36 hatteras project

[Chiefleif]

Hello just joined your forum.

A few months ago I was given a 36 hatteras project.

Previous owner ran out of steam and health forced a change in plans and the boat ended up in my hands.
Powered by twin 3208s previous owner was in process of doing engine work when he abandoned the project, he did the oil pans and one turbo but never finished the project and engines are currently not running/ completely re assembled.

I am in the process of trying to locate a mechanic to aid I the re-assembly of the cats and check status of generator.

Also engine room is a mess, needs wiring organized labeled and much removed

Windows leak and there was a serious moisture issue when I got on the boat.
I now have the boat dry and clean/ organized. But windows and interior wood work needs fix/replacing.

The boat is located about an hour from where I live. Which is a real pain.

The plan is to get engines running give electric/bilges/ thru hulls a good going over and put boat in water and get to my home port to get basics done to fish the boat this summer.

Should I run? Lol.

I have some picture from my first meeting of the boat I will upload current pics and more info.

Also have all original paper work and was able to contact the previous owner who gave more info and history of the boat.

 

[Chiefleif]

Also need a bow pulpit. Once I get her running.

Boat is in Montauk , ny

 

[George]

As long as you have plenty of money, time and patience. If you don't, RUN!
There are likely a load of hidden demons, not to mention mold. You asked, my opinion, is to give it to a salvage yard. Take the money for the steel engines, stainless steel parts, and burn the rest to the ground, or grind it up for landfill. Lastly, take the fuel systems out and fill with concrete, drag it out to a secrete fishing spot and send her to the bottom, and dont tell anyone where it is.
Good luck.

 

[Boatsb]

There may be parts that are worth saving. As a charter she may be worth saving. Scrod has a similar vessel. Hes probably a good source of advice, in the business and local.

 

[SeaEric]

Free is not always a good deal. If she runs and floats, at least you have a beginning. Start there. The rest of it all depends on what you want.

 

[Avenger]

Well, Montauk is not exactly "local", but it is on the same island.

Chiefleif, you'll need to contemplate really honest answers to serious questions. This is not a true business decision because no boat is a business decision unless you're a commercial fisherman. There has to be some passion involved. The first question is; how much passion do you have? Again, an honest answer, and remember that this is all easy in your mind. When you have to burn a ton of personal time and money it's never like a movie montage where all you see is a few seconds of the hundreds of hours of work involved.

What do you want to accomplish, what is your budget, and how much personal wrenching can you/will you be willing to do? I bought mine as a project almost ten years ago, and while it's no showpiece it will take me fishing and out for a couple of days cruising. I didn't underestimate anything about the work because I've been there before. But I grossly underestimated the amount of time I would have available to do the work. So the project plods along slowly. I'm patient. Most people are not.

A 36 with 3208s is not unaffordable to operate and she's a great platform for fishing and cruising. Also the hull will take a lot more than you can. When properly equipped and maintained you can have a lot of confidence in her, and a lot of fun running her. But if you're going to just write checks it probably makes more sense to write one for a running boat. So it, as always, comes back to the vision vs. the reality.

Please understand we all have a love for these classics and nothing makes us happier than to see one brought back from the abyss. But the usual reality is that there are few people that have the resources, and even fewer that have both that and the passion to pull it off.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Years ago I was looking at a 44' Striker, which had been neglected in a similar way, and the broker proved to me using a calculator that even if I were GIVEN the boat, I couldn't afford it. He was right. But that was an aluminum boat which had been left and neglected. This may be different.

I think whether you decide to push ahead with this project depends on what your end point is. If you just want a decent little boat to fish from, and are not preoccupied with cosmetics, this might be a good boat for that if you can get her running and dry on the inside without a lot of huge items to replace. It depends on the state of the engines, which sound marginal to me.

If I understand this correctly, you got the boat for free? Have you thought about getting a survey to see what you have here? (if someone else said this already, my apologies to them) With that in hand, you would have some options:

1) walk away, if you think you can't get the boat operating at a reasonable cost to you
2) begin the project
3 get title and see if you can horse-trade it for something that is closer to running. You never know. See PM.

 

[Finalee]

If you have the ability and TIME go for it.

 

[saltshaker]

There are plenty of potential problems that may or may not be of concern. Hard to tell what she needs from here. First off make sure the engines are OK and can be put back together without too much cash. Are the hull and running gear sound? Any major glass work needed? Before you do anything define what your expectations will be when the boat is finished. Next devise a realistic budget. If your expectations are realistic and you can do the majority of the work, then it may be a worth while project. If you want it to be in yacht condition, you most likely will be spending more on materials then the boat would be worth when finished and that doesn't account for any labor cost. Again we don't know how bad this boat is and what she may need to be safe and operational.

 

[George]

you'll like need less money with this deal.
http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?19483-1978-37-hatteras-sportfish

 

[bhostrawser]

Should I run? Lol.

