Why are AB Yachts so cheap on the used boat market ?

In this category, I'm looking at two thing. One would be limited to the ICW and GCW and the other is Trans-Atlantic. If permissible, I'll post a photo of the ICW/GCW craft I'm looking at. I will say the name here and hope I'm not in violation of anything, but it's the Arkup75. The other is the Silent Yachts 62 3-deck. As you're in Fort Lauderdale... I may see you sometime at one of this years upcoming shows. Tell me more about the Sportfish as earnestly, I just haven't paid that much attention to them and that is nothing more than Personal flair or styling. Never have I yet considered the practicality of such Vessels, so I ask you to share some knowledge with me... please.......

Easy to get a custom SF that will top out at just under 50 knots. Also has plenty of range. An 80' SF would easily be able to go from Ft. Laud to NYC in 2 days (daytime running only) and only stopping the first night for fuel. Jim Smith, Bayliss, Spencer, etc. etc.

You mention New York. That's where I'm from... That's where all of my family is (including my children). Is that something you do regularly?

I've done a lot of trips to and from NY......but SF have much longer legs. I just ran Isla Mujeres to Key West, 340NM, 330NM at 80% load and had about 20% fuel reserves left when I pulled into Key West.

Are you planning to attend any shows in either Miami or the surrounding areas in 2022?

Doc

there is a big difference in the capability of a “delivery” from FLL to NYC in 2 days versus the “reality” of that trip. I’m guessing Cap'nJ is working hard and not partying on his delivery trips*—or else the owner would do them.

My 2 cents is you’d have much more fun taking 2 weeks go that distance than 2 days. Find your sweet spot of how you and your wife & pals want travel not just how fast you want to travel.

A friend of mine has a 54’ Pershing that will do 40kts (uncomfortably in my opinion) that has no Flybridge, no bow seating, no rear cockpit, but can get from FLL to Key West in one day. It’s an awesome boat but once we are there it’s not my idea of a right platform. Good for him, not for me.

My 54’ Flybridge M/Y cruises at 20 kts; so I get there in two days instead is one …. But I have a killer Flybridge, grill, fridge and ice-maker; a sunpad for the ladies to lay out on the bow, and a great cockpit to have coffee in AM or play guitar late at night if the FB is in the wind.

Find a livable, party-able layout; then add speed. ABs are cool— but so are many others. Savor
your search.





*and Cap’n J or Docuzi… if you need help on a future deliveries PM me. I can cook, have an OUPV and have worked as a busboy, waiter, caddy and lifeguard in my misspent youth; and if you know what an 8 track, a Pinto or Vega is , you’ll know every word in every song I play on the guitar. ….

Great advice and take. Now about that Pinto or Vega and 8 track...you didn't drop an v8 in that Vega did you?

no… sadly in successive college summers I bought a ‘74 Gremlin for $400 that the carpet would get wet every time I drive in the rain/ then the next summer upgraded to a ‘$600 71 Maverick with a groan-y transmission. But both had 8 tracks snd the Maverick has the pioneer TRX speakers.

And i have great memories in them both; so getting back on topic “one doesn’t only need an AB80 to have fun….” All boat are fun; some are just more fun

Very true but.... I'm more looking for a Captain in the looser sense for hire that would shuttle (my lazy behind {Laughing Hysterically}) and my wife on a few adventures up and down the east coast amongst other places from time to time so that we can smell the roses, visit and not be concerned at all with managing the trip. I am "very greene". I put the extra e on there to over emphasize the point, so this would be education and enjoyment for such journeys on my manefesto in the upcoming years and months.

I am definitely rather unconventional. In that sense, I'm am more apt to do things many others wouldn't all in the name of joy, fascination, exploration, intellectual expansion and just loving the life I've been blessed to live. I've definitely taken some risks on things others would have considered imprudent, but here I stand today. I've survived and have such stories that I've begun writing some books about the adventures.

This being the case, I will spend against the grain at times, and do some things others might question, none the less, I'm not bitten off more than I can chew to date, and I still have an arse (skipping the double ss after the a but I know we all get it), so I'm going to continue to shoot for the moon as I've always done. Seemingly, even when the moon was beyond my reach, I've still found myself amongst the stars.... I do mean this very literally.....

I'm looking at trips to Cuba, the the Bahamas and isles... To Cancun, and many others "None of which I'm prepared to attempt alone". So as I make friends with many of you here, I'm sharing my vision, looking to build friendships, learn about people's capabilities (Talking to you experienced Captains), and learning more about sea vessels and the like.

