Newbie Yachtsman - More Money than Knowledge

I'm a newbie yachtsman dreamer. I had a 30 deep V cabin cruiser as a young man. But this year, I'm retiring and want to cruise the world. I have a 1 million dollar budget, but want something safe and worthy of circumnavigation in style.

So I need everyone's knowledge and advise to protect me from my ignorance. From my naive research, I have centered my choices around something like a Nordhavn 60/63/64 size and class. Obvious, this means targeting on a 10 yr yacht which of this caliber is still pretty young.

Even with the Nordhavn, I'm not totally sure because of the single screw and full displacement ... debate. May you can add more to support my decision or choice.

Here's my bothersome questions;

1) With the same length and weight yacht, why won't a twin cat at 285 hp capable of pushing a semi displacement to 20 knots at 1800 rpm at 85 gph ... drop to 9 gph at 800rpms and act like a full displacement Nordhavn at 1000 rpm.

2) I've recently looked at a Bering 65 milage. And with twin 225 fords getting 8 gph at 8 knots @ 1000rpm ... so isn't this better than a Nordavn? I think the fit and finish are both superb. And with the Bering you get a steel hull and twin screws. So this sounds like an advantage, but Bering doesn't seem to have a strong marketing NAME like Nordhavn. Am I wrong to think this way. Plus, I don't speak or read Turkish.

3) Marketing hype: Nordhavn seems to get all the long range crusing marketing. Isn't Bering, Kady, Grand Banks, etc ... just as solid a build?

Thanks for your answers

Bob Chan

Capt J:
Thank you for the valuable advise. I've confused you on the "cat". I was referring to twin cat diesels vs single john deer (sorry said ford by mistake). I find the Bering 65 attractive in that size group but as "gr8trn" said, Bering doesn't have the numbers or miles of travel.

OK, then the Kady and GB are out. I need ocean passage. Judy asked about "purpose" and I didn't state that in my opening posting. I plan on selling my land world and live and travel aboard for 1 year. So, luxury style is important for overall comfort ... I'm not the "old man of the sea" but I do want the adventure. And since being a "newbie" ... I'll probable have it Captain'ed for 3-6 months just to learn the ropes.

Thanks

mapism

Thanks for your reality setting remarks. Yes, there's an oxymoron in my dream. But I'm not at all mistaking my dream as a mistake foolish or not. At 67, I'm ready and planning to be bored at 7-8 knots. I don't want to travel at 20 knots unless there's a storm behind me. I'm a planner, engineering type, and mechanical type. I've been a healthcare exec for decades and understand the need for planning and safety, also I've owned 24 homes and been a builder, repairman, and mechanical specialist all my life ... I guess I'm trying to say that I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but rather a farmer type. When young, I owned a 30ft cabin cruiser and dreamed that one day (today) I would own a 53 Hatteras or GB which were dream boats 40 yrs ago. Now I'm there, except the dream boat has grown a bit but the dream hasn't. I just want the best advice to enable the dream to be a safe and pleasurable one.

The dream include adventures in unseen part of the world and history. And its OK to be boarded for weeks until I get to my next port and continue the dream.

Judy, thank you for your purposeful and article answer to the Speed and Displacement issue.

But can you elaborate on your comment of "sea keeping ability and purpose and engine life". In my naive mind, I was thinking that taking an engine configuration rated to push a yacht at 20 knots at 1800 rpm would extend the life of the engines at 12knots at 1200rpm ... or something like that. You're suggesting that I could harm the diesel engines and shortening their life. I kinda understand in running at lower rpm would potential build carbon deposits. So your comments clarify this greatly in my minds.

But that being said, Bering 65 uses 2 JohnDeer 225hp for a 107 GT yacht. Nordhavn uses a similarly size single engine on their Nordhavn 63. So the Bering will still operate at recommended RPM's. Isn't this a good plan?


Thanks

Koffee:

Thank you for your 2 cents. Your points are valid ... and good warning for a dry land Newbie. I'm not afraid of learning and expect to learn a lot and if I made myself sound like a Brooks Brother suiter without the knowledge of a screw driver. I have been a previous boat owner *smaller though", I'm very DIY and mechanically inclined having owned over 25 homes and rentals and have built, rebuilt, constructed, and remodeled all my life, including rebuilding engines in my farmer days and building electronics kits. So, I know my way around service manuals pretty well. I fact, I have a complete workshop including welders and use it regularly. So, I think that if a don't buy a piece of JUNK, I can analyze most minor problems and fix'em or at least hobble to the nearest port for services.

So, I welcome your comments. In addition to my dreams, I also come with lots of physical, mental, engineering, and repairman skills. In my professional skills, I have also traveled extensively including Europe, Asia, and Caribbean. I just did it via JET with my eyes always on my watch. So, in my retirement I want to travel and adventure ... without a watch or boarding pass.

Correct me, I assuming that modern boat with 10 yrs of use today, is still in its adolescence. So, my million dollar budget for a 60 something passage maker would be a fine RIDE to adventure the world and I would consider Bering, Nordhavn, or Northern Marine to be STYLE fitting. And most equipment in this period if maintained well is still very useful and the features still considered modern.

While I need it able to make ocean passage, but I'm not trying to be a commercial yacht. 90% of the milage should be within 20 miles off a coast or island. If I planned a journey beyond my comfort level, I could always hire a crew/captain.

If I had to, I could stretch to $1.5m ... but my dreams don't want to be limited to coastal voyages from Alaska to Mexico or Boston to Puerto Rico.

thank you

Bob

Older,

Thank you for your comments. The $1 million is for the yacht. I preparing for ongoing costs to run 10 - 15% annually, depending on time cruising vs anchored.

The Captain idea has merit and I'm planning it for at least a short period to learn the ropes of managing critical systems, emergency procedures, sea protocols, international regs, cost guard regs, and port protocols etc.

Thank you

Bob

JWY,

Thank you for your thoughts. Let me start form the bottom;

1) Resale is important for a variety of reasons, least of which could be that after my 1st year as a "Live Aboard" ... the bug may be over. Or at my age of 67, it may not be a good or safe idea anymore. So Dreams are fine, but I'm not crazy. And in my initial assessment, my research has been limited to popular brands for no reason than just availability of DATA. As for brand, someone suggested Northern Marine as a fine passage maker ... but isn't that the brand which recently capsized a 90 ft'er during launch because of a combination of stupidity, insufficient ballast, and an open door to the engine room? So, I guess every boat is basically at the mercy of the build team, which for some brands in somewhat inconsistent. So, least for a used yacht, you have a performance history of sea worthiness, quality, and economy. So, my brand showcasing was only because of my available research nothing more.

2) Thanks for confirming that $1million should be enough, for the reasons mentioned that there's lots of older yachts being enjoyed in Blue Waters.

3) I'm a little unclear on your comment of "contort its usage for your purposes". So, did you really mean that someone running at below designed speeds, then "running for a hours at recommended speeds" ... NOT A GOOD IDEA? So, its harmful ... right?

Thanks
Bob