Printable View
This is my first post, so please be kind as to my errors. I saw the post regarding the 58MY in Stuart. So it appears many of you keep your eyes on the market. Have been looking for a 53MY for a while and today viewed a 1977 53MY in Punta Gorda. I am sure you all have seen it on yacht world. It showed better than the photos. But as stated in the description, the starboard is "hydra locked". I would be grateful for a reference to a good DD old timer in that area. I welcome all comments.
I'm in Punta Gorda and know of a good DD mechanic. Unfortunately he is out of town for about 2 months and expected back in April. If you haven't found another guy by then, let me know.
Thank you so much zigzag....will do!
Detroit Diesel Ft Meyers Fl ask for Charlie Hayman he’s the man on the older Detroits!
If you buy that boat, don't assume you're going to stroke a check and it'll be done in a month. With the supply chain shortages, I know a bunch of people who've been waiting on backordered engine parts for months. All different brands, not just detroits. It's a problem. When I rebuilt my 8v71's last year, everything was available off the shelf. The next guy down the line on this forum couldn't find turbos 2 months later, so YMMV. It's kind of a crap shoot these days. Hopefully everything goes back to normal soon as the backlog gets satisfied.
Welcome, you will love this forumQuote:
Originally Posted by Kaf
northshoreone,Thank you so much...we have committed to the initial survey, but when it comes time for work, we will look Charlie up.cww,Thank you so much for your candor. We understand there are currently difficulties in parts supply. But we never assumed writing the check would be the end...it is only the beginning. We would appreciate any assistance finding parts from anybody on the forum if, probably when, needed. Advance thanks to all!SEVEN,Thank you! This is my first time on a forum, but have been reading so many posts. I can see it is a gold mine. I hope someday to contribute as well as benefit.
We did not buy the 53 from Punta Gorda, but after still more searching and too many scorching trips to Florida, we did purchase a 1983 53MY out of Ft. Lauderdale. We took possession in July and spent until late September bringing her home to the Keweenaw. Just in time to head back to Cheboygan to put her up for the winter. It was the best of times...it was the worst of times. The broker was less than honest and turned on us as soon as documents were signed. That is what we got for not bringing our own. If you use Reel Deal Yachts, beware! It was the best of times....Jim Brown from On Site Deisel was amazing and brought the 871s back to life! His team kept working even though the broker cut shore power as the temps hovered at 3 digits. The gentleman from Lauderdale Battery was so very kind and helped us out when we needed new battery banks quickly. Then we spent several lovely days at Cape Canaveral with Scott Bidwick and his limber, able bodied assistant Rafael. They provided so much general information while installing our radar and TZTouch. He even helped us track down an anchor after we had been all over Ft. Lauderdale with none in sight. Then back to the worst of times...we had to let the captain we hired go in Norfolk...the captain we wanted was not available, so we hired a referral with a glowing CV. Hiring him was the biggest mistake......so far. But we made it home with well rubbed rails. Thank you all for the information in these threads. I search them during my incessant questions, and more often than not find an answer, or several, sometimes opposing...but all helpful. I apologize that at this point we do not have much to add, so in the huge learning curve stage. Perhaps someday....Prior to leaving Florida, as stated above we had all the engine work finished, new batteries installed and updated electronics. The next huge project is the bottom. According to our bottom survey, the bottom is "fair" with various osmotic blisters. I have read everything I can find and realize that for the most part, they are cosmetic. We have her in heated storage and requested a quote from their service department for a bottom job. They are having difficulty giving quotes for a few other items we asked to have quoted saying that with the salt water history it is very difficult to guarantee any quotes. The first verbal quote for the bottom was $60,000. Then after some discussion, it was between $35,000 and $40,000. We still do not have a firm number, and unless we are willing to keep her on the hard until August, we will have to wait until next year anyway. My biggest concern is that they want to peel the hull due to the blisters. Everything I have read indicates that this is an extreme measure. I know this has been discussed quite a bit, but advice from this experiences group would be greatly appreciated. I cannot seem to get the photos out of the survey, so I will try to attach it. Many thanks in advance!
I cannot seem to upload photos or the report. The report is too big and I keep getting a message that I do not have permission to upload the photos. Sorry:(
Congrats! Hope to see pics of the boat and bottom blisters soon.
My apologies, I think the files were too big. There is one more I will attempt to put in the next post. We did stop to see her about 2 weeks ago and quite a few more blisters appeared from drying out. Any advice is appreciated!
