Misc. Yacht questions

Hi Richard,

Pinning a pricetag on a custom yacht is virtually impossible.
I'm not familiar with prices of the American builders, but I'm pretty well informed about what's going on in holland.

The price largely depends on your requirements. The design, the performance, the interior are all of major influence on the price. If you want a displacement yacht, the engines can be smaller and therefor less expensive. If you want performance, the drivetrain alone can easily set you back the price of a nice small series yacht.
On the subject of the interior design, it's not so much the yard that determines the interior style. The owner is the key-factor on the design.
A good yachtbuilder will make you a design that exactly reflects your style.
An opulent interior is not necasseraly the most expensive one.

Than there is also the issue of build and finishing quality. If you use only the best materials possible and have every single detail custom-made, that will also have an effect on the price.

A high-end dutch custom of 100' will start about 10mln euros (give or take a 15%) and 150' will probably start about 17 mln euros.

Operating 160' with a crew of four is technicaly possible, but just keeping a yacht of that size clean is a full-time job. I would suggest a 6+ crew for smooth operation.

In case you would go for a sailing yacht, prices can vary even more because of the technically complex nature of sailing yachts. Rigs of 2 mln euros plus are regular numbers for big sailing yachts.

I guess the americans currently have the advantage of the week dollar. If you're looking for a bargain that will be an area to concider building.

There are the opinion of an semi-custom yacht. Benetti 35 (120 ft.) is at ca. 9 Million €

I think yes, but other people know it better. The Sailing Yacht "Vent d'est" (ex Red Dragon) 43 meter had on her first owner a two men crew.

4 man crews on over 120'??

The question back is why would you run a multi-million dollar piece of technology with a skelaton crew?
Even if you can find reliable dayworkers to keep up on the shoreside chores; once at sea, or with guests aboard, your asking for alot of stress, extremely tired personnel, and giving "Murphy" and open invitation to the vessel and her occupants. Private vessels, who do not charter can consider running with shorter crews than the later, but not significantly smaller. A 120' I previously commanded had a total crew of 7. We were busy 8-16 hours a day, 6 days a week; 7 days a week if we're on charter. Privately, we could have trimmed out the 2nd stew, the chef, and the mate, so long as the Engineer stood bridge watches, and the stew cooked. 150'ers have crews of 9-11, and they are all pretty busy most of the time, keeping the yacht in A1 shape. Yet they still hire out $1,000.00's per month in outside labor.

Hi,

Short handed running is a sure way to accidents and damage.

Nowadays there is a requirement for MCA and ISM Compliant Vessels to adhere to the ( Merchant Navy Code of Safe Working Practices (MNCOSWOP). In here amongst the plethora of legislation, rules and regulation there is a section on hours of work and the maximum allowed. The limits are not what the old hands in the business are used to be any means but they are now the law We have to record hours worked and hours rested.

I heard the MCA Surveyor say we should have 7 copies of this Manual onboard in order to fully comply with the " rules".