yacht life boat

What are Different Types of Lifeboats and How to Select the Right Type

Life boats, which are essential components of maritime safety equipment, are critical assets in ensuring the safety of people at sea during emergencies. Various types of lifeboats  have been developed over the years to meet various maritime needs, providing diverse solutions for evacuating and safeguarding crew and passengers. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of lifeboats, their designs, their specific applications in maritime safety and key factors to select the most suitable lifeboat.

Common Types of Lifeboats

1.  open lifeboats.

Open lifeboats  are simple, traditional designs that have been in use for many years. These boats are typically constructed of wood or, more commonly nowadays, long-lasting materials such as fiberglass or reinforced plastic. They feature a basic, open design without a roof, making them suitable for quick and easy boarding. Open lifeboats are commonly found on smaller vessels and are manually propelled using oars or a small outboard motor.

2.  Enclosed Lifeboats

Enclosed lifeboats are built with a protective canopy or roof to protect the occupants from the elements. This design offers additional protection against inclement weather, such as rain, wind, and rough seas. Enclosed lifeboats are frequently outfitted with vital survival equipment, communication systems, and emergency supplies. These lifeboats are appropriate for a variety of vessels, such as cargo ships, passenger ships, and offshore platforms.

3.  Freefall Lifeboats

In an emergency, freefall lifeboats  are specifically designed for rapid deployment from a ship’s deck. Freefall lifeboats, unlike traditional lifeboats, are launched by releasing them from a cradle or ramp at an elevated position on the ship. The lifeboat’s freefall descent allows it to enter the water quickly and efficiently, ensuring a timely evacuation in critical situations.

4.  Fast Rescue Craft

Fast rescue craft (FRCs)   are smaller, agile vessels used for rapid response and rescue operations. These boats are frequently found on larger vessels like passenger ferries, cruise ships, and offshore installations. Fast rescue craft are designed for quick maneuverability and can quickly reach locations to assist in emergencies or rescue missions.

5.  Davit-Launched Lifeboats

Davit-launched lifeboats are commonly used on ships and offshore platforms of various sizes. Davits, which are mechanical devices that lower the lifeboat from a ship’s deck to the water, are used to launch them. These lifeboats can be open or enclosed, making them a versatile solution for a variety of vessel types. Davit-launched lifeboats are well-known for their dependability and ease of use.

6.  Inflatable Lifeboats

Inflatable lifeboats  have inflatable tubes wrapped around the hull to provide buoyancy and stability. Because these lifeboats are lightweight, they are simple to store and deploy. Smaller vessels, such as yachts and offshore installations, frequently use inflatable lifeboats. They can be open or enclosed, providing design flexibility.

7.  Combination Lifeboats

Combination lifeboats combine features from various types to provide a complete solution. A combination lifeboat, for example, may have an enclosed design with inflatable elements for added buoyancy. These lifeboats aim to combine the benefits of various designs in order to improve safety and versatility.

Key Considerations to Select the Most Appropriate Type of Lifeboats

Choosing the best type of lifeboat is a critical decision for ensuring the safety of people at sea.

• Vessel Type and Size

Consider the size and type of the vessel. Larger vessels may require lifeboats with greater capacity and additional features. Passenger ships, cargo vessels, and offshore platforms may have different requirements based on their specific operations.

• Occupancy Capacity

Evaluate the maximum number of people the lifeboat needs to accommodate. Lifeboats come in various sizes, and it’s crucial to choose one that can safely carry all individuals on board in emergency situations.

• Operational Environment

Assess the typical operating conditions and environmental factors where the vessel operates. Different lifeboats are designed to withstand specific sea conditions. For instance, vessels navigating in rough seas may require more robust lifeboats with enhanced stability features.

• Launch and Recovery Method

Consider the method of launching and recovering the lifeboat. Davit-launched lifeboats are common on many vessels, while freefall lifeboats are designed for rapid deployment. The choice depends on the vessel’s layout and the speed at which evacuation is required.

• Survivability Features

Evaluate the survivability features of the lifeboat, such as its stability, self-righting capabilities, and ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. The lifeboat should be capable of keeping occupants safe and secure in a variety of emergency situations.

• Accessibility and Ease of Boarding

Consider how easy it is to board the lifeboat, especially in difficult conditions. Some lifeboats are built with quick and easy boarding in mind, which is critical during emergency evacuations. Consider accessibility features such as ladders or platforms.

• Special Requirements

Based on the vessel’s operations, determine any special requirements or features that are required. Offshore drilling vessels, for example, may benefit from freefall lifeboats for rapid evacuation, whereas vessels transporting hazardous materials may require lifeboats with additional safety measures.

• Regulatory Compliance

Ensure that the selected lifeboat complies with international and national regulations and standards. Different regions may have specific requirements for lifeboat design, equipment, and maintenance. Compliance with regulations ensures that the lifeboat meets recognized safety standards.

• Training and Familiarization

Consider the training requirements for operating the selected lifeboat. Crew members should be adequately trained in the proper use of the lifeboat, including launching, navigation, and emergency procedures. Familiarity with the lifeboat’s features is crucial for efficient and safe operation during emergencies.

• Maintenance and Inspection

Assess the ease of maintenance and inspection for the chosen lifeboat. Regular maintenance is essential for ensuring that the lifeboat remains in optimal condition. Easy access for inspections and routine maintenance tasks contributes to the lifeboat’s reliability.

• Cost Considerations

While safety is the most important consideration, consider the overall cost of acquiring and maintaining the lifeboat. Determine the lifecycle costs of the lifeboat, including purchase, installation, training, and ongoing maintenance. Balance budgetary concerns with the need for a dependable and efficient lifeboat.

The diversity of lifeboat designs reflects the evolving needs and challenges of maritime safety . Each type of lifeboat serves a specific purpose, such as quick evacuation, sheltering occupants from the elements, or allowing for rapid rescue operations. Choosing the right type of lifeboat requires a thorough examination of the vessel’s characteristics, operational environment, and safety requirements. By carefully considering these factors, vessel operators can ensure that the selected lifeboat is well-suited to handle emergency situations, serving as a critical component in maritime safety and evacuation procedures.

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Do Yachts Have Lifeboats? [The Complete Answer]

Whether you’re on a tiny little fishing boat or a supersized tri-deck yacht, safety should be the highest priority. That’s why all boats come with safety features that make sure accidents are mitigated, and in case one actually happens, no one gets hurt.

The yacht is often recognized as a premier recreational watercraft that’s for those with a slightly more sophisticated taste (and a bigger budget.) And because they’re pretty expensive, you might expect those things to come with serious safety features. So, do yachts have lifeboats? Here’s what you need to know.

What is the Purpose of a Lifeboat?

Now, this one should be pretty obvious, but for the sake of information, we’re sharing anyway. A lifeboat is exactly what its name suggests. Developed to provide passengers a safe escape from an otherwise damaged, sinking, or capsized vessel, a lifeboat is a protective measure that reduces the risk of maritime deaths .

But it’s more than just a ‘nice little safety feature’. Lifeboats are required by law for yachts and cruise ships to name a few. These regulations were put in place by the United Nations International Maritime Organization as well as the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea ( SOLAS .)

According to the regulations, there should be enough lifeboats on board to accommodate the maximum number of passengers allowed on board at any single time. The law also stipulates that passengers must be informed of how to use these lifeboats in case the need arises while they’re underway.

Different Types of Lifeboats on Yachts

To answer the main question, yes, yachts have lifeboats . But smaller vessels that can’t accommodate lifeboats for storage capacity limitations must have at least enough life rafts on board.

Another thing about lifeboats is that there are lots of different designs available, and yachts might carry different models depending on a variety of factors, including passenger capacity, distance of travel, and size, to name a few.

Life boats can either be closed or open , which already tells you what to expect. A closed lifeboat is entirely sealed to provide evacuees extra protection. The open lifeboat looks more like a small boat and doesn’t have a roof. They’re operated manually or by a small ignition engine.

Today, the open lifeboat is generally not recommended because of their exposure to the elements and the potential for waves to overcome the vessel when there are strong winds. They’re still found on smaller vessels though.

The freefall lifeboat is a closed lifeboat that essentially looks like a submarine since it’s completely enclosed to protect its passengers from water, heat, rain, and the elements. The ultra buoyant design is deployed via a short freefall from the side of the yacht. They’re typically seen on larger vessels and are preferred for their ease of deployment.

The hyperbaric lifeboat is the most sophisticated lifeboat you’ll find, and they’re usually deployed from within the vessel itself. The lifeboat comes with a control system, an onboard generator, and even equipment for the crew. These are found on superyachts and cruise ships that carry several hundreds of passengers.

In some cases, it may be necessary for a yacht to have a fireproof lifeboat especially in situations where they might be at risk of catching fire. These lifeboats are designed with lots of insulation, helping to keep the vessel protected from fire damage.

They can be either closed or open, depending on the manufacturer, but typically use fire retardant materials to shield passengers from flames and explosions on the water.

Lifeboats vs Life Rafts

While some people use the terms ‘lifeboat’ and ‘life raft’ interchangeably, they’re actually two completely different vessels. In general, yachts are required to have lifeboats. But since these boats tend to come in pretty large sizes, smaller vessels might not have the space to accommodate them. In that case, they may need to take on a few life rafts.

The main difference between a lifeboat and a life raft is sophistication. Most life boats are designed so that passengers can operate them with a motor, but life rafts are essentially floating rafts that just serve the purpose of keeping passengers afloat while they wait for rescue.

