Hatt 34 convertible with 453t

[micky]

I’m looking at a Hatt 34 convertible with detroit 453t engines. What should be the cruising speed and top speed of this boat with these emgines?

 

[rsmith]

I ran/fished on 2 Redbeard a 1966 34 flush deck with 4/53,s and a 1965 trunk cabin 34 Hel,s Belle both struggled to make 14 kts but burned almost no fuel.

 

[micky]

That was cruising or wot?

 

[dsharp]

We put a pair of those in a 36’ convertible that had caught fire. We finished it out as a sedan. I think it cruised at 16 knots and topped out at around 20knts. I think the hp was around 185 to 210. I’ve slept quite a bit since then so my numbers could be a little off. They were the inclined engines and I believe the gears were 2to1 Velvet drives. It was a nice running little boat when it was built in the mid to late 70’s.

 

[Boatsb]

I ran a 36 with 210 horsepower cats that did 19 and a half Nots wide open throttle.

There's a lot 34s with cummins to look at.

 

[rsmith]

We put a pair of those in a 36’ convertible that had caught fire. We finished it out as a sedan. I think it cruised at 16 knots and topped out at around 20knts. I think the hp was around 185 to 210. I’ve slept quite a bit since then so my numbers could be a little off. They were the inclined engines and I believe the gears were 2to1 Velvet drives. It was a nice running little boat when it was built in the mid to late 70’s.

If they were the lay down bus engines they would have been 6/71's

 

[dsharp]

No sir, they were 4-53T’s. 6-71’s would be way too heavy and long to go in a 36’ hull. Detroit made inclined marine versions for both engines.

 

[micky]

I had a 1971 36 with 210hp cats, then a 1974 43dc with 6-71n. And now I’m looking at this 34 with the 4-53t.
Where can Infind a spec sheet for the 34 to know how many gallons of diesel and water she holds?

 

[buzzk]

I owned a 1967 or 68 34 convertible with Detroit 453TI for years. They may have only been 453t. Mine were rated at 170 HP. Anyway they laid on their sides. The boat cruised at 10-12 knots and wide open was 14-16 knots. They are a little noisy and leak a little oil but ran great. I kept oil blankets under mine and was able to keep my bilges free from oil. Because the Detroit's were 2 cycle they were very smooth even at idle which some of the more modern 4 cylinders aren't. When I sold mine the bolt on parts were starting to get harder to find. Burned very little fuel. There was nothing wrong with the boat other than it was a little slow.

 

[buzzk]

Mine held 270 gallons of fuel and 70 gallons of water.

 

[34Hatt]

34's paper work says it hold 270 total but good luck getting that to fit 240 gallons is the real # and had that verified by many other owners.
200 hp ea = around 13-14 kt boat some days slower if it loaded. Did that for 6 years don't miss those days

 

[buzzk]

Dan you had a little more HP than I had. I diffidently remember the paper work on mine as 170HP. I had a friend with a 31 Bertram that had natural 453 and he only had 120HP.

 

[micky]

From a website on internet:

4-53n = 140hp @ 2800 rpm

4-53t = 175hp @ 2500 rpm

 

[buzzk]

I can't remember exactly but I believe I got a little better than 2 MPG running. But I'm not sure on that. I do remember I could fish all day off the beach trolling for Spanish and only burned 30 to 50 gallons but most of the day was spent trolling.

 

[krush]

The boat cruised at 10-12 knots and wide open was 14-16 knots.

Wow...who needs a throttle, just have an on/off switch

Mine does almost the "cruise" in gear at idle lol