Diesel Duck Ellemaid

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marcoh

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I think this is the largest Buehler Diesel Duck out there. It has been for sale for a while, starting at more than $1million a few year back, and now asking $500k. i have always thought this model looks really good, and would be a fantastic boat to live on and see the world!

2009 Buehler 71 Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

3877232_20150223000618217_1_XLARGE.jpg


It was built in 2009 in Turkey by Asboat yacht Building Asboat Yacht Building - ?zmir / Turkey.

It's a lot of boat for the money, or does it have issues that have prevented it from being sold?

The boat only has a 150hp engine, which seems somewhat small, so not sure if performance is an issue. Hull speed should be around 11 knots, which would required around 260hp. I calculated this using Boat Speed Calculator which may be simplistic but at least gives an indication.

Also looking at the photos the dark blue hull, which looks really good in the early photos, looks somewhat faded to a much lighter blue Below is a photo of when the boat was launched.

stb%20view-1-A.jpg


Assuming there are no significant issues with the boat, I am thinking that with a bit of TLC this could be good buy, and if it is underpowered you could afford to repower the boat, and the engine room has more than enough space!
 
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My guess is that the "Ducks seem to be a couples boat that works well in the 38' or 46' model. Take that same model and stretch it to 70'plus and it changes the equation. Deeper draft, more expensive marina charges and the buyer pool shrinks exponentially. I don't really think its underpowered. A good buy for someone if shes seaworthy...
 
I agree with SoF. If you like living on the hook and don't mind the exponential increase in associated costs it could make an outstanding boat for "someone". The problem for boats that size and above is the market for them is niche.

Forget the purchase price and cost out your annual expenses. If you can cover those with no stress and aspire to "get out there" it may be you are the market.
 
CPseudonym said:
I agree with SoF. If you like living on the hook and don't mind the exponential increase in associated costs it could make an outstanding boat for "someone". The problem for boats that size and above is the market for them is niche.

Forget the purchase price and cost out your annual expenses. If you can cover those with no stress and aspire to "get out there" it may be you are the market.
Click to expand...


While I like the looks of the boat and the utility that she offers, other than the PH (which is lovely), there is no view outside from the interior of the boat. This wouldn't be my choice for a boat in cooler, wetter weather for that reason.
 
Greetings,
Mr. dh. My thoughts exactly when I reviewed the pictures. Cave-like at best. LOTS out there for $500K. Not surprising the price has dropped by half. It wouldn't surprise me if she went for substantially less although I'm not wishing ill of the owner to absorb such a hit ($$).
 
I could live with it.

Not a boat for lounging about in slippers and bath robe while enjoying the view in climate controlled indoors comfort. Perfect for accessing wildly remote locations and a comfy base camp to return to after hairy chested adventures ashore :thumb:
 
That engine room! The masts! I like it.

Just quickly judging from some of the rust on the engine and in the bilge, I wonder about the meticulousness of the upkeep.
 
Sketchy information on website. Rust showing up. Turkish built steel boat. One of a kind. No get home. $50K paint exterior job soon needed plus interior steel clean up.

All this plus more means a very tough resale. For ocean going a well tended Nordhavn 46 is cheaper and for $700K an N47 is in sight.
 
Quote from second link;
The best comparison of the behavior between a boat like this and a “trawler” was told to me by my crab boat captain friend. He was plowing across the Bering Sea in a storm, the 110’ tank of a crab boat (think contemporary trawler yacht as many of them are essentially Alaskan crab boat type hulls) standing on its head and barely making headway. Way back on the horizon behind him was a speck. Pretty soon it turned into a boat. Soon after that along side and then passed one of the wonderful old Halibut schooners. The “schooners” are sort of Super Trollers. They range from maybe 60’ to 80’ or so and have dimensions very much like this boat but deeper and heavier. Bill said it was rolling and pitching, but it was maintaining speed, and it left him in its wake.
Click to expand...
 
I visited Asboat in Izmir when I was touring various shipyards. They had a couple of Ducks under construction at the time in the 44-46ft size if I recall. One was at steelwork and the other at finishing-touches. The carpentry work of the yard was excellent but I really didn't like the steel work so I didn't pursue any further.

