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.

An Expedition Yacht Can Take You Almost Anywhere

We all know what a motoryacht is, and also a superyacht. But today there is a gradually growing new level of yachts for the high net worth individuals who can afford them, and that is the explorer yacht or expedition yacht. 

It is quite one thing owning a motoryacht or superyacht that can cruise up and down the Mediterranean and occasionally take a trip to the Caribbean if the weather looks fair, but most of these boats are not built for serious world exploration which is becoming more of a requirement among those who want to go, not where no man has been before, but where few have been before.

In the past, those who have sought such travel have made do by converting a former fishing vessel or perhaps marine research boat or former military ship, but there is only so much you can do when seeking luxury and long-distance abilities at the same time. This is not the same thing as designing your own boat from scratch when you can basically have whatever you want, rather than what the vessel will allow.

Today there is a new breed of explorers who want to travel the world and see far-flung places in luxury and comfort while at the same time enjoying the style of a floating palace that is safe under any conditions that the weather can throw at it. This is why there are now explorer yachts/expedition yachts being designed from the ground up that can literally go anywhere with the possible exceptions of the poles.

One such project is currently underway at a yard in Norway and is a 400 foot expedition yacht for a gentleman who already owns a smaller 350 foot motoryacht designed for exploration, but obviously desired something that would provide even more space and amenities than his present boat. One might look at such an owner with jealousy, but then again, if you can afford it, why not? We all only have one life on this planet and it is not really all that long, so we might as well get to see as much of it as we can.  

The Thrill Of Purchasing Your First Cruiser Comes With Responsibilities

There is nothing quite like the thrill of taking delivery of your first motor cruiser. Not everyone can afford to purchase a cruiser, so if it gives you a sense of one-upmanship that’s fair enough. You have worked hard to get to where you are, and you deserve the rewards. 

However, in much the same way that you had to learn to drive a car, you have to learn to “drive” a cruiser – or in nautical terms skipper it and be the helmsman. It comes to the same thing really. But you can’t just jump into the cockpit and take off out to sea. You need some motor boat training.

If you go on holiday to the Norfolk Broads, as many people love to do, you probably get around half an hour’s training of handling the boat and showing you where to fill up with fuel and arrange for a “pump-out”. You can also find lots of FAQ’s on Google. However, on the Norfolk Broads you are normally travelling at around 4 mph top speed, so even if you hit anything you won’t do a lot of damage.

It is a completely different kettle of fish when you have a seagoing cruiser that can do 25 knots! This is why you need to spend some time on motor boat training so that you can handle your new purchase safely. In this case, a half hour will teach you nothing at all. You need at least a two-day training course just to cover the basics. That will get you going, but you still need further motor boat training if you want to expand your skills.

For instance, you may want to be able to handle your boat at night, and that is a very different proposition from operating in daylight. It is one thing travelling on the Broads where you can’t really get lost, but when you are at sea you need to know navigation and seamanship as well as how to handle your new toy. Some of these more advanced courses take a week or more but are well worth it for your own safety and those around you.

The Seaward 42 is a top of the range ocean-going Motor Yacht

The Seaward 42 is based on the Seaward Nelson 42 pilot boat hull design and is an RCD Category A ocean-going motor yacht at the top of the Seaward range. Typically, they are custom built to the owner’s requirements with a wide choice of layouts. The hull is the same as the well-proven all-weather Nelson pilot boats in use professionally around the world but with the addition of an integral stern platform to maximise the running length of the hull and contribute to ease of trim, handling, and sea kindliness.

The standard twin propulsion engines and drives are a pair of Yanmar 8LVs diesel engines rated at 370hp, but there are other options. These include the Cummins QSB 6.7’s rated at 425hp and the Yanmar 6LY-CRs, rated at 440hp. The engines are controlled by an electronic shift and monitoring system. The port and starboard gearboxes are arranged for handed rotation, driving outward turning 2” shafts and Seaward’s optimised 24″ 5 blade propellers, reducing noise and vibration and increasing efficiency. The large rudders are heavy-duty and the same as used on the pilot boats. They are of aerofoil section in cast bronze controlled through an hydraulic steering system.

Read more at twin propulsion engines and drives

A History of Mani Frers Yacht Designs

Germán ‘Mani’ Frers is the third generation of a family of yacht designers all bearing the same name. His grandfather began designing yachts back in the 1920’s and by 1930 the Frers yard employed 60 boat builders, mostly constructing his own designs.

