See full version: Yachting s Hidden Costs
A good rule of thumb for a state-of-the-art motor yacht over 100 feet now is $1 million per meter, or more than $50 million for an impressive, but not outlandish, 170-footer. (Billionaire Roman Abramovich’s 525-foot Eclipse, currently the world’s largest private yacht, reportedly cost $300 million, or $1.9 million per meter.)
Back when Northrop & Johnson was founded to cater to the rich Bermuda racers at the New York Yacht Club, luxury yachts cost about $1,000 per foot to build. No longer. Designers are specifying more exotic materials (like titanium and carbon fiber to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency). Moreover, yachts today come with elaborate navigational electronics, air conditioning and water-treatment systems, and VSAT satellite-data systems for 24-hour video and internet connections (so much for getting away from it all).
If you are considering putting your yacht out for charter, don’t skip the amenities. There are more than 1,400 superyachts in the charter fleet these days, from 70 feet to more than 200 feet, and the list of minimum accoutrements is lengthy. A Jacuzzi is mandatory, along with VSAT connection, a large and attentive crew (1 per guest is typical), and “water toys” including sailboats, windsurfers, Jetskis and scuba equipment. Don’t try to get by with an inflatable dinghy, either: Luxury charters require a “towed tender,” yachtspeak for a 30-foot motorboat to shuttle guests from yacht to shore.
“It’s about as deep a buyer’s market as ever has been,” says Halsted, president of the brokerage, founded in 1949 to cater to Manhattan’s wealthy. There are literally hundreds of power yachts over 100 feet long for sale around the world, many for 40% or more below the prices they brought six or seven years ago. Compared with the cost of new construction, he says, “I wouldn’t even want to say it.” here
That shiny white 170-footer you picked up for less than half of what it cost to build has to be painted every five or six years, for example. Figure on at least $500,000 to remove all the hardware, prep and spray paint an object the size of a good-sized mansion. here
Models over 65ft are typically still the domain of luxury bluewater cruising brands, such as Oyster and Contest; prestige brands, such as CNB and Euphoria; or performance semi-custom designs from the likes of Swan, Solaris, Mylius and Advanced Yachts. Highlights include X-Yachts’s 65ft X6 (see X6 on test), the Grand Soleil 58 Performance; Mylius’ striking new 76; the Turkish Euphoria 68 (see Euphoria 68 on test) and the luxurious new Contest 67CS (see video review here), not to mention the new Oysters 675 and 745.
CNB 76: The 76 is a powerful yet elegant yacht with a well-camouflaged deck saloon, proper crew accommodation and a practical tender garage. A modular build scheme allows CNB to construct the entire interior of the 76 outside of the hull, dramatically reducing build time (to six months) and cost. The win-win result is superyacht styling and engineering, yet with a serial production price starting at €2m.
Vismara 62: Vismara is a custom carbon yacht builder that has now introduced some semi-custom series. The V62 is based on the success of the Mark Mills designed racer-cruiser SuperNikka. A mould was taken from her hull and adapted to make it more cruiser friendly.
Sometimes athletes name their boat in honor of alumni, a coach, a team goal or a mantra. There are two main types of rowing shells — crew boats and sculling boats. There are also different types of boats according to the number of people inside. more
Rowing is an intense sport, and athletes need to get out of their boats safely and easily onto a dock after an exhausting race. For stable yet straightforward docking solutions, trust EZ Dock. EZ Dock low profile rowing docks have a low freeboard height, making them accessible for crews of all sizes as they exit their shells, and are ideal for all competitive rowing events.
What started as a transportation method in ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, has since turned into one of America’s favorite sports — rowing. Rowing is the first team sport contested in the U.S. and continues to be a popular competitive sport among many schools.
Positioning rowing team members is a systematic process. Each athlete is identified by their seat number in the boat. For example, the person sitting in the bow will cross the finish line first, so that seat is known as the number one seat, or bow seat. The person behind the bow is seat number two, then seat number three and so on until seat number eight, which some refer to as the stroke. Each crew position has a specific function, crucial to the entire boat’s success: here
It is important to understand that a boating education card is different than titling and registering the vessel. A boating education card signifies that the owner has completed the minimum state-required testing and has passed the course. Also, having such a card may qualify the craft owner to receive a discount on their marine insurance. Even still, a class will better acquaint people with water safety skills. So, the course or courses are a good investment of time and money.
Most states, not all, provide the courses online. So, with a comfortable seat at home and a few hours of time, many of these courses can be completed. In the states where in-person testing is required, check with the certified location as changes may be in flux due to regional restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. more
It is important to note that a Captian’s license is different than the recreational boating license. A Captain’s license is issued by the United States Coast Guard. It is more involved and revolves around the type of usage, number of passengers, boating experience, and even the weight of the vessel. Captain’s licenses are more commonly used in charter boats, water taxies, and ferries. here
Derelict, abandoned, or at risk boats are a danger. Don’t even consider abandoning a one if you no longer want it. They become floating dangers to other boaters, the waterways, and marine life. Municipalities can even fine you for the abandonment or possibly threaten your license. [links]