hello (an introduction) and let's talk boats!

[Woodsong]

Hi all. I just registered at this forum after having heard about it from a couple of good folks over at boatered.com.
Thought I would say hello and see what kind of input you all may have.
The scoop:
Our current boat is just a 2003 model year 33' express style cruiser made by Cruisers Yachts. We are selling this boat to get a bigger boat but debating what boat to get as a replacement.

We are potentially very interested in getting a 53' Hatteras MY (not new obviously!). My question for you all that own a hatt of similar size/style is this....how do you enjoy your "boating life" on this size/style boat? I know what life is like on an express cruiser but never spent time on a larger MY. Generally speaking, we like taking it easy, enjoy nice sunsets, good glass of wine, good company, spending time with our children (our pride and joy that we are devoted to!). Kids are 2.5 and 4 years old. We are interested in a boat that we can do some occassional longer cruises in but while I do own my own company, I am not near retirement (early/mid 30's) so I still will be working. Our hope is to do a month or longer cruise in the summers...show the kids the sights, focus on history, culture, nature, etc. as we travel, etc. Plan would be to use Chattanooga, TN as a home port since we are in Atlanta and can be at the docks there in just over an hour from our house if we hit traffic right. Thus, our cruising would be on the inland rivers. We are not the type to be hanging out in the go-fast boats (though speed is fun too!) so not worried about slower pace, more worried about immobility of the larger boat and maybe reduced time on the water due to having a larger boat.

So what's it like on these bigger and older hatts? Are you doing repairs all the time? I am NOT Mr. Mechanic. Best thing I know about engines is my credit card number and my mechanics phone #! What do you find to be the joys and irritations of having one of these boats? How are these boats on fuel economy???? Are you finding your operating costs (slip rental and everything else) to be around 10-15% of the cost of the boat?

Other options we are considering is just getting a larger express cruiser (42' or so). This would give us some more space while at the same time being a relatively portable boat (could truck from ATL to TN River once or twice a year for the occassional trip). We are also possibly considering a 44-45' aft cabin MY. However, neither of these options afford the classic lines, wood interior, and beauty of the hatts I have seen!!

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

 

[Walter P]

Welcome Woodsong,

I am sure that the many owners of 53 MYs on this forum will be happy to give you all the info you need. My take on your comments is that you are a perfect fit for a 53 MY (or a 43 or 48). They are all very family oriented and are perfect for entertaining friends, clients etc. Any style Hatt will accomplish this function, but the MYs do it better and are probably a better bet with kids on board. From safety issues to living space indoors or on the aft deck they can not be beat.

I'll bet you will get plenty of offers for "test" rides with your family from most of our forum members. I would take them up on the offers and I would like to extend my invitation to you folks if you get up to NJ.

Walt

 

[luckydave215]

Welcome to the forum. I guess I'm one of the guys who invited you to check out this great site. I own a sportfish, so I can't comment on the virtues of 53MY's, but there are many happy owners here who can.
I can comment, however, on the virtues of Hatts in general, and there are many. Hatts become long lasting members of most owners families, they're not disposable plastic appliances like many of today's boats. It's worth the time to find the one you really like, as you'll likely have her (and be proud of her) for a long time.
Happy cruising.

 

[Boss Lady]

