Fishing a GT 54

[capttonyf]

Just recently returned from a week long trip fishing a Late Model 54, oh, and I had a great time in case anyone cares.

I love my 45C and I think its the perfect size for me but if, and I mean if I ever moved up I think the 54 would be on my short list of boats. A few reasons why, but the most important is the 4' 2" draft. I've run a few 54's now and and I think they ride nice, they're fast, and they handle great at the dock. I also LOVE the Low Cockpit Freeboard, it feels almost like your in the water. It's also a bigger boat with 3 staterooms but without being to big.

Overall it's a great boat, but my only complaint, and maybe I'm being to critical because I could live with it just fine, is the cockpit size. The cockpit feels to small for a 54' boat, it's short compared to other boats in it's class. The cockpit of my 45C seems bigger. Maybe not as wide but definetly seems longer than in the 54. I would bet they're about the same size overall. Does anyone know how many square feet the 54 cockpit is. The 45 is 135 Sq Ft and is narrower but seems longer, so like I said, I bet they're close. Without reinventing the wheel, if they added a foot or two to the cockpit like they've done in the past with the 43/45 and the 50/52 making this boat a 55 or 56 I think it would be perfect.

As it is now, I think it's pretty close to perfect and would be completly happy with it but adding a foot or two on the tail end could make it even better.

Has anyone else thought this, or expierienced this, or am I crazy?

Thanks

Tony

 

[saltshaker]

I started out looking for a 54C series I when I decided to move up. Love the boat and think it's the perfect size for me. Looked at a fair amount and am pretty familiar with the model. When I bought my 65, there was a 54C II docked next to me. I looked at her and was very impressed. I did think the cockpit was smaller but when I checked with Hatteras I was told the 54C I was 157 sqft and the 54C II was 150 sqft. The cockpit on my neighbors Viking 54 also looks small but isn't. I think it's the wide cockpit and mezzanine that create this impression. Proportionally your 45's cockpit is deeper and narrower where the 54 is wider and shallower. Makes comparing the 2 difficult. My only gripe with the 54C II is the low ER headroom and smaller lower arrangement due to the shallow draft. Well worth the trade off but you know we always want it all.

 

[capttonyf]

I started out looking for a 54C series I when I decided to move up. Love the boat and think it's the perfect size for me. Looked at a fair amount and am pretty familiar with the model. When I bought my 65, there was a 54C II docked next to me. I looked at her and was very impressed. I did think the cockpit was smaller but when I checked with Hatteras I was told the 54C I was 157 sqft and the 54C II was 150 sqft. The cockpit on my neighbors Viking 54 also looks small but isn't. I think it's the wide cockpit and mezzanine that create this impression. Proportionally your 45's cockpit is deeper and narrower where the 54 is wider and shallower. Makes comparing the 2 difficult. My only gripe with the 54C II is the low ER headroom and smaller lower arrangement due to the shallow draft. Well worth the trade off but you know we always want it all.

Yes it maybe an illusion but it does seem small for a 54. In contrast you mentioned the 54C I, the 1991 to 1998 version. I actually took care of one for many years called the "Mimi III", it was originally, "Intermission". The cockpit on that was the perfect size, seemed just right for that size of boat. With that being said it seemed a lot more than 7 Sq Ft Bigger, actually the whole boat seemed bigger.

Also the fishbox was much deeper going side to side rather than fore and aft. The tunnels get in the way of all the newer boats fish box depth. Either way the newer 54C's would be a great boat to own, great ride with a SHALLOW Draft. That is a huge selling point to me. For people in the North East it might not be a big deal, but in South Florida, the Bahama's and especially the Keys it's very important. Knowing you can navigate in a foot less water than other boats in your size range is nice. When we bought our 45 there was a nice 50C available that we passed on because it 12 extra holes to worry about and needed an extra foot of water to float. Even at 4'6" we stir up sand in a few places we go to often in the keys, and that extra foot was a deal breaker.

A shallow draft was crucial the last time we went to Holiday Isle "Post Card Inn" in Islamorada. The tides were Low in the morning while leaving, High while fishing, and Low while returning. We lightly bump the sand a few time at the Channel Markers returning each night, if we were in a 50C with a 5' 4" draft we would have had to alter our plans completly. Not to mention all little places to anchor for a swim that a deep draft limits.

Anyway, overall I had a great time on the 54 and who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to proudly say I own one.

Tony

 

[saltshaker]

Did the Mimi III have MANs in her? If so I looked at her. Very nice boat.

 

[capttonyf]

Did the Mimi III have MANs in her? If so I looked at her. Very nice boat.

