My 1st Hatt - 1984 52C

[JuiceClark]

Seems like it might be simpler to just buy some mahogany or teak, plane it down, router the lower edge and replace what you have altogether.

I went on the boat last night to do a few things. While there, I thought "I wonder if I can get that master stateroom board off the boat."
My hammer, a chisel and a strong putty knife were right there in the tool bag.

Well, as you know, Hatteras are really well built. lol I got the chisel under there in a few spots and gave it a little tug. That board must be glued all the way around. It seemed like I'd destroy that piece, the headliner and walls were it's attached before it'd come off. I might surgically remove it in pieces - seems the only way.

I'll poke at it some more this weekend, but it might be better to cover it where it sits.

The build quality still amazes me every time I get on the boat. There's not one crack in the hull-to-deck joint after 36 years. Every closet door still closes perfectly flush. Not a single inch of delamination anywhere. After owning lesser boats, a Hatt is a bargain at any price.

 

[VieEnRose]

What about some debond or whatver is used to loosen 5200?

 

[dottieshusband]

ER is great. I can't find anything wrong with the low hour 8v92s. However, the genny made me chuckle. My retired friend who's helping me with mechanical stuff (diesel mechanic for a oil barge firm) opened her up today. Everybody loves a 5.9 Cummins, but the oil filter read 2014...and the engine hours written on the filter is ONE-hour-less than it shows today.

Plus, the new looking water pump on it was installed backwards. After basic maintenance, she started up and purred beautifully.

View attachment 47884
36 years old and 3,400 hours on her! That's just sad. I'll make a point of it to run thousands of hours on this neglected genny.

The genny looks like it's missing the box fuel filter and the air box silencer... MDL4?

 

[JuiceClark]

The genny looks like it's missing the box fuel filter and the air box silencer... MDL4?

That's correct.

Yeah, we were just tearing her down for maintenance. It didn't have a single hour of use since at least 2014, according to the date on the oil filter. 3,400 hours is just broken-in. With fresh filters and fluids, impeller, and replacing a stuck oil pressure switch, that thing runs like a top. We hadn't gone out to buy the new pressure switch yet when I took that pic.

Is there anything better than a simple ol' Cummins? It's a little big and loud for how I'll use it, but that's fine.

 

[JuiceClark]

You might try a heat gun. I’ve had some success with removing the black blobs (mirror mastic).
Good luck.

Since it's already in bad shape, I'd try the heat gun, or lacquer thinner, but not at the same time, if you know what I mean. As far as reveneering it goes, it might be easier to get as much off as you can, sand it flat, and add a layer of 1/8" afromosia plywood and finish to suit. Hard to imagine that it will ever be smooth enough for just veneer.

I’ve used a heat gun and a thin dry wall scraper to get under the mastic. It takes a little time but the black stuff didn’t permeate the wood on mine. Once done a little thinner to clean it up and it was good to go.

I'm shocked and you guys were absolutely right. I finally got around to taking the heat gun down to the boat and those black mastic globs come right off with high heat and a wide putty knife.

That stuff was SO hard and had been there for 35 years - I really didn't believe it would work. It does work and it only took 20 minutes to get all those blobs off. The next time y'all suggest something, I'll be sure to do it, pronto, instead of doubting.

Now, I gotta get the damned two-sided tape off.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Hey, good for you!!! That will make it a great deal easier to cover and make look good!

 

[JuiceClark]

Hey, good for you!!! That will make it a great deal easier to cover and make look good!

Yeah, piece of cake. I guess that glue dries so hard, it simply did not affect the wood under it.

Also, I have the galley-up model with a full reefer - and there are mirrors all over it. I'd really like to be able to save the original panels under those mirrors. You can see the mastic blobs right through the mirror, but I'm not scared of 'em now.

