Boating licenses have weight limits, yet boat sellers don't list the weight of their vessels. Knowing the relationship between weight and size is essential.
There is no room to "learn from your mistakes" when you're buying a boat, but there doesn't seem to be enough information to learn from others' mistakes either. If you look up the size of a 100-ton boat, every resource seems to say that "it depends." And you cannot afford to buy a boat that is outside the license restrictions.
A 100-ton boat is 65 feet long and features an average of 2 stories. It weighs around 55 spans and has a total length of 165.6 feet. This is more than the length of a football field and weighs as much as 4 Boeing 747 planes!
In this article, you will discover everything you need to know about buying a 100-ton boat, including what factors affect the size and what is the size where the returns start diminishing while liabilities increase. But first, we must address the height and length debate.
The height of the boat is not included in the general 'size' declaration. Your boat's size will almost always describe the length only. The height measurement is usually available as well but is not positioned as the size. This might make you wonder if the vertical size matters less than the length.
Is Boat Length More Important Than Height?
The boat length is more important than height if you would like to arrange large gatherings, while the height matters more if you want to spend more time on the boat with fewer people. Multi-story boats offer enough variety on board to offset the monotony of long-haul cruising.
You should decide between a higher clearance boat and a bigger size (longer) boat early on because a 100-ton boat is going to distribute the weight vertically or horizontally. If you want a boat that is longer than 65 feet, you might have to sacrifice the third level on your boat. If you want it to be double the length, you might barely fit a single cabin on deck. Knowing what you want to use the boat for is going to inform what you get out of the boat.
If you want to hold parties where groups of four or five break off and hang out, then a multi-story boat is much better. But if you want to host large gatherings that stick together, then you need a long enough size to fit everyone in the same space.
According to the Fox Island Bridge Marine Survey, a 35-feet clearance is preferred by most participating boat owners, based on the maximum aircraft of their tallest boats. If the maximum height of a boat is under 35-feet, you might be able to halve the length of a 100-ton boat by simply increasing its vertical length. Whether that is prudent or not is up to the buyer to decide.
Buying a 100-Ton Boat: How to Judge by Size?
Very often, the weight isn't even listed by sellers, and it can be a waste of time to call for price and then inquire about the weight when you're not even allowed to captain a vessel over 100 tons. It is best to stay within 65 feet to 79 feet range when looking for boats just to make sure you're getting the right-sized boat.
1982 Alalunga 72 is a classic yacht with a 76ft length. It is very likely to weigh 100 tons, even though its weight is not expressly mentioned in its specs. The weight of this vessel is estimated from the loss of vertical height (it doesn't have two covered levels/floors), which is in proportion to the gain in length. An 11-foot increase in horizontal size requires around the same materials as a 15-foot increase in vertical height. This brings us to the following size probabilities for a 100-ton boat.
- Triple story – 54 feet
- Double story – 65 feet
- Single story – 76 feet
A margin of error of around 2 feet is still required to get a good estimate. Remember, the final weight specification should be declared by the seller, but if a boat's size is not mentioned, you can go by the measurements listed above when creating your shortlist. And if you're looking for a boat for social use with your family and friends, then the 1982 Alalunga 72 might be one option to consider.
This vessel has a history as it was built in 1982 and has survived decades without getting refurbished. In 2016, the boat was structurally and visually improved, refitted with the latest amenities, and essentially built anew. The teak and mahogany aspects remain consistent, though.
It can be used for casual events like small cocktail parties and small-scale gatherings. The balance it strikes between value-for-money and luxury allows it to be used for casual gatherings with middle-class friends and as a background for a networking event with corporate peers. Since the boat is refurbished for comfort, it is best used as a personal abode.
Because a bulk of the boat’s value lies in its history, your acquisition won’t adversely affect its value by a lot. Still, the drawbacks of owning a second-hand vessel apply, and you might not get an immediate buyer willing to purchase the boat at the price you want to sell. Due to the nature of boat sales, there are no public reviews of this or any other boat. So, whenever you purchase a boat, you have to judge it personally.
Best Practices for Buying a 100-Ton Boat
- Confirm the weight – It is crucial that you don’t take the size to weight conversion as universally true and confirm the gross weight of the vessel.
- Get the material specs – Understanding the material used in building a boat will help you understand the value-for-money of the boat and its size economy. A 100-ton boat made from heavy materials has less space.
- Seek warranty if applicable – Finally, get any and every assurance you can get on paper. There has to be a money-back guarantee on the weight claim because you cannot personally weigh a boat, and if the licensing authorities find it otherwise, you don’t want to be stuck with a vessel you cannot captain.
Final Thoughts
Since the captain's license does not cover boats that weigh more than 100 gross tonnes, you should get a 65-feet-long boat after confirming its weight with the seller. On average, you should shortlist boats that are 54 to 76 feet long, then get their weight confirmation.