Honestly? Yes. You should. We all love our boats, and are really not logical about it. If you are thinking this boat can be fished this summer, than either you and a crew of people have a lot of time and money and energy on your hands, or are not being realistic. Every piece of plastic, rubber, wire or iron on that boat is going to be extremely suspect, if not obviously destroyed. It looks more of the latter.

Bow pulpit? The list of things you will need before a bow pulpit is pages long.

Can it be done? There are people here who are going to say, it can be done. We put people on the moon, of course it can be done. Does it make sense? Boats are nonsensical items. I think the better question to ask is, 'would you do it?'. If I would put money on people honestly answering that question, right here, I would put it on NO. Most people here know better then to go after a pit like that, and know the market is down enough that you can get an actual running, decent boat for cheap.

Are there going to be a couple people who build boats for a living, have a workforce, have connections, have the experience, knowhow and have the money to get this thing back to a reasonable condition with enough time? Yeah. People like that could do this. Would they? Don't know.

If you want a boat, buy that 37' somebody posted. If you dont have the money to do that, then you probably don't have the money to this either.

However, we all have a sickness and should you do the unthinkable, all the people here will be wonderful supporters and help you out every step of the way, that is for sure. So, welcome to the forum.

 

[dsharp]

If you decide to do it, at least you will have something when you're through. The 36' Hatts were very good boats. The 3208 Cats are not any more complicated than a big block chevy. Cat parts can get expensive but that engine was used in all sorts of hiway and industrial apps so parts are available. The heat exchangers are thin sheetmetal with cast iron ends that don't last that long. You better have at least 25 to 30 boat dollars to throw at it and a couple of good friends. That's an awful lot of work for 1 person. Figure out what storage is going to cost before you start.

 

[workingonadream]

this will be an enormous undertaking even with a crew. by time you add in all the costs for the repairs and the storage fees, you may be upside down with the worth of the boat.If on the other hand you can do all the work yourself, then you will save a lot money, but you will still spend a lot of money on materials. in the end it is probably a wise decision to pass on the boat and buy one already running and in good condition. if you can afford to do that, you can be boating this year instead of years down the road. good luck

 

[Chiefleif]

Thanks for all the great input guys! Looks like I'm in good company.
Now have a partner on the boat and gathering crew!
Had a friend deisel mechanic out at it today turned both engines and gave it a good bill of health. My home work for the next week is electric.
Take every connection off trace it, clean it or replace it!!!

Fuse panel is looking pretty shitty, hoping to upgrade it. If anyone has one or knows a good replacement I will shoot some Picts of what I got tomorrow.

Just got new batteries.

Gonna do some post for some parts I need. Anyone no a good spot for the window frames?


Lol, I know my wife is gonna kill me. But I have a lot of friends and hopefully can make some trade deals for storage.

I guess it's on!!! Help me if you can!!!!

 

[Avenger]

Welcome to the asylum. Good luck with the project.

I'm working on my electrical system too. What year is the boat? They put an improved panel in the later versions. In a boat of that vintage there's going to be a lot of cobbling done by previous owners (P.O. or PO) <= an abbreviation you're going to see and use here. Original wiring is all labeled with numbers at the terminal ends. You should have the wiring diagram that came with the boat from Hatteras. There's a good chance that the boat was repowered somewhere in it's life so the diagram may not be 100%, but it should be a good guide anyway.

 

[Bob Bradley]

Anyone no a good spot for the window frames?


Lol, I know my wife is gonna kill me. !

At least she'll know where to find you.

I've been thinking about replacing my side sliding windows on my '79 43C, as I glassed in the front and side fixed windows last year. There's a guy named Jimmy Watts that I believe some of the guys here have used. He makes one piece frame windows with the frame included. It is a complete replacement for what you have now I was planning on contacting him for my project. The contact info I have is: Jimmy Watts 252-634-2214.

Maybe somebody can weigh in on his work.

 

[bigbill]

also try broadus rose, he makes replacement window frames. have not seen either of them in person, i just know their names

 

[workingonadream]

brodus rose www.boatwindowframes.com he will sell you a stationary window and frame. I am getting them for my boat next year. the window will come in the frame and all you have to do is epoxy it in place. of course I am speaking in simple terms as it is a bit more complicated than that. steve at sams can sell you the frames, but you have to cut and weld them to fit if you want the metal frames and want the windows to open. he also sells the fiberglass stationary frames,but those are also cut to fit. steve also sells the track and felt that go with the metal frames. good luck with your project post pics

 

[rsmith]

Take care of the mechanical first. Cosmetics can wait. Rebuild the raw water pumps and replace every hose and clamp.

 

[rsmith]

Take care of the mechanical first. Cosmetics can wait. Rebuild the raw water pumps and replace every hose and clamp.