If you a limitless amount of money to spend on a custom made boat, what would it be like? Mine would be a 1909 Steam Yacht, or a reproduction of one. 150 feet long. And it would be furnished to look like Versallies or Victorian style design. It would be coal powered and be one of the most elligant ships ever built. What about all of you?
hmm... , if I had no money constraints then I might get myself a cruise ship. I would have room to put whatever I wanted to put on it, and have a lot of room for myself.
I may even set aside a floor just for ADISC members and suchlike people, to get onto the floor you'd have to have a nappy put on, should keep everyone else away.
In reality I'm unlikely ever to have that kind of money .
Ya know that ship... the Black Pearl... yeah, that one. Wind in the rigging, the Jolly Roger flying from the masthead, a gun deck lined with 18 pounders... that'll do nicely.
More realisticly... I'd like the 1984 23' Liberator that sat in the back of dry storage at the Marina I worked at for two years. Absolutely mint condition... with a King Cobra big block carburated V8 straight piped out back. One of the most sinister sounding machines I have ever heard. The owner let me fire it up and run it around the back cove a time or two... beautiful.
Either that... or the 21' Allison hulled bass boat with the 350hp Mercury outboard that I rode in. 120+ on the water is scary fast.
Of course that converted barge/houseboat that Duncan MacLeod had in Highlander was a pretty sweet place too. I'd love to live on the water... and as long as you leave port at least once a year, no property taxes!
Wow, I am not really sure, and I don't know enough about boats to make a qualified guess (kind of funny for someone who literally lives at a marina!) I don't know a lot about sailing, as I have only ever sailed on a 31-foot Catalina, so probably not a sailboat. I have always liked the Chris-craft style wodden boats. Maybe something like the yacht built for one of the early-20th century presidents, since money is not a restraint (I think maybe Woodrow Wilson or FDR?) I remember seeing something about it on History Channel once.
Definitely a hand built, one off wood sailboat, large enough for extended ocean travel. My sister lived on Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington. She sailed her 49 foot sloop to Hawaii and back. I always envied that.
If I could have my complete boat fantasy, I'd have both my grandfather and father (both long deceased) with me to design and build the boat. (My grandfather, whom I'd never met because he died before my birth, was a boat designer/builder from Steilacoom, Washington).
The first leg of the maiden voyage would be from Steilacoom to Pt. Townsend, Washington in September to participate in the Wooden Boat Festival held there every year. There, boat designers, builders, restorers and owners could marvel at my grandfather's brilliant engineering and design work, as well as the execution displaying our collective family craftsmanship.
From there, I'd sail/tour through the San Juan Islands of British Columbia and Washington for two weeks (Did this once in 1980 for 9 days on a 29 foot boat.) before embarking on a year long trip on open water. Through the Strait of Juan De Fuca into the Pacific straight to Hawaii, next through the South Pacific. Bali Ha'i will find you!
I'd get a boat that had a button that you could push to transform it into my dream house and place it anywhere I want. Upon landing it assumed full property of the land, and the government was OK with it. It would instantly spawn workers that required no food or drink, were totally loyal to me, and never needed to rest. It'd grow food and animals and reuse all electricity. Most of all, it'd be equipped with rockets so I could explore the universe.
My favorite type of ocean going vessel is a submarine. If money is no object, something on par with the Phoenix 1000 submarine would be my dream vessel. At only 5,000 square feet over 4 stories, it would be a little bit more cramped than $80M would purchase for anything above water, but would ride out storms so much better. The views of wildlife would also be improved.
A thai long boat would be cool, really shallow draft and a small 5 hp engine with a long prop on it. A good example here. Basically the asian equivalent of a John Boat. Although I've been on more traditional versions but that pic shows off the prop and engine.