Regarding the Duck series... you either love them or hate them... but they have a big following.
 
Asking price is now US$394k. Looking at the words and pics in the ad, it is a lesson in how to try and not entice potential customers to buy a boat.
 
The broker told me back in August 2018 that the price was $350k but might consider offers of low 300's. Personally I think it is perfectly powered, but one drawback is that it is a submarine inside. Worse than most sailboats. So it will cost some money to cut larger portholes into the topsides and modify the nice woodwork. Also I would lose both masts - make it a trawler not a motorsailer.

I'm waiting for the price to drop to the mid-low 200's then would seriously consider it. That is a very esoteric boat, like Idlewild, and resale will always be tough.
 
There are some videos on the boat at YouTube,

The boat has some rust and the paint needs work The big issue to us is that the interior just not well done.

Later,
Dan
 
makobuilders said:
The broker told me back in August 2018 that the price was $350k but might consider offers of low 300's. Personally I think it is perfectly powered, but one drawback is that it is a submarine inside. Worse than most sailboats. So it will cost some money to cut larger portholes into the topsides and modify the nice woodwork. Also I would lose both masts - make it a trawler not a motorsailer.

I'm waiting for the price to drop to the mid-low 200's then would seriously consider it. That is a very esoteric boat, like Idlewild, and resale will always be tough.
Click to expand...
The boat in question is meant to cross heavy seas. The lack of portlights/portholes is to reduce the chance of one blowing out in heavy seas and sinking.
 
MurrayM said:
Cheeky Monkey!
Click to expand...

Cheekey Monkee was in the Swiftsure race this past weekend. About 2 hours ago she sailed past our home on Saltspring Island on the way home to Vancouver, via Trincomali channel and Porlier Pass.
Cheeky Monkee was the 2nd of 2 boats to finish the Cape Flattery for multihulls, with a corrected time of 39:00:36.

https://www.facebook.com/F45RC/
 
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I really like George Buehler's designs. Ellemaid is one of my favourites. It's still on sale and the price is reduced to 245 000 USD. I think they've repainted the hull. Sadly, it's still close to impossible (for me) to import it to Finland from Indonesia.
 
Not only is the interior a tunnel, there is a remarkable lack of useable outdoor living space for a boat that long. Why not just buy a purpose-built ocean racing sailboat in that case?
 
So I recently had a contract on that boat. Yes, it's a cave inside, and this boat is quite esoteric, but all boats are compromises and I thought of a ways I could adapt it.

Two problems came up. First, my wife didn't like the absolute lack of covered outdoor space. Flybridge doesn't count, and the aft deck is raised, so stringing a canvas canopy over it would be one of those awkward looking affairs which I hate. Second, it is in Singapore, and with my new job I've delayed my retirement for a few more years. Shipping or having a crew deliver it would negate the killer purchase price I had secured. That money would pay for a couple of years of full time cruising fees.

BTW, in order to affordably own something 70ft long, you have to figure you're a full time cruiser living off the hook, or floating it to a mooring. Forget marinas.
 
When I looked at the pics for the 71ft DD, the sleeping arrangement are poorly designed has wasted a lot of space. Should be able to carve out enough for 2 S/R plus crew quarters.

Apparently little or no interest. Price: 394K
 
You either love them or not. I love them.
No view, go for a walk around outside. Check out most sailboats if you want to see a cave.
And the pilothouse is plenty open.
I'd almost think of it as having a public area up and a private area down.
And how many bunks should you fit in 70'. A couple to live on the boat and a few more 'crew' to help with long passages.
Way more than I could use-afford but I'd jump on it.
 
If my calling was to winter on the west coast of Haida Gwaii (know a couple who do this on a 50' converted seiner) this would be a serious contender.
 
Surprised that in a 71' boat there is only bunk beds in the only guest cabin.
 
The DD in the in the mid 40ft length is a great boat. Stretching it out to 70 ft..... and only 2 S/R.... not so much
 
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