SuperYacht

mjf

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This term is being used very frequently these days.

I understand that the world order book for 'superyachts' tops 750 units currently.

When does a boat become a 'superyacht'? over 30m or what.

Would you consider the latest trideck Sunseeker as a superyacht for example.


I am interested as it seems to me that these beasts are going to become a more common sight around the world than is currently the case. The 'industry', I think ,is still a little unclear how to deal with them as hitherto they fell between the chairs of commercial tonnage (to include cruise ships & ferries) and leisure craft. Certainly more are Classed through Lloyds, RINA, ABS etc and many are subject to bank finance, have third party shipmanagers for technical and crewing etc. Several have fractional ownership. Its a growth industry for sure, but define superyacht?
 

jhr

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It's one of those subjective things imho. I'd say that a Superyacht is a genuinely one-off craft, probably 30m plus, commissioned, designed and built for a specific client and tailored exactly to his/her specifications.

On that basis I'd exclude the Sunny, because it's a mass production job with a few customisable manufacturer's bolt-ons. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

MapisM

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[ QUOTE ]
Would you consider the latest trideck Sunseeker as a superyacht for example.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'd rather suggest a new category - nastyacht possibly?
 

masaccio

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Good question. I think much of it depends where you're coming from. To the Man on The Clapham Omnibus an 85-footer is probably a superyacht. To the owner of an 85-footer a 150-footer is probably a superyacht, but a 100-footer probably isn't.

In my freelance capacity I test things between 60ft and 150ft, with anything over 100ft being considered a superyacht and anything over 200ft being considered a megayacht. But that's a pretty loose definition and doesn't take into account the level of custom-build. I've been on a couple of Baglietto 43m, and although the hull and superstructures are the same, the interior layouts are very different...so is it a custom build, or a semi-custom build? Either way, I would consider them to be superyachts.

So I guess I'd say that 30m or over is probably a superyacht. Then again, I was on a 115 recently that was a useless pile of junk and no way would I consider it to be a superyacht, so maybe design and build quality come into play as well. Dammit...it's too difficult to define.
 

tcm

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hm, in my humble opinion a superyacht is defined by having a lot of crew, almost outnumbering guests (max 12 on most boats you see that don't have lifeboats) and a 30m boat doesn't have that many crew at all. It has four crew if it's fast and low, 6 if a bit trudgier or squeezy, or 8 if it's a total heap and needs more fixing, or 20+ if it's an ancient saily racing boat although not all if any crew will get paid in these circumstances and there won't actually be any separate "guests" cos down below the average classic sailing boat is a cosy hovel so all the paying gusts are calld "crew" and are given a t-shirt to make up for the boat they chartered actually being quite cr ap.

An entry-level Superyacht is *just* small enough to get into st tropez old port (40m max) and a larger one could be as big as a small ferry like Lady Moura, and if you ask how many crew the skipper should not quite know the number, and it depends if you count the laundry staff who aren't allowed out on deck during daytime hours. Some superyacht owners require that their crew aren't visble on deck as they tour a delightfully empty expanse of teak whilst the crew phone warnings to each other to hide, quick.

A "megayacht" is a meaningless term and generally used by those who can't comprehend any boat being large AND fabulous AND expensive. But a superyacht is already allof these things. So defining the line separating "superyacht" and "megayacht" is redundant, like trying to define the what is *beyond* the Universe - when "Universe" by defintion encompasses everything.

Naturally, you must not ever expect any owner to use the term "superyacht". Very bad form. The term only exists for mere class-concious mortals whose own boat is non-existent (or essentially non-existent) and is an attempt to put some order into the martime plutocracy that may always remain their stranger.

You'll find lowly army and navy types need to know and name higher and higher ranks as a desperate means for them to somehow "belong", to place "stepping stones" between their own positon and the rather more significant types, as though they have the same destiny, merelya matter of time. Of course, this isn't the case, and they themselves get nowhere at all. The "higher echelons" remain exactly that - above them, and with a variety of more and more complicated names.

