Same Question for you. Would you consider buying a new one at $1.5M?
Yes, Possibly for a 3 stateroom 48 Conv that's a real Hatteras and not a warmed over Cabo like the 45. I'd prefer to buy it a few years old but I would like to have a newer more modern version of my 45. The reason I say 48 is because they could keep the same cockpit size and add the 3rd stateroom.
I'd love to refit my 45 but to do a complete refit top to bottom the way it should be done. To make it like New again, with 700hp to 1000hp motors, it would cost $500 to $750,000 and then it's still a two stateroom, 1990 boat that in a few years is worth $200K again if I'm Lucky. I'd love to buy a few year old 45 to 48 ft quality, heavily built convertible but there aren't any being built currently that I feel are a better design then what we have. Viking's 2000 to 2015 45, 46, and 48's are flat bottomed, ride stiff, have small cockpits, and are all MAN Powered. No Thanks, I'm not doing that.
Now Viking just built a new 2016 48 which looks nice, but it also has MAN's. If Viking can build that boat why can't Hatteras. I'm sure it's expensive and still short on profit margins but, if a young family buys that boat and 5 years from now decide to move up there's a 95% chance they're buying another Viking. A Viking with a bigger profit margin. Chances are, so long as they were treated well they're NOT buying a 54, 60, 63, or 70 Hatteras. Why switch now, they now know the brand, the systems, the builder, the warranty guys etc. They're comfortable and keeping loyal to the Brand where they're known by name
I've said this before, I KNOW, I Get It! Hatteras can't make any serious money if any money at all off of a 45 to 50ft convertible or motoryacht. BUT, BUT, BUT. They have to introduce people to the brand somehow and build a clientele. Viking does it, Sea Ray Really does it starting at 16ft. Hatteras should also. Everything you offer can't be a Grand Slam on profit. Some things you just need to break even on to get the name and product out there. Even if that buyer never moves up, the guy docked next to him might. Small boat offerings don't necessarily need to be about profit. They can be your best form of Marketing for future buyers.
I'm happy with the size boat we have, we fish, cruise, travel, go to the sand bar and finish the night up with a stop on the water for dinner and if the boat was bigger it would limit some of what we do on the water. We Love the keys, and where we go a bigger boat, again, would be a problem.
As far as motoryachts. There are builders making small motoryachts for the cruising couples. Grand Banks, Tiara, Sea Ray, Marlow, Back Cove, Princess, and on and on. There is a market, Hatteras just has to tap into it. Now I know that a Hatteras will cost more, and that will turn some people away. But I know of people that could afford anything, any size, but want a couples cruiser/owner operator boat, and will pay for top quality if they can get it. Not every rich guy wants a huge yacht that requires crew to maintain it. Some just want a simple boat they can operate and maintain on there own.
I'm sure if Hatteras built a 42 or 48 cockpit Motoryacht there would be buyers waiting.
But Again, Yes, I would love to buy a late model "Real" Hatteras 48 Convertible, with 1000hp CATS, 3 Staterooms, 4' 2" draft, 34-35 Knot Cruise, and a 135 sq ft + cockpit. I'd like for someone else to buy it "New" and for me to buy it 2 to 3 years old. I would probably never run that fast but a boat that fast would make 24 to 27 Knots economical. I just believe Hatteras would do good for themselves by offering not an entry level boat because nothing they ever built was entry level cost wise, but an entry level size boat or two.
Tony