Last photo...sorry for the duplicate, the drag and drop is difficult. Many thanks!
Almost all Hatt's in saltwater have blisters, it's just a characteristic of the boats. They're cosmetic only and don't affect structural integrity or performance. I wouldn't stress over that. That doesn't mean you got a bad deal on the boat.
It's a 41 year old, well built boat. IMHO - Knock the loose paint off the bottom and give it a coat of bottom paint. In fresh water, hauling every winter it almost deosn't even matter what paint. DO NOT spend a fortune on peeling and re laminating. If you want to grind out a few of the worst looking spots and fill them - have at it. Like cww said above- It's all cosmetic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaf
Seaerics advice is probably the best course, depending on what you'll use the boat for. If you'll put many miles on her at cruise rpm, then maybe a full bottom job is right for you. if you intend to go out on Saturday or Sunday for a leisurely cruise, then likely a huge waste of money. Peeling is no guarantee of sucess either. If the yard peels the hull but fails to prep the surface properly afterward or fails to apply adequate thickness, then you can be back in a similar state with barrier coat flaking off or more blisters. You could have the bottom soda blasted to the gel coat and then make a far more informed decision as to what the bottom needs. 40 years of paint can be deceptive. A true bottom restoration job is a serious commitment to time, attention to detail and $$$Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaEric
Mine looked like that or worse when I bought her 21 years ago. It had always been in the water bubbled in the winter in Detroit. After I bought the boat, I started storing her in heated storage in the winter. After a few years, all of the blisters dried up and now you can't find any of them; not even right after haul out. I wouldn't worry about it. I did at first too. But they are not really a concern.
I was in the same situation as you are. I started a bottom job at Grand Isle right after I bought the boat but the costs soared after they started and I stopped it right there. We just barrier coated and painted. Don't jump to do anything right away. It will improve in storage each year. Who did you get the quote from? Walstrom?
Feel free to give me a call. Send me a PM and I'll get you my number.
I can save you some money right now, I think. Don't peel the bottom of your boat. Before anything else, strip the existing bottom paint off and then dry the hull for months. Check it frequently with a moisture meter. You may need to glass-bead or soda-blast the bottom. Get it as dry and clean as you can, then fill and fair all the blisters with VC Watertite or something similar. Then have them apply Interprotect 3001 to spec, which I think will be about 10 mils. Then roll on new bottom paint and you should be fine for years. I am going on more than twenty years on a similar bottom job. Like your Hatteras, mine is out of the water for 4-5 months in the winter. If done right, you won't have to worry about the bottom again. You do not need to peel your boat from what you describe.
Thank you all so much! It is so comforting to have you affirm what I was thinking. SKYCHENEY, you hit the nail on the head, it was Walstrom. They really run an operation there. The heated storage is nice as they just put up a new building, but it is obscene what we paid. We are getting on a few other waiting lists, but until we secure something else, we are stuck. I actually had to look up where Montague is located. That is really a sweet setup with the inland lake so close to Lake Michigan. Will send PM. CWW, thank you for your reassurance! I guess without adding up the numbers all I can say is that I truly love her so good deal. If Jim has 20 years on his bottom job, sounds good to me. We do not plan on anymore hard travel, we had enough bringing her north. Foresee only Great Lakes from here, mostly Superior. But then who knows... if any of you get up here, please send me a PM. Would love to meet with like minded folks.
We learned the hard way, yards will take the most expensive route just about every time. Even if that route is not necessarily the best option. After years of this, I am back to doing most work myself with a reliable third party involved. There is so much business for the yard, they do not seem to take any offense, and I have a better experience with fewer people involved anyway.
Good luck grinding!
In all my years of surveying boats I have only recommended a complete peel once and that was on a $500,000 Offshore Motor Yacht. That boat was so bad that you didn’t count the blisters but you counted the clear spots which weren’t many.
Planning on a Superior trip this summer. Our son works in Baraga.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaf
If it's the boat I think it is, it was at MethHead Marina in North Ft Myers until Hurricane Ian, when it was the only boat in that marina that didn't sink. The boat I saw was sitting with wing doors open to the weather, and was about 40 yards from the Bus 41 NB bridge at that facility. After the hurricane, once the boat that sank blocking it in was pulled out of the way, it was towed out under cover of darkness, and i don't know where it wound up. But in all fairness, please be very skeptical of a 53' or 58' in Fort Myers/Punta Gorda. I am still in Ft Myers if you need someone to do a drive-by. Im just a month past second knee replacement so not able to go bilge-crawling yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaf