After moving on board full-time for an extended period, Dr Richard Davis, owner of the 25.8-metre Horizon yacht Valiant, tells Kate Lardy how he loves captaining his own yacht, figuring out maintenance tasks on board and how he and his wife learned to live with a lot less "stuff".
I grew up on boats. My parents always had a fishing boat out of Atlantic City and I was kind of like their deckhand. My wife, Val, started boating when she met me. After college and medical school, we looked for a practice near the water and moved to the North Shore of Long Island.
My dad bought us our first boat, a 3.7-metre jet boat, but we soon realised that we needed something safer for our small children and moved on to a series of Sea Rays, from 10 metres to 15 metres. On our next boat, a 17-metre Neptunus, which we had for 12 years, I did a lot of the work, including rebuilding both helm stations.
That was what got me started doing mechanical work. We sold that and custom-built a 20-metre Marlow. When I retired from my practice as an ophthalmologist, I told Val I wanted to move on board full-time, and she said, “OK, but we need a bigger boat.”
In Annapolis on our Marlow, I stalked a guy sitting on the back of his Horizon drinking coffee. Finally, I said, “Excuse me, can I talk to you about your boat?” He’s now a good friend of ours. He has a Horizon E88 and loves it.
He took me on, we crawled around and we ended up building this E81 with Horizon. I appreciate how they prioritise accessibility for service and maintenance, and they’ve been nothing but terrific. If I were to build another boat, I’d have a hard time looking at another company.
Right now, we have a really good situation because Val and I run the boat, which is 25.8 metres overall, with just one crew for cleaning. I’m the captain and I do most of the maintenance. I love projects. The boat provides me with an endless source of stimulation and entertainment. A job might pop up that I have no idea how to do, but then I get to figure it out. If I can’t do it, I’ll find the right guy who’ll teach me. I’ve learned how to do so many things.
When we took delivery three years ago, we moved on board full-time for a year and a half, then I started a new business; now we are here about 70 percent of the time. After a day or two at the house, we can’t wait to get back on the boat. We’ve learned to live with a lot less stuff.
I did have to give up my pinball machines — they’re still in the house, I just don’t get to see them as much — but I’m happiest on the water. Waking up on the boat is great; the view is always spectacular and the dogs like it.
We’ve been all over the place: Key West, the Exumas, Charleston, Nantucket, Boston... We bought a dock — which incidentally came with a house — on the North Fork of Long Island. After November 1, Sunset Harbor Yacht Club in Miami Beach is our home port. It’s really a special place with like-minded people.
Next month I’m selling my business, merging with a company that’s planning national franchises. They wanted me to be the national medical director, but I said no; that would take me away from my boat too much. I’m getting back to being retired and my QTR — quality time remaining.
First published in the September 2024 issue of BOAT International US Edition. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.
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