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What on earth?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by FlyingGolfer, Dec 25, 2022.

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  1. FlyingGolfer, Dec 25, 2022
    #1
    FlyingGolfer

    FlyingGolfer Member

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    What do the owners of these enormous gigayachts do with their boats? Are they filled with sycophants? Are the staterooms mostly ghostly and empty? Are these monstrous yachts only status symbols?
  2. YachtForums, Dec 25, 2022
    #2
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    A few years ago we had a private subforum for superyacht owners to have relatively unbridled discussions amongst themselves. I deleted the forum after a breach following our migration from vBulletin to XenForo in 2014 that accidentally indexed the discussions in search engines.

    Each individual has their own reasons for yacht ownership but the general consensus was these boats were being built as escape vessels, or in biblical terms... arcs. When the number of oligarchs that owned superyachts was made public, I found myself wondering if they knew something more.

    No doubt a few of these boats were built for bragging rights but not everyone is seeking status. The majority of owners I've spoken with are simply seeking solitude, safe harbor and privacy.
    FlyingGolfer likes this.
  3. FlyingGolfer, Dec 25, 2022
    #3
    FlyingGolfer

    FlyingGolfer Member

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    Next question. Is there money to be made if any of these behemoths are sold by distressed oligarchs? As in a GigaFlip? To coin a term.
  4. Capt Ralph, Dec 25, 2022
    #4
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Those behemoths cost thousands of dollars a day just sitting on a dock standing by for the owner to call.
    Some will entertain the owners special guest or friends. They are not used for much of anything else until the owner calls.

    Most are not investments, just a private environment, an mobile island. Way beyond a 150 or 200 foot charter yacht out of Miami or the Caribbean.
    The laundry steward makes good money. There are 20 more employees past him/her.
    GigaFlip? How do you purchase an ageing self contained city and sell it at a profit.
    FlyingGolfer and kkreicker1 like this.
  5. FlyingGolfer, Dec 27, 2022
    #5
    FlyingGolfer

    FlyingGolfer Member

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    Your excellent answer made me realize my question sounded a little harsh and cynical, which was not my intention.
  6. SATPHONE, Jan 2, 2023
    #6
    SATPHONE

    SATPHONE New Member

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  7. Fishtigua, Jan 3, 2023
    #7
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    My old boss had 6 yachts, depending where he was. Hope that helps.
  8. DOCKMASTER, Jan 3, 2023
    #8
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I thought they all got chartered out so people can go on the non-reality show called Below Decks and look like idiots to the whole world :):)
    bayoubud likes this.
  9. Ken Bracewell, Jan 3, 2023
    #9
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    Fake news. I know some pretty spectacular programs, but $62M/year for a boat that's sitting in port is far-fetched. Perhaps they are charging a really high management fee.
    rocdiver likes this.
  10. Capt Ralph, Jan 3, 2023
    #10
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Enough of them own their own boats and do the same around here; look like idiots
    FlyingGolfer likes this.