Yes thats the one. it was a 1993 that had 12 MAN 1100HP but had problems so was repowered at Hatteras in 1995 with the 1200HP motors. I helped sell it to that owner and ran that boat for a few years. He ended up letting the bank take it. Owed way more than it was worth. When I was on it he kept it perfect. Was a fast 54. 27 to 29knt Cruise and 34 knts on top. We had it in Mexico one year whenthe New at the time 55 Viking came out and they were talking about how fast it was. We ran back to Key West with them and a 47 Post in some Nasty weather. We maintained between 20 to 24 knots all the way home and they had to back way down. We got to Key West the next Morning they arrived that night. They couldn't believe we pulled away from them like that without pounding but that 54 could run and run well in some heavy seas. I heard it was purchased though aution and resold for like $300 and started looking rough. It's a shame, I hope whoever bought it made her nice again. Always liked that boat, she was fished from FL to Puerto Rico and we spent a lot of time in the Bahama's with it. It's funny how you become attatched to these things sometimes when they treat you well and keep you safe.

Tony

 

[saltshaker]

Yes thats the one. it was a 1993 that had 12 MAN 1100HP but had problems so was repowered at Hatteras in 1995 with the 1200HP motors. I helped sell it to that owner and ran that boat for a few years. He ended up letting the bank take it. Owed way more than it was worth. When I was on it he kept it perfect. Was a fast 54. 27 to 29knt Cruise and 34 knts on top. We had it in Mexico one year whenthe New at the time 55 Viking came out and they were talking about how fast it was. We ran back to Key West with them and a 47 Post in some Nasty weather. We maintained between 20 to 24 knots all the way home and they had to back way down. We got to Key West the next Morning they arrived that night. They couldn't believe we pulled away from them like that without pounding but that 54 could run and run well in some heavy seas. I heard it was purchased though aution and resold for like $300 and started looking rough. It's a shame, I hope whoever bought it made her nice again. Always liked that boat, she was fished from FL to Puerto Rico and we spent a lot of time in the Bahama's with it. It's funny how you become attatched to these things sometimes when they treat you well and keep you safe.

Tony

When I saw her she wasn't a repo and looked pretty good. Not perfect but I wouldn't call her rough by any means. That was back in late 2010.

 

[capttonyf]

When I saw her she wasn't a repo and looked pretty good. Not perfect but I wouldn't call her rough by any means. That was back in late 2010.

Last I saw her was Jan, 2007

 

[worldsaway]

Just recently returned from a week long trip fishing a Late Model 54, oh, and I had a great time in case anyone cares.

I love my 45C and I think its the perfect size for me but if, and I mean if I ever moved up I think the 54 would be on my short list of boats. A few reasons why, but the most important is the 4' 2" draft. I've run a few 54's now and and I think they ride nice, they're fast, and they handle great at the dock. I also LOVE the Low Cockpit Freeboard, it feels almost like your in the water. It's also a bigger boat with 3 staterooms but without being to big.

Overall it's a great boat, but my only complaint, and maybe I'm being to critical because I could live with it just fine, is the cockpit size. The cockpit feels to small for a 54' boat, it's short compared to other boats in it's class. The cockpit of my 45C seems bigger. Maybe not as wide but definetly seems longer than in the 54. I would bet they're about the same size overall. Does anyone know how many square feet the 54 cockpit is. The 45 is 135 Sq Ft and is narrower but seems longer, so like I said, I bet they're close. Without reinventing the wheel, if they added a foot or two to the cockpit like they've done in the past with the 43/45 and the 50/52 making this boat a 55 or 56 I think it would be perfect.

As it is now, I think it's pretty close to perfect and would be completly happy with it but adding a foot or two on the tail end could make it even better.

Has anyone else thought this, or expierienced this, or am I crazy?

Thanks

Tony

The performance on that 54 GT is really incredible. I have run a 2013 model and it would top out just over 42kts, and easy cruise 1800 rpm, 71% load at 31.5 kts. Pretty impressive.

The actual specs on the cockpit show 135sq ft. Cockpit is certainly smaller than the older 54 but still seems quite adequate. I think they have done a really nice job on these GT models.

 

[capttonyf]

The performance on that 54 GT is really incredible. I have run a 2013 model and it would top out just over 42kts, and easy cruise 1800 rpm, 71% load at 31.5 kts. Pretty impressive.

The actual specs on the cockpit show 135sq ft. Cockpit is certainly smaller than the older 54 but still seems quite adequate. I think they have done a really nice job on these GT models.

Like I mentioned above, it's an awsome boat. It just seemed the cockpit is a bit small for a 54ft. Fish Boat. If what you said is true about it being 135sq ft that's the same as my 45C and 22 Sq Ft than their previous 54. So I'd say my assumption is kind of spot on. I like everything about it except I believe it should have just a bit lerger cockpit. Adding a foot or two to the cockpit would make it perfect. They did it to the early 1980's 43/45C and the 50/52C, it may just work on this boat as well. If they could keep all the same performance numbers and market it as a 55 or a 56 they maybe even able to get a little more money for it. More money with no additional cost of production other than a little fiberglass and resin. Just food for though, it's superior to my boat in every way except affordability so don't get me wrong, I'd take it. I just believe this would improve an already great looking boat.

Tony