BIG SAVINGS FOR THE BIG BLUE

"Vast ocean crossings have put The Big Blue's machinery and construction to the test, and we are happy to say she handled the seas and distances without falter."

Gareth Sheppard Captain, 'The Big Blue'

SUMMARY

Propspeed protects the running gear of this 138-foot Troy Marine yacht and has since Day 1. Logging tens of thousands of nautical miles each year, The Big Blue is saving big on fuel.

ABOUT

From the photos below, you can see that Propspeed on The Big Blue’s propeller is looking a little worn. According to chief engineer Andrew Dias, at the time, The Big Blue had just travelled 32,000 nautical miles on a single application done more than two years ago, so the wear is quite understandable!

From her first launch, The Big Blue has always had Propspeed on her running gear, which was applied by Marine Group Boatworks in Chula Vista, California. While this, unfortunately, ruled out the possibility of “before” and “after” fuel-savings comparisons, the 138-foot 2009 expedition megayacht continues to travel long distances; a recent 10-month voyage from Florida to Southeast Asia and throughout the South Pacific logged 22,000 nautical miles. With an average cruising speed of 11 knots, the savings and performance benefits were significant—particularly with the added load of a helicopter on her helipad.

“Vast ocean crossings have put The Big Blue’s machinery and construction to the test, and we are happy to say she handled the seas and distances without falter,” 

Gareth Sheppard Captain, 'The Big Blue'

Refitted by Derecktor Florida in 2013 to include the helipad, The Big Blue was nominated for the best-refitted yacht at the 2014 World Superyacht Awards. After a complete repaint in 2015, she underwent extensive maintenance and upgrades at Rybovich Shipyard from 2016 to 2017 and had both of her generators completely overhauled in 2018. Now located in West Palm Beach, she is up for sale and promises to be a pleasant surprise for her new owner, “surpassing all expectations by way of comfort, cruising range, fuel economy, stability and all-round functionality.”