Luxury Motor Yacht Or Superyacht? What's The Difference?

When you own a luxury motor yacht or superyacht (and what's the difference? I hear you ask: answer in a minute) you really do live in the lap of luxury. With a top deck swimming pool, state of the art kitchen, private cinema, and toys that you can play with such as jet skis and a small motor boat to explore the coves inshore, there is not a lot to beat it. Not only that, you can up-anchor and travel to anywhere in the world that you want to go, safe in the knowledge that your skipper and crew will take care of you wherever that may be.

To answer your question, luxury motor yachts become superyachts at a length of 79 feet, and some of them go up to 200 or 300 feet. Mind you, even at 78 feet that is a fair-sized boat and you can incorporate a lot of things aboard it. About the only thing you won't be able to do is to accommodate as many guests as a larger boat, so you will probably be restricted to six or eight on luxury motor yachts of that size or smaller, whereas with a superyacht you might be able to accommodate 30 or 40. That is really a floating palace.

 

The average value of a superyacht is $10 million and according to one figure there are 4,476 people around the world who own one, with the top country for owners being the US with 33% of them (who would have guessed?) and the UK is actually in second place with 11%, believe it or not. Those are followed by Italy (5%), Australia (4%) and Russia (3%). Typically, it can take anywhere from 12 months to 3 years to build a superyacht, so the sooner you place your order the better.

Whether you are at the level where you can afford to look at superyachts or "only" luxury motor yachts, the challenge in the used market is finding the right one. Unless you really know what you are doing, you will need someone who is highly knowledgeable to help you, so you need to enlist the services of a reputable agent.

The Many Different Types Of Motor Boats

There are many, many different types of motor cruiser boats ranging from small day cruisers to motor superyachts some hundreds of feet long which are the realm of the ultra-wealthy.

A motor boat is a power-driven vessel which has an internal combustion engine driving a propeller, or more than one propeller, or a jet pump. Even a sailing yacht is a power-driven vessel when it has a motor running.

There are small motor boats which can go very fast and these are called speedboats which can be used for racing or for towing a water-skier. They can also be used simply for fun or for getting from one place to another quickly: you might want to run down the coast to have lunch in another town, and then return to base again. Inflatable dinghies with a motor attached are also technically power boats, and some of those can go very fast as well.

 

There are basically two types of motor cruiser boats and they are the ones with an internal engine fitted which is known as the power plant, and those with an outboard motor which is affixed to the stern.

Motor cruiser boats can be relatively small for day cruising with just the basic essentials, or they can be of a medium size or larger for holidays and equipped with cooker, fridge, sleeping accommodation, and the heads, which is the toilet and shower. (It is called the heads from the days of sailing ships when the toilet for the sailors was at the head, or bow, of the boat).

If you are going to buy a motor cruiser you will need some training, and basically the larger the boat and the further you plan to go the more training you will need. The RYA has three types of course that it provides, ranging from a two day Helmsman course which teaches the basic handling, helmsmanship, and engine maintenance, up to a five day Coastal Skipper course.

A very good way to start boating is to take a holiday on somewhere like the River Thames or the Norfolk Broads, where you can get used to boat handling and never be far from help if needed.

Choosing the right boat

Just imagine when that pleasant sunny day turns to rain and wind. You’ll be wishing you made a better choice with your boat purchase or hire if you’re cruising around in a model with no overhead cover.

Whether you desire a small speedboat or are looking at a nelson harbor launch for sale, you should consider the application before you make your investment.  A boat can be made based on your individual preferences too, so it’s worth checking out custom boat builders if you want something that will l completely match your personality and location.

Search for quality
It’s worth looking closely at a boat’s hull design. It’s important that your hull is built to international standards and requirements if you want to keep your machine running for years to come. Check the fixtures, the sealing and any small mechanisms attached to your boat to make sure it’s strong and sturdy.

A powerful engine?
You don’t always need a powerful engine to have a great time in your boat. Turbo powered twin propulsion engines may look great and be good in a race, but think about your fuel consumption and how you’ll navigate in your environment.

Don’t underestimate the deck
The deck layout provides a space for you and your passengers to enjoy the open sea. Whether you’re travelling in large groups or just by yourself, a good deck allows you to really enjoy the boating experience.

When evaluating a deck, look for deck fittings and hand rails and how they’re crafted by the manufacturer.

A comfortable interior
If you’re lucky enough to be looking at boats with considerable inside space, you can take a moment to consider what make a good interior. A spacious interior may be great, but will it increase the size and weight of your boat, reducing your overall speed.

A closer look at Nelson pilot boat craftsmanship

Nelson’s are known for their exceptionally soft ride, excellent handling and style. Models in this class are largely considered to a great option for tough waters. This is largely due to their robust builds, well-crafted and produced with maintainability in mind. 

Many have invested in the Nelson boat throughout history for its reliability as an industry leading model. But some look to the Nelson for sentimental reasons. 

The making of a boat
Sturdy planks of wood scattered across the boat building yard and skeletons of boats awaiting completion – boat-building is an age-old art that dates back centuries.Though the techniques and tools have evolved the process remains no less captivating.

