YATCO’s Ocean Going Yachts Guide 2024

Welcome to the 2024 Ocean Going Yacht Guide, your ultimate resource for exploring the world of luxurious ocean adventures. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about ocean going yachts, from top models and innovative features to essential buying tips and maintenance advice. Whether you have completed an ocean crossing or are hoping to do so in the future, this guide will help you make informed decisions and find the perfect yacht to suit your needs.

Image Source: SERENITY 2003 236′ 2″ AUSTAL Ocean Going Yacht

The Essence of an Ocean-Going Yacht

Ocean going yachts are designed to navigate the most challenging waters, offering the durability and capability required for long-distance voyages. These yachts are not just about luxury and comfort; they are engineered with specific features that enable them to cross oceans with confidence. From structural integrity to advanced navigation systems, ocean going yachts are built to withstand the elements and ensure a safe, comfortable journey. Understanding these critical features is essential for anyone considering an extended voyage across open waters.

Sturdiness: Built to Withstand All Weather Conditions

The structural integrity of a yacht is paramount when facing the unpredictable and often harsh conditions of the open ocean. Ocean going yachts are constructed using robust materials like steel, aluminum, and reinforced composites that provide the necessary strength and durability required under these conditions. These materials are chosen for their ability to withstand impact, resist corrosion, and maintain structural integrity over time.

Key features that enhance a yacht’s sturdiness include reinforced hulls, watertight bulkheads, and deep keels. A reinforced hull provides additional protection against rough seas and potential collisions, while watertight bulkheads help prevent flooding in case of hull breaches. Deep keels contribute to the yacht’s stability, helping it maintain balance even in turbulent waters.

These sturdy features are not just about withstanding immediate challenges; they contribute to the long-term safety and longevity of the yacht, ensuring it remains seaworthy throughout extended ocean crossings.

Fuel Efficiency: The Key to Extended Voyages

Fuel efficiency is a crucial factor for ocean going yachts, especially on long passages where opportunities to refuel may be few and far between. Efficient fuel consumption allows a yacht to travel further on a single tank, reducing the need for frequent stops and enabling longer, uninterrupted journeys.

Modern ocean going yachts are equipped with efficient engine designs, hybrid propulsion systems, and optimized hull shapes that work together to maximize fuel efficiency. Hybrid systems, for example, can switch between traditional fuel and electric power, conserving fuel for when it’s needed most. Optimized hull designs reduce drag, allowing the yacht to glide through the water more smoothly and consume less fuel.

Technologies such as fuel management systems and energy-saving features further extend a yacht’s range by monitoring fuel usage and optimizing engine performance. When selecting a yacht for long-distance cruising, it’s essential to consider these fuel-efficient capabilities to ensure that your vessel can cover the desired distances without frequent refueling.

Long-Range Capabilities: Go the Distance with Confidence

For any yacht to be considered ocean going, it must have the capability to travel vast distances between ports. Range is a critical feature, allowing yachts to cross oceans and explore remote destinations without worrying about running out of fuel or supplies.

Factors that contribute to a yacht’s long-range capabilities include large fuel tanks, efficient cruising speeds, and effective fuel management strategies. Large fuel tanks are essential, providing the capacity to store enough fuel for extended journeys. Efficient cruising speeds, where the yacht travels at an optimal speed to conserve fuel, also plays a significant role in extending range.

Balancing speed and range is crucial. While higher speeds may reduce travel time, they can also increase fuel consumption. Therefore, choosing a yacht with a design that balances these factors is key to ensuring that you can confidently undertake long-distance voyages.

Some ocean going yachts are specifically designed with impressive range capabilities, making them ideal for transoceanic journeys. These yachts are often equipped with advanced systems that monitor and optimize fuel usage, ensuring that they can go the distance without compromise.

Seaworthiness: Designed for Open Waters

Seaworthiness refers to a yacht’s ability to handle the conditions of the open ocean, maintaining stability, safety, and comfort in various sea states. This is a critical characteristic for ocean going yachts, as they must be able to withstand everything from calm seas to rough storms.

Several features enhance a yacht’s seaworthiness, including deep hulls, ballast systems, and advanced stabilizers. Deep hulls help the yacht maintain a low center of gravity, improving stability and reducing the risk of capsizing. Ballast systems add weight to the lower part of the yacht, further enhancing stability. Advanced stabilizers, whether fin or gyro-based, work to counteract the rolling motion caused by waves, ensuring a smoother ride.

