52C or 53C refit, project thoughts or experience

[nor'easter]

52 or 53 C shopping

I want to move up from my 39SX to a larger convertible in the next couple of years. The 53C and 52C really have my attention. I love the lines of the 53, and could find one at a better price to take on as a project and have it refit. I know/think that the 52C is a more fuel efficient platform, and would take that into consideration, although I am not so concerned about speed.

I am looking for anyone who has been through this for advice, yards to consider, and what to expect. i know every boat/refit is different, but general guidlines would be great.

This is a long-term project, and a long term want.....I do not want to move up 2 ft, then 2 more, etc.

Thoughts?

I have since realized that I don't want to get into a "refit", but am searching for a Hatt that needs a little TLC, but maintains her interior/exterior quality without goofy "updates/add-ons".

 

[luckydave215]

The 53's are heavy and slow, and you can buy one for a good price because of that. They're good sea boats, if a bit wet. If you aren't concerned with speed, I think they're a good choice. I don't know much about the 52's, except they are newer and faster, and the Admiral's don't like the interiors too well, as the boat is very fishing focused.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Well, I have a 50C, which is very much like a 52C except less cockpit. I am in the middle of doing a restoration, and it is a long term project. I really like the boat, and would guess that a 52 would be a bonus with the larger cockpit. I have heard that the 52 is a little faster, but I would attribute that to the fact it came standard with 735hp 8v92's, and I have 650hp 92's.

I got to look over a 52C that had been fully restored when I was in Key West last summer. It was a beautiful boat. I would choose the 52, but thats me. If price is a factor, then a 53 may be more reasonable since it is typically a little older.

 

[REBrueckner]

For convertibles, relatively larger engines warrant even closer attention because of cost than motor yachts. You'll have to decide if you want a boat requiring primarily just cosmetic upgrades, which can be done gradually over time when you choose, or major mechanical work such an engines or genny which may have to be done before the boat can be used as you require. Electronics are the third area of potential major expense and again you have to decide what is acceptable to you. Don't think a boat requiring a lot of work in any or all of these areas is a bargain unless you can do the work yourself and enjoy such projects. If you have to pay retail yard labor rates ("have it refit") for work potential savings disappear rapidly.

 

[ThirdHatt]

The 53C is one of the boats that put Hatteras on the map. I have always loved the lines of that boat. I have a suggestion that may work for you and eventually save you a bunch of money: find an early 53C with 12V71N's. Those motors are completely bulletproof and even tournament-running sportfish captains, as hard as they tried, could rarely break them in their day. They are some of the very best marine diesels ever built. Because you mentioned the fact that speed is not a concern, you may be very happy with this powerplant. Although it is not fast, it will outlive all other powerplants with reliability and longevity.

In general, main engines in sportfishing boats tend to wear out much sooner with significantly less hours than the same engines in a comparable motoryacht because speed IS important to so many sportfishers. When heading out to sea, most of them will push the throttles to the pegs, then back off one or two hundred RPM and run like that ALL DAY until they reach their fishing ground. Not many motoryacht guys will ever do that simply because they are out there to enjoy the cruise. Sportfishing boats are generally in a rush to get far offshore to fish as long as possible, then haul a$$ back to port. Of course, this does not apply to ALL sportfishing boats, just the majority. Some sportfish are actually owned by motoryacht people (Genesis?) who use and cruise their sportfish as a motoryacht, but they could not tear themselves away from the undeniably sexy lines of a sportfish for a little more interior space of a motoryacht.

My personal goal was to combine all of this into one boat: 58 Yachtfish with 8V71N's. Some of the sexy sportfish lines that a nice fishing cockpit gives but with the functionality of a true 3-stateroom motoryacht. I thought that this would be the PERFECT boat to cruise or fish with and I searched for close to three years to find mine. Unfortunately the boat I ended up buying had the turbo's (of course) but at least they had under 200hrs SMOH with ducumentation. With excellent maintenance and running them easy like I do (under 2,000rpm) I should get many years of service, although still nowhere near what the naturals can do.

As you probably already know, there are three early 53C's currently listed on Yachtworld right now, from $119k to $165k and they are all in Florida. Heck, the one for $119k has rebuilt 12V71N's and a Northern Lights 12KW! Any of those in that price range would be excellent candidates for restoration. I wish you the very best of luck with your search and please keep us posted!

 

[Genesis]

Well, my issue with MYs is that I can't deal with them for diving - and that's what we do a lot of.

Diving is also very hard on cosmetics (especially in the cockpit) due to all the hardware banging around required to do it, but then again so is real sportfishing - bring a green cobia into the boat and see what happens to your cockpit

 

[ThirdHatt]

It sounds like a Cockpit Motor Yacht may be in your future......

 

[Genesis]

I dunno.... I was thinking Yachtfish myself....

 

[ThirdHatt]

Interestingly enough, (as I understand) all Yachtfish are Cockpit Motor yachts, but most Cockpit Motor Yachts are not Yachtfish! To my knowledge, Hatteras only used the term "Yachtfish" on three of their models: 48YF, 53YF and 58YF. Models with cockpits other than those were always referred to as Cockpit Motor Yachts. Not sure why or if there is a difference, other than the name.