Other than that, the life raft is designed for limited storage. These rafts collapse into compact little packages that fit into a fiberglass tube. They can be stored almost anywhere on board since they’re exceptionally small. On the other hand, lifeboats are full-sized boats that can’t be otherwise folded or collapsed to fit into a smaller space.

In essence, a lifeboat is designed so that it can allow its passengers to escape an otherwise damaged yacht and make their way to safety. The life raft on the other hand has limited features that let passengers steer and move through the water, so they’re really just something to hold on to while you wait.

Finally, there’s the question of deployment. On average, life rafts are easier to deploy because of their simple mechanism and lightweight design. But then again, they may be punctured and torn when improperly handled, leading to a useless raft.

On the other hand, life boats aren’t prone to the same puncture damage that life rafts are, but because they require specific deployment procedures, there’s always the risk of failure especially due to human error.

A Safety Measure Worth Having

No doubt, nobody really wants to be faced with a situation that calls for a lifeboat. But it’s one of those things you’ll be happy to have around especially when the need arises. There are lots of different kinds of lifeboats that provide various benefits and distinct functions, but the end goal is always the same.

So, do yachts have lifeboats? The answer is yes, they all should have. If you’ve got a private yacht and don’t have enough room for a sophisticated lifeboat, make sure you’ve got a bunch of life rafts on board. Affordable, easy to deploy, and compact, life rafts are a simple yet essential for keeping a smaller yacht or vessel safe for the sea.

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

How two architects refitted a cheap old lifeboat into this Arctic liveaboard cruiser

• Helen Fretter
• August 18, 2020

Clearly Stødig is not a sailing yacht, nor anything close to one. Indeed she is far from a conventional motoryacht. But sometimes there are vessels which may not have a mast and sails, but which appeal to an adventurous spirit just as much as any teak-decked, canvassed yacht. Stødig is such a boat.

Stødig is the brainchild of friends Guylee Simmonds and David Schnabel, both 28. Looking at the beautiful spaces they have created in this unassuming 35ft tub, it comes as no surprise that the pair met when studying architecture.

While seafaring is a new pastime for Schnabel, Simmonds comes from a sailing heritage and spent a childhood sailing the family yachts out of East Sussex and across the English Channel .

“I’m actually the third generation of my family to have some sort of boat in Newhaven. My grandfather had an old wooden boat that never left the harbour and was always sort of an ongoing project. Stødig is the first motor boat in the family, and yes, that was a small point of family contention!” he explains.

Given formative years spent on yachts, what drew Simmonds to the 23-year-old No 1 Lifeboat that had spent its working life strapped to the side of the MV Clansman ferry in the western isles of Scotland?

“I guess it was the architect in me seeing an opportunity in a slightly unusual space,” he explains. “There’s only a certain number of ways you can lay out a sailing yacht on the whole.

“And there’s a certain number of ways you can lay out a narrow boat, which I guess was another thing we thought about, whereas there haven’t been many lifeboats that have been so thoroughly converted. So there was that blank canvas appeal.

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“There was a cost element to it as well. These lifeboats cost six figures new, but they’re generally sold for between £5,000-10,000. They’re built to a very high standard and they’re very safe. The fibreglass is up to 25mm thick, which is massive compared to any yacht.”

In early 2018 the 100-man lifeboat was listed for sale via a closed bidding process, Schnabel and Simmonds submitted an offer of £7,000 and won. Collection was due one week later, so she was hastily hauled down from Scotland to Lochin Marine shipyard in Newhaven in March.

Alongside their freelance architecture work, the duo spent every available hour during weekends and evenings working on the lifeboat, which they had renamed Stødig , meaning ‘steady’ or ‘reliable’ in Norwegian. They set themselves a deadline of a year to transform the industrial vessel into a liveaboard cruiser.

The roof deck is covered in flexible solar panels by Sunflare. They can be stood on and the tender can be inflated on the roof

“Our total budget was £30,000, which included the purchase of the boat,” recalls Simmonds. “This meant we really needed to do most of the work ourselves.

“One benefit of this is that we know the boat inside and out. We have such an intimate knowledge of her design and build that it has enabled us to troubleshoot en route in a way that we really wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.”

Utilitarian

First on the job list was removing a dozen fibreglass benches that lined the interior for the lifeboat’s intended 100 emergency passengers. “Then we set to work on making a cockpit,” Simmonds recalls. “If your ferry sinks off the coast of Scotland in a storm and you’re evacuated by lifeboat, understandably you’d probably like to be fully enclosed and as safe as possible.

“For our purposes, though, we wanted some external space where we could introduce a primary access door into the boat, store ropes and fenders, fish from and step into from the quayside.”

The pair designed a small sunken cockpit, cutting out a section of the superstructure at the stern, but as the lifeboat was intended for exploring Norwegian fjords in all weathers, the majority of the living space is inside. Having being designed for utilitarian levels of comfort, Stødig now features two symmetrical double cabins, additional bunks, a light-filled saloon and galley, and separate shower room.

“Although just 35ft long, it’s 35ft of very usable space. Critically it’s also got a beam of 3m, but it’s got that beam along the full length of the boat. So on a 35ft yacht you might have a 10ft beam but only in the widest part, whereas we have that from bow to stern really,” said Simmonds.

The saloon leads to the pair of symmetrical forward cabins, with a log-burning stove between

“That enabled us to put two double cabins in the bow, which you don’t get on any yacht really! We wanted to create quite equal amounts of space for both of us. Having grown up on sailing holidays and staying on boats there was always that discussion about who got the nice cabin!”

The saloon is made up of a galley to starboard and a seating area and table to port (which converts into an occasional double berth). “We were able to put the seating area and the kitchen opposite each other and make them both fairly generous, and still have quite a lot of floor space.

“When we’re packing for a ski or camping trip, or when we’re doing some work on the boat, we have so much floor space you’re not tripping over each other the whole time. That’s really appealing in terms of the liveability of the boat.”

Solar panels providing 900W plus a wind turbine means Stødig is virtually self-sufficient

However the main feature of the saloon are two huge curved acrylic windows. “We have these big outlooks so we can see the mountains outside, but we also allow a lot of light in, and that makes the inside volume feel twice as big,” Simmonds adds.

Abaft the saloon there is a bunk cabin, a composting heads with separate shower, and stowage for essential items like skis. A wood-burning stove offers restorative warmth after snowy expeditions.

More high tech solutions came onto the boat through welcome sponsorship. “A lot of the high value products such as the electrical system and solar panels were donated,” Simmonds says, which boosted their initial budget by around £10,000.

They included lightweight stick-on solar panels from Sunflare that wrap around the curved roof, and provide 900W of power. There is also a small wind turbine from Giga on top of the lifeboat’s navigation mast. Stødig is almost entirely self-sufficient, and the pair estimate they have drawn shore power just half a dozen times.

Balancing act

In order to reduce the rolling motion, the pair added ballast to the lifeboat during the refit, including sandbags in the bilges. “The original boat when totally empty weighed just under 5 tonnes; it has a maximum weight of 12.5 tonnes when it has 100 people in it, because 100 people is just under 8 tonnes. We didn’t want to go fully laden but eventually, with all the conversion and ballast, I think that we’ve added about 3.5 tonnes. That’s a fairly back of the envelope sort of calculation.

“The shape of the boat means it’s never going to cut through the water, it is going to punch through as it has a fairly bulbous bow. But we’re quite happy, we’re glad we didn’t make it any heavier, but also no lighter because we’ve been in some pretty rough seas in the boat and it handled them very well.”

The former lifeboat contending with rough seas off Haukland in the Lofoten Islands

In May last year Simmonds, Schnabel, and Shackleton, Simmonds’s Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, set off for northern Norway from Newhaven, a 3,100-mile adventure. With a cruising speed of 6 knots on Stødig they first crossed the Channel, before heading up the Belgian and Dutch coastlines, and picking their way through Dutch inland waterways.

“We were very careful about our passage planning and opted for inland routes where we could. Doing this for a lifeboat did mean taking passage planning to another level to ensure we caught the most favourable sea states possible,” Simmonds recalls.

Driving a bus

The close-quarter handling was more of a challenge. “It’s a bit like manoeuvring a large bus when you’re used to manoeuvring a Mini. With a yacht you can pivot the vessel around its keel but there’s no pivot point on a lifeboat and we don’t have thrusters. That said, we navigated through the Dutch canals for a week, we have been into a lot of the busiest marinas in Northern Europe and we didn’t have any incidents.”

Shackleton, the resident Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, makes the most of the wheelhouse roof hatch

They transited through the Kiel Canal and then sailed north via Denmark before exploring the archipelagos on Sweden’s west coast. “The hairiest passage was an extremely rough crossing of the Skagerrak between Sweden and Norway,” recalls Simmonds, which saw them crossing in 4m waves. “We caught the tail end of a rather big storm. Lifeboats are tested in far worse conditions so though we had every confidence our home was up to it, we were very glad to reach dry land.”

Having reached Norway by midsummer, they have explored islands and archipelago as far as Tromsø, where they overwintered. “We found the most incredible anchorages – remote, peaceful and uninhabited – slung a rope around a tree stump or a rock and would barbecue on the water’s edge in splendid isolation.

“We could also reach spectacular waterways in Stødig , behind islands and in the fjords and explore passages that would be inaccessible to vessels with deeper draughts. Also knowing you have nearly an inch of fibreglass between you and the sea gives you a lot of confidence when it comes to sitting on the bottom or mooring up against cliff faces and navigating through Norway’s rocky and narrow passages.”