I just came across this evolution to the thread. I can advise as follows:
a) I own a Mangusta 80 hard top which I purchased in 2017.
b) I am 59 and so is my wife.
c) I have no crew. Just my wife and I and we go around fairly freely - of course if a friend is around and can provide a helping hand, all the better - (the fenders are F7s and the mooring lines are 34mm)
d) The boat is very refined and comfortable, it has 2 separate living rooms, 3 cabins, plus the crew cabin, a closed fully equipped kitchen, great overall visibility when manoeuvring, both bow and stern thrusters (still I could use some extra cameras).
e) Getting this monster up on plane lightweight is a unique thrill (Porsche 930 style), so is cruising at 37/38kts or peaking at 40/41kts with the adequate sea conditions and so is manoeuvring (yes, believe it or not).
f) My yachting experience started with this boat, before that I had only driven small outboards/inboards and some sail boats up to around 50 feet or so.
g) I go through my checklists and operate the thing entirely on my own. I moor it myself.
h) I have a skipper that looks after it when I am away and comes along if I need his services. Of course, he trained me during 3 to 4 years every time I went out.
i) He had not captained an Arneson boat before and the training he gave me has been very useful. But I learned some basics of ASD operation when the boat was delivered and then practiced.
j) I am adequately licensed and I got it insured for a reasonable amount from day 1.
k) The boat is very manoeuvrable as opposed to what I had read / heard before buying it.
l) I don't go out when the weather forecasts indicate wind on arrival at the marina (if that's where I am going).

Conclusion: You're 60 and want this type of boat? I think you should go for it.

This is definitely on the list. I'm looking at other options alike. More specifically, something that's a whole lot more fuel efficient. My example would be this. To take a trip from lets say Miami to NYC would be about 17k in fuel (One Way). There are some electric Options that have me intrigued as a first option at the moment. That's not to play down the idea of having this Lamborgini in my arsenal, but it's a secondary or tertiary option at this juncture. The wife and I are planning on visiting the shipyard this coming spring if Corona subsides some, and if not in the spring, sometime later next year. I'm really feeling the AB80 and the fact that it's designed around the owner/operator concept is more inviting. I thank you for your opinion and for sharing your personal experience with me and the others who find this thread informative.

Do you actually mean hybrid (diesel/electric), or electric-only?
If the latter, I'd be curious to hear what you have in mind, because I'm not aware of any - aside from a few toy-like ones, mostly meant for lakes.
Regardless, imho there's only one serious way to go for fuel efficiency on the water: mast(s)+sails!

Electric (Does have a diesel generator on board to recharge the batteries really swiftly on long voyages)

You can run any 80' Planing boat at hull speed (10 knots or 12 knots) and get much better fuel economy than at cruise.......1.5 gallons per mile, maybe better, but then how much is your time worth and do you want to do overnight passages, as the slower speed adds a lot of miles going in and out of twice as many inlets. Bottom line though, if you have to worry about the price of fuel on a boat like that, you shouldn't buy one as it's one of your lesser worries as far as cost goes.

The plan is to have 3 boats... The speedster AB80, and two others I'm not mentioning in this forum as not to ruin the integrity or focus. I have a few vehicles including an electric one and each has it's purpose. I don't see any reason why I would adopt a different philosophy for boating.

My pleasure. I thought it could have been of interest to point out that a "rookie" couple in their late 50s /early 60s can handle a boat of this size without a crew (under the right circumstances and after proper training). On the other hand, personally I am not so sure about electric power in high numbers to propel yachts. If they move as fast as these boats without the implied fuel consumption, it could be fun. But is it not a bit early from an R&D and product development perspective? Ideally, with the boat's motion you would have the wind and the sea spin the generators, then it would really save the fuel burn... Good luck whatever your choice will be and happy new year.

For the integrity of the thread, I'm omitting the brand with the electric motors. I can say it is very different from the AB brand in all regards, but at this juncture, the facts of it's sea-worthiness are on confirmed. I just purchased my first Class A diesel Pusher (Which I worked with several companies for a number of years perfecting that skill and obtaining the proper operational credentials). For the Yacht(s), my approach will be no different. For that matter, getting my skills in order is already underway. I am really appreciative of this forum because of the number of resources and opinions available.

Productive years have taught me, a smart person, surrounds himself with smarter and more experienced people, that when advice is given, the information is always of benefit to that recipient. Likewise, when one is the smartest and most knowledgeable in their respective circle, it's time to get a new circle so that the growth and wisdom process continues. As my desires in boating materialize, I am hopeful to personally meet many of you out on the waterways..

Happy New Year to you and yours alike....

Doc, what did you decide?