 

[JuiceClark]

Had a busy work week and didn't get much done. However, the diver came to clean her and said the gear is all in great shape with no pitting whatsoever. The seller had let the zincs go, but had the good sense to hang a wire overboard with 3 zinc bars hanging from it...old school.
So, that's a relief and the ablative bottom paint is good enough for another year without a haul out.

The only expensive setback is one of the a/c units is not salvageable - totally fried years ago. It's the master stateroom unit and I'm tempted to save $ and put a unit under the bed, where just the blower is now. Still, I'll end up paying to do it the original way with a new Dometic digital system...just out of respect for the ol' girl. My 40-year master a/c tech was able to work his magic and get the other 3 systems in great shape.

The boat just stunk inside only a month ago. Now it's fresh as a daisy. I think much of that is from painting the headliner, but a full wipe-down and oiling the wood did the rest.
I'll start installing new head pumps on Sunday. It's been 33 days I'm still on track to have the boat usable for a weekend excursion in 60 days. It won't be shiny yet, but fully operational and trustworthy. All the remaining aesthetic improvements will come last.

Trying to accomplish at least one little thing each day is starting to make a dent.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Instead of Dometic, you might look at (I think this is the right one) Ocean Breeze- we've had a few threads on replacement AC units, and the general concensus seems to be that these guys offer the best alternative to CruiseAire, Dometic, Marine Air Systems etc. Built in FL so they ought to know something about AC systems. Stainless chassis, etc. If you have a split unit now, I would get another split unit, but that's just me- I don't like the idea of seawater lines running through the boat.

 

[JuiceClark]

Instead of Dometic, you might look at (I think this is the right one) Ocean Breeze- we've had a few threads on replacement AC units, and the general concensus seems to be that these guys offer the best alternative to CruiseAire, Dometic, Marine Air Systems etc. Built in FL so they ought to know something about AC systems. Stainless chassis, etc. If you have a split unit now, I would get another split unit, but that's just me- I don't like the idea of seawater lines running through the boat.

I agree with keeping the unit split. Hell, I agree with every suggestion you offer.

The a/c guy is a real ol' pro and happens to do Dometic equipment. Having read a lot of those old threads, I even asked him about Ocean Breeze - because I'm a FL guy and try to keep biz here if I can. (go Gators) He actually said he's done some work on them and they look pretty good....but he only sells new Dometic stuff.

A/C equipment is the only thing on the boat I won't touch. So, it's an odd feeling to open the checkbook and just have it done. I don't like it, but will just trust the 40-year pro.

 

[Scarlett]

Domestic owns all those brands now except Ocean Breeze, I bet it won’t be long before they are all made in the same place. John

 

[JuiceClark]

Domestic owns all those brands now except Ocean Breeze, I bet it won’t be long before they are all made in the same place. John

Interesting. They're cornering the market. No wonder my puny 8k system in the boat costs as much as a 4 ton system in my house!

It's look like things are starting to work-out.

 

[rwaldrop13]

Well, without a lot of detail for the moment, I would avoid MarinAire after my second unit arrived dead out of the box. Cust service was hostile at best. I will post a detailed report later in the week, depending on whether or not I get the replacement part on Tuesday. Key statement - Unit was dead out of the box. More to follow.

 

[Boatsb]

Chinaman got you


You should have known better.

Look at mermaid manufacturing in Ft. Meyers . I've sold their products for years. A stand up veteran owned company.

I can get you a real unit if you need. Pm me

 

[JuiceClark]

Well, I'll be installing the new pumps in the evenings this week. After the task of removing the old, seized pumps, all I ask is you keep me in your prayers. I was dizzy for about an hour after being upside down so long getting the old ones out!
I just ordered a couple check valves from Raz to make sure I'm putting the right ones there on the intake end. The ones at Ace hardware didn't look quite right.

 

[rwaldrop13]

While I limp along with my one remaining GalleyMaid toilet in the aft head, here's a thought. Both the priming plugs in my pump are corroded into place. How do I reprime it? My marina has a suction pumpout system at each slip, I hook up the pumpout and start it up. 5-6 minutes in I flush the aft head. Prime restored.