Additional reporting by Chantal Borciani. First published in the July 2020 edition of Yachting World.

What Is A Lifeboat? (A Breakdown Of Its Uses And Benefits)

Lifeboats are essential tools in saving lives during a sea emergency.

What started as small, wooden boats that were designed to transport people to safety, has evolved into sophisticated vessels loaded with life-saving technology.

From the history and different types of lifeboats to the components and uses, this article will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the lifeboat and its many benefits.

We will explore the technology advancements that have made lifeboats more effective, the safety regulations that have been put in place to protect passengers, and the overall value of lifeboats in keeping people safe.

Read on to learn more about lifeboats and why they are such an important part of maritime safety.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable boat carried on a ship, designed to be used in an emergency to save people from a sinking ship.

Lifeboats are typically equipped with oars, an anchor and a motor, and are designed for rapid deployment in a disaster situation.

Lifeboats are also used for recreational boating and competitive rowing events.

History of Lifeboats

The use of lifeboats has a long and storied history, dating back to the 19th century when they were first introduced.

The first lifeboats were made of wood, but modern lifeboats are typically constructed from a more durable material such as fiberglass or aluminum.

This has enabled them to become more lightweight and maneuverable, making them more effective in even the most hazardous rescue operations.

Lifeboats typically contain a variety of lifesaving equipment, including oars, a sail, a radio, flares, and a first aid kit.

This makes them well-equipped for the task of rescuing people from a disaster at sea.

In fact, lifeboats have been used to save thousands of lives over the years, making them a vital component of any rescue operation.

In addition to their use in rescue operations, lifeboats have also been used in various other situations.

For instance, they have been used to transport supplies to remote locations, as well as to transport personnel to and from vessels.

Furthermore, they are often used in research missions, such as oceanographic surveys, and in recreational activities, such as fishing and sailing.

Today, lifeboats are an essential part of any rescue effort, and they continue to be a vital tool in saving lives at sea.

They are an increasingly important part of our safety and security, and their use will undoubtedly remain an integral part of our maritime culture for many years to come.

Different Types of Lifeboats

When it comes to lifeboats, there are a variety of types available, each designed for different missions and environments.

For instance, open lifeboats are typically used for rescue operations in calm waters and sheltered areas, while inflatable lifeboats are designed to be more maneuverable and are ideal for open sea rescue operations.

In addition, there are rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) that are made of a combination of fiberglass and inflatable tubes, allowing them to be both lightweight and durable.

These are often used in search and rescue missions, as their flexibility allows them to traverse difficult terrain, such as rocky shorelines.

For rescue operations in icy waters, closed lifeboats are the preferred choice.

These boats are enclosed with a canopy, and are equipped with heating, a radio, and other lifesaving equipment.

With their sturdy design, closed lifeboats are capable of operating in some of the toughest conditions.

Finally, there are self-righting lifeboats which are designed to be able to right themselves if they capsize in rough waters.

This is an important safety feature, as it can be difficult to right a lifeboat in the middle of an emergency.

No matter the mission, lifeboats are a vital piece of equipment for any rescue operation.

With the right type of lifeboat, lives can be saved in even the most hostile environments.

Components of a Lifeboat

A lifeboat is an essential tool for saving people from a disaster at sea.

It typically consists of a hull made from fiberglass or aluminum.

It is equipped with oars, a sail, and lifesaving equipment such as a radio, flares, and a first aid kit.

Lifeboats come in two basic types: inflatable and rigid-hulled.

Inflatable lifeboats are lightweight and easy to store, but may not be as durable or seaworthy as rigid-hulled boats.

Rigid-hulled lifeboats are strong and more likely to survive rough seas, but may require more storage space and maintenance.

Lifeboats also come with a variety of safety features.

For example, they are often equipped with a self-righting mechanism, which allows the boat to right itself if it capsizes.

They also have a watertight compartment that can be used to store supplies or people in case of an emergency.

Lifeboats also come with a variety of lifesaving equipment such as radios, flares, and first aid kits.

The importance of lifeboats cannot be overstated.

They are an essential part of any rescue operation, and have saved thousands of lives since they were first introduced in the 19th century.

In addition to providing a safe way to evacuate a disaster area, lifeboats can also be used to transport people and supplies to and from a disaster site.

Uses of Lifeboats

Lifeboats have been used for centuries to save lives in sea emergencies.

From the earliest designs in the 19th century, lifeboats have gone through many iterations to become the lifesaving vessels they are today.

Lifeboats are used for a variety of purposes, including rescuing people from a disaster at sea, search and rescue operations, and as a means of transportation to and from offshore locations.

In addition to the lifesaving equipment mentioned above, lifeboats also carry medical supplies, communication devices, and navigation equipment.

Lifeboats are designed to be durable and buoyant enough to handle the rigors of the sea and to stay afloat in the event of a disaster.

Most lifeboats are constructed of fiberglass or aluminum, with inflatable life rafts attached to the boat’s hull.

Lifeboats are also equipped with oars, a sail, and lifesaving equipment such as a radio, flares, and a first aid kit.

Lifeboats are used in a variety of sea rescue operations, including rescuing people from a sinking ship, rescuing people from a capsized boat, and rescuing people from a collapsed bridge or building.

Lifeboats are also used in search and rescue operations, to locate and recover lost persons or vessels.

In addition to their lifesaving uses, lifeboats are also used for transportation and leisure.

Lifeboats are commonly used to ferry passengers between ports and offshore locations, and for recreational activities such as sailing and fishing.

Lifeboats are essential for sea rescue operations and have been used to save thousands of lives since they were first introduced in the 19th century.

With their durable design and lifesaving equipment, lifeboats are an invaluable resource in sea rescue operations.

Benefits of Lifeboats

Lifeboats are an incredibly important safety resource for anyone who finds themselves in distress at sea.

They are often the only means of rescue, and have been used to save thousands of lives since they were first introduced in the 19th century.

Lifeboats provide a number of unique benefits and advantages that make them an invaluable tool for sea rescue operations.

One of the primary benefits of lifeboats is the fact that they are specifically designed and equipped to meet the needs of a particular rescue situation.

This means that they are able to provide a safe and comfortable environment for those who are rescued, and are equipped with the necessary lifesaving equipment such as radios, flares, and first aid kits.

Lifeboats also provide a great deal of stability and buoyancy, allowing them to remain afloat even in rough seas.

This added stability, coupled with the fact that lifeboats are typically made from strong, lightweight materials such as fiberglass or aluminum, makes them an ideal tool for any rescue mission.

Finally, lifeboats are designed to be highly maneuverable, making them easier to navigate in difficult rescue situations.

This maneuverability, combined with their speed and agility, allows them to reach those in distress much faster than traditional rescue boats.

Overall, lifeboats offer a number of unique benefits and advantages that make them an essential part of any sea rescue operation.

They provide a safe and comfortable environment for those who are rescued, and are equipped with the necessary lifesaving equipment.

They also offer added stability and buoyancy, and are highly maneuverable, allowing them to reach those in distress much faster than traditional rescue boats.

For these reasons, lifeboats are an invaluable tool for sea rescue operations and have been used to save thousands of lives since their introduction in the 19th century.

Technology Advancements in Lifeboats

The idea of a lifeboat has been around for centuries, but technology advancements over the years have made them even more effective and reliable.

New materials and design innovations have allowed lifeboats to be constructed with lighter, more durable materials while also increasing their range and ability to withstand harsh conditions.

For example, modern lifeboats are constructed with hulls made of fiberglass or aluminum, which is much lighter than the traditional wood-built lifeboats of the past.

These modern lifeboats also feature improved propulsion systems that include both oars and sails, allowing them to be maneuvered more efficiently and quickly in order to reach people in need of rescuing.

In addition, several other technological advancements have helped to make lifeboats even more reliable and effective.

Modern lifeboats are equipped with lifesaving equipment such as a radio, flares, a first aid kit, and other emergency items.

This equipment is essential for a successful rescue mission and helps ensure that the lifeboat can stay in contact with other vessels, pinpoint their location, and be seen in the dark.

Finally, advancements in navigation systems have made lifeboats even more efficient and safe.

Modern lifeboats are equipped with GPS and navigational charts that allow them to plot their course and reach their destination more accurately and quickly.

This means that they can reach those in need of rescuing more quickly and can more easily avoid dangerous areas, making them even more reliable and effective.

Lifeboat Safety Regulations

Safety regulations for lifeboats are very important in order to ensure that the boat is able to save lives in the event of an emergency.

Lifeboats must be constructed to meet the standards of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) in order to be approved for use in rescue operations.

These standards include making sure the lifeboat is properly equipped with lifesaving aids, such as a radio, flares, and a first aid kit, as well as oars and a sail.

The lifeboat must also be able to withstand the rigors of open sea and be able to carry a minimum of 16 people.

Additionally, lifeboats must be well maintained and regularly inspected to ensure the safety of those who use them in the event of an emergency.

In addition to the regulations set forth by SOLAS, many countries have their own additional requirements for lifeboats.

In the United States, for example, the Coast Guard requires that lifeboats meet certain standards in order to be approved for use in rescue operations.

These standards include making sure the boat is properly equipped with lifesaving aids, such as a radio, flares, and a first aid kit, as well as oars and a sail.