Well, first let me say that a Hatteras will be the least problematic boat you can own, since they are built of real boat building materials, unlike most other brands which use inferior materials. Also Hatteras systems are fairly simple if you have the right documentation (which is still available from Sam's or Hatteras). Second, you either need to learn to be handy doing your own repairs or have a big fat wallet to get someone else to do it for you. This is true no matter what boat you buy. You have the universal solevent and a corrosive (seawater) attacking everything on the boat. Even a new boat starts succumbing to corrosion before you get it. There is always something to do on a boat, and there are three states of maintenance: preventative, deferred, and repair. I would recommend you buy a boat you can afford, and one you can afford to maintain, search the threads on this forum, there are thousands of posts relating to every question you can think of, and if you can't find exactly what you are looking for the members will respond to help you. A new boat will buy you some time before you have to get busy fixing things, but at a higher initial starting cost than a used boat. Boats are not cars, so if you have never owned a large boat, you have zero reference for what I am telling you. Boats are boats. You should aspire to become a Yachtsman, there is a huge difference between a Yachtsman and a Boater. I would take some time and make some friends here and get a first hand look at real boats and talk to their owners. You don't want to spend all your money on the initial purchase, nothing is worse than buying a boat and then have to spend $20-40K you didn't plan to spend right after you get it. That just happend to Freebird, fortuneatly he bought the boat for a very good price so when he lunched a motor (oil leak) the boat is still worth more than the purchase price he paid. Also you will need to learn what boaters bucks are, BOAT means break out another thousand, and that is not a joke. Boats are expensive toys. Make sure you have a home (slip) before you buy or you may be in for a rude awakening depending on where you live, during the recent building craze, marinas have bought by developers at an alarming rate, and you may have to buy a boat slip (not cheap). Good luck and welcome.

Chris

 

[bobk]

Take the advice of looking at a 48MY seriously. The have a super aft deck which is a great family place. Down side is the bunks are stacked so you will probably put one child into each guest room (on the lowers).

The engines are complicated!! In the Chattanooga area you want to get to know 'Diesel Don'. Seems to be a good mech with a good rep in the area.

Bob

 

[MikeP]

The 53 in it's various versions, is a wonderful boat. It was produced for nearly 20 years which says more than any individual recommendations possibly could. To us it's a perfect size - easy for two (or even one) person to handle but with sufficient space to live aboard and actually stay out of each-other's way if you want to do so. You will probably be surprised to find that the 53 is much easier to handle than you think. I was shocked at how much easier it is under any circumstances that was our previous boat (36). Here is my take on the boat, having moved into it from a 36ft aft cabin cruiser two years ago.

IT IS COMPLEX; there are a lot of systems on the boat. Maintanance is several orders of magnitude beyond that of a boat in the 35-40 ft range. I will make this recommendation which may not be too welcome - Unless you have a lot of money available to pay for maintanance OR you can/will perform virtually all the work yourself, you can't afford to operate this boat.


These are WET Boats! As David Pascoe says, they will throw water like a busted fire hydrant!! This has NOTHING to do with sea-worthiness but a lot of folks are surprised at the spray they will toss when running into the wind under almost any conditions other than dead calm. I saw that someone commented that a '61 hatt they were in had a wet ride. It's hard to believe it's any wetter than a 53. Heck, the only thing I can imagine with a wetter ride than a 53 is a submarine!

Depending on the boat you find and the previous owner(s), it may have various electrical configurations that were not oem from Hatt. Often a 12V system is added to the oem 240/120AC and 32VDC (with 12V converters at the helms). Sometimes there are 24V systems added. It's best to find a boat that is a close as possible to the oem layout. Hatt did a superb job with the elec systems and wiring except for their penchant to scatter breaker boxes all over the place. Our 1980 53 has 6 (counting the genny/shore power box) and they are all in different locations. In the earliest 53's, I believe they had only one but as Hatt expanded the systems, there wasn't enough room in the original engine-room location.

As regards fuel usage - It will totally depend on how fast you want to go. On our Turbo-ed 8V71TI boat, it will get around 1 NMPG at around 9.5 knots. It will drop to half that at 11 knots! Here's a table that was posted a while back by someone who checked their 53 with floscans. I apologize that I can't remember who posted it - I just copied the data and saved it. I hope it formats OK when posted:

RPM Knots GPH Gal/NM
0640 - 6.3 - 1.8 - 0.3
1060 - 8.7 - 8.0 - 0.9
1100 - 9.1 - 9.0 - 1.0
1200 - 9.3 - 10.4 - 1.1
1400 - 10.0 16.2 - 1.6
1600 - 10.8 23.4 - 2.2
1700 - 10.9 27.0 - 2.5
1920 - 15.5 34.2 - 2.2
2200 - 18.3 44.4 - 2.4

[font=&quot][/font]As far as spending time on the water - we spend a lot more time on the water with the 53 than we did in our 36. It's just a lot more pleasant and comfortable. But you must clearly understand, if you want to go fast, this isn't the boat. If you enjoy the process of the actual cruise and being on the boat, you'll love it. If you want to hop in the boat to run from point A to point B 30 miles away to have lunch and return, it's a non starter.

