1978 Hatteras 60C Major Refit

[Cricket]

You could always add a Seakeaper of Quick Marine gyro, still would be way less than $500k c32s vs $250k c18s.

[luckydave215]

I don't think you could get a 60C to ride on the keel or chine walk unless you installed three C-32's @2400hp each.
My boat (open bridge) has the stupidly hot rodded 1271's @1000hp/side, WOT at light weight is 27 knots.
At that speed the boat is smooth and stable, the boat doesn't get completely on plane until 25 knots
Seroiusly, C-32's are the way to go. This project (if done right) is going to cost so much that engine choice is a minor consideration in the overall scheme of things, the boat might as well perform to potential.
And I agree that a gyro should be part of the plan.

[jim rosenthal]

Damn, we are spending a LOT of his money.

Still less than a new one, though.

[Cricket]

Or buy a newer 60 or 65 for around the same money to do a proper complete rehab and repower.

[sixty]

I'll try to save him some money... There is a set of used C32a's with gears on TheHullTruth, 5k hours for $190k. probably a few deals like that on boat diesel as well. With gears they are 3x that new.

[rsmith]

Just FYI the 1978 60C had major structural issues bad enough that everyone was returned tho the factory for repairs. By 79 the problem was fixed in the production boats. Before I dumped a bunch of horses in a 78 I’d verify the integrity of the repair work. Personally I’d fix what I got. 71series are pretty much bulletproof what’s wrong with the one engine?

[sixty]

I heard this same rumor so when I was purchasing mine I called Hatteras to disuss this. Thier response was they had never heard of this (they pulled all records on my boat) and if there ever was a problem, the boats would have been returned to Hatteras at thier cost for full repairs to the satisfaction of all parties. My hull is number 4 and I have been in every nook and cranny and see no signs of any major repairs. Add to this, that my hull along with many others have tens of thousands of hours on them in what is sure to be some rough conditions and are still floating and fishing. This should pretty much discount major structural problems with the early 60's.

Just FYI the 1978 60C had major structural issues bad enough that everyone was returned tho the factory for repairs. By 79 the problem was fixed in the production boats. Before I dumped a bunch of horses in a 78 I’d verify the integrity of the repair work. Personally I’d fix what I got. 71series are pretty much bulletproof what’s wrong with the one engine?

[luckydave215]

The issue wasn't major, it was insufficient tabbing of the hull to chain locker bulkhead and the floor in the bow stateroom on the port side. They were "fixed" in a few hours by adding tabbing in the chain locker and under the floor.
I think it was just the first few hulls that were affected, the one boat that actually started to come apart was in charter service in Alaska and was beaten like a prisoner every day by a savage captain. When mistreated by running into ten foot seas on plane all day every day the bow section of the hull flexed just enough to break the tabbing. Later hulls have a massive fiberglass bridge like bulkhead under the floor in the bow stateroom and the problem was cured forever. Mine has this and she's a '79 hull #331
If I remember right it was Roger Wetherington that told me this story, but it's been 14 years......

[luckydave215]

How about sourcing some remanned 3412's? At 1400 hp you could cruise them at 1000 hp and get very long life.

[luckydave215]

Why do I keep talking about fitting big modern engines? All my friends have them in their boats.
Ride in a new-ish 64-75ft Hatt, Viking, Donzi, or even a Mikelson and you'll understand why I want engines like theirs. 40 knot cruise and whisper quiet? Glossy white engine rooms that stay that way without constant effort? Yes please.
Why spend all that time, money, and effort on a major re-do of the boat and still have slow, noisy, antique engines?
Gutting the hull and replacing all systems as well as interior structure/cabinets/finishes/electrical/electronics/plumbing/appliances/furniture is going to run over a megabuck even with southeast yard rates.