By adhering to the safety regulations set forth by SOLAS and other governing bodies, lifeboats are able to remain an essential part of any rescue operation.

With proper maintenance, lifeboats can provide a safe and reliable way to save lives in the event of a disaster at sea.

Final Thoughts

Lifeboats are a critical part of saving lives at sea, and have been used to rescue thousands of people since their first introduction in the 19th century.

With a wide variety of designs and components to choose from, lifeboats can be adapted to meet any situation.

And with the latest advancements in technology, lifeboats are now even safer and more reliable than ever.

With this knowledge in hand, its important to remember that lifeboats are a valuable resource that should be respected and well-maintained.

Taking the time to understand the importance of lifeboats and the regulations that surround them can help ensure that those who need them can continue to be saved.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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YACHT LIFE BOAT SHOW GALERİ

Beklenen yat fuari başladi.

Yacht Life Boat Show dünya denizcilik sektörünün en büyük yat fuarı ve etkinliği olarak, 16-24 Aralık 2023 tarihleri arasında Antalya Anfaş Fuar ve Kongre Merkezi’nde gerçekleşecek.

This fair will bring together both professionals interested in mega yachts, boats and sailboats, and maritime enthusiasts. Yacht Life Boat Show her bütçeye uygun deniz araçları ve malzemeleri sunarak katılımcı firmalara stoklarını yenileme, yeni siparişler alma ve 2024 yılında hedefledikleri ticaret performansına ulaşma fırsatı sunacak.

Soğucaksu, 25001 Sokak No:1/4, 07112 Aksu/Antalya

Saturday, 16 December 2023 - Sunday, 24 December 2023

WHY SHOULD I JOIN?

By attending the Yacht Life Boat Show, you will have the opportunity to experience the excitement and innovations of the maritime world closely. For both professional sailors and maritime enthusiasts, this event is an opportunity not to be missed to follow the developments in the industry and have unforgettable experiences.

NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES

Yacht Life Boat Show brings together important names from the maritime industry. You can meet professionals in the industry and share your experiences.

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

You can learn more about maritime thanks to the training seminars and panels held during the fair.

AFTER PARTY EVENT

Meet the Yacht Life Boat Show, where you can have a very enjoyable time as well as what it will bring to you.

GET INSPIRED

The maritime industry is constantly full of innovation. At the fair, you can examine the latest technology products, environmentally friendly maritime technologies and safety equipment.

FOLLOW THE TRENDS

 Taking part in this fair is an excellent opportunity to see the latest trends, newest technologies and design marvels of the maritime world closely.

POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS

The Yacht Life Boat Show is a great opportunity to advance your career or discover new business opportunities.

CONTENT WILL COME HERE!

İSİM SOYİSİM

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From 9:30 to 11:30

Business lecture.

Take Your Place at the Fair for New Businesses

Yacht Life Boat Show, the most prestigious event of the world maritime industry, is preparing to host sea enthusiasts at Antalya Anfaş Fair and Congress Center between 16-24 December 2023. This magnificent event will be held in Antalya, this beautiful coastal city where the heart of the maritime world beats, and will offer an unforgettable experience for maritime enthusiasts.

Yacht Life The Boat Show offers an excellent opportunity for yacht manufacturers, equipment and accessory providers, marine tourism companies and anyone interested in maritime. During the fair, you can discover the latest maritime technologies, examine luxury yachts closely, experience new maritime products and share your experiences with experts. You can also have the opportunity to meet leading names and professionals of the maritime industry. The Yacht Life Boat Show will be an inspiring and information-filled event for anyone interested in sailing. Don't miss this year's event and book your place at the meeting point of maritime enthusiasts!

MEDIA & PRESS

Yacht Life Boat Show 2023 will be a source of enrichment for everyone interested in maritime. Don't miss this exciting event. Mark 16-24 December in your calendar to see the most current and important developments of the maritime world closely and meet with maritime enthusiasts!

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Deniz Tutkunları İçin Tekne Modelleri: Hangisi Sizin İçin En İyisi? Tekne modelleri deniz tutkunları için, hayalini kurduğunuz mavi suların üzerinde seyahat etmek ve denizle bağlantı

Dünyanın En Büyük Yatı: Azzam

Dünyanın En Büyük Yatı: Azzam Dünyanın En Büyük Yatı: Azzam Dünyanın en büyük yatı hakkında merak edilen tüm detayları sizlerle paylaşıyoruz. Dünya denizlerinde lüks ve

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Yacht Fair: An Important Event Bringing Sea Enthusiasts Together!

What is a yacht fair, why is the yacht fair important, yacht fair 2023: what awaits us, are you ready to join.

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You need a dinghy; why not one that can save your life?

You’re free to have fun on the water when you, your family, and your crew are safe. Portland Pudgy, Inc has re-imagined the dinghy in the context of safety at sea, and come up with something really new. A rugged, unsinkable dinghy you can row, motor, sail , and even use as a lifeboat. The Portland Pudgy safety dinghy makes boating even more fun, by making it safer.

The sail kit makes your Portland Pudgy a fun, safe sailing dinghy. The stability and buoyancy designed into the Portland Pudgy make it safe and sea-friendly as a recreational sailing dinghy for the whole family. The Pudgy takes surprisingly rugged seas and wind for a boat its size…

The Portland Pudgy is a rugged, unsinkable self-rescue boat, even without the inflatable exposure canopy and other survival gear. With the canopy and sail, the Portland Pudgy is a dynamic lifeboat. Unlike inflatable life rafts, the Pudgy can’t deflate, and you can sail, row, or motor to safety…

What is the Portland Pudgy safety dinghy?

The Portland Pudgy is a multifunction boat that was designed as a yacht tender and unsinkable, dynamic lifeboat for blue water sailors that can be sailed to safety. The resulting stability, buoyancy, ruggedness, roominess, and “unsinkability” designed into the Portland Pudgy make it unparalleled as an everyday tender, a safe and sea-friendly sailing dinghy, and a great all-around rowboat/motorboat. The Pudgy is a self-contained unit: all accessories, including the oars, sail kit, and exposure canopy, stow within the storage space in double hull of the boat with room to spare.

Recreational Small Boat for Sailing, Fishing, Hunting, Diving

Unlike inflatable boats, the Portland Pudgy safety dinghy is a joy to row. It can be rigged out as a fun sailing dinghy. It’s a safe and fun recreational sailing dinghy for the whole family. It’s stable and difficult to capsize, but if you manage to, it’s very easy to right, and comes up dry. No need to wait for rescue (as with some recreational sailing dinghies, like the Opti). The entire sail kit stows neatly out of the way in the interior of the double hull (rudder and leeboards under seats). Because the Portland Pudgy safety dinghy is so stable, rugged, and tracks so well when rowed or motored, it’s also a great fishing boat or duck hunting boat, and a great platform for nature photography and diving. See Sailing Dinghy.

Self-Contained Unit

All of the accessories, oars, sail kit (including telescoping mast and boom), inflatable exposure canopy, sea anchor, ditch bag, provisions, and more, can be stowed within the boat via the five watertight hatches.  This is very convenient in your everyday dinghy or sailing dink.  It’s an extremely important safety feature of the Portland Pudgy lifeboat. All of your equipment is there in an emergency.

Dynamic Lifeboat

The Portland Pudgy safety dinghy is a self-rescue boat, even without the optional inflatable exposure canopy and other survival gear. With the exposure canopy, sea anchor, and sail kit, the Portland Pudgy is an unsinkable, dynamic lifeboat. Unlike inflatable life rafts, the Pudgy cannot deflate, and you can sail, row, or motor this rugged self-rescue boat to shipping lanes or land.

Everyday Yacht Tender, Rowboat, Motorboat, Rugged Workboat

The Portland Pudgy safety dinghy is the safest, most rugged yacht tender on the market to row, motor, tow and carry. It tracks perfectly and moves along nicely with a small motor. The Pudgy is extremely buoyant and has huge carrying capacity, both in the roomy cockpit and inside the storage compartments in the double hull. The Portland Pudgy (7′ 8″, 128 lb., USCG-approved as a rowboat and motorboat for 4 people) is designed and manufactured (in the USA) to be an exceptionally rugged, stable, unsinkable boat. Its pram shape allows it to fit on the deck of many cruising sailboats. This small boat is so stable you can stand up and walk around in it. The Portland Pudgy safety dinghy has all the benefits of inflatable boats and RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), without the risk of deflation. There is no need for an unsightly, expensive, and deflation-prone RID kit (“dinghy dogs”) with the Pudgy: it’s an unsinkable boat, with built-in buoyancy. See Yacht Tender/Dinghy.

Live-aboards  Teresa Carey and Ben Erickson Carey  sent us this wonderful video about their Portland Pudgy. Lots of great sailing shots.  Deliberately flipping the Pudgy (:33) and then easily righting it (2:00). Inflating the exposure canopy using the alternative method (hand pump) and using it as a dodger (1:15). Sleeping in the Pudgy. Lots of shots that show how stable and roomy it is. And lots just showing what a fun little boat it is.

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Secret Life

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• + Shortlist

SECRET LIFE YACHT CHARTER

45.01m  /  147'8   feadship   1974 / 2023.

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Timeless styling
• Hosts 150 guests at event and corporate charters
• Spacious deck areas
• Incredibly fuel-efficient
• Main salon can be split in two
• Flexible cabin layout

With a rich history and irresistible classic allure, luxury yacht 'Secret Life' is perfectly suited to entertaining on a yacht charter whether on a family vacation or hosting a large function

The 45.02m/147'8" 'Secret Life' classic yacht built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship is available for charter for up to 12 guests in 5 cabins.