As has been pointed out, you will either spend a fair bit of time (and/or money) performing routine maintanance or you will spend a LOT of money getting it fixed. Routine maintanance really means just that - spending time LOOKING at everything and fixing things before they become a problem. For example - a slight seep on a raw water fitting or hose needs to be observed and corrected as soon as possible, not when it breaks. So frequent inspections are mandatory. Some folks - I'm one of them - start the engines from the engine room, at least for the first start of the day. This makes it easy to quickly observe any problems. I'd estimate that this boat requires 4-5 times as much time to keep in the condition we want it as opposed to our 36. As far as how much money it costs per year percent wise, I can't say. I do all the work myself so I only buy parts. But here's a good example parts-wise: 1 thermostat for a 350CID Crusader (previous boat) costs less than 10 bucks. 1 thermostat for an 8V71TI - 87 bucks and you need two for each engine!

Slip rental here on Long Island for our boat totals approximately $10,500 year. Then there is insurance which seems to vary considerably depending on location. These costs are before you've spent a dime on actually using or maintaing the boat. As mentioned, be sure you can get a place to keep the boat BEFORE you buy it. Also, some insurance companies won't allow you to buy/insure a boat more than 10 feet larger than your previous boat unless you provide proof that you have experience operating that larger boat.

This is a good time to buy a boat but don't get in a hurry. We looked for nearly 2 years before we found the 53 that we bought. I recall that someone on the site said they looked for 4 years! There is a good post on 53 surveying in the tech section but everyone has their own priorities on what's "most important". Obviously engine/drive train/hull are critical but one of our critical priorities was original interior wood in good condition. We did not even consider boats that had damaged or covered/painted wood.

If you haven't already, read this: http://www.yachtsurvey.com/boatreviews/Hatteras53.htm

In fact, read all the tech articles by Mr. Pascoe - really good stuff.


Good luck! Don't hesitate to post any questions here. This is a great site.

 

[Pascal]

hi woodsong, welcome....

you got some great advice and info already, I'll just add a few things...

all 53s are not the same, the earlier ones (mine is a 1970) are much more simple than the later ones. i'm not just talling engines (naturals on earlier versions vs turboed) but systems including electrical panels.

your idea of an hour drive to teh boat can work pretty well. i did this for a while a few years ago when i moved my boat to the keys. i'd leave after rush hour on friday and be at the boat within 1:15; i'd come back early monday morning before rush hour. it was a nice schedule but may not work of you have a busy life and kids with the typical social life and activities...

livability between a 50ish my and a large express is day and night... there is just so much space and privacy on the 53 !

i cruise mine at 9kts and get around 1NMPG, fuel costs per miles are 40% lower than my previous boat, a 37 gas express !

maintenance is not bad on the 53s but it helps if you can do some of you own work; not rebuilding engines but simple things like a little electrical troubleshooting or head or pumps etc.... it looks intimidating at first when you see these big lumps in the ER and have to buy 3 or 4 5 gals pails of oil for an oil change. The costs are not that much worst though when you look at the big picture. sure, you're going to buy 15 gallons of oil instead of 3 but for most that's a once ofr twice a year deal...

I don't find that using the 53 is any harder than a smaller express, size as nothing to do with how often you take the boat out. whether 37 or 53, you will have 6 lines and 1 power cord to deal with, and 2 engines, 2 trannies and a genny to check the fluid levels on.

I singlehand mine all the time, the layout and hullshape make them very easy to handle in close quarters...

 

[Freebird]

Wow, a Chattanooga based boat from an Atlantan who likes to cruise and meet people. Man, are you a sight for sore ears! Welcome aboard just doesn't get it. I'm going to pass through Atlanta on my way to my 58TC (a 53's big brother) and FLIBS, and I'm going to look you up and give you a big ole hug! Yeah, you heard it right, I'm secure in my manhood!