When evaluating a yacht’s seaworthiness, it’s important to consider how the yacht will perform in various conditions. A seaworthy yacht will be able to handle different sea states, providing a safe and comfortable journey regardless of the weather.

Self-Sufficiency: Independence on the High Seas

Self-sufficiency is a vital feature for ocean going yachts, as they must be able to operate independently for extended periods without needing external support. This means having the capability to generate and manage resources such as water, power, and waste, allowing the yacht to remain at sea for weeks or even months at a time.

Key features that contribute to a yacht’s self-sufficiency include large freshwater tanks, watermakers, waste management systems, and ample storage for provisions. Watermakers are particularly important, as they convert seawater into fresh drinking water, reducing the need to carry large quantities of freshwater.

Renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind generators, play a crucial role in maintaining self-sufficiency. These systems provide a sustainable way to generate power, reducing reliance on fuel and allowing the yacht to operate for longer periods without resupply.

By incorporating these features, ocean going yachts can achieve a level of independence that allows them to explore remote and uninhabited areas without concern for immediate resupply.

Advanced Navigation and Safety Systems: Ensuring a Safe Journey

Reliable navigation and safety systems are essential for any ocean going yacht, ensuring that the vessel can navigate safely and efficiently across vast and often challenging waters. These systems provide the tools needed to plan routes, avoid hazards, and communicate with other vessels or shore-based services.

Essential navigation equipment includes GPS, radar, AIS (Automatic Identification System), and satellite communication systems. GPS provides accurate positioning, while radar helps detect other vessels and obstacles, even in poor visibility. AIS is crucial for tracking nearby ships and improving situational awareness. Satellite communication ensures that the yacht remains connected, even in remote areas.

Safety features are equally important, with equipment such as EPIRBs (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons), life rafts, and fire suppression systems being standard on ocean going yachts. These systems are designed to protect the crew and passengers in emergencies, ensuring that help can be summoned quickly and effectively.

To ensure a safe journey, it’s important to select a yacht equipped with the necessary navigation and safety systems, and to regularly maintain and test these systems before embarking on an ocean voyage.

Comfort and Livability: Making Long Voyages Enjoyable

While performance and safety are paramount, comfort and livability are also critical considerations for long-distance ocean cruising. Spending extended periods at sea requires a yacht that offers a high level of comfort, ensuring that the journey is as enjoyable as the destination.

Features that enhance livability include well-insulated interiors, climate control systems, and ergonomic layouts. Well-insulated interiors help maintain a comfortable temperature inside the yacht, regardless of the weather outside. Climate control systems provide precise temperature management, ensuring that the living spaces are always comfortable.

The layout of the yacht is also important, with a focus on creating spaces that are both functional and comfortable. This includes spacious cabins, well-appointed galleys, and inviting social areas that encourage relaxation and socialization.

Choosing a yacht with the right balance of comfort and performance is key to making long-distance ocean voyages enjoyable. By prioritizing livability, you can ensure that your time at sea is spent in comfort, making the journey a true pleasure.

Choosing the Right Yacht for Ocean Voyages

Selecting the right yacht for your ocean crossing requires careful consideration of several key features. Sturdiness, fuel efficiency, long-range capabilities, seaworthiness, self-sufficiency, and advanced navigation and safety systems are all critical factors that contribute to a successful and enjoyable voyage.

By prioritizing these features, you can ensure that your yacht is well-equipped to handle the challenges of the open ocean, providing both safety and comfort throughout your journey. Whether you’re planning a transoceanic crossing or exploring remote destinations, the right ocean going yacht will be your trusted companion on the high seas.

As you explore your options, consider consulting with experts and reviewing detailed specifications to find the perfect yacht for your ocean voyages. With the right vessel, the possibilities for adventure are endless.

What is an ocean going yacht?

An ocean going yacht is a vessel that is built and equipped to traverse large bodies of water safely and securely, usually with a thicker hull and plenty of extra storage for enough food and provisions to last your journey.

The Atlantic Ocean, for example, is a journey of 3,000 nautical miles, so you’ll want to ensure the yacht you are using to cross it is a sturdy, ocean going vessel. Many superyachts will make the Atlantic Ocean crossing twice a year – in the fall to head to the Caribbean, and in the spring to return to the Mediterranean.

What makes a yacht ocean going?

