eclipsarkanna said:
E-Tide:
Good math and good advice but what you didn't have were some of the short stroke differences between the 53Ed and the Bird's 58TC. First the ED I am eyeballing is in upstate NY (fuel cost to my place about $5000). Fuel cost to get the 58TC from Palmetto to the Ivey Lea Bridge (upwards of $20,000). I still have an engine rebuild on a 12 - if you listen to the experts on HOF, a cost of $3,000 per hole = $36,000 (realistic cost = $20,000). So now I am at $115k + $20k + $20k + skipper cost from Palmetto to Ivey Lea. Getting closer and closer to the 53ED price right for a boat 11 years newer. Yes, the turbos are an issue with me as well but I am likely going to have them yanked and go slow. My only concern is that the ED I was eyeballing just disappeared from the YW site yesterday and I am tracking down why.
Bill
Bill, like I said, I will help you find a 53ED if you want, but I will also deliver my 58 for expenses only and will run it at whatever speed you want. That would be another trip of a lifetime for me, and you sound like somebody I would enjoy either making the trip with or hanging out with for a while when I got there.
Trust me, you will find little difference between a '74 Hatt and an '85 as to quality, life expectancy, and design features. These things were all built to last a lifetime and changed very little within that time frame. The jury is out on the new stuff. I'm sure the quality is there, but the signature look is long gone. Just another face in the land of euro-crap clones.
I found what appeared to be a really nice 53ED last summer when I bought the 58. The 53ED could have been bought for $225k and appeared to be in excellent condition. I promise I will try to remember to look back in my office files to find info on that thing. It was in Ft Lauderdale and was named "Glass Tiger" or something like that. I doubt it would still be available though as it has been a while and was even under contract when I bought the 58.
It too was a turbo diesel as all 53ED's were and was probably nearing rebuild time. It is my understanding the 12V71TI's are good for about 2,000 hrs if they aren't run too hard, but the N's are good for at least double that. I assume the same 2,000 hr rebuild would be true for the 8V71TI's or the 8V92TI's. The 53 with 8N's would be a dog if there was such an animal to be found, which I doubt unless you find one that has been repowered. Speed costs money, how fast to you want to spend yours to get there a few hours faster? I have a hard time seeing how you are going to do a whole lot of cruising given the season there and your new job title. I would suggest factoring that into your decision because if you plan to do little cruising, bigger is always better where liveaboard is concerned. The other stuff goes right out the window.
I'm not trying to pressure you into taking my 58. I know if you don't want it, someone else will. As a matter of fact I am going to list it with Pat Bustle aka Liquid Assett, a personal friend of mine who is a broker with United Yacht Sales in Palmetto. Sorry Carl, I know you are breaking into the brokerage business, but I owe Pat this one. I'll make it up to you one way or another. It will be listed with an owner's exclusion so the price I listed still goes as to what I need to net, at least until I come to my senses and raise the price or forget about selling it altogether. Damn, I need a Canadian vacation or a trip to Bermuda!
