Date toured: December 2006

Expedition yachts don’t always get their due in the charter market. People always seem to go for the brochures that show the sleek, white motoryachts, leaving boats like the 153-foot Big Aron behind simply because the yacht’s exterior looks more like a workboat than a pleasure yacht.
     I’m here to tell you: If you judge boats like Big Aron solely on their exteriors, you’re making a huge mistake. Expedition yachts are just as spectacular inside as any sleek, white motoryacht, and they typically offer more water toys, more deck space for parties, and the seakeeping ability to cruise comfortably to exotic destinations that their “prettier” competitors cannot.
     Big Aron is a terrific example of this. The yacht was built in 2004 and did a few charters in the Mediterranean between her launch and now, but the winter Caribbean season of 2006/07 is the first time the yachts’ owner is seriously offering the yacht to the general public. The crew are trying to beef up their track record before Big Aron heads to the South Pacific to offer charters there beginning this March and April, when most brokers will no longer have a chance to get to know the yacht or what it can offer guests.
     I toured Big Aron with Chief Engineer Dave Keable, a charming guy who told me that about half the crew, including the captain and chief stewardess, have previous charter experience. The chef is the owner’s chef and charter is new to him, so that’s something to ask your reputable charter broker about before you book a week onboard.
     Some interesting features I learned about the yacht itself include the addition in 2005 of zero-speed stabilizers, which should keep this already stable boat completely motion-free while cruising and while at anchor. As Keable put it, the stabilizers were installed to please the owner’s wife, who “gets seasick when a Jet Ski goes by.”
     The yacht is reportedly kid-friendly, too, with Sony PlayStations and plenty of water toys for the little ones. Certified adults can take advantage of scuba diving directly from the yacht, as the chief stewardess is also a PADI dive instructor.
     Also worth noting is that Big Aron has an awesome master suite that takes up an entire deck and includes a pass-through to a private salon and outdoor area.
     Up on the top deck, all the way aft, there is a small wading pool instead of a hot tub, which is standard on most motoryachts this size. “It’s quite particular to the owner,” Keable said of the swimming pool. “He likes to stand at the back with his tin of beer and look out.”
Sure sounds good to me.
     Big Aron is part of the fleet at Camper & Nicholsons International. The yacht takes 10 guests with 10 crew. Pricing was still being determined as we posted this First Impression review.—Kim Kavin