Showcasing meticulous craftsmanship courtesy of her pedigree credentials, classic yacht Secret Life recalls a golden age of yachting, capturing the very essence of luxury combined with spacious living areas and modern amenities for the ultimate yachting vacation.

Guest Accommodation

Built in 1974, Secret Life offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests in 5 suites. There are 9 beds in total, including 1 king, 2 queen and 5 singles. She is also capable of carrying up to 10 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Secret Life benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter including Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stay connected at all times, should you wish. You can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, she offers greater on-board space and is more stable when at anchor thanks to her full-displacement hull. Powered by twin General Motors engines, she comfortably cruises at 10 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 14 knots with a range of up to 4,606 nautical miles from her 70,000 litre fuel tanks at 13 knots. An on board stabilization system ensures comfort when underway.

Set against the backdrop of your chosen cruising ground, you and your guests can enjoy fun on the water with the collection of water toys and accessories aboard Secret Life. Guests can experience the thrill and adventure of riding one of the two Yamaha WaveRunners. Another excellent feature are waterskis that are hugely entertaining whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. If you or a member of your party loves diving, then you'll appreciate the dive compressor and diving equipment. If that isn't enough Secret Life also features kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling equipment. Secret Life features two tenders, but leading the pack is a 6.71m/22' Nautica Tender to transport you in style.

Based in the magical waters of the Mediterranean all year round Secret Life is ready for your next luxury yacht charter. Let Secret Life Discover the magical places, food and experiences of the the Mediterranean.

Experience the magical places, food and experiences of the Mediterranean this summer from the luxury of your own classic yacht. Secret Life, her captain and talented crew are ready to make sure that your yachting experience is like nothing else.

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Secret Life, please provide .

Secret Life Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Secret Life has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Secret Life is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 1 x 6.71m  /  22' Nautica Tender with 1 x 150 HP engine 4 strokes
• 1 x 4.8m  /  15'9 Zodiac Yachtline Tender with 1 x 50 HP engine 4 strokes

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

• + shortlist

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Secret Life' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€100,000 p/week + expenses Approx $108,500

High Season

€115,000 p/week + expenses Approx $125,000

Cruising Regions

Mediterranean Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Turkey

HOT SPOTS:   Amalfi Coast, Corsica, French Riviera, Ibiza, Mykonos, Sardinia, The Balearics

Winter Season

October - April

Charter Secret Life

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker or

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NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

SEASONAL CHARTER RATES

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Home » Budget Travel » Boat Life 101: How to Live on a Boat and Travel the World! (2024)

Boat Life 101: How to Live on a Boat and Travel the World! (2024)

Waves lap at the hull of the boat. Your feet are in the glassy water, a glass of rum in your hand, and a glorious sunset in front of you. Of course, the weather is perrrfect .

Just another day in the life of living on a boat.

Surely that’s not all what living on a boat is like though, right? What about the sea monsters ? What about getting shipwrecked and floating for days on end at sea awaiting rescue?

And as if a broke bum can really live on a sailboat. Come on!

Rest assured, greenhorn – I’ve got you.

I went from a baby sailor who almost blew up the boat, to hand steering my way across the Pacific Ocean using the Southern Cross as my bearing. And I did it all with very little cash to my name.

Now I’m here to pass on to you what it’s really like to live on a boat AND how to do it . It’s the how-to-poop, how-to-cook, how-to-sail – and the best places in the world to do it all in. PLUS how exactly you can put a budget on a dream.

Avast! I give you, how to live on a boat and travel the world.

Living on a Boat: What’s it Really Like?

How to live on a boat full time, best places in the world to live on a boat (and when to go) , the cost of living on a sailboat (and how to minimise it) , can you live on a sailboat for free, last tips for living the boat life.

“Indigo, where’s the F**CKING coffee?” 

Yeah, you want to buy a boat. And then you’re going to sail off into the sunset – travelling the world without spending a dime – with twelve babes on one arm and the world’s greatest rum in the other. Oh, it’s going to be so lovely, isn’t it?

Welllllll , I’m not here to burst your bubble, but I am here to give you a wee reality check. 

Living on a boat is not for suckers; it’s not for the impatient; it’s not for the stupid. I realise that many people who suck and are stupid, can and do sail. They give the rest of us a headache – don’t be them. 

If you forget the coffee, the rest of the boat may very well feed you to the sharks. The only shop for the next 200 nautical miles is now a distant speck on the goddamn horizon, after all. 

However, provided there is ample coffee, rum, and good conversation, there is nothing better than living on a boat. No, that is not a cliche.

Life on a sailboat is life at its most .

• The duality of boredom and near-death experiences.
• Harnessing the wind and moving soundlessly across the great blue spectacular.
• Fresh sashimi.
• Deep introspection.
• The oscillating moods of the crew that spread like the flu.
• Long stretches of time with no goddamn Instagram.

A boat becomes a very miniature village, and in this, you can touch on a very primal way of living; one that has been passed down to us from many millions of years of evolution. 

The simplicity is not always poetic. But it will make you appreciate every damn cup of coffee – and isn’t that what life is all about? 

Do You Want to Travel FOREVER??

Pop your email in below to get a FREE copy of ‘How to Travel the World on $10 a Day!’.

So here it is folks! The basic and hyperbole-filled how-to of living on a boat.

It’s just three simple things. (Sort of.) And then, the ocean is your oyster.

Hoist those sails and may the wind be ever in your favour.

Boat Life 101: Pooping 

Don’t laugh! Pooping on a boat is your first lesson in how different living on a sailboat is to land life.

You have to think about the consequences of your every action: sustainable travel MATTERS . If it’s a small sailboat, it will likely have a manual pump instead of a flush. You do your business, and then pump, pump, pump. 

And that’s not where it ends. You need to think about where exactly your poop is going. 

It becomes very clear that all drains lead to the ocean. 

Usually, your poops will be going into the boat’s holding tank, but they only hold so much. You need to know the regulations in the national waters of wherever the boat is because you can’t empty the holding tank until you’re far enough away from shore, certain mooring fields, and protected areas… for obvious reasons.  

Now, I would argue you haven’t lived until you’ve dealt with a malfunctioning head (marine toilet). Nothing makes you appreciate modern sewerage systems like the sweet smell of shit. 

Boat Life 101: Cooking + Provisioning 

The consequences of your actions continue here. Even if you are sailing in proximity to shops or markets, the basic fact remains that the shops are on land and your boat is on the water.

That means there is no nipping to the servo for some extra milk that you forgot. You have what you have on the boat, and you make do. 

So yeah, not bringing enough coffee for the passage? A dumb mistake you only make once. 

Living on a sailboat has made me an organised (one might say obsessive, but one would be wrong) motherfucker. I am a HARDCORE list-writer, but you need lists when you live on a sailboat.

WRITE LISTS. And keep them going all the time.

• The food and supplies list.
• The fix-it list for maintenance.
• The visa requirements and beaurcracy list.
• The all-important books to read list .

If you go on an overnight sail and you know there’s food at the next anchorage, then you can get away with forgetting the coffee just this once. If you’re crossing the biggest ocean on Earth, that’s not gonna fly. You need to write a bloody list.  

Also, food sometimes needs to be refrigerated. Refrigerators come with limited space and the frustrating tendency to gain sentience halfway through a passage. With sentience comes a severe attitude and willingness to ruin your food.

All I’m saying is, you gotta plan your meals, know how you’re going to store them, and write lists.

Oh, and it sounds obvious, but while sailing, the boat moves.

Yes, the stove on a boat is on a gimbal which means it swings with the motion of the boat and compensates for the movement. But when King Neptune feels the sailors on board have grown too comfortable, the soup says hello to the floor.

Boat Life 101: How do I sail this thing? 

If you can take a shit and cook a meal while on a sailboat, you’re 90% done. 

Collectively, we humans have been chucking some cloth on a bit of wood to capture the wind since the original discovery of Australia and the Solomon Islands (50 000 – 25 000 years ago).

Over the millennia, the process has become more refined. Now we can sail upwind and tack and all this fancy stuff. But ultimately, with a little patience and a lot of practice, anyone can learn to sail. 

There is a multitude of electronic tools – chart plotters, AIS, GPS, Iridium GO – that help you keep a track of where the hell you are and give you detailed charts about where you want to go.

You can even get the weather sent in a tiny little electronic file via a device like the Iridium GO, even when you’re sailing across the Pacific Ocean . Very handy for avoiding boat-sinking storms!

Putting some sail on a mast and heading off has never sounded so sweet! But if you learn a thing or two about the trade winds , you can make your journey even sweeter.

The trades are these delicious winds that blow reliably from east to west, meaning you can access a reliable source of energy to propel you forward (provided you want to head west).

Trade wind sailing is famous for being fucking chill, with few gnarly storms and not too many becalmed days of boredom. The merchants of the tall ship days and the modern boat bum circumnavigating the globe both love the trade winds. Yes, for the easy sailing, and also for the good rum found at many of the ports along the way. 

But when all else fails – say if your mast is struck by lightning and all your electronics are fried – there are still ways to orientate yourself on the big blue. These are methods that have evolved over our collective sailing history:

• Celestial (star) navigation : Using the constellations and a sextant, plus some maths, to figure out the boats latitude and longitude.
• Cloud navigation : Recognising the flat bottomed clouds associated with land to keep you on track back to terra firma.
• Reading the swell : This is just fascinating. This means understanding the persistent swell that move across world oceans and their relation to the star quadrants to estimate where your boat is and where it is going.

