Used yachts as commercial vessels

[Brandon C]

So this week I was looking over starting ships for a campaign and it occurred to me that an old yacht (or maybe a new one, not bought by a noble) could be used as a commercial liner, Unlike the free trader (and variants) that are primarily cargo ships with limited passenger space, a yacht is a passenger ship with limited cargo space. What follows are some thoughts on the basic yacht design and what changes are needed for it to be used commercially, These notes are geared for CT and MgT1e.

The Original Design
There are three problems with the yacht (one in CT).

First, it really needs to be streamlined. This makes a great deal of sense from the POV of use by a noble and is really required for easy use of the ATV. The increase to overall cost is less than 2%.

The sensor package is an embarrassment for a 200 ton ship used by those of high social standing. For a mere MCr 0.05 it can be raised to the level of a free trader -- and should be.

A yacht is a much bigger target for pirates (and political rivals) than a free trader, but doesn't have a ton set aside for a hardpoint (in MgT). There really is no excuse for this, other than some author not realizing that the passengers of a yacht are worth far more in ransom thna the passengers of a free trader and that the yacht's ship's boat is almost always worth more than the entire cargo hold of a free trader.

Converting it for Commercial Service
An ex-yacht, even used, is a higher end passenger ship. Consider: if the price is the same, would you book passage on a 20 year old free trader or a 20 year old yacht? Yep, my point exactly.

The ATV is really wasted for a passenger liner. It should be sold off and the garage converted to additional hold space. If the yacht was designed as streamlined, the same could possibly be done for the ship's boat, but it still has uses on a streamlined vessel. The air/raft should be kept.

The owner's suite should be used as a VIP (high passage) suite. Up to 10 additional high/middle passengers can be carried.

The yacht has no low berths and really doesn't need any. However, the stateroom closest to engineering could be cleared out and four low berths installed if they are really felt necessary.

Security may be a concern, as there is no easy way to separate the crew and passenger state rooms. The best that can be done is set aside the staterooms closest to the lift to the upper deck and the tube down to engineering for crew.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Condottiere]

An old yacht could be refurbished as a star cruise ship, to go cruising around the local cluster, the main expense might be renovating the interior, and getting an engineer to overhaul the engines.

 

[wbyrd]

So this week I was looking over starting ships for a campaign and it occurred to me that an old yacht (or maybe a new one, not bought by a noble) could be used as a commercial liner, Unlike the free trader (and variants) that are primarily cargo ships with limited passenger space, a yacht is a passenger ship with limited cargo space. What follows are some thoughts on the basic yacht design and what changes are needed for it to be used commercially, These notes are geared for CT and MgT1e.

The Original Design
There are three problems with the yacht (one in CT).

First, it really needs to be streamlined. This makes a great deal of sense from the POV of use by a noble and is really required for easy use of the ATV. The increase to overall cost is less than 2%.

The sensor package is an embarrassment for a 200 ton ship used by those of high social standing. For a mere MCr 0.05 it can be raised to the level of a free trader -- and should be.

A yacht is a much bigger target for pirates (and political rivals) than a free trader, but doesn't have a ton set aside for a hardpoint (in MgT). There really is no excuse for this, other than some author not realizing that the passengers of a yacht are worth far more in ransom thna the passengers of a free trader and that the yacht's ship's boat is almost always worth more than the entire cargo hold of a free trader.

Converting it for Commercial Service
An ex-yacht, even used, is a higher end passenger ship. Consider: if the price is the same, would you book passage on a 20 year old free trader or a 20 year old yacht? Yep, my point exactly.

The ATV is really wasted for a passenger liner. It should be sold off and the garage converted to additional hold space. If the yacht was designed as streamlined, the same could possibly be done for the ship's boat, but it still has uses on a streamlined vessel. The air/raft should be kept.

The owner's suite should be used as a VIP (high passage) suite. Up to 10 additional high/middle passengers can be carried.

The yacht has no low berths and really doesn't need any. However, the stateroom closest to engineering could be cleared out and four low berths installed if they are really felt necessary.

Security may be a concern, as there is no easy way to separate the crew and passenger state rooms. The best that can be done is set aside the staterooms closest to the lift to the upper deck and the tube down to engineering for crew.

Any other thoughts?

It would be a hard sell as a profit making vessel. everything you listed makes it a real albatross. If you were running a short haul commuter service or a charter service it would be a pretty good vessel for that line of work.

An old yacht could be refurbished as a star cruise ship, to go cruising around the local cluster, the main expense might be renovating the interior, and getting an engineer to overhaul the engines.

Definitely doable with the hull. the lack of streamlining kind of hobbles it as a prospective trader, or cargo vessel since you would be using a small ship like this to service a lot of places that might not have a Highport.

 

[Brandon C]

An old yacht could be refurbished as a star cruise ship, to go cruising around the local cluster, the main expense might be renovating the interior, and getting an engineer to overhaul the engines.

It is true that the noble who last owned the yacht might have had some peculiar ideas for an interior pain scheme and fittings ...

 

[Brandon C]

It would be a hard sell as a profit making vessel. everything you listed makes it a real albatross. If you were running a short haul commuter service or a charter service it would be a pretty good vessel for that line of work.