 

[nor'easter]

Thanks third hatt and genesis,
The 39 SX I run now sports 6V92s at 565 hp (DDEC), and is capable of 31 kts. I run it most commonly between 1600-1850 rpm from 17-21 kts, and don't feel like I need to go faster for cruise. I know that my plants are rigged on the edge at hp/displacment, and this is one of the reasons that I wouldn't mind 1271Ns. If I were to get into an 8V92 boat with high hours, it would be at the right price to think about early repower. With an N powered boat, I would consider it the right thing to use and enjoy the boat, using the long life of those engines to the max.
I don't really want to take a boat and strip it to the stringers. I would love to find a well cared for boat that if any refitting has been done, it has been done by a high quality yard and have some of the systems (electrical)updated in a reliable way.
The cosmetics would be done over a longer period, as long as the boat is something that I could clean up and be proud of right away.
What are the ERs like in the 50,52,53Cs. Are they serviceable for a bigger guy?
Thanks for all the thoughts.

 

[Spellbound]

Take a look on Yachtworld.com at a 1984 52C Located in MA. Good example of a updated exterior (no feature stripes) and a nicely styled interior with the cutdown galley. Both projects not hard to do by an experienced Yard. As I did with mine --- Glass in the portholes and restyled the bow rail. Engine Room! Not too bad. Outboard is somewhat tight but accessable -- I am 6'4" and can get there by going under the flywheel. Put the AC units outboard starboard (usually aft of starboard engine) and installed 2nd gen behind the engine --- lost some space but can still competely service the gen. The 52C in my opinion is a VERY good platform.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Tom Slane had a nice 53C with 12-71s for a while, it may still be available, it would be worth asking him about it.

 

[Traveler 45C]

Engine Room! Not too bad. Outboard is somewhat tight but accessable -- I am 6'4" and can get there by going under the flywheel.

“Under the flywheel”? I’d like to see that…

 

[nor'easter]

Thanks.
I have looked at most 52 and 53 C listings on yachtworld, and that has helped me quite a bit. The 1970s vintage 53s are fanastic looking, and have tons of character.
I am not in the position to look seriously now, but will be in a little over a year when I leave the Navy for the private sector. I will not have the time to refit the boat on my own, but can and want to pick away at the manageable tasks that allow me to continue to use the boat. Larger projects like paint/mechanical/electrical service would be done by the pros.
Are there structural reasons to stay away from either the 52 or 53? They look like tanks.

 

[rtrafford]

well i'm in the midst of the most complete 53c "overhaul" you'll find anywhere. she had several structural issues to contend with in terms of some poor bulkhead design to simply being abused by her owners.

you'll note the main forward engine bulkhead is likely straddling 3 tanks and only attaching to the hull in the outboard sections of the hull. more, the glass used to tie these pieces together was often too short transmitting the loads to too small of an area of hull skin. these issues quite often reulted in hull cracking that isn't typically seen until you grind.

we're going skin up in our work for two reasons:

1)i'll likely never sell her.
2)i'm using twin 3406E800's to power her

if the parts "failed" once at less horsepower....

additionally i've likely added weight to the hull in the structure, but i'm removing quite a bit as i go up via liberal use of core boards. for instance the flybridge is almost complete and weighs a fraction of the original box.

any questions feel free. she's a perfect boat to work with. i'd much prefer her over the 52c.

 

[MikeP]

Re "built like tanks" - read this re the 53: http://www.yachtsurvey.com/boatreviews/Hatteras53.htm

And this re the 52:
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/boatreviews/hatteras52.htm

There's a caption for a pic on the 53 posting that reads:

This is one of the ways we get to find out just how well built a boat really is. In the 160 MPH winds of hurricane Andrew, this 53 Convertible took out several 12" dock pilings and the bottom battered against the concrete seawall with virtually no structural damage resulting to the hull. Nor did the windows blow out or suffer from any major leaks.

 

[nor'easter]

Ah yes, the Pasoe reference. I almost have those 2 reviews memorized. They were like pouring jet fuel on my interest for a project like this.
Like one of the other threads noted....born in 69, dream cars are late 60s mustang, early 70s camaro SS, and 70s 442.
My wife thinks I am nuts (she is a 1970 model) for trying to sell my 11 yr old Hatt 39 SX and buying a 30+ yr old Hatt needing an update.
She might be right, but I am not alone.....

 

[rtrafford]

this 53c refit has been a lifelong dream of mine since i saw my very first one as a kid. realistically i always thought i'd be doing it with a 41c for financial reasons. i was right in that i can't afford what i'm doing with the 53c, but with one life to live i can't afford not to...

it's been a blast, and i have absolutely no doubt about what i'm going to have when she's complete.

 

[Passages]

Very few of us are lucky enough to pursue the dreams we had as kids.

Congrats on becoming one of the lucky ones.

 

[st.tully]

Deal? 99k for 53 w/fresh rebuilds?

Speaking of 53 refits - this looks like a real deal - is this legit?

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...&units=Feet&checked_boats=1401990&slim=quick&