Everybody is going to have to know I need to point out my FSBO 41DC as a possible stepping stone to a 53, but I'm going to let it go at that.

Back to the more important stuff. I was so excited to see a new guy with such potential, I may have missed the answer to the following question, do you keep your current boat in Chattanooga? If yes, I plan a color cruise down "The Gorge" week-end after next, and would love to meet you in Chattanooga as I'll be tied up for at least one night at the downtown MarineMax dock. If you don't have your boat in Chattanooga, hell, come to Chattanooga with you and yours and go with us! I'll have plenty of room.

I'm late for work, but PLEASE give me a call at your earliest convenience. I like talking better than typing. 800/251-9992 is the number, use it or lose it.
I know we haven't even had our first date yet, but I love ya man!

 

[Freestyle]

I made the same leap in boats at the same age with kids ages 3,4, and 8. That was 5 years ago. It's been great. Here is why:

1. 43, 48 or 53 are all great choices. You and your wife will live on the aft deck and the children will live in the salon playing Playstation or whatever kids do when we can't see them.

2. My biggest fear was engine maintenance. With DD 6-71N's this has been a non-issue. Oil change every 100 hours and flush the coolant once a year. Naturally aspirated engines are very forgiving.

3. Follow me TV. Make the family as comfortable as possible while enjoying your passion which sometimes won't be theirs. It works greta at docks or anchorages and only costs $600.

4. Water toys. As the kids get older go from noodles, snorkels, kayaks, and dinghy's with small engines. Kids seem to need to touch the water after a day on a big boat.

5. Pay someone to clean the boat weekly so you dont have to turn your family into a working party after every cruise. End cruises on a high note and the kids won't schedule stuff just to get out of boating.

Bruce
1976 43 DCMY
Freestyle
Tampa

 

[Woodsong]

Thanks all for the great input- I really, really appreciate it!
Let's see.....

Part of the reason we are interested in a hatt is kind of what Boss Lady touched on....we are interested in doing more than just being "boaters" if that makes sense. Part of what made us realize a larger, slower boat that focuses on the journey was our trip on the TN River. We did a 4 day trip and then a 5 day trip on the river earlier this year. The 4 day trip was with a group of other boaters as an excursion organized by the dealer we bought the boat from. Frankly, that trip up to Knox was fun but goodness...the pace was ridiculous. We were basically flying up the river as fast as possible and barely time to see anything. When we came back up the next weekend with just us, we went down to Guntersville area and cruised nice and slow most all the time and had an absolutely fabulous time just enjoying the cruise, watching the scenery go by, laughing with the kids, etc.

As far as cost, without going into details, suffice it to say that the issue for us is not cost b/c I am not concerned about that so much as I am about lifestyle, choice, form, and function. It more about making sure we buy the right boat for our family to enjoy and create memories on than it is about saving a few $$, though certainly less cost is always better as I am sure we all agree.

Maintanence...well, I am not Mr. Mechanical as I already mentioned. I have no real experience with diesel engines so I suspect, at least at first, I would have to hire a mechanic for stuff and maybe pay him extra to show me what I should and can do to keep things running (nothing worse when you are a professional than someone staring over your shoulder while you work!)Pascal, I am glad to hear that you find your 53' MY as easy to handle single handed as your 37' express. Does your MY (or others) have a bow thruster? Would you all consider this critical to a boat this size or does the sheer weight of the vessel make this not as important as say a smaller boat that is more prone to being tossed around by the wind? Granted, it's not apples to apples, but I can handle my 33' express better than most I have seen to where I have been asked probably by a dozen different people if I had a bow thruster on that little boat. I feel pretty confident that I would become proficient at handling a boat as big as the 53 MY with some practice. Only potential concern I would see could be the first time going through the locks but heck...that is just like parallel parking at a dock! RIght now I handle my express solo 100% of the time as the wife is watching the kids while I dock, etc. If it is a real possability that a 53" MY could even come reasonably close to that well I will be in hog heaven, though my wife is getting good at knowing what needs to be done at critical times.

Freestyle....I agree with your comments! Water toