70 Hatteras Sinks

[Captain Ralph]

how does a "Pro Captain" allow that to happen?

I'm not a pro captain.
Yes, I have run out of fuel before when both motors died.

Thoughts to avoid it again;
My first task in prepping a boat for delivery, I try to split the tanks / engines if I can.
I'm also there when taking on fuel.
I never believe a word of how much fuel is onboard, even if the owner states it.
On longer trips, and I do not know the boat, all tanks are full when I get under way.
I plan on 1/3 onboard fuel reserve; for errors and those Murphy Moments.
My customers understand these thoughts. I have had other issues in 35 years sense, but not running out of fuel.

I have assisted other boats that have suddenly stopped running from fuel problems. Owners and captains without a clue how to clear filters and/or re-prime the engines from the other tank(s).
Hence my comment in post #9.

 

[Pascal]

So this line of discussion begs the question how low do people allow their tanks to get? I personally keep a fuel log but once the gauges at the helm or sight gauges get below a half I start getting nervous.

It depends

Most Hatteras have keel tanks (at least the MYs) so it’s easy to calibrate a stick and know exactly what you have. Also, on the most MY the forward tank pick up are in the back of the tank and the aft tank pick ups are forward. If you are low and get off plane, fuel will slosh forward. The engine running on the forward tank may shut down the but the engine running on the aft tank will be fine. This is why with two tanks, you don’t run both off the same tank!!!

So to the answer the question, since I know my boat very well after almost 20 years, I may run with as low as 30 gallon in a tank. In calm waters. Offshore, no way I d go under 50/60 gallons

Now if I was running a boat with neither a stick or sight gauges, I wouldn’t go below 1/4 tank. And that s only if I knew the boat was full when I got on.

I don’t care how high tech fue gauges are, nothing beats a stick or sight tubes.

Yesterday I refueled the “office” for the first time. Seller was nice enough to sell the boat with 3/4 tanks back in May... . The expensive headhunter gauge showed 1350 gallons in the main tank. My fuel log showed 1875. I put 1100 gal and tank is almost full. About an inch from the top. As mentioned before I use a spreadsheet on my phone which calculates fuel burn, fuel left etc incl generator. Far better than fancy gauges

 

[jjtoma]

Found it,
Here's some pics being hauled out.
I have no addition information for now.

 

[jjtoma]

a couple of extras

 

[howhomes]

Found it,
Here's some pics being hauled out.
I have no addition information for now.

2nd pic- my goodness that boat has some heft under the waterline. Impressive

 

[dottieshusband]

Aside from weight and balance issues, the ONLY time you can have too much fuel onboard is if you're on fire!

 

[jjtoma]

Found this on FB

- - - BOAT'S NAME IS "JUDE SEA" - - - was based at Catawba Island Club

Middle Bass Island
September 14 ·
Three photos of the Jude Sea today. Based on the photos from a few days ago,
she has moved away from the rocks far enough to sink another 6-8 feet compared
to the last set of photos posted here. Apparently there was also quite a fuel spill,
based on drone photos I have seen.
The strong winds tonight won't help/

 

[jjtoma]

From FB:
September 16
·
The end of the refloating/salvage of the Jude Sea. She was towed out to be attached to a barge
for hauling. The barge had first stopped at the Middle Bass Island main dock to load the trucks,
pumps and hoses that were used and to have them handy in case they were needed during the tow.
After the Jude Sea was attached to the barge, the barge returned to the Schneider dock to load
more pumps, airbags and other equipment. Then it seemed to take a lunch break before departing.
The tug here is the Pioneerland.

 

[howhomes]

From FB:
September 16
·
The end of the refloating/salvage of the Jude Sea. She was towed out to be attached to a barge
for hauling. The barge had first stopped at the Middle Bass Island main dock to load the trucks,
pumps and hoses that were used and to have them handy in case they were needed during the tow.
After the Jude Sea was attached to the barge, the barge returned to the Schneider dock to load
more pumps, airbags and other equipment. Then it seemed to take a lunch break before departing.
The tug here is the Pioneerland.

that is freshwater, not saltwater? Are the mechanicals really in trouble?