 

[JuiceClark]

I and a friend spent 4 hours swapping out the head pumps today. The good news is the shower heads reach the toilets for easy priming. The rest was a real bitch. That has to be the worst job on the boat for access and how annoyingly everything is situated.

Glad that's done!

So, I guess we're about 5 or 6 weeks in and ALL the boat's primary systems are now operational. (knock on wood) Servicing the engines, genny, leaky steering a ton of really stupid electrical problems wasn't bad. Working on the heads sucked but hopefully will be a one and done.

I'm having the master stateroom a/c completely replaced. Fixing the high water alarm system and a couple dozen other fairly small doo-dads are next. But the time to start addressing all the aesthetic repairs and upgrades has just about arrived...the easier stuff.

Oh, and my first box of parts arrived from Sam's today. That's going to become a common occurrence!

 

[rwaldrop13]

I and a friend spent 4 hours swapping out the head pumps today. The good news is the shower heads reach the toilets for easy priming. The rest was a real bitch. That has to be the worst job on the boat for access and how annoyingly everything is situated.

Glad that's done!

So, I guess we're about 5 or 6 weeks in and ALL the boat's primary systems are now operational. (knock on wood) Servicing the engines, genny, leaky steering a ton of really stupid electrical problems wasn't bad. Working on the heads sucked but hopefully will be a one and done.

I'm having the master stateroom a/c completely replaced. Fixing the high water alarm system and a couple dozen other fairly small doo-dads are next. But the time to start addressing all the aesthetic repairs and upgrades has just about arrived...the easier stuff.

Oh, and my first box of parts arrived from Sam's today. That's going to become a common occurrence!

Congratulations! I will have to work out meeting you soon, and trading tours - I have our AC issues resolved for now other than midship stateroom, which may be a little delayed. I am working on cleaning engine rooms and generator room next, and getting things lined up to service the engines and genny. PO had all of that done pre-survey, but I want to start a new slate. In the meantime, good luck!

 

[JuiceClark]

Congratulations! I will have to work out meeting you soon, and trading tours - I have our AC issues resolved for now other than midship stateroom, which may be a little delayed. I am working on cleaning engine rooms and generator room next, and getting things lined up to service the engines and genny. PO had all of that done pre-survey, but I want to start a new slate. In the meantime, good luck!

Thanks! Yeah, I'm still managing full court press mode. As soon as the kids give me a little time, I race out to try to accomplish something. I'll probably run out of enthusiasm in a couple weeks and slow down...try to get back to normal.

 

[JuiceClark]

Today was the ol' girl's first decent run in at least a couple years. The day I limped her home with no steering doesn't count!

No problems. No hose leaks anywhere or other problems in the ER. Steady readings for oil and temp. In today's stiff wind, she did 9kn @ 800rpm and planed easily in the high teens. The 8v92s never smoke - and I was happy to see that continued when hot and at higher RPM. What a great boat.

I must say - it's nice to see the parade of center consoles part to make way for the grand dame. I was worried because I don't have a hailer hooked-up, yet...to yell at drunken Bayliners in my path. But no problems as it seems everyone knows to give a proper battle-wagon some respect.


Question: Is there a way to get the tach to not bounce at idle? Up over 750rpm, they'd stop bouncing and read correctly. Is there a way to get them to read correctly at low rpm? If not, I'll have to look into getting new ones...probably digital.

Stupid question: The boat has a very nice electronics package installed in 2016. Well, when it's all on, there's no info coming in from the sounder or radar - and the 5' spinner won't spin.
I can't find a separate switch to give them power anywhere! Do you have a guess as to how I can turn the power on for these? Do you have a separate switch for them??

It's kinda' sad to look at two big screens at the helm when the two things which produce the data won't power-up!