Germán Frers Snr began by designing and building Colin Archer styled double-enders in Buenos Aires back in 1926 and went on to draw more than 600 boats ranging from plywood day sailers like the Yachting World Light Crest to a range of motor yachts, and a series of very successful ocean racing yachts.

Read more at motor yachts

The Birth Of The Seaward Nelson Pilot Boat

The Seaward Nelson pilot boat range is one of the best known pilot boat series in the world. For example, over 300 of the Nelson 40 pilot boat have been produced and are in service day in, day out around the world. all day and every day. They have an exceptionally soft ride and are easy to handle in rough sea conditions and when boarding ship.

The story of Nelson pilot boats goes back to 1864 when Sir John Thornycroft built a steam launch on the River Thames. Two years later, in 1866, his father bought some land next to Chiswick Church and this was the beginning of the shipyard of John I. Thornycroft and Company. Ten years after that, Thornycroft built the first torpedo boat for the British Navy, HMS Lightning. The company remained in the Thornycroft family until 1965 when it became part of Vosper, Thornycroft Group.

Read more at Seaward Nelson pilot boat

What To Look For When Choosing A Broker To Sell Your Motor Yacht

If you are going to sell your motor yacht, which is something that most owners do every few years, you might be considering selling it yourself. However, there is quite a lot of work involved so you are probably far better off instructing a motor yacht broker.

However, how do you choose a reliable broker to sell it for you? There are some very good brokers, and there are also some “here today, gone tomorrow” types.

First and foremost, it may be an obvious thing to say, but you really want to use a broker that has been in business for several years. You naturally want to sell your motor yacht in the shortest amount of time possible so you need a broker that has been round the block a few times and has the right sort of contacts. Any broker can put your boat on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) but not all brokers have the expertise, budget, and technology to advertise effectively.

You need a broker that can use a variety of tactics such as search engine marketing, email campaigns, and direct mail. Social media marketing is another outlet, and online chat can find a lot of buyers that might not see your boat advertised elsewhere. You also need a broker that has the ability to take some stunning photos of your boat, and preferably video as well. Videos can be uploaded to YouTube and adverts can direct potential buyers to them so that they can see your boat in action.

You also need a brokerage that has a website which loads quickly and is responsive to mobile. More and more people access the internet from their mobile or tablet when they are searching, so the website must accommodate this.

Another thing to take note of is the commission rate charged by the broker. The standard rate in the industry is 10%, which is fair enough for the work and expenses involved, but if the company that you are looking at has a lower commission rate you might want to ask yourself why this should be. 

Why Use A Broker to Sell Your Motor Cruiser?

If you are planning to sell your motor cruiser you might be tempted to advertise it yourself. After all, you will save paying a motor boat brokerage a commission, so why not do it yourself? It’s not much different from selling your car, is it? 

Well, yes and no. There is actually quite a bit of difference between selling a car and selling a boat. Just to begin with, there are far fewer people looking to buy a boat than there are looking to buy a car, so your audience is considerably smaller. You might find a buyer for your car in the next street, but it is highly unlikely that you would find a buyer for your boat there. In fact, somebody who is looking for the sort of boat that you have may well live at the other end of the country, so it is not just a matter of putting an ad in your local paper.

A motor boat brokerage on the other hand knows the right sort of places to advertise your boat, so you are more likely to make a quick sale than trying the DIY route. Furthermore, depending on the arrangement that you have with the brokerage, it is usually the broker who pays for the cost of the advertising, so it is in the broker’s own interest to sell your boat for you. This is the opposite of certain online estate agents who offer to sell your house for no commission. No, you don’t pay them a commission, you pay them a fee. If your home proves difficult to sell, what possible incentive is there for them to keep advertising it?

Furthermore, you are going to need some high quality photographs of your boat, and a motor boat brokerage will handle all this for you as well. In addition there is quite a bit of paperwork involved, as selling a boat is more like selling a home than just selling a second hand car.

Yes, you pay a commission which is usually 10%, but considering what is involved it is money well spent.

A Brief History Of Pilot Boats

A modern pilot boat has to be built to be fast and tough, bumping against the side of a 100,000 ton tanker ship as often happens. Equally importantly, it has to be able to operate in all types of weather as the pilot has to get to the incoming ship no matter what.

The job of a pilot actually goes back to the days of Ancient Greece when ships’ captains would use local harbour captains – often local fishermen with a sound knowledge of the area – to bring their vessel safely to shore. Eventually, local harbours each licenced pilots for their particular area.

Read more at Nelson pilot boat

Top 5 maintenance tips for your boat

Having a boat is a fantastic thing and a true sign of luxury. As well as being envied by your peers, you will be able to access the outdoors in a way that many people are not able to. Ultimately, driving across the open water is an amazing experience that only boat lovers will truly understand.

Having said this, the privilege of owning a boat also comes with a substantial amount of responsibility. It’ll all well and good to have fun on your boat, but you need to remember it is a sophisticated machine that also needs proper maintenance and care.

Before you buy a boat you should be committed to proper boat maintenance to keep it running smoothly for as long as possible.

Here are five key maintenance tips that you should keep in mind when taking care of your boat.

Wash your boat regularly

You probably already know this but it's shocking how many people don’t actually wash their boats regularly. As it is constantly in the water, you might think it is unnecessary, but this is far from the truth. It’s important to use fresh water to wash your boat to remove salt residue that will build up over time and corrode metal word, hardware and deteriorate your gel coat.

Check and change your oil

Just like your car, boats need to have their oil checked and changed routinely. You will either have to learn to change the oil by yourself for certain models or if you have a motor cruiser, you should take it to the shop for a full service.

With the right tools, it is quite easy to change the oil yourself. All you need is an oil wrench, an oil extractor pump and lots of rags.

Clean and check your batteries

Even if not in use, power drains and leaks from your boat due to regular entropy. Left unchecked, you can be stranded in the middle of nowhere without power. Check your batteries at least once a season.

If not in use, take out your batteries and store them to preserve energy. Before any journey, test batteries with a voltage meter to determine how much charge is left. Also, clean battery connections so you know the electrical juice is getting to where it’s needed the most.

Clean Windows properly

Frequent boat cleaning should be on your boat maintenance checklist. Especially windows near the waterline and below. Household window cleaners will suffice but special cleaners are available if you prefer. Find what works for your boat. Just make sure your windows are clean!

Check the propeller

If your boat is an outboard or sterndrive boat, you should check the propeller as part of your pre-launch routine. Look carefully to ensure any fishing line hasn't become wrapped around the propeller shaft. Inspect for typical signs of damage. A damaged prop will vibrate and put too much stress on bearings and seals causing additional damage.

Store properly during Winter

During winter, find indoor storage solutions or climate controlled interior docks to store your boat. Or you can use tarpaulin or backyard shed if you store your boat on land.

Proper boat maintenance will keep your boat healthy and give you optimum life span. Regularly update your maintenance routine to accommodate updated checks and always take care of your boat no matter what your schedule is like or what season it is. If you look after your boat it will look after you!

Three tips for your next boat sea trial

A sea trial is the equivalent of a car test drive. Whether you are considering the purchase of a new or used model, or if you are dealing with a brokerage or private seller, it is perfectly in your right to insist on a sea trial before you commit to a purchase.

Why a sea trial?

For many boat buyers, a sea trial is simply a final verification and check for seaworthiness. Especially when dealing with a broker, you want to ensure everything is as it has been described by the sales description before you buy it.

If you are buying through a broker, a deposit will most likely be required. With a motorboat brokerage, you are sure to get a refund on your deposit. However, it is wise to make it clear what you expect in regards to the refund, whether you choose to buy the boat or not.

A sea trial remains the best way to test the actual performance of the boat on the water. This includes the steering, noise and vibrations of the boat.

What should you know when embarking on that sea trial?

Know what you want.

Use your sea trial to examine the things you can’t achieve ashore. This involves helming the boat, navigating every walkway and climbing every staircase while the boat is moving around at sea.

You want to make sure the decks are flat and grippy and the guardrails are adequate. Concentrate on the specifics rather than checking cabinets and closets.

Cruise your boat

If you don’t know what to look out for, it’s recommended to bring an expert with you to check.

First, pick a day when the weather is not totally perfect, then check the pace and the angles to assess how fast, how comfortable, how dry and how composed the boat is in each situation. This way you are able to assess how the boat responds to control, how comfortable it is and how it maneuvers through the water.

Think about your passengers

Your comfort on your boat is just as important as the people who will be making trips with you. Take one or two of them along on your sea trial to see what they think.

If you can’t get anyone to join you on the sea trial day, try to imagine what it would be like for a passenger rather than a driver. You want to check how safe and reassuring the boat feels while it is moving.

Consider the seating arrangement and ability to communicate while the boat is moving. Understand that your sea trial is not so much a fault finding mission as an experience. Treat the boat with respect as it is not your boat yet. Understand that a sea trial is a valuable supplement to, not a replacement for, a professional marine survey and engineer’s report.

If you take all these precautions when having a sea trial, you should be more clear about its condition and will be able to decide whether you want to make a purchase or not.