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Thinking of Commercial Conversion? |
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Thinking of Commercial Conversion?
Converting commercial boats is becomming very popular today, and there are some very good reasons for that. First of all, many commercial boats can be purchased at a very favorable price. Once a commercial boat has been taken out of service the market value is usually calculated differently than is a vessel currently working and performing a specified function for work for profit. In other words, it is neither a working commercial boat or a recreational boat.
What most commercial boats offer is their strength, seaworthiness, simplicity of operation, and in most cases are more economical to operate than a recreational boat of comparable size. This can be especially true of fishing vessels. Cost of operation is a large factor in commercial vessels. Systems are kept as simple as possible to prevent downtime. An example is pulling a lever provides for less chance of malfunction than pushing a button to have the function performed electrically. Less to go wrong. Most commercial vessels are single engine boats. Economics, long range, and again simplicity are the reasons. Except for special applications, 99% of most fishing boats are single engine diesel. In fact, most of the smaller commercial boats in the world are single engine. If a diesel engine is kept serviced properly the chances of a breakdown are very rare. And they do not spend thousands of dollars on get home power as recreational boaters do which most are never used. Commercial fisherman usually get thousands of hours more use from their engines than recreational vessels with the same engine make and model. A seiner, with her nets out and not far from the surf breaking on the rocks, does not need an engine failure either for life safety or downtime. So the engines are very well taken care of. Most systems on commercial vessels are hydraulic for the same reasons, strength and reliability. It is very rare to find an electric anchor winch on a commercial vessel, even the smaller ones.
From a seaworthiness standpoint, fishing vessels are deep, heavily built to carry a load, and usually have a much higher bow (freeboard forward) than recreational boats of the same size. When a storm comes up, a Tuna boat fishing far offshore no matter her size has to ride it out. They can't simply run to safety. They have no fuel docks or marina's to run to. The boat has to be able to take it, and again even the smaller ones are very self sufficient.
Most seiners have beautiful lines. Most all of the good looking recreational trawlers are designed after fishing boats whether it be the famous Tuna fleet of southern California, the Salmon trollers and seiners of the pacific northwest, or the North Sea fishing boats of Scandanavia and other parts of the world. If you are familar with them, look at how pretty the popular europa style trawlers are. They are nothing more in design than a fishing boat with covered side decks and angled supports to keep the lines of the hull , very pretty indeed.
Another reason for the popularity of converting commercial vessels today are the products that are available. In past years simply installing a shower was no little job. With today's major hardware stores, you walk in and select the shower from a plethera of inexpensive or expensive options and walk out with a box. Same goes for PVC piping and ready made cabinets, etc. Conversions simply do not cost as much as they used to, and require less labor.
When you hear horror stories about conversions it is usually the methods used or the way it is approached. I have watched this for years. In these situations the conversion takes a long time and is costly. What happens all too often is that too many projects are started at one time. The trick is to pick an area or project and finish it. completely. One usually finds that it doesn't take that long. As a Broker I am constantly going aboard boats and wherever I look find wires hanging loose, half finished staterooms, heads without the bowl or apparatus to flush them attached, and so on --- all on the same boat. If your project is to put staterooms in the hold, put staterooms in the hold and not divide your time between the hold, galley, or extending the house for instance. That's the trick and I have seen some beautiful conversions completed using that method of approach. And don't forget ballast, especially in a fishing boat. They are made to carry a lot of load and without that weight down below may not function as well or as safely.
The first place to start is with a knowledgeable Broker. Wherever you are, find a Broker who has both recreational and commercial experience. This is important. They will be able to understand what you are trying to accomplish. Many times their Websites will have boats advertised which are suitable for conversion.
If you do not want to take the time to do a conversion, it still makes a lot of sense to buy one already converted and maybe change a few things to fit your own needs and style. You are still acquiring the same basic commercial package, and will know that you and your family will be safer on the water. If a fast, high tech yacht is what you are after then a commercial boat conversion may not be the way to go. But----if speed is not your interest and strength, reliability and safety is, then the conversion may just fit the bill. Michael Zarkos.
Cape Horn Yacht & Ship Brokers
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1500 Westlake Ave N, Suite 8 (dock level) Seattle, WA 98109, USA |
Toll-free 877-223-2117 Tel 206-957-7095 MTZCapeHorn@aol.com Fax 206-957-7096 Email Us Cell 206-730-4791 |
