53 Hatteras MY - No Bridge

[jlightonjr]

Hello All!

I was doing a marina drive-by this past weekend in my town and at the Bluffs Marina in Jupiter, FL I spotted a 53 Hatteras MY - without - the bridge. Can't upload the pics, they are too large, will try to post them soon.

I have seen pictures of the 53 EDMY without the bridge which was out on the West coast - I think it's now on the East Coast however, I have not seen the 53 MY without the bridge.

Were many bridge-less 53 MY's made?

-Jack

 

[tom5518]

This is the picture from the back cover of the original 53MY brochure. There were at least a few made in the early years without a flybridge. There was a 1970 MY named the Viv-Ed on the great lakes that was lost in a storage building fire back in 1982. It was the only one that I have seen without a flybridge. I think several of the ones delivered from the factory with no flybridge were probably retrofitted with bridges at a later time. If you look at Pascal's 1970 53 it has the style that they went to in about 1972, so his may have not had one originally, but that is a guess.

 

[yachtbrokerguy]

Back in 1974 I lived on board a 53 without a flybridge. I was told that when that boat was built the flybridge was an option. The back deck was also enclosed so there was no outdoor space except the bow, the boat was built for an owner who had to stay out of the sun. I do not remember what year the boat was built, I think it was only a few years old.
That was the only 53 that I have seen without a flybridge, and I have spent a lot of time on the water as a captain and broker.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Does a home made bridge count?

 

[jlightonjr]

Very interesting! By looking at the photos, I think the 'bridge-less' 53 MY at The Bluffs Marina (Jupiter, FL) is around a 1977-1978 I didn't get a look at the engine room side vents, it does have a pulpet which looked to be factory.

Very good looking boat, with and with out the bridge!

 

[Capt K]

My 1965 50' was a flat-top until the prior owner had Tom Slane add a bridge, hardtop, and pulpit. As I understand it, the bridge was an option for most of the production run even tho most have a bridge.

Capt K

 

[Freeebird]

Back in 1974 I lived on board a 53 without a flybridge. I was told that when that boat was built the flybridge was an option.

As far as I know, a bridge was an option on all the earlier MY's. I know for fact it was an option on my 58TC, and I'm assuming it was on any boat with a pilothouse.

 

[Fanfare]

In 1966 the flying bridge was a $3,500.00 option. Guess how I know? And worth every penny, as illustrated by Y'willie's photo, which I believe is a 50MY.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I thought that was a 50 also... More pics if ya want 'em...

 

[holtcl]

Our 53 was originally ordered sans flybridge. Later an owner had one installed (maybe in the 80's?) and, fortunately for us, it was the "late model" bridge, which we prefer.

Cheryl
53MY
Cinderella

 

[stormchaser]

I recently saw in Annapolis a 53 without bridge but it had a fake stack. Looked pretty cool.