the inside Great Route and bring her back to Canada to keep there. I am sure that the kids will be able to find use for it there. Anything over 50 to 55 ft you really start pushing it for the Trent Canal & the Thirty Thousand Islands. That is where we would operate it from. The Trent Canal can take up to 83-84' but that is like saying you can drive a semi along Park Avenue NY. It fits but you wouldn't want to make it your daily route. The 30 K islands are beautiful but even at the 50' mark on a windy day you are not winding your way through the inside passages. I do not want to compromise the Carib on a what if but we might as well see if we can get something that will do it all. Thx
  17. Capt J, Aug 25, 2020
    #57
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Riviera and Maritimo both would serve the OP's needs, they're more bluewater than some of the motor yachts mentioned. They're fairly good seaboats as is the Tiara, none of those would be nearly as good a sea boat as a Hatteras or Viking SF. Think of Riviera as the Ocean Yachts of the SF market......+/-, they'll get the job done, but aren't a Hatteras or Viking in ride or overall strength.

    OP, I get what you're saying about wanting to go to hotels, but many times you'll find yourself getting tired of schleping your things to and from foreign hotel rooms......Find a yacht with a really nice master and then if you still feel like hotels, then stay in a hotel.......
  18. MBevins, Aug 25, 2020
    #58
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Horizon Marine in Alexandria Bay NY (1000islands) is a Riviera Dealer.
    There's a few here including Riv's other brand Belize.
  19. ranger58sb, Aug 25, 2020
    #59
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    Additional well-fortified thought is probably useful. Although your conception of life on a boat isn't all all like ours. We don't do 2 minute showers, etc... and enjoy our own cooking... we always have our own stuff with us...

    Anyway, with this post in mind, some alternatives:

    Bag the 55' big boat idea; replace it with a 45-50' express boat, hop from island to island, get off, stay in a hotel, have somebody else to the boat work for you. Options might be things like the Sabre, Tiara, Hinckley, Cantius models, etc.

    Bag the 55' big boat idea; fly from island to island.

    Bag the 55' big boat idea; charter boat hops from island to island.

    Bag the 55' boat idea; combine the last two options somehow to get from island t island.

    My impression -- not meant to be slighting, in any way -- is that you're not actually after being boaters... instead just travelers. No need for a boat (and all the work it entails) to do that...

    -Chris
  20. Captain Dufy, Aug 25, 2020
    #60
    Captain Dufy

    Captain Dufy Member

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    Many boats are in the 55 to 60 foot range in the 1000 islands. In fact , a the Ivy Lea marina a third of the boats are in that range.Neptinus,Cantius,Sea rays,Carvers,Meridians are all 50 to 60 feet loa.Lake Ontario as well as the other Great Lakes can be pretty rough. Some of these boats have 4 to 4.6 draft and can navigate anywhere in our corner of the lake. Some our friends did the Trent in a Neptinus 60 with no problem at all. Aft kitchen and a lot of space to relax. First class all the way. Sleep on the boat every nite. Went out for diner 1 or2 times a week. With a bigger boat more place to live,less confined.
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