In the last five years, the industry has seen an increased interest in “expedition yachts” from both the buyer and builder side of the business. The term “expedition cruising” has also appeared more recently in industry publications as people have begun to look outside of the more populated ports in search of different and unique experiences. Having operated an expedition program for 20 years, I understand the intrigue as I personally have always found remote cruising to be more interesting and enriching than the typical milk run.
While there’s something to be said about having a fjord, complete with a waterfall and glacier, all to yourself in Patagonia; there are also realities to that style of cruising. There is a different set of requirements than when you’re docked in Monaco and only 50 miles from the nearest shipyard should something go wrong. The fact that the Pacific Ocean, which offers a large portion of unfrequented territory, is three times the size of the Atlantic Ocean inherently means different needs of the boat (and/or the owner and crew) once you’ve reached your destination. There’s also the fact that your vessel has to get there…and back – Confidently.
Routinely, boat owners understandably are not heavily involved or concerned about the operational details of their boat nor do they heavily affect their purchase decisions. The extent of these operational considerations typically begin and end at ‘fuel capacity’ – meaning you have a rough idea (or you should) on whether your boat can carry enough fuel to get to a specific destination at a comfortable speed. With expedition style cruising, these details begin to play a much larger role in your overall experience on board, compared to when your boat is mechanically untaxed and is constantly near major ports with shoreside resources.
If expedition cruising is something you’re considering, where do you start? While there are “expedition boats” on the market that one may assume tick all of the boxes, there is a widely varied definition of what qualifies a boat to be capable of cruising long distances. On the one side, we have the aesthetically pleasing exterior that “looks” like it’s ready to push the boundaries of travel with its steel hull and big bow. However, upon closer inspection, perhaps it lacks the power and systems to really go the distance. On the other extreme are the “conversions” that will likely have the systems to take you where you want to go, but while they try very hard to match the pleasing design of other luxury yachts, some owners won’t like the harder, naval look they still embody. The truth is, just because there is a catch-all term, it doesn’t mean that any “expedition yacht” you come across is going to be capable or reliable of the job at hand.
In order to make the most informed and educated decision, there are some important operational components that you may have overlooked. Below is a list of a few, but certainly not all, considerations to get you started.
1. Look first and foremost for a boat that has the endurance, not just the range.
Fuel capacity is a common spec of any vessel, but what’s often not considered is what cruising speed that capacity is correlated to. Regardless of where you want to travel, a general guideline would be to look for a boat with a minimum range of 4000 miles at 10 knots. Otherwise your boat may be able to make it from the Galapagos to the Marquesas in French Polynesia; however, it may take you three weeks to get there and you may be coasting in on fumes. Fuel is often the biggest factor that separates what boats can and cannot travel extensively on their own bottoms. For a yacht with such a range, you want to look for 30 – 40% reserve fuel to confidently get you to your destination.
2. Prioritize a boat that minimizes the risk of mechanical failures. This can be done with redundancies in critical equipment, conservatively maintaining that equipment, and investing in the engineering department.
Perhaps rather surprising to an owner, a lot changes when you shift from dockside to anchor, especially when anchor becomes the new normal. Consider the fact that there will be no shore power to plug into or dock water to source from so equipment such as generators, stabilizers, and water makers all begin to play a more critical role in your experience. Generators can be difficult to manage with fluctuations in power, depending on guests, galley equipment, and crew usage. Stabilizers, and anything else for that matter, that are exposed to the environment are also prone to issues. When you’re 2000 miles from the nearest shipyard capable of hauling you out, it’s important to be as self-sufficient and as least accident-prone as possible. When in the shipyard, if there is any doubt in your mechanical equipment not lasting for a sufficient period (i.e. two years) under continuous stress, then you should either replace/service that equipment or you’ll likely run into a problem that sends your boat back to a shipyard mid-trip.
A general rule of thumb for power requirements on a 45 – 50 meter vessel would be two generators capable of 80% of full hotel load plus a night generator that comes in to assist whenever the primaries are over taxed and/or while maneuvering in harbors or ports. These units should also be coupled to a power management system that offers interface into the ships systems. This way you always have a backup, because if you don’t, and your generators are down, chances are you’re not going on that trip like you planned.
3. Crew quarters, work areas, storage compartments, and overall intentional use of space are of greater importance in expedition vessels.
A yacht that sits in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean most of the time, will not require the same design allowances that an expedition yacht used for spending months cruising extensively. Is there enough room for the crew to move around and do their job well? If you plan to cruise areas where there are no restaurants and no shoreside support, that means you’ll be eating every meal onboard the boat for a few weeks at a time and expecting staff to work long days. Will they be able to offer the level of service you’re expecting within the spaces on board? It’s unfortunate that more consideration isn’t given to the crew, because without them you can’t operate a boat.
Storage space is also a greater necessity when remote locations don’t have the shoreside resources to get what you need in a timely manner. It may seem like a waste of space and a compromise to guest areas to allocate room to storage; however, if the crew has spare parts for the stabilizers in the event of a mechanical failure while you’re onboard, you’ll be glad you sacrificed that space when they can fix the problem and you’re not on a flight home the next day.
4. Keep the design simple with proven equipment and durable goods.
Expedition cruising is not the time to incorporate new or radical technology or design features into your boat because, simply put, they aren’t proven. I tend to be weary of tender bays in the hull for the mere fact that the hull has been compromised and you have a door capable of malfunctioning. Bells and whistles are great, but they can require a lot of servicing and when you don’t have the resources for that servicing, you’re likely setting yourself up for a scenario where your time onboard will be compromised. Machinery efficiency and boat usage are complex, but it becomes even more intricate when you add in remote cruising for extended periods of time. You’re now completely dependent upon all of your systems.
Perhaps at its simplest, you need to confidently know whether your vessel is capable of the type of cruising that you hope to do, fully understanding that expedition cruising is not just farther than you’re used to traveling. It fundamentally changes how your vessel is used and what is needed to do so successfully. The world is off your bow… Seek out a captain or advisor with experience in expedition cruising to make your vision a reality.