First Impression: Argyll

Date toured: October 2007

I’ve loved the 153-foot motoryacht Argyll ever since the first time I saw her a few years ago. That’s not just because she’s downright gorgeous, but also because when she launched in 2002, she was, to my knowledge, the first charter motoryacht specifically designed to be fully handicapped accessible.
     Two or three more handicapped-accessible motoryachts in the same size range have entered the worldwide charter market since then, but Argyll remains my favorite. In large part, that’s because she has an owner who continually invests in making her even better.
     During just the year prior to my most recent onboard tour, Argyll had gotten zero-speed stabilizers; a wide,  handicapped-accessible shower in the master suite; a new seating area on the owner’s deck where a little-used hot tub used to be; additional soundproofing in between the guest cabins; a new boarding ramp for use with wheelchairs; a 24-foot catamaran tender with a ramp for handicapped accessibility; new carpeting virtually everywhere guests go; new, plush seating in the main saloon (see photo above); updated anchoring systems and ground tackle; and a new stewardess station where the dinette used to be in the galley (see photo at right), to facilitate even faster, first-rate service of food and drinks.
      Argyll also continues to remain under the command of Capt. Bob Corcoran, who has a long and well-respected reputation in the charter industry. His crew is following in his footsteps, so much so that the day before I was onboard, they won a rare, special crew award from the International Superyacht Society (see my blog post for more on that).
     The one downside to chartering Argyll is that you don’t get many chances to book. Her owners are onboard full-time from January through May, and so in order to give the crew enough annual vacation time, the yacht offers a half-dozen weeks or less of charter each year. Usually, your best bet is to try to book during the summer or the Christmas/New Year’s holiday, Capt. Corcoran says.
     Argyll takes 10 guests with five crew at a weekly base rate of $137,200, or about $17,000 per person if you factor in typical 25-percent expenses. She’s part of the fleet at Northrop & Johnson. Contact any reputable charter broker to book.—Kim Kavin