Test the Waters BEFORE You Sail – The Liveaboard Experience!

Another way you can get a taste of the boat life before you commit to a lifelong project is to charter a boat! Sailo does just that: Sailo lets you rent the boat life.

You get a boat, a sampler of the experience of living on a sailboat, and people on deck that actually know what the bloody hell they’re doing! With over 30,000(!) boats to charter from and a fabulous selection of the BEST places to live on a boat around, you’re guaranteed to find something that… floats your boat.

Sure, it’s not the no-frills boatbum style, but ultimately, you can choose to do it bareboat – with no captain and you bring all your own provisions. Or you can choose to have the boat crewed so you can sit back, relax and, learn a thing or two about boat life. (And drink champagne.)

Living on a boat comes with a host of challenges (and juicy rewards) that are made that much easier by picking a good place to do it in.

Access to quality boatyards, provisioning, internet connection – these are all big plusses for those living on a sailboat!

But also, all the stuff that made you want to partake in this mad boat lifestyle in the first place rate highly too. A plethora of remote beaches, magic sunsets, and a friendly cruising community of cool travel buddies (soon to become treasured friends) can make or break a dream destination.

I’ve also considered how easy it is to top up the cruising kitty with funds by rating how easy it is to find work in each place.

Australia + New Zealand 

• When to go: November – May (NZ & southern Australia) April – September (northern Australia)
• Best suited liquor: EMU BITTER MAAAATE Whatever the Australians aren’t drinking.

I don’t care that the citizens of both these fine nations will be after me with pitchforks for lumping them in the same pile. Honestly, mate, bro, whatever, come at me. They’re both equally dope places to liveaboard your sailboat.

Yup, gonna say it right now, both these places can be expensive for the boat bum. But they also provide good-paying work opportunities if you can play the visa game right. So they are great places to slow down, pick up a travel job , and stack some cash for future ocean adventures.

You can also take a break from the boat life, and go on an epic backpacking adventure around New Zealand . You won’t know how much you miss the ocean until you take a break from her, trust me.

Also, the sheer diversity that I’ve so callously dumped in one heading is incredible.

Honestly, you can sail down to Stewart Island in the subantarctic waters and then back up to the Eden on Earth in the equatorial Torres Strait .

You could spend a whole, wonderful lifetime sailing between these two continents and still die regretting not having seen everything.

The long and the short of it:

• You can make bank here $$$!
• You can get your boat fixed properly here. Island nations like Australia and New Zealand have a wealth of boat building and fixing experience.
• There are well stocked supermarkets here, so you can stock up on bulk items that prove tricky to find in more remote locations.
• People are cool, remote beaches are cooler. And there is a metric shitton of incredible beaches here.
• There’s also an opportunity for non-boat adventures (like backpacking around Australia ) that will make you appreciate the ocean nomad life even more.
• Diversity! Of landscape and cultures.
• Dude, the first nations of Australia managed to cross over from Papua New Guinea (probably) 60 000 years ago. SIXTY THOUSAND (louder for those in the back). The knowledge on this ancient continent will humble you if you pause to listen.
• And the seafarers that made it to Aotearoa? The Maori are some of the most badass, friendly, wise, creative, HILARIOUS people you will ever have the privilege of meeting.
• $7 bottles of wine. Sorry. But like, yes please.
• There’s epic diving in New Zealand and all over Australia with endless (and scrumptious!) spearfishing opportunities.
• Living on your boat here is easy . Not without its struggles of course, but it’s always easier to struggle close to wifi connection.

The Caribbean

• When to go: The conventional advice says December – May, but you can sail here year-round if you know how to dodge hurricanes.
• Best suited liquor: Rum. Obviously rum. Maybe with a squeeze of lemon and a splash of cola.

If you can dodge the hangouts of the rich and the famous (or work out how to make money off them) sailing the Caribbean and living on a sailboat is very rewarding.

Salsa lessons in the streets of Puerto Rico , rum-soaked nights in the Virgin Islands , goat hunting, spearfishing , azure waters, and white sand beaches all the way down to Bonaire .

Getting into the charter boat game provides a great way to make dat money. During the high season, this is one of the most popular places in the world to charter a boat.

If you are happy to do your own boat repairs, a lot of fishing, and get clever with your travel budget , the cost of living in the Caribbean is not super expensive either. You just gotta know where to go for what.

Cheap coffee and rum can be brought in bulk in the Dominican Republic . There’s a Costco not far away in Puerto Rico , so you can get some bulk toilet paper. Then it’s onwards to a deserted island, a reef, and some endless fun in the sun.

• Cheap boat repairs are available in places like Rio Dulce, Guatemala. So, for those big projects you can save quite a bit of money by getting them done here.
• The rum. I mean, it has truly been perfected here.
• There are oodles of work opportunities in the charter business or in the superyacht world.
• Cheap flights back to the USA means you can feasibly travel between the USA and El Caribe guaranteeing you an endless summer.
• The glorious azure waters and their 27-degree celsius temperatures. Helllloo, nude night diving.
• Warm, deliciously WARM, diving.
• More people at the anchorages = a very social and welcoming community of cruisers. There is a great liveaboard culture that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
• Easy trade wind sailing.
• Did I mention the rum?

The South Pacific

• When to go: May – October (You can arrive in the Marquesas in April with no problems.)
• Best suited liquor: A little vodka, a lotta soda, a squeeze of lime.

I won’t even try to hide my bias. I LOVE the Pacific.

Is it the best place to live on a sailboat for most people? Probably not. Because the distances between your boat and a grocery store are usually mind-boggling. It can be expensive. It can be lonely.

There’s just no way quite like travelling to places like French Polynesia the way you can on a boat. Out in the middle of the ocean life is not always easy, even if it is full of palm trees. 

But fuck it, I love the Pacific, so we’re including it. 

No, honestly, if you can mitigate the challenge of distance, you are rewarded with the best planet Earth has to offer. Incredible diving, a slow pace of life, some world-class hiking trails (and world-class peaks), lazy sunshiney afternoons. Perfect postcard sunsets. Mmmmm.

A full one-third of the globe is consumed by the Pacific Ocean, and scattered throughout this utter vastness are innumerable tiny little islands. Luckily for the bum of the seas, the trade winds can carry you from the Americas to these little flecks with few problems.

In fact, all the technical sailing here is relatively easy. As long as you don’t get becalmed at the equator thanks to the weirdness of the ITCZ band, it is easy sailing.

But you’re going to need a water maker and have a solid solar panel set up for power. Because between Panama and the Marquesas , there are approximately 3800 nautical miles – more if you go stop in at the Galapagos.

That’s a long way between places to buy coffee. And there’s not much in the way of supermarkets until you get to Tahiti , another 800 nautical miles away.

If you leave IndigoRadio on for long enough, inevitably Kiribati will come up. You can hide from hurricanes here. The South Pacific is defined by island life at an island tempo:

• You can get delicious fish on the end of your gidji real fast here.
• People-less anchorages.
• Dreamy atolls.
• And not a damn supermarket in sight.

Ok, not everyone’s idea of easy sailing, but certainly my idea of the best that living on a boat has to offer.

There is a multitude of lifetimes that could be spent escaping the rat race and kicking back in the Pacific. There is an awesome amount of diversity of landscapes and cultures here too, not to mention a proud seafaring tradition that we aspiring boat bums should shut up and learn from. 

A Tip From One Pirate to Another

Okiedokie, you wild little circumnavigator-to-be! There are multiple ways to criss cross the globe. Resources like noonsite.com and Jimmy Cornell’s cruising guides will be invaluable to you in the planning  and execution stages of your journey.

But at a glance : I would suggest starting in Europe and the mediterranean and picking up the trade winds west across the Atlantic in this order:

• Through the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.
• Onwards across the South Pacific, kissing New Zealand and Australia before either…
• Circling through South East Asia and back across the Northern Pacific…
• OR continuing up past Sri Lanka then…
• Around the Cape of Good Hope before…
• Going back across the Atlantic and the northern coast of the USA and back home!

Use the trade winds to your advantage! Go west until you can go west no longer.

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

No sugar coating here. Buying and maintaining a sailboat, no matter how much it resembles a tin can, adds up real fast. 

But when the eternal sunshine and the lessons of the great blue spectacular call you – when King Neptune drafts you into his eternal service – it’s time to find a will and a way. 

Here are a few tips to help you plan a trip that I’ve picked up from my short time making various vessels my temporary abodes: 

• Don’t buy a project boat unless you want a project.  It will cost you more to fix everything on a broken boat than it will to buy a boat that’s good to go.
• But, when you do need to repair, DIY. Endless learning, yay! Or, plan your sailing route to include time in places like the Rio Dulce where repairs are cheaper.
• Anchor more often than you stay in marinas.  Marinas are devilishly expensive; anchoring is deliciously free.
• Volunteer on someone else’s boat before you get your own. 😉 If done right, this is win-win. You can take share in the labour of running a boat (for example by standing night watch) while learning the finer points of sailing from a master.
• Get seasonal work. There are so many options when it comes to this, from ‘backpacker’ staples like agriculture and hospitality to working on superyachts or as dive instructors.
• Or have residual or passive income if you’re real cool. If you’re on that elusive property ladder or earning money online , why don’t you have a boat? Just head off now and live off your automatic wealth. Be a cool kid.