Methods and designs are an important part of boat-building. Typically a Nelson Pilot boat for sale will be more than just a fun purchase to upgrade your lifestyle. It is also an investment and appreciation in history.

A great hull
Nelson boats have a winning hull design. This hull is a well-proven all-weather design that has been tested professionally around the world.

With the addition of an integral stern platform to maximize the running length of the hull and contribute to ease of trim, handling, and sea kindliness – the Nelson boat does well to offer the best you can hope for in boat design.

Powerful engines
The engines are controlled by an electronic shift and monitoring system. The port and starboard gearboxes are arranged for hand rotation, driving outward turning 2” shafts with optimized propellers to reduce noise and vibration.

While the fuel tanks are molded into the keel section of the hull and hold about 2,000 liters each. One feeds the port engine and the other the starboard engine.

A deck to behold
The Nelson deck layout provides strong deck fittings and hand rails are manufactured in stainless steel. The quality of wood used also depends on the money the owner is willing to invest in the boat. 

Cruisers available from seaward boats brokerage

At Seaward we not only build boats, but have a brokerage department offering a selection of previously owned Seaward Nelson yachts for sale. Our brokers are all ABYA qualified and provide a complete personal service from start to finish. We are ready to help and advise whether you want to buy or sell a Seaward.

We can also help with spares, repairs, servicing, valeting, and our Seaward Sea School instructors are available for sea trials and to collect and deliver your boat if required. Our RYA instructors  also offer a range of powerboat courses right up to advanced level aboard your own boat if preferred to give you and your family the confidence to make the most of your time afloat.

Read more at Seaward Nelson yachts for sale

The History Of Nelson Yachts

The first real Nelson boat was designed and built in 1959 by Peter Thornycroft, the grandson of the founder of John I. Thornycroft & Company shipbuilders. Peter Thornycroft founded Keith, Nelson & Co. Ltd in 1955 and in 1959 built the 29ft Nigella which was a wooden boat commissioned by Leopold baron de Rothschild who wanted to commute quickly from his home on the Beaulieu river to the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes.    

After this, Thornycroft built the Nelson 32, and the best-selling Nelson 34 GRP boat in 1962. The Royal Navy bought many of the latter, including two launches for the Royal Yacht Britannia. This was followed in 1964 by the Nelson 40 which Trinity House found could be used by pilots in any weather conditions, doing away with cutters on cruising stations. Hulls for the Nelson 40, and later 44, were built by Halmatic, and Tyler built Nelson 75 hulls for use as coastguard patrol vessels.

Today there are many different boatyards building boats of the Nelson design, and you can find Nelson yachts for sale at many different yards and brokerages. There is also a Nelson Boat Owners Club which was founded by Commander Peter Thornycroft and Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in 1984 shortly after Montagu took delivery of his second Nelson, a 35 named Cygnet of Beaulieu and designed by Thornycroft’s design company TT Boat Design and built by Halmatic.

Today, if you Google “Nelson yachts for sale” you will get around 2 million results. These include a Nelson 18 Halmatic built in 1971 which is very rare and is on offer for just £7,995, to a Nelson Seaward 42 which is only two years old and was built to travel to Norway and the Baltic, which it did successfully in 2017. That boat will set you back £650,000. However, many of the Nelson yachts for sale are in the under £100,000 price range, including very many for less than £50,000, which makes them an affordable choice for a family which just loves “messing about on the water” as so many of us do.

Taking Charge Of A Motor Cruiser For The First Time

Motor boating is a fun and relaxing pastime, and many boat owners spend as much of their spare time as possible on their boats. There are many different types of motor cruiser available, from small craft for cruising up and down the River Thames, on the Norfolk Broads, or exploring the canals, to larger craft for cruising in coastal waters, and motor yachts for seagoing expeditions. 

If you have never been in charge of a motor boat but think that you might want to buy a boat, the best thing to do is to book a motor cruising holiday. There are many boatyards on the Thames and the Norfolk Broads where you can hire a boat for a week or two, and if you can drive a car you already have some of the basics. However, handling a motor cruiser is nonetheless somewhat different from a car. You will need some basic instruction from the yard on handling, checking the engine in the morning, mooring, pump-out stations (where you can have the toilets emptied), dealing with locks if you are on the Thames or a canal, and so on, but in an hour or so you should be confident enough to take control for the first time.

The Norfolk Broads are great if you love being on the water and getting away from it all, but they can become extremely busy during the summer holidays. The best time to hire a motor cruiser on the Broads is late spring and early summer, when the trees are coming into leaf and bud. Much of the Broads is tidal and the difference in the water height can be several feet, so if you moor in a tidal area overnight you need to make certain that the mooring ropes are not too tight, so that the boat can drop with the tide.

Another point about mooring is that you need to moor for the night while there is still plenty of daylight. It is not a good idea to be searching for a mooring in the dark! After a week or two of cruising, you should be competent handling a boat and you will know whether you want to invest in your own.