I am redesigning the yacht into what I consider more appropriate, in particular streamlined with J2 drives. I have upgraded to 2G drives (only one more ton). The armor 2, two hardpoints, and basic sensors do eat up 9 tons but make sense for the original, noncommercial role. I'll post the revised design Monday.

Right now, I am looking at two high passengers (sharing the suite) and six middle passengers, plus 19 tons of cargo (assuming the ATV garage has been converted to a hold but not counting any cargo space in the 30-ton slow boat).

 

[flykiller]

am redesigning the yacht into what I consider more appropriate, in particular streamlined with J2 drives. I have upgraded to 2G drives (only one more ton).

wouldn't it be better just to build a new boat?

 

[Brandon C]

wouldn't it be better just to build a new boat?

This is a new boat, basically. It will be the default yacht design in my campaign, not the one in the rule book. IOW, it will replace the official yacht, not supplement it.

 

[Timerover51]

It would also make a great charter ship for nobles and other wealthy individuals who do not want to spend the money for a yacht or for the upkeep, but wish to travel in a style more befitting their position.

 

[Condottiere]

As long as you maintain the maintenance cycles, the ships can probably run forever.

 

[mike wightman]

I love my computer I'm typing this on. It's never failed me and has lasted over a decade. I have upgraded it from time to time; new motherboard, processor, memory, hard drives, various graphic card upgrades, the last of which required a new power supply and a bigger case. Operating system has recently upgraded to Win10.
I love my computer, the only one I've ever had.

High tech can definitely last forever

 

[Condottiere]

Theseus' paradox.

 

[wbyrd]

I love my computer I'm typing this on. It's never failed me and has lasted over a decade. I have upgraded it from time to time; new motherboard, processor, memory, hard drives, various graphic card upgrades, the last of which required a new power supply and a bigger case. Operating system has recently upgraded to Win10.
I love my computer, the only one I've ever had.

High tech can definitely last forever

The B-52 is a good example of that little tale. Electronics, engines, major systems have been upgraded and replaced several times. only the airframe is original...except for parts replaced during repairs and annual overhauls.

 

[robject]

So this week I was looking over starting ships for a campaign and it occurred to me that an old yacht (or maybe a new one, not bought by a noble) could be used as a commercial liner, Unlike the free trader (and variants) that are primarily cargo ships with limited passenger space, a yacht is a passenger ship with limited cargo space.

[...]

Any other thoughts?

Such a converted yacht could be classified as a Packet: a ship designed for rather irregular passenger transport. This would serve the function of a small corporate jet in today's terms. So I would expect it to cater to high-end corporate travel.

 

[whartung]

It is true that the noble who last owned the yacht might have had some peculiar ideas for an interior pain scheme and fittings ...

Is there an aftermarket for black velvet clown paintings?

 

[pendragonman]

Is there an aftermarket for black velvet clown paintings?

Black velvet pin up art...Black velvet toreadors, black velvet Elvis...

 

[JimMarn]

Two thoughts.

1) Just hope the previous owner didn't love Moire' patterns.

2) And hope the maintenance was kept up. I've read more than one story, fiction, of a group of folks buying an old sailing or motor ship and finding it looks good on the outside, but the pumps aren't very good. Main deck has a weak spot very close to the main mast, the main engine has a hiccup when first started, etc.

I can imagine a starship with a good air circulation system, but the vent for state room 4 has something living in it. Any landing skids or wheels have to be fixed up as they are wobbly and can fail on any world of a standard 1g field, the door to engineering only opens if you are used to the door handle, etc.

Bargains are not always bargains. And sometimes an expensive ship is just as bad.

 

[Cryton]

Have you given any thought to the Yachts rustic cousin, the Safari ship?

It's already streamlined, the capture tanks are easy to convert to cargo, it already has a hardpoint (well, the one from the LBB adventure of the same name did), and the ATV has been swapped out for an enclosed air/raft and it has a nice launch already modded to carry cargo to boot!

Just a thought.

 

[robject]

Have you given any thought to the Yachts rustic cousin, the Safari ship?

Another excellent ship for moving people around in style. Really, the Safari Ship seems to me to be similar in luxury to the Yacht. Maybe there's only a difference in purpose.

Anyway, yeah, a great target for a small commercial luxury transport.

 

[Brandon C]

Have you given any thought to the Yachts rustic cousin, the Safari ship?

I did consider it, but it doesn't really have enough staterooms.

Edit: Huh. I was looking at the MgT version in Traders and Gunboats, which really isn't as good as the CT version in the starter set. I'll see if I can get something close to the CT version with a redesign.

Edit 2: Turns out GT has several variants of the safari ship, one of which is ... a luxury charter liner However, it is purpose built, not merely a conversion of existing Type K's.

 

[mike wightman]

Both the Yacht and the Safari Ship are luxury designs IMTU, as a result there are probably more minor variations between examples than any other ship types,

The buyer of even a 'standard' yacht or safari ship is allowed to play around with the interior with things like staterooms, common areas etc.

I always thought the yacht itself to be pretty naff for a noble or megacorp exec or any other billionaire who may want to get one, so I offer a range of hull sizes and drive performances.

There is also a refurbishment and refit option for those millionaires who can only afford second hand.

By the time these things are nearing the scrap heap (PC affordability ) they may have gone through half a dozen refits and refurbishments and have various peculiarities as a result.