Looking at early 80's Hat 43 Convertible with 6V92's TI

[moparharn]

Is there anything in particular that I should focus on when looking over this boat? By this I mean things that are known problems for this model. Tanks, moisture areas, bulkheads, etc. The engines were rebuilt with roughly 100 or so hours on them now. I love the lines and general appearance of this particular boat. After getting frustrated in trying to find a trawler with good water access, good condition, and affordability, I stumbled on this boat. I would use it at hull speed mostly and blow out the engines every hour or so. Even at that I am told not to expect more than 1-1.5 MPG at hull speed and .5-.75 at cruise. Any advice I might get would be appreciated. Thank you.

[rustybucket]

Is there anything in particular that I should focus on when looking over this boat? By this I mean things that are known problems for this model. Tanks, moisture areas, bulkheads, etc. The engines were rebuilt with roughly 100 or so hours on them now. I love the lines and general appearance of this particular boat. After getting frustrated in trying to find a trawler with good water access, good condition, and affordability, I stumbled on this boat. I would use it at hull speed mostly and blow out the engines every hour or so. Even at that I am told not to expect more than 1-1.5 MPG at hull speed and .5-.75 at cruise. Any advice I might get would be appreciated. Thank you.

The engines may be happier at hull speed if you shut one down and run the other up 1000ish rpms. Depending on the gears you will need to alternate between engines every so often (will be detailed in your transmission manual).

I'd be asking for paperwork on the rebuild. If they can't prove it with documentation then it never happened.

[Eddieclemons]

I was interested in a GL 43c that looked really clean, but the wife wasn't real keen on the head in the forward berth. I would have been better off to not even have pointed it out. Biggest thing was it was a little small. Broker said there was no paperwork on the rebuilds, but it was written on the battery/hour meter panel. The advice here is, if it's not documented it didn't happen. Which one are you looking at?

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

100 hours SMOH sounds good. But it might also be a little too soon to really know. There was a 55C in Charleston back in 2012/14 range that had about same hours. Price went from $200k to $50k OBO. Broker disclosed both 1271s had at least one cylinder per with cracked rings. Previously, the boat had been advertised as owned by local tug company and rebuilt by their in-house mechanics. Lots of ways to go south.

[CaptFrank]

I bought a 1985 43DCMY this past August and love it. Like you I had tons of questions etc. My research showed an 80's Hat is the boat to have (heavy construction methods that over the years have been scaled back due to cost savings.) I also contracted a topnotch surveyor for the 'boat' and a topnotch Detroit diesel mechanic to survey the engines. Their review, comments, findings etc put my mind at easy (well worth the expense) There were some soft spots in the forward deck under the deck boxes I'm sure caused by the 'light' fasteners used for mounting. Easy fix if you're handy.(The mechanic said if I didn't buy the boat he would.... needless to say the engines were in pristine shape) Based on the in depth surveys I don't believe I'll encounter any 'surprises'. I asked the guys to write 'all' findings both good and bad. (zinks need replacing, front windows gaskets are aging and should be replaced, seagrowth in raw water intake etc) I use this as my rehab punch list after having prioritized. Recommendation get the best surveyors you can find.

[SKYCHENEY]

I run 6v92's mostly at 1300rpm in a 53MY. Fuel consumption is 1nm/gal at 9.5kts. That boat is lighter but has less waterline length so I would think it would produce about the same burn at that rpm. If you slow it down, you'll do better.

[moparharn]

I was interested in a GL 43c that looked really clean, but the wife wasn't real keen on the head in the forward berth. I would have been better off to not even have pointed it out. Biggest thing was it was a little small. Broker said there was no paperwork on the rebuilds, but it was written on the battery/hour meter panel. The advice here is, if it's not documented it didn't happen. Which one are you looking at?

I am looking at the same boat. The pee pot next to your head is reminiscent of the old west or possibly some prison camp. Cannot imagine why Hat would do that. De-install and treat the smell with some bacterial odor eater. So far no records on the rebuild. In my mind either it happened and there are records, or it did not and there are not. Who would do a serious chunk of work like that and and not have a thing to show for it. If it were the original owner who did not pass it along then maybe. Was in salt its first five years then up here where I am. Looks it.

[Eddieclemons]

Moparharn if your up there in the North you need to put shoes on it for us?

I had a GL broker that I trust talk to the broker a while back and I was told that the boat didn't come out of the barn in 2019. I was told that there are tons of records for the 20+ years that it has been in the family, BUT NO documentation on the rebuilds. Walstrom/Listing broker has provided detailed spreadsheets on service for other boats that I have seen that they have had listed before so if they were rebuilt it must have been done somewhere else and on the downlow.

My GL broker double checked today and still got the same answer. Accuracy of hours on the motors are unknown as is any information on the rebuilds. Seems odd to me at best.

Beside all that I love the photos and video of the boat!!

Can you refit that berth in the bow with the head removed and could it be converted to one big single bed? Has any one done that and have pictures of it?

What do some of you others think? I already had a thread going on buying a boat off the hard.

https://www.walstrom.com/inventory/1981-hatteras-43-convertible-harbor-springs-mi-49740-2700212i

[moparharn]

I will try. It won't be anytime soon though. Maybe March or April. I think it has been inside now for about 16 months or so. Walstroms is first rate in most of what they do. Walstrom and Irish are the two main players in this area and they both have a good team. This is a higher income vacation area and the work they perform is mostly seasonal and they must make hay while the sun shines if you know what I mean. Not an inexpensive place to keep and maintain a boat. With absolutely no information on the rebuilds this is a tough pill to swallow. I already don't like the 692's to begin with. I like your idea of a pedestal queen in place of a v berth and a piss pot. Who could sleep in that environment? I rather go off the stern in a crowded harbor than use that thing.Boats already have trouble with odors, why in gods name would you sleep next to it? Sorry, I get carried away sometimes.