60 to 70ft boat owners - why did you do it?

[Eren]

One negative thing that I experianeced with a rather big size of boat is on finding available marinas. On summer of 2015 I was cruising with my P64 at Cote D'Azur. The marinas at the French Riviera are mostly built in the 60s-70s, when a 50 feet boat was considered big! If your boat is over 50 feet, your choice of marinas are getting limited, especially in summer time. Most of the marinas can accept you, but they have only just a few berths for sizes above 50 feet. That is a minor minus side for bigger boats.

 

[Mad Pad]

Hi Bart / Mad Pad,

I am sure you are aware of the coming weather conditions in Tivat. I am having all fresh water drained as minus degrees are expected. Just wanted to inform in case that you are not informed.

Hi Eren,

Yes,just had an email from the marina warning of strong winds and freezing temps.

Which pontoon are you on?

Best

Mad Pad

 

[Eren]

Hi Eren,

Yes,just had an email from the marina warning of strong winds and freezing temps.

Which pontoon are you on?

Best

Mad Pad

My Azi 47 is there. I am at C31, right across the Italian restaurant. As the size permits, the boat is at one of the safest locations in the marina. How about you, where is your boat located?

This is my first winter there, I wish to go there in Jan or Feb. Do you think that I can cruise out to Kotor side? I remember a seaside restaurant at Kotor bay which had their own small quay. I plan to have dinner there and overnight there. Do you think that it is possible?

 

[Mad Pad]

My Azi 47 is there. I am at C31, right across the Italian restaurant. As the size permits, the boat is at one of the safest locations in the marina. How about you, where is your boat located?

This is my first winter there, I wish to go there in Jan or Feb. Do you think that I can cruise out to Kotor side? I remember a seaside restaurant at Kotor bay which had their own small quay. I plan to have dinner there and overnight there. Do you think that it is possible?

Eren,I'm the classic 58',on D33,2nd last boat from the end.Barts also on D.

Stari Mlini is open all year and has no problem with you staying overnight,but I wouldn't in strong winds.

Moor alongside just up the river.Don't go too far up as it can be hard to get off if flowing fast.

Best

Mad Pad

PS PM me if you need any further info , I've been there 6 years!

 

[Eren]

Eren,I'm the classic 58',on D33,2nd last boat from the end.Barts also on D.

Stari Mlini is open all year and has no problem with you staying overnight,but I wouldn't in strong winds.

Moor alongside just up the river.Don't go too far up as it can be hard to get off if flowing fast.

Best

Mad Pad

PS PM me if you need any further info , I've been there 6 years!

Exactly!! Stari Mlini was the name !!

Thanks for the help. I am looking forward to have winter cruising experience around the area.

Hope to meet you sometime there!!

 

[PEJ]

. And I agree with Jfm, if you will move up, I believe that the minimum jump should be +15 feet. I hope that I was helpful.

Yes, you both make a very good point as does Bart..

The boat feels like a apartment,

Guests have some kind of privacy, and don’t need to be all together in the same place on the boat all the time,
There are different “zones” inside or outside where guests can spend time, which imo is quite important to have a relaxed holiday onboard.

You do get that "apartment" feel with a bigger boat but you have to live with the considerable extra fuel and berthing costs.

 

[Eren]

You do get that "apartment" feel with a bigger boat but you have to live with the considerable extra fuel and berthing costs.

That is true. The heavier bills are difficult to digest. I am right at that stage at the moment and believe me it is a tough stage! At 24 knots on my Azi 47, I was burning 160 lt per hour. Now with the 70, the MAN diagnostics show 350 lt per hour. I place the newspaper on the diagnostics screen and try not to look on that direction ))

 

[balder]

Maintenance is also a point to consider... But I feel comfortable with a 57' considering that a mobo must have all modern appliances. We are only two aboard with a remote to control engine ( only one, hydraulic bow and stern prop). My trawler is heavy - 60 Tons - but I feel more confident when coming in a marina bacause she is very slow. Of course, marinas fees are definitely more expansive but living abaord 6 monts per a year I try to "organize" our trips depending on the seasons. As well, for fuel, I fill my tanks - 8300 Liters...- where it is cheap ( Guernesey, Gib etc or I ask for a truck to visit me ...) . Last summer, in Britanny and along french Atlantic coast, I called every day the marina staff to be sure a berth should be available. Never a problem, may be less easy sur le Var ou la Côte d'Azur between mid july to end of august. But who like to sail during this period ??? About size, I would not be able now to "deal" with a 57' sail yacht...

 

[BartW]

This is my first winter there, I wish to go there in Jan or Feb. Do you think that I can cruise out to Kotor side? I remember a seaside restaurant at Kotor bay which had their own small quay. I plan to have dinner there and overnight there. Do you think that it is possible?

in the bay you can virtually cruise all year long, in any weather condition, but at strong wind its ofcause no fun...
around 19th december we cruised to Kotor in perfectly Sunny weather, 17° (in the sun it felt +20°C)
can be the same in jan and feb,
but as you know, today and tomorrow is terribly strond winds, and freezing temp...

we went to Resto Galion in Kotor, oppisite the marina,
very good quality of food !
Kotor marina is really nice for staying overnight, strongly recommanded ! lights on the city walls on the mountain !
any guest I took there loves it, and the trip through the bay along Perast is breathtaking every time
call harbourmaster Bojan for a berth, (I'll pm his number if you Like)

I'm on berth D23,
have booked to be there, so far:
weekend of 28/1 and week 25/2-4/3

 

[BartW]

You do get that "apartment" feel with a bigger boat but you have to live with the considerable extra fuel and berthing costs.

with a 70ft boat with stabs, you can perfectly cruise at 10kn,
last summer we navigated around 1000nm, due to circomstances most of it at 10kn, (75ltr/hour)
and realise that you are still faster than sailing boats, and most trawlers...
and you still have the possibility to blast at 20kn every now and then.
at a fuel cost of 0.45 euro/liter (last year tax free in Porto Montengro ;-) ) this should not be a big issue,

 

[Mad Pad]

in the bay you can virtually cruise all year long, in any weather condition, but at strong wind its ofcause no fun...
around 19th december we cruised to Kotor in perfectly Sunny weather, 17° (in the sun it felt +20°C)
can be the same in jan and feb,
but as you know, today and tomorrow is terribly strond winds, and freezing temp...

we went to Resto Galion in Kotor, oppisite the marina,
very good quality of food !
Kotor marina is really nice for staying overnight, strongly recommanded ! lights on the city walls on the mountain !
any guest I took there loves it, and the trip through the bay along Perast is breathtaking every time
call harbourmaster Bojan for a berth, (I'll pm his number if you Like)

I'm on berth D23,
have booked to be there, so far:
weekend of 28/1 and week 25/2-4/3

Hi,Bart and Eren,

Just looked at Accuweather,predicting -12 for tomorrow night in Tivat and not going much above freezing for the next few days!

 

[BartW]

Hi,Bart and Eren,

Just looked at Accuweather,predicting -12 for tomorrow night in Tivat and not going much above freezing for the next few days!

last night was a terrible storm, same as a few weeks ago,
I've never ever seen this windspeed / collors on windfinder.
they had electricity problems in the marina, I'm not sure if OK now.

 

[Eren]

in the bay you can virtually cruise all year long, in any weather condition, but at strong wind its ofcause no fun...
around 19th december we cruised to Kotor in perfectly Sunny weather, 17° (in the sun it felt +20°C)
can be the same in jan and feb,
but as you know, today and tomorrow is terribly strond winds, and freezing temp...

we went to Resto Galion in Kotor, oppisite the marina,
very good quality of food !
Kotor marina is really nice for staying overnight, strongly recommanded ! lights on the city walls on the mountain !
any guest I took there loves it, and the trip through the bay along Perast is breathtaking every time
call harbourmaster Bojan for a berth, (I'll pm his number if you Like)

I'm on berth D23,
have booked to be there, so far:
weekend of 28/1 and week 25/2-4/3

Thank a lot for the valuable info Bart.

Usually the winter runaways make up my best boating memories. The unexpected warm weathers and surprise sunshines completely change your mood. I do it minimum once a month in Gocek/Turkey and each time is wonderful. We have the small seaside restaurant where they set up the fireplace for us (usually we are the only guests) and we enjoy fresh fish and drinks. I am really wondering how it is in Montenegro. I am looking forward for it. I took note of your dates there, will come by for a drink if the time matches.

PS: I am checking the boat daily nowadays through the guy who takes care of my boat. So far no problems.

 

[Eren]

Hi,Bart and Eren,

Just looked at Accuweather,predicting -12 for tomorrow night in Tivat and not going much above freezing for the next few days!

Thanks for the warning Mad Pad. As a precaution, I drained the fresh water, tightened the mooring lines a bit and our guy there visits the boat everyday. Any other precautions that you may recommend will be highly appreciated.

 

[Mad Pad]

Thanks for the warning Mad Pad. As a precaution, I drained the fresh water, tightened the mooring lines a bit and our guy there visits the boat everyday. Any other precautions that you may recommend will be highly appreciated.

Eren,just make sure your lines are tight and you have plenty of fenders out.There was quite a bit of damage on C in the big blow in early Dec due to sloppy mooring.Also it doesn't help that the bow lines are fore and aft when they should be splayed out.
A few days ago we had another blow ,70 knots ,and one of our fenders burst.
Keep in touch,

Best

Mad Pad

 

[Eren]

Eren,just make sure your lines are tight and you have plenty of fenders out.There was quite a bit of damage on C in the big blow in early Dec due to sloppy mooring.Also it doesn't help that the bow lines are fore and aft when they should be splayed out.
A few days ago we had another blow ,70 knots ,and one of our fenders burst.
Keep in touch,

Best

Mad Pad

Thanks a lot Mad Pad. I will check for those as well.