fireman749
Newbie
Hello everyone. I recently retired about two weeks ago after over 30 years in the fire service. I currently hold a 100 ton master USCG license and am very familiar with boats and their maintenance schedules. I am very handy with electrical, mechanical, and most do it yourself projects. I am planning to purchase a live aboard within the next six months and "live the dream" traveling from Texas, around the east coast, around the great loop, over to the Bahamas, then on down to the Caribbean. (I lived aboard a trawler for several years in St. Thomas in the 90's). My Trawler in St. Thomas (35 foot Chien Hwa) had a single Perkins with no generator or AC. This time round I want to live on the hook so I would like to find something that has generator, minimum of two cabins, full size refrigerator, ice maker, water maker and a washer/dryer. I don't want to have to go to a marina every month to take on water. I don't mind going three miles out to dump the black water tanks either.
My concern is that many of the boats I look at (not all trawlers, some motor yachts) have the Detroit diesels or 3208 caterpillars in them (I would prefer ford lehman or perkins). I'm not worried about speed because I'm not in a hurray to go anywhere fast. I am worried about fuel consumption and don't want to burn 10+ gph. Fuel prices are better now than they have been in years but I know that this isn't going to last. Not very many trawlers meet all of my wishes whereas several motor yachts do. I am looking at the 80's models from 44'-55' and under 100K (remember I am a retired fireman not a doctor or lawyer). I'm trying to see if anyone knows what the GPH usage is on some of these vessels that are made to cruise at 15+ knots but only used in the 7-9 knot range. Is this something anyone has done? How hard is it on the motors? I do know they will have to be blown out occasionally. I will not be traveling everyday just when I feel the need to go somewhere new.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. I have been reading this forum for over 3 months now and anything else I can get my hands on. My biggest problem in finding the best boat is that I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area which makes in a minimum of a 4 hour drive to get to the closest coast. My mom does live in Florida and I could use her house as a home base when I get really serious about finding a boat since a majority of boats seem to be located there.
My concern is that many of the boats I look at (not all trawlers, some motor yachts) have the Detroit diesels or 3208 caterpillars in them (I would prefer ford lehman or perkins). I'm not worried about speed because I'm not in a hurray to go anywhere fast. I am worried about fuel consumption and don't want to burn 10+ gph. Fuel prices are better now than they have been in years but I know that this isn't going to last. Not very many trawlers meet all of my wishes whereas several motor yachts do. I am looking at the 80's models from 44'-55' and under 100K (remember I am a retired fireman not a doctor or lawyer). I'm trying to see if anyone knows what the GPH usage is on some of these vessels that are made to cruise at 15+ knots but only used in the 7-9 knot range. Is this something anyone has done? How hard is it on the motors? I do know they will have to be blown out occasionally. I will not be traveling everyday just when I feel the need to go somewhere new.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. I have been reading this forum for over 3 months now and anything else I can get my hands on. My biggest problem in finding the best boat is that I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area which makes in a minimum of a 4 hour drive to get to the closest coast. My mom does live in Florida and I could use her house as a home base when I get really serious about finding a boat since a majority of boats seem to be located there.