Torn between 43C and 45C

[Torn between 43C and 45C]

Looking at two boats and trying to decide which to buy. One is a 1979 43C and the other is an 1985 45C. Asking price on both are close in the 250K range. The 43' is much cleaner. I will probably want to eventually re-power whichever one I get as I would like the extra speed. I am told that the 45 is faster as it has the 6V92's vs the 671's. Does anyone know what the actual fastest reasonable cruising speed of these two boats is with original power? With re-power? Any suggestions on which of the two I would ultimately be happier with. I like to fish and speed is important? The 45 has a tuna tower.
Thanks and any input would be truly appreciated.

[DaveP]

If you are a serious offshore fisherman go with the 45. The cockpit on the 43 is much smaller. Also if you intend to repower to get more speed you'd also want the 45 as the engine room is bigger. I know Tom Slane has done some repowers on both new and old 45C's. The most popular for your model is the C-12 Cats at 700hp each. Supposedly the boat will run around 28kts at cruise and do 32kts in the corner. I am not sure if the V-10 Mans will fit in the new 45's I know they will in the older 45's. Tom has done a couple of those and gets even better performance.

If both the boats you are looking at are comparably priced and the 45C has a tower and is in nice shape I would definately go with it. I have been on a 43 and with a medium sized chair and medium cooler you can't move around the cockpit. And from what I understand there aren't a lot of repowered 43's out there to look at.

[coptcoop]

I own a 45C and am re powering at this time. With the 6V92 engines I usually cruised at 2000rpm at a speed of 22/23 K and at 2350 with ideal conditions 27 K top speed. I like the 45 because of the extra room in the cockpit and the boat looks a lot bigger. I think either boat you choose you won't be disappointed. GOOD LUCK

[jim rosenthal]

...especially since this is a later boat with the better hull form, if I have the chronology right. The cockpit on the 43 is significantly smaller. The 45 will also go a lot faster especially with modern power. It sounds like you are talking about acquiring a boat that you are going to keep for a long time and use a lot, also spend a fair amount to update and make into what you want. The 45 is a better platform for those kinds of efforts than the 43, although the 43s are nice boats. But when you are offshore you will appreciate the bigger cockpit space and fishing ability of the 45, and if/when you resell the boat, you will do better with the 45.

[Bob Bradley]

Let me chime in from the 43C perspective. I own a '79 43C, and I love it. That said, price was a consideration, and I paid about 100k less for the 43 than you are considering for either. If all else, including price, were equal, I would have certainly bought a 45. I am surprised to hear that you are looking at a '79 with 6-71s in it. I was under the impression that Hatteras changed from 6-71s to 6v92's in 1979 when they went from the 42 to the 43. Are you sure you are looking at a 1979 43C, and not a '77 or '78 42? The layouts of the late 42's and the 43's are very similar.
Bob

[Genesis]

I'd love to know where you get the extra 3 knots from on your 45C with those engines.... do you have 500s or 550s?

(If 550s, then it makes sense... if 500s, where did you hide the rocket assist? :) )

[captcoop]

I keep the boat light, I don't carry excess fuel or water. As you know a full tank of both fuel and water weighs over 5000 lb. so unless I am on a trip I usually run at 30/40%. The boat also has a very slick bottom, I had it peeled and epoxy coated with 7 coats of epoxy coated with Awlgrip bottom paint. I also keep the engines tuned by Covington Diesel and when they are newly tuned they will actually turn 2450 loaded. They are the original 525hp with bypass blowers and 145cc injectors. The boat is now at Jarrettbay Boatworks for re power with QSM 11 660hp. I am anxious to see how the added hp. and less weight preform. I am scheduled to get the boat back in late October and will let you know how it performs.

[Genesis]

I tune my own engines, but I have only 500 SHP each side, ablative paint (which costs me a knot but is a lot easier to deal with come painting time) and usually run more heavily loaded....

Makes sense.. :)

[DaveP3]

We have 550hp 8V92TI's in our older 45C and have almost identical performance with captcoops 525 6V's. I make the same speed at 100 rpm's less. I have thought about the next time I need rebuilds (I have almost 3000 hours now) and going with lighter engines and more power. I am concerned though with the loss of weight down low, I roll pretty bad in the trough now with the big heavy Detroits, what will the ride be like without that wieght? And I want a tower, that will only make the rolling worse. Maybe some of you guys out there that do this repower can let the rest of us know what the effects of losing all the weight down low has on the stability of the boat? I know it will run faster but I spend more time trolling than running and down't want to have things rolling around inside in a three foot seaway..:)

[Genesis]

How are you propped?

[captcoop]

I run 26X28 props with 1.5 gear. I am re powering with %%WORD7% 660hp Cummins and the engines are only about 300lb lighter than the 6V92. I don't know about the transmission weight. The weight of the 45C is in fiberglass not engine weight.