A few things will help prepare a yacht for its ocean going journey. While there may not be a standard rule as to what size or gross tonnage a yacht must be to qualify as ocean going, here are some things to keep in mind: 

1. Fuel – Crossing the ocean requires an extended period of cruising, meaning you will be consuming a lot of fuel during your journey. You’ll want to ensure you have plenty of fuel onboard to last not only the duration of your crossing, but extra should anything happen, and you end up being away at sea longer than planned. Experts suggest carrying roughly 1.5x the amount of expected fuel usage so you have some to spare should the need arise. 

2. Navigation Equipment – You’ll likely have all the navigational equipment onboard already, but you’ll want to do some safety checks to ensure everything is up to date and working as it should. While just about everything runs off Apps these days, it’s never a bad idea to bring some of the original navigational aids (and know how to use them) – charts of your cruising areas, a compass, parallel rulers, and a divider – so that if anything happens to your technological equipment, you know you have a backup.  

3. Spare Parts – While it’s always a good idea to carry replacement parts onboard, this couldn’t be truer for a bluewater yacht. Most repairs to faulty equipment can be done while at sea, provided you have the right items packed. Double-check all your stores and replenish any others before embarking on your journey. 

4. Safety Precautions – Making sure your tender is ready to go in an emergency, or other lifesaving equipment (life jackets, rings, and flares) are stocked and within easy access is imperative. It’s always a good idea to do a safety drill before departure so everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency. 

5. Food and Drink Provisions – Larger ocean going yachts will have an abundance of storage, fridge and freezer space and the ability to pack more than enough food and drink for your time onboard. Just because you’re underway and have lost sight of the shore, doesn’t mean your menu has to suffer! If you are taking a superyacht across the ocean, you crew will still be on hand to prepare meals and look after you throughout. 

6. First Aid Supplies – It’s important to be fully stocked on medical supplies should an emergency arise. Making sure crew members or someone onboard with you is up to date on their First Aid/CPR training can be all the difference should something happen. 

7. Activities to Pass the Time – When underway for a long time, sometimes the biggest factor is finding ways to keep busy! If you are traveling the ocean with a yacht, you’ll want to make sure your entertainment systems are working well so you can watch videos or stream, (Wi-Fi may be spotty), so double checking all your Comms is also a good idea. For those that want to enjoy the water while at sea, feel free to pack scuba or snorkeling gear, fishing equipment, take the tender out for a spin, or play with the jet skis. The sky is the limit when you have an ocean going yacht! 

What types of yachts are ocean going yachts?

When it comes to figuring out what types of yachts are bluewater yachts, it really can encompass any yacht that has been properly prepared. From sailing yachts and motor yachts to catamarans, and even world-record holders crossing in rowboats, if the yacht has been prepared for such a journey, it can safely cross the ocean. 

However, if we use some of the above information, you’ll likely be looking at yachts that are longer than 40 feet and can take on waves of up to 23 feet and strong winds of 45 knots or more. This will make sure your ocean crossing will be as comfortable as possible.

How much is an ocean going yacht?

How much you’ll pay for a bluewater yacht will vary quite a bit depending on the size of the yacht you decide to buy.

At a minimum, you’ll need a 40-foot ocean going yacht for your journey, which can start around $100,000, which may or may not include any upgrades or safety features that you’ll require.

This cost can increase exponentially into the tens of millions of dollars, if you are looking at crewed superyachts.

Can I travel the ocean with a yacht?

Yes, you can cross the ocean with a yacht.

Depending on the size of yacht you’re cruising, how fast you’re going and the weather conditions while onboard, the average journey for the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans can last anywhere from 10 days to three weeks.

The Pacific, in particular, is a longer journey and average cruising time will depend on where you depart from and arrive at.

How big does a yacht need to be to cross the ocean?

At a minimum, your bluewater yacht should be around 40 feet in order to withstand any rough seas and store enough fuel and provisions for the journey.

Can a 40-foot yacht cross the Atlantic?

Yes, a 40-foot yacht can cross the Atlantic Ocean if she is suitably prepared and outfitted to do so. 

Bluewater yachts are for those looking to explore the world; who want to throw off the bow lines and leave the safe harbor to see what lies across the ocean. There are many types of yachts that can safely travel the ocean; to see some of the current ones available, please click here. Sign up to YATCO’s newsletter to stay up to date on the latest industry news.

Browse all ocean going yachts for sale here.