Recent content by spartonboat1

This is a 1972 43' DCFB Hatteras with J&T 6-71N's at 310hp. I ran a short test run out on Lk MI, in preparation for a full run up the lake from White Lake to Cheboygan and my new-to-me dockominium in Duncan Bay Marina. Whoa, my son at the helm noticed (very thankfully) that we had lost oil...

Note: Typo in the Title: AFDI s.b. AFGI; Pedatals = "Pedestals"; can't edit the titles... This is on a 1972 43' DCFB, which I have owned since 1997. These are 120v Single Phase circuits on these vintage of boat. All circuits have ground wires, i.e. the outlets are triplex with a ground...

I am in the process of re-finishing the wooden handrails, on my 1972 43' Double Cabin FB. In later years, Hatteras switched to stainless steel bar/rod based rails, but early Hatts had, what appears to be Mahogany Rails Are they Teak? Do not appear to be. I have the original owners manual...

Well, if you are alive and read the Internet or Cable news, you are very aware that the US and Global population is catching the COVID virus. But this is not about that. It is about a friend/co-worker who "caught" a Sailboat; his name was George, that's all I remember. He and I were...

I have an older "Gumby", survival suit for sale. It was Canadian issue and is in good shape. No clue what it is worth, so I am mostly inquiringing if anyone would be interested. I will not ever use it and have not ever used it in the past. It has sat in a closet! Thoughts or interest...

While watched the Port Huron River streaming webcam, an older straight-decker, self-unloader steams by upbound, under the bridge at Port Huron, "the Blue Water Bridge" and out into the lake. I noticed what appeared to be two other freighters riding at anchor just north of the PH River...

The Great Lakes bulk carrier Wilfred Sykes had some scary moments on November 25, 2021, when mechanical failure caused it to lose steering as it approached the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan. Just before entering the Port Huron River, it lost steerage-way and swung over to the West...

This is an inquiry, since I will never own an "open console". However, I notice there now very large sized with massive v12 outboard Open Console boats on the market. All great for high speed runs to the boon docks, in reasonable seas. However, how will they be in a big blow, which is when I...

I am attempting to verify the fuel capacity of my 1972 43' DCFB, running 6-71N's, so is Diesel. The Hatteras original Owners Manual, Fuel and Water Section, Pg1, Para1, quotes "two fiberglas tanks with a capacity of of 200 gals each." This is interesting, as I always assumed they were 370...

So I am a lowly, lowly deckhand (called a Deckwatch) on a 710' Ore Boat, owned by the long ago defunct Reiss Lines. This is about 1966, and she was actually one of the biggest ore boats on the Great Lakes. But olde, and very spartan. Lots of steel decks, in the cabin, and hand turned valves...

The older Hatt's with DD's, e.g. 6-71's, in this 6-71N in a 1972 43', have an exhaust note that I find pleasing, i.e. Screamin' Jimmy and all that. But they are noisy on a run, again, does not bother me too much. But is there a muffler or re-direction device that would shift the sound into the...

I recently replaced the four(4) 8D Batteries on my '72 43' DCFB. I got 5 years out of them, but did not have too many cycles on them, which probably helped longevity. The 8D battery posts are termed "EAPT" (Embedded Auto Post). Torque Spec for EAPT post hold down bolts is 50-70 Inch Lbs =...

So I am calmly watching a Youtube video about marine insurance, and I hear "GEICO no longer insures boats over 40 years old"! Instant attention! In turn, I called Boat/US-GEICO to check on this. Note: I realize there is a thread in Fall, 2020, about this, but this situation is new to me. I...

In the recreational marine/nautical marine environment, there are boats with Gas engines and those with Diesels. We know Gassers have horsepower, but the Diesels definitely have more torque. So here is the difference between Horsepower and Torque: >> Horsepower- That is how fast you can hit...

Since I can remember (60+ adult years), the in-line fuse holders have always been the cartridge glass bullet with metal end caps. They always seemed fragile to me, and I have had numerous issues with them over the years. When I first got the boat, the PO had the center bilge pumps fused...