As with any floating vessel, the owner should of course refer to "my boat" or "our boat" whethr it is 100metres or 100 inches long. Anyone referring to their "yacht" is a cad - or a charterer.

You can tell a charterer as they will have the absolute maximum number of guests on board all the time, music blaring loudly, everyone shrieking cooee! (yes, that includes you and your guests Mr Branson) and the crew visibly unsackable, essentially policing the well-being of the boat.

You can tell an owner as they are quieter, have fewer people on board and are generally able to push the crew around merely by moving their eyes.
 

sarabande

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LS - the foredeck crew is slacking again. Their genoa sheet angle needs adjusting.

50 lashes all round; none of that fourteen course breakfast nonsense for a week; and they can make do with the straw in the for'd messes till payday.

Are those really pumpkins between the road signs ?
 

MapisM

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Non sequitur

[ QUOTE ]
..."superyacht"... The term only exists for mere class-concious mortals whose own boat is non-existent (or essentially non-existent) and is an attempt to put some order into the martime plutocracy that may always remain their stranger.

[/ QUOTE ]
Considering the subject of this thread, do you mean that all posters (including yourself) are all class-conscious mortals, boatless and strangers towards maritime plutocracy?
 

tcm

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Re: Non sequitur

Oh i'm almost certainly a class-concious mortal. In fact i am pretty sure I am - I'm British for starters, and talk with a provincial accent, sir.

Though really, I meant nothing more than for people to read the post and to feel/think something. As you did.

okay - no offence was meant nor superiority seriously claimed - but it's hard if not impossible to write with feeling about this sort of thing except in either an ooh-gosh-wow style with which we are all familiar... or in a less usual (altho admittedly less acceptable) pah-harumph-call that-a-superyacht? style as I attempted, and probably badly.

However, in discussing the applicability of the term "superyacht" one is unavoidably try to rank one style/size of boat above others, no? That is difficult without having regard to "class" and hence being "class-concious".

However, I wd think it much moee appropriate if some people on/with bigger boats were more normal, borrowed spanners and the like, instead of habitually sneering at those in smaller vessels. Hopefully my post transmitted some sarcasm, rather than appearing a serious attempt to lay down the law.
 

MapisM

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Yes indeed

I mean, your post did transmit some sarcasm, and was nice to read.
That's why a sarcastic (well, sort of, I hope) reply popped up to my mind...
 

Lakesailor

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Ah, You show yourself up as a part-time forumite.
I have previously posted about this mater. The short track prevents me from improving the set of the headsail, but by putting a 6" strop on the tack I raised the sail up the forestay and effectively increased the sheet angle which closed the leech.
It's amazing how getting someone to take pictures of your boat shows obvious problems you can't really see from the deck.
 

KCook

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Seems to depend on what boat you're flogging. Over here several US builders who offer 120' semi-custom yachts now claim the mantle of "megayacht builder"!!! Would seem they have promoted themselves right past the superyacht category. Not kidding, these guys are dead serious about calling themselves magayacht builders. No doubt in another couple of years 50 footers will be superyachts and 80 footers megayachts.

Kelly
 

RogerRat

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[ QUOTE ]

The short track prevents me from improving the set of the headsail, but by putting a 6" strop on the tack I raised the sail up the forestay and effectively increased the sheet angle which closed the leech.

It's amazing how getting someone to take pictures of your boat shows obvious problems you can't really see from the deck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pictures always help, especially a shot from behind on lee side. I would suggest looking up at the leeward side of the main to check the slot, your jib is fairly short in the foot and the track may be set for a genny.

I would call 'Slippy' a Superlittleyacht. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 

RogerRat

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Quote "everyone shrieking cooee! (yes, that includes you and your guests Mr Branson) and the crew visibly unsackable, essentially policing the well-being of the boat."

Love the Branson tickoff but what does, 'visibly unsackable' mean?
 
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