 

[scottinsydney]

Given the boat sank in fresh water and not including engines, what would be the process to bring her back to operations? There is no particle board in my boat, what about these later boats? Would the electrics/cables all dry out?

 

[Stripes]

I would think one would have to replace the electrical, sure it'll eventually dry out, but I'd be more worried about the corrosion.

But I have no clue.

 

[rsmith]

In these newer boats it’s not always fuel. I’ve seen several loss of power due electrical problems specifically bad grounds. That said how do you know what your USABLE fuel quantity is unless you run the tanks down. In 45 years of long range trips including multi day offshore NE canyon and 3 trips to Cozumel I’ve run the tanks dry so I knew exactly how much fuel I had left onboard. I never run both off one tank. And never feed from a low tank running an inlet or in a tight maneuvering situation. But I’ve found the usable fuel is now what is advertised. Hatteras stated my boat and most 53C’s at 450 FWD 350MID and 250AFT for 1050 total. In reality my usable is 435-313-224 for a total of 972 which is over 2 hours running time less.

 

[Pascal]

Anything is possible incl elecrical issues but... I m pretty sure these vintage MYs had 3412Es. These are pretty bullet proof especially installed by Hatteras. To loose both engines at the same time because of a non fuel failure is extremely unlikely bordering on impossible. If it was an earlier model, it could have had mechanical 3412s which are probably even more reliable.

 

[Scarlett]

It is amazing the number of things that look ok after a sinking but fail later. I rewired a 46 sail boat that sunk due to a failed drip less shaft seal. The surveyor said that the vacuflush toilets were ok, however I opened a motor that was working and a bunch of water pored out. The engines were hosed down with fresh water immediately but later the flywheel started rusting. It took 2 people 4 months to redo all the electrical wiring which included a complete new electrical panel and pulling all new wires. John

 

[Bob Quinn]

that is freshwater, not saltwater? Are the mechanicals really in trouble?

The follow up pictures showed it a lot deeper than the one I originally saw, heck it looked like it just ran aground in the first pic I saw. These pics make it look like then entire lower level was flooded.

That's a lot of water / mold / rust.

So far as mechanicals I don't have a clue, maybe someone here has experienced with washed and rinsed diesels but it can't be good.

Big Risk.

I once dunked a jet ski. rinsed the motor with fuel oil I think or maybe it was mineral spirits. Did it about 5 or 6 times. Then did the same with motor oil. Did it 3 or 4 times.
Pulled the plugs and flushed out the cylinder then cranked it over with each rinse.

Never saw any metal flakes in the oil.

So when I was done trying to salvage-Rinse it I put the plugs in and it fired up. Reved up good to.

Took it to the water and it went about 1/4 mile, bogged down and died. - So in went a new motor.

I think what I learned there is water can do a lot of hidden damage that you might not be able to detect.

What I don't know is if there was water in the motor when it was running, i..e while it was sinking.

Bottom line is water is not a good lubricant or rust inhibitor LOL.

I think as someone mentioned about the electrical, it might dry but you might get a corroded connection, then a month later another one, then another, then another. But you might be able to pull all the connections clean up anything with corrosion and put some anti-corrosion paste in, and who knows? It would have to be a real deal to tackle it.

That boat would also carry a reputation with it that would affect resale value. Things to consider if your thinking about going down that road.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Then again, there's Yachtsman Willie and the Hatteras submarine he miraculously resurrected.

 

[madhatter1]

The follow up pictures showed it a lot deeper than the one I originally saw, heck it looked like it just ran aground in the first pic I saw. These pics make it look like then entire lower level was flooded.

That's a lot of water / mold / rust.

So far as mechanicals I don't have a clue, maybe someone here has experienced with washed and rinsed diesels but it can't be good.

Big Risk.

I once dunked a jet ski. rinsed the motor with fuel oil I think or maybe it was mineral spirits. Did it about 5 or 6 times. Then did the same with motor oil. Did it 3 or 4 times.
Pulled the plugs and flushed out the cylinder then cranked it over with each rinse.

Never saw any metal flakes in the oil.

So when I was done trying to salvage-Rinse it I put the plugs in and it fired up. Reved up good to.

Took it to the water and it went about 1/4 mile, bogged down and died. - So in went a new motor.

I think what I learned there is water can do a lot of hidden damage that you might not be able to detect.

What I don't know is if there was water in the motor when it was running, i..e while it was sinking.

Bottom line is water is not a good lubricant or rust inhibitor LOL.

I think as someone mentioned about the electrical, it might dry but you might get a corroded connection, then a month later another one, then another, then another. But you might be able to pull all the connections clean up anything with corrosion and put some anti-corrosion paste in, and who knows? It would have to be a real deal to tackle it.

That boat would also carry a reputation with it that would affect resale value. Things to consider if your thinking about going down that road.

Did the ski go under running? If so thats what killed the engine. Hot piston got cooled quick by cold water changed the metal properties getting cooled so fast. Especially if a 2 stroke. Next event after seems to run okay it the piston skirt on exhaust side falls off and then it's a crapshoot on whether it falls safely to bottom of crank or gets driven through cases with a punch from the crank.

This is one of those things I know not because I'm smart, It's because I screwed that shit up. Literally jumped my MX bike into a deep water hole and it drowned at full throttle. Got it drained and running again and about 20 minutes later the shit hit the fan. Another time later I went over the bars crossing a cranberry bog on an underwater road with a sharp bump you could not see. I'm sliding down the watery road and I hear the bike go under water again at full throttle. Wait 1 hour soaking wet in 45 degree temps for my buddies to ride back to my house and come back with van and trailer. Much cheaper this time. Swap out perfect looking (but bad) piston and rings with new and good to go.

 

[Pascal]

Couple of years ago I had to clean up a SeaDoo spark which had turtles and partially sank after the guests let it sit upside down too long. Pulled the plugs, crank it up with diesel then oil etc. it has been fine after that even though it was salt water. One issue was that the intake had water trapped in it so I had to do the cleaning twice

 

[howhomes]

Then again, there's Yachtsman Willie and the Hatteras submarine he miraculously resurrected.

There are posters on here who seem to know more about boating as a business as opposed to a hobby or retirement goal. When you see this boat, you wonder if you have corrosive wire issues and the interior is shot and can have the mold issues, what happens? It gets parted and crushed? It sits in the yard a little bit and a storage bill gets whacked up? They bring it to a salvage auction. I've seen far more smaller boats at these. The fiberglass a pound for a crusher amounts to anything substantial. The expression "saving the old girl" if its not so old has much competition to parting out on a boat like this.One thing a novice like me can see, is the skill level to have a finished product of yacht quality and mechanically perfect would not likely be an undertaking that you would get correct the first time, there will be gremlins with fit and finish as well as it all working. Any comments welcomed because it's always been something in the background in a boat yard when after a storm a boat is severely damaged and 2 weeks later it's gone.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Did the ski go under running? If so thats what killed the engine. Hot piston got cooled quick by cold water changed the metal properties getting cooled so fast. Especially if a 2 stroke. Next event after seems to run okay it the piston skirt on exhaust side falls off and then it's a crapshoot on whether it falls safely to bottom of crank or gets driven through cases with a punch from the crank.

This is one of those things I know not because I'm smart, It's because I screwed that shit up. Literally jumped my MX bike into a deep water hole and it drowned at full throttle. Got it drained and running again and about 20 minutes later the shit hit the fan. Another time later I went over the bars crossing a cranberry bog on an underwater road with a sharp bump you could not see. I'm sliding down the watery road and I hear the bike go under water again at full throttle. Wait 1 hour soaking wet in 45 degree temps for my buddies to ride back to my house and come back with van and trailer. Much cheaper this time. Swap out perfect looking (but bad) piston and rings with new and good to go.

Yeah, I think it might have been running when it went under. I wasn't on it, not sure if took in water through the intake or only after it was shut down. All I know is I was waved down and I told the guy on it to kill it. I'm guessing if it sucked it it it would have just blown up because water doesn't compress. Either way I know there was water in the oil. Can't recall if there was water in the cylinders or not. I'm thinking there was.
When I pulled the ski onto the trailer and pulled the seat the water was up over top of the motor.
Bad way to end a day on the water LOL.

I wish I had a better story after hearing yours! LOL you must be a wild man!