Of course, when a backpacker asks about the cost of living on a sailboat, they really want to know if you can live on a sailboat for free. When a family looking to take a sabbatical asks about the cost of living, they just want to know hard numbers and a budget breakdown.

At the end of the day, you can hoist a heavily patched sail on a jerry-rigged mast and work on the boat yourself, and eat only what you catch or grow. At the other end, you can set sail on a superyacht replete with full-time staff and jetskis.

We anchor in the same sand and watch the same sunset though, so you choose what you need to spend.

I would suggest being honest about your lifestyle. Consider being a little obsessive organised about your annual costs. Because costs are going to vary greatly from boat to boat.

How Much Does it Cost to Live on a Boat? (Pricing Breakdown!)

Obviously, the variables that go into the cost of running a liveaboard boat are vastly dependent on your style of living and where in the world you are sailing.

Generally speaking, it is cheaper to spend more time at anchor and in countries with a lower cost of living. However, insurance will still be 1% – 2% of the cost of your boat and port fees are port fees. Still gotta pay ’em, whether you’re a broke bum or a gazillionaire.

Sailing and Diving Go Together Like… Sailing and Diving!

A way to combine two of the best things on Earth is to indulge in a liveaboard experience .

This is exactly what it sounds like – you live aboard a boat, usually in some fantastic and tropical destination. You can indulge in some wonderous diving, and pick the brains of the crew about their tips on living aboard a vessel!

The focus of the liveaboards is the epic diving experiences in destinations that just aren’t as accessible when travelling in other ways. Also, it’s a great inspiration for you to hustle your way onto your own boat so that diving amongst reef sharks becomes as normal as your morning coffee.

Now the controversial stuff.

I’ve had someone say, a little tongue in cheek: damn yachties get the wind for free and now they want everything else for free!

While I think being resourceful and a bargain hunter is the best way to live your life, boat or no boat, it’s just as important to have a bitta respect. So when you hit the seas or the road, I don’t see the point in haggling hard over what amounts to 50 cents.

When it comes to boat stuff, in particular, break it down into your shelter, food, and fuel, and don’t aim to get everything for free .

Aim to sustain your lifestyle for as long as possible in a way that doesn’t compromise it for everyone else. In other words, be ethical about your damn budget travel. The most rewarding consequence of trying to keep costs down is creating a more or less self-sustaining yacht. Better for you and your personal growth; better for this pale blue dot we call home.

Sailboat Cost Cutter #1: Shelter 

Maintaining your shelter (i.e. your boat) is not going to be a ‘free’ exercise. You will pay with money, or your own labour and time, to maintain it. 

It will be an exercise in learning all kinds of systems – both mechanical and electrical – and time management. Do you want to pay for that task with money or your labour? Whatever you land on for each maintenance task that inevitably comes up, you will learn that to sustain this boat bum lifestyle you just gotta take care of your wee home and she will take care of you. 

It is always free to sleep on your boat while underway. Well, it doesn’t cost any money anyway. You are investing a lot of time and energy into the passage, but you’re not paying to sleep on your boat!

Once you arrive, you can choose to stay in a marina, on a mooring, or at anchor. Anchoring will always be the cheapest (usually free) and so you don’t have to spend a lot to live in paradise. But don’t be a dick.  

• Have the right visa.
• Be respectful of others in the anchorage.
• Don’t dump shit (literal or otherwise) overboard unless you are sure you’re allowed to.
• Be friendly and offer your neighbours a hand if they need one.

This lifestyle can bring out the best in us provided we’re responsible travellers , so lean into that. 

Sailboat Cost Cutter #2: Fuel

As my friend said, damn yachties get the wind for free! Much of the energy needed to go from A to B is yours for the taking, provided you can harness it efficiently with your sails. But as with DIY vs paying for repairs, sometimes you pay just as dearly with your time as you would have with your money. 

If you are becalmed, the engine may be just the thing to help you out. When coming into a marina, you’re not going to want to be under sail. Likewise, in a storm, it is time to put the sail away and turn on the engine for stability. So having a little diesel onboard is necessary.  

Compared to land life, people living on a boat can minimise their carbon footprint and live very simply. But it’s difficult to ask the Earth for none of its resources. Just be mindful about the way you live, be eco-friendly , and try your best to not waste resources. 

You can recharge your boat batteries for electronics with the sun though – provided you can harness it with solar panels. And a lot of liveaboards will have a wind turbine for extra power on the less sunny days. This stops you from needing to use the engine so much. Yay for money, yay for the environment. 

It’s never going to be completely free. You either pay with time or money. But you can certainly save a lot of money on fuel while living on a boat. This is a rewarding way to sustain your lifestyle and be kinder to the planet. 

Sailboat Cost Cutter #3: Food

I apply the same principles to food as I do to food and shelter: you pay with money or you pay with time and labour. Also, don’t be a dick, and be good to the environment. What comes around goes around. 

This means, when it’s available, I will spearfish and I will hunt. This is me paying for my food with my time and labour rather than money. But I would also argue that it’s fulfilling my other principles of:

• Not being a dick and…
• Being good to the planet. 

Hear me out: I think vegans and hunters alike would agree that factory farming and the industrial scale of meat production are fucked up. It’s a waste of our water, arable land, and produces poorer quality meat. Furthermore, the animals suffer tremendously. 

But if I’m kicking it in Kiribati, there is no way I’m going to be a vegetarian and still believe I’m doing a solid for the planet. The carbon footprint required to get my strictly vegetarian tofu to the remote islands is greater than the carbon footprint of me harvesting a fish every few days. 

That fish has swum about its whole life having a good time doing cool fish stuff. And then, like all of us will, it died. I have immense gratitude toward this being for providing me with sustenance. I feel like I am part of a cycle of life that predates my puny existence. 

In the same vein, to bring tofu to the Caribbean has required a process that is on the whole less ethical than going for a shoot and getting a feral goat for dinner.

The land cleared to grow the soybeans + the production of soybeans into tofu + the carbon cost of flying the tofu product into the island = YIKES.

The feral goats that destabilize delicate island ecosystems? They had a good goat-y life and then they became a good goat-y curry that fed 12 people. 

Ok, I’m done. Eat meat or don’t; ethical animal tourism and all that jazz, however, morality is complicated. There are ways to reduce the money you spend on food and your carbon footprint without being a dick.

I’d also say that in the process of harvesting your own food, you gain a greater appreciation for life on this planet. And get a sense of urgency around stepping up to protect it.  Give it a try; you might be surprised.

Epic Tips for Broke Boatpackers

• Know your knots. Apart from knots being fascinating in their own right (knots were probably invented alongside stone tools?! ), they are the foundation of boat life. Knowing a couple of basics , like a bowline, will give you a good leg up when joining a boat. 
• Be able to cook at least two decent meals, also be clean. You aren’t only working, but living on this boat with someone. Take care of your space and bring some good food to the table and you will go a long way as a crew member. 
• Go to docks and ask around. This is a good way to meet people – even if you just end up crew for a day sail. Be friendly, make yourself known, and find you’ll find yourself on a boat in no time. 
• Facebook can be your friend. When walking the docks fails, there is a multitude of Facebook and other social media groups dedicated to connecting wannabe crew with boats!
• Know how to write about yourself on your Facebook adverts. But you’ve got to know how to sell yourself! If you can cook a bomb-ass puttanesca and can tie a reef knot – mention it! Don’t sell yourself short! That being said, don’t exaggerate and tell fibs about the sailing experience you (don’t) have. The truth will come out painfully during the first bit of real sailing you do, so be honest. There’s usually captains willing to teach the basics for a bit of company and a good meal. 
• Knowing how to fillet a fish is handy. Sailors know how to sail. They don’t necessarily know how to fish. So if you can bring this skill to the table, you’re going to be a beloved crew member in no time!

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Sweet, glorious tips from a pro-pirate to a soon-to-be, the seas are calling, so go sail them!

Stay Safe, Boat Bums!

One thing that many intrepid little sailors are not good at? Estimating danger and the likelihood of death.

Maybe this is a good thing because you do have to be the right sort of mad to get into a sailboat and cross an ocean.

Maybe, just maybe, you should consider purchasing travel insurance before shit hits the fan though. But enough from me, hear it from a fellow adventurer.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

FAQs About Life on a Boat

Here’s what I know you want to know about living on a boat!

What is the cheapest place in the world to live on a boat?

This will depend on your spending habits, of course. If you give yourself a budget of $3000 per month, you will spend $3000 per month. That being said, travelling around Southeast Asia and South America is an exquisite choice. They have superb cruising and a low cost of living. The Philippines stands out as a paradise to explore while on a budget.

Can you live on a boat in a marina?

You absolutely can! Now, call me biased, but the point of living on a boat is to go adventuring so I’d keep marina stays  strategic . Only stay as long as it takes to get repaired, or get provisions, and then take off into the sunset!

Can I sail around the world?

It doesn’t take much to put the sails out and follow a bearing. It also doesn’t take much to lose your mast in a surprise squall. Of course, you can sail a boat around the world, but you need to be organised. Provisions, finances, weather. The trip of a lifetime is not for the faint-hearted. Not that that should stop the intrepid adventurer!

SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO FORGET

Follow instructions and ACTUALLY LISTEN. Put that ego aside, mate. The Captain ALWAYS has the final say, and if they say duck, you DUCK. The boat life can be real unforgiving. Oh, and learn how to handle your rum! It’s a pirate’s life and, well, nobody wants to be at sea with  that guy…

Do sea monsters really exist?

