 First Impression: Banyan
Date toured: June 2009
Banyan launched in 1980 as an 88-foot motoryacht called Pat C. She went through several owners and several names—including Rose Marie and Madcap—before becoming Banyan in May 2007. That owner set about refitting her substantially, including adding a fishing-friendly cockpit (see photograph below) that extended her length to 102 feet. That work had just been completed when I got onboard for a tour with Capt. Andrew Grego, who oversaw the refit at Lauderdale Marine Center in Florida.
“The refit started in January 2008, and we went in with the intention of doing a cockpit extension and an exterior paint job, nothing more,” Grego told me. “Then the owner and I started saying, ‘Well, while we’re at it…’
“There ended up being nothing that we didn’t address on the boat. All the hydraulics, the plumbing, we changed out 16 garbage bags full of wiring, all of our air handlers, piping, insulation, we stripped the engine room down to the hull, all of our interior wood was re-stained and varnished except in the salon, which is all new teak. It just went on and on.”
One detail from the refit that caught my attention was a monitor in the pilothouse that now receives a feed from an underwater camera. Grego told me that he worked with CPS Marine Electronics in Fort Lauderdale to install a Geovision camera system that lets him see whether lobster pots or other debris are wrapped around Banyan’s propellers while she is cruising in charter destinations like Maine. That’s a smart idea for any yacht, and it could save Banyan’s charter guests untold delays that they otherwise would have to endure while scuba divers checked out the props at the first hint of trouble.
 Also worth noting is that the refit improved Banyan’s speed and fuel efficiency—which are of course important both for your charter itinerary and your bottom-line fuel fees. “We used to cruise at 12 knots with a 17-knot top speed,” Grego told me. “Now we cruise at 15 knots with a 21-knot top speed—and the amount of fuel we burn at 15 knots is what we used to burn at 12 knots.”
Banyan’s refit ended in December 2008, after which the owner cruised for several months along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and in the Bahamas. The boat joined the Neptune Group Yachting fleet and become available for post-refit charters just 10 days before I stepped aboard in June 2009. Grego and his wife, Karen, were the only two crew, with a freelance chef being available for charters. Grego told me there is also a fourth crew berth if guests would like to bring a nanny, dive guide, or other staff aboard.
The yacht is marketed as taking six guests—in one king-bed and two twin-bed cabins—but Grego told me there’s also a bunk-style Pullman berth in each of the twin-bed cabins if you have young children and want to have a total charter party of eight.
Any reputable charter broker can talk to you about current base rates, or give you information about booking a week onboard.—Kim Kavin
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Sharon Bahmer is an expert at booking charters in the Americas, from Alaska to Brazil. She's also a member of FYBA and CYBA. E-mail Sharon
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
Nicole Caulfield is licensed, bonded, and a longtime member of FYBA and AYCA. She brings a unique perspective as a broker, having worked aboard yachts for nearly 10 years. Email Nicole
Beverly Parsons has been chartering since 1969. She is a licensed, bonded broker and a founding member of the professional groups AYCA and CYBA International. Contact Beverly.
Liz Howard joined Fraser Yachts as a charter broker in 2002 after more than 15 years in the maritime industry. E-mail Liz.
Ed Hamilton has worked in every part of the charter industry over the last 37 years and heads one of the largest, most respected charter brokerages.
Shannon Webster is a longtime AYCA member. She books yachts worldwide from 80 to 400 feet long. Email Shannon
