Considering 1975 36 Convertible, 3208 320's

[bhostrawser]

Talk to a good prop shop. You need to know the max rated HP and RPM, gear ratio and shaft material. Not sure what Hatteras was using back then but they should be Aquamet 22 or 19. There's a big difference in size required between different shafting so make sure you are entering the correct material. I just spoke to Tom and he said they run safety factors in the low to mid 3's, 5 is ideal but that's not easy to achieve. He said he hasn't had to change shafts on the 36C's he's repowered and has never had one break a shaft. He said you can get Aquamet 22 shafting with a torsional strength of 85,000 psi for 1.5" shafts. Standard is 65,000 but you can call and spec out higher. As always the keyway, fit and installation of the props are critical. See if the shafts have a spooned keyway as opposed to a squared off end. The old ones were squared and that is one reason for the higher safety factors. When I had my shafts made that was a big issue as that was relatively newer thinking. Don't give up just yet!

Ok, I'm probably the idiot for assuming they were 304. I was going to call Tom next. I think you may be clairvoyant. Thanks so much for this information. Ok, using either Aquamet 19 or 22 on the boatdiesel.com calculator gives us a more than adequate safety factor. I'll need to verify that keyway and material, but they are factory circa 1975. I need to find a good prop shop up here, any recommendations would be welcome.

*whew*

Thanks again, I was almost giving up! However, I actually had good news to share, I went down to Santa Cruz this weekend and put my own eyes and hands on those thru hulls, and they all took a little lube and a little elbow grease, but they were all workable after a few minutes. Also, I noticed a lot of new things, like new windows, new Norcold, the autopilot is a Furuno 511 and thats newer than the one on my sailboat, which i considered 'new'. New chartplotter on the flybridge, new 1k fishfinder. So... its not all bad.

 

[John F.]

I'm not a Hatt owner yet, but have started to look for an older 36. If the 3208s are good, I think you're in decent shape. The money is in the iron. I don't know what no load/loaded rpms are on a 3208--find that out before the next visit. If loaded rpms are, say 2900, and she'll only turn to 2800 and get 17 knts., then I'd probably walk (or get a Cat guy to check out the motors). Otherwise, I'd borrow/ rent/maybe buy a set of wheels from a prop shop and see how she performs propped correctly like suggested above. You also have to have her hauled, take a look at the running gear, and see for real what wheels are on her. I wouldn't buy the boat without taking those steps. I'd love to find a 36 repowered with 3208s at 320, or 6btas at a reasonable price--you found that. Galley ups are really hard to find, and you found that. A galley up with good power? Great. If that 36 were on the east coast, I'd be interested, even though I don't care if its galley up or not. My 2 cents. Good luck.

 

[Kim Beatley]

I bought a 72 36 C four years ago. Great Boat!!! Survey came out well and I bought the boat for under the appraised value. Mechanically, it was and is in good shape. Only downside is that the engines are gas. However, with a light load of fuel, a clean bottom and just my wife and I on the boat, I can reach 28 knots WOT. I cannot run at that speed as the engines quickly overheat. I normally crusie at 16 knots, just over half throttle. An faster, then the little gage on the bridge says, one gallon, two gallons, three gallons, four gallons in time with the minute hand on my watch.

My average run time on the boat is about 300 hours per year, as I am just a weekend warrior who likes to fish. My average annual fuel consumption last year was 12.6 gallons per hour for the 300 hours. Not bad....but I am not going fast. My fishing buddies arrive at the best sports long before i do, but if the weather turns rough, I get home before they do.

Boat was re-powered in '96, I think the Generator is original. I know the AC units are. When I bought the boat, everything worked. Over the last 4 years I have started a replacement program as I have the money.

Two years ago, we did a major interior up grade, new windows, as the old ones leaked badly and the wood under neath was rotten, ripped out the 1972 original carpet, (note a piece is now hanging in the Smithsonian, labeled as a new life form), with teak and holly flooring, all paneling was replaced with new African Mahogany, one new AC unit, Generator rebuild, all new bonding system for every piece of metal in the boat.

My wife even put in a granite counter top in the galley. Head was upgraded and v-berth windows changed out.

Spent more money on upgrades to the interior than I did buying the boat. It is as nice as any new boat that I have seen......

Bottom Line, Great Boat, very seaworthy, easy to work on, fun to rebuild. One day a pair of cummins 370B's will find a new home in my engine room.

One more important thing, since I keep the boat at my house, only drawing 3 feet of water makes this possible during Februarys low tides.