Oh yes. Without a doubt. You just won’t meet the monster until you’ve been at sea for more than 25 days straight. The crew are tired of each other. The boat keeps breaking. There’s a storm on the horizon. It’s night watch again and the clouds are hiding the stars. You wonder if your mother is worried for you and when you might be able to call her again. Briefly, you lean over the side of the boat and wonder what it would be like to just walk off. Would you sink or swim? The sea monsters don’t live in the sea.

Fair Winds, Sailor!

Living on a boat will challenge you.

There is no other lifestyle that forces you to be attuned to weather patterns, engine maintenance, personal dynamics, ethical dilemmas at every mealtime; to consider watermakers and wind turbines; to completely surrender while also stepping up and getting shit done. 

The nitty-gritty of how to live on a sailboat will not be fully revealed to you until you step onto one and do it. But, if you can poop and provision you’re halfway there! 

You gotta lick your finger and hold it up to the wind. Ah yes, the trades blow west. Rum and a seriously sexy sunset await.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Indigo Blue

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I truly enjoyed this read. I am under a government contract for the next while, but have a plan to retire and become a full timer somewhere warmer than Canada. I have been making my own notes and your writing gave me plenty more tips. Please feel free to email and keep me in the loop. Thanks so much and happy sailing!

Amazing read, thank you so much! I’m planning to get on with my own boat living dream and was curious if you (and fellow readers ) could share your thoughts on some of the big issues of boat living you have experienced? Much obliged 🙂 Keep up the good work!

First of all, welcome to the boat life! Biggest issues: Realistically the biggest issue is usually finances. The ocean is constantly wearing away at your boat and trying to sink it. Buying and maintaining a boat is expensive. That’s why so many boat lifers end up in the charter or delivery business – either as crew or as owner/operators – because it pays well.

Once you have your cruising kitty sorted, the next biggest issue is crew dynamics. Sailing alone is demanding, lonely, enthralling, and incredible all at once. Having crew on board and stepping up as captain is a trip in itself. Managing a team is always challenging – let alone when your team lives on a tiny sailboat and is constantly fighting the elements and can never take a break from each other.

The actual sailing and reading of the weather – that stuff becomes easy! This is why you should make yourself stop every so often and remind yourself how wild and wonderful it is that you’re getting around using the freaking wind! Also, the stars, man. If there’s one reason I’d cross the Pacific again for, it’s the stars.

Good luck and fair winds!

That is a f*cking great 101 boat guide! ahah Thank you Indigo for it and welcome to the writer’s team 🙂

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CRYPTO LIFE Yacht Charter Motor Boat

Size / Year Built / Builder

Other specifications

• Beam 18 Feet
• Draft 5 Feet
• Type Motor Boat

Deck Jacuzzi

Air conditioning, deck shower, hair dryers, wheelchair access, stabilizers, onboard entertainment, salon tv/dvd, salon stereo/music, board games, ipod/mp3 hookups, gym equipment, water entertainment, snorkel gear, beach games, fishing gear, under water camera, under water video, sea scooters, swim platform, boarding ladder (loc/type), scuba diving, license info, air compressor, technical details, cruising speed, water maker, water capacity, charter types, special diets, kosher diets, gay charters, nudist charters, crew smokes, pets onboard, guest pets allowed, children allowed, guest smokes, type of pets, nationality, languages spoken by crew, similar yachts to crypto life.

Sleeps 6 guests in 3 Cabins

Size: 68 Ft

Sleeps 12 guests in 3 Cabins

Size: 53 Ft

Lone sailor 20 miles off Cornish coast rescued

A sailor has been rescued after he was unable to control his yacht due to rigging issues 20 miles (32km) off the Cornish coast.

Sennen Cove lifeboat was sent to the sailor at 01:40 GMT on Sunday.

He was north west of Longships Lighthouse and was unable to control the vessel, the RNLI said.

The Sennen lifeboat crew found the yacht and began towing it to Newlyn before swapping the tow with the Penlee lifeboat at 07:00, two miles (3.2km) from the harbour.

The RNLI said the crew had to reconnect the tow twice but arrived safely in the harbour by 11:00.

A spokesperson for the RNLI Penlee Lifeboat Station said: "The yacht skipper was very appreciative of the assistance provided by both lifeboat crews and Falmouth Coastguard.

"He also very much enjoyed a sausage sandwich and coffee at the RNLI’s Penlee Lifeboat Station."

• Phone was my lifeline, man rescued by RNLI says
• RNLI volunteers celebrate 200 years of saving lives
• Rescued yachtsman very lucky - lifeboat coxswain

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The biggest yachts to look out for at the 2024 St Barths Bucket

St Barths is the epicentre of superyacht racing during the Caribbean season, often with an impressive array of superyacht spectators in tow . In the final days leading up to the 2024 St Barths Bucket (21-24 March), BOAT rounds up the largest yachts seen pulling into Gustavia for the famed regatta, beginning with Lürssen's 138-metre Rising Sun ...

Builder: Lürssen Length: 138.01m

If not for her sheer size, Rising Sun will be easy to spot from the shores of Gustavia thanks to her distinct glass panels running across the two upper decks. The yacht was the last ever design of Jon Bannenberg and boasts 8,000 square metres of living space that includes a wine cellar, double-height cinema and a basketball court. Rising Sun was originally commissioned by American business magnate Larry Ellison , who later sold the yacht to media mogul David Geffen. 

Builder: Kleven Length: 116.15m

One of the largest explorer yachts in the world , Multiverse (ex Ulysses ) was commissioned by New Zealand's richest man, Graeme Hart. She is equipped with a heli-hangar on the top deck for a Bell 429 helicopter, as well as a large swimming pool, cinema and spa for the ultimate guest experience. Inside, the yacht's massive 18-metre beam provides accommodation for an owner's party of up to 66. 

Maltese Falcon

Builder: Perini Navi Length: 88m

Fresh out of a full-scale refit, Maltese Falcon is undoubtedly one of the most unique and technologically innovative sailing superyachts in the world – kitted out with radical unstayed masts made of "weapons-grade" carbon fibre, a FalconRig and computerised sail and mast control system. Be sure to look out for the yacht's eponymous emblem on its middle sail, which also appears in the form of a bronze sculpture next to the indoor cinema. 

Builder: Admiral – The Italian Sea Group Length: 74.85m

Instantly recognisable, Kenshō' 's flowing lines and metallic green-blue hull took six years to create with design from Dutch firm Azure Yacht Design and Naval Architecture and Berlin-based archineers.berlin . The Admiral flagship was awarded the coveted Motor Yacht of the Year title at the 2023 BOAT International World Superyacht Awards and picked up another Neptune at the 2023 BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards for Best Interior Design. Onboard highlights include a glass-fronted spa pool on the sundeck, a sunbed shaped in the image of a manta ray and a diesel-electric system based on five variable-speed generators that earned the yacht its Eco classification. 

Builder: Heesen Yachts Length: 65m

The multiple award-winning Illusion (ex Galactica Star ) was delivered by Heesen in 2013, featuring the Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) developed by Dutch naval architects Van Oossanen & Associates . Her streamlined appearance and generous guest amenities have made her a favourite on the charter scene, with Beyoncé and Jay Z among her list of returning clients . Illusion was also singled out by Dickie Bannenberg – who designed the yacht's interior – as one of his most memorable projects owing to its considerable onboard art collection. 

Builder: Benetti Length: 60m

Another popular charter vessel, St David will once again appear on the hit reality TV show Below Deck , but this time with a new captain at the helm. The yacht is characterised by a classic Baroque theme with intricate marquetry made from satin woods, and a mosaic floor on the skylounge that draws inspiration from a "Tuscan palazzo". While St David is known to frequent high-profile events such as the Cannes Film Festival, she has also ventured to off-the-beaten-path locations including the Seychelles, Red Sea and Abu Dhabi. 

Builder: Trinity Yachts Length: 58.83m

Launched in 2016, Imagine... is one of the largest yachts to be built in the United States . The tri-deck vessel was penned by long-time collaborator Geoff Van Aller , with both the hull and superstructure built from aluminium to AB classification. The yacht's primary social area is found on the sundeck, where guests can relax in the Jacuzzi, on multiple sun loungers or at the bar. Inside, Imagine... also has a bonus cabin that doubles as a massage room. 

Builder: Feadship Length: 55.5m

This Feadship superyacht has sailed under a litany of names since her 2005 delivery, including Twizzile , Drizzle , Issana , Madsummer , Cynthia and most recently, Mary A . In 2018, her owner joined forces with American interior designer Claudette Bonville Associates to give Mary A an exhaustive makeover that included a top-to-bottom paint job, technical tweaks and a brand-new interior – all while carefully preserving the yacht's pedigree. 

Builder: Benetti Length: 52m

Lady B (ex Latitude ) appears to be making the most of the winter cruising season, with back-and-forth trips between the British Virgin Islands and St Barths since early December 2023 according to BOATPro 's Global Fleet Tracker. Before that, the yacht spent the off-season touring fan-favourite destinations in the South Pacific, such as Fiji, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. She is consistently ranked among the most popular charter vessels with amenities such as an outdoor cinema, a Jacuzzi and a recently updated dive centre. 

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Yacht School InSaill

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Yacht School InSaill (Dolgoprudny, Russia): Address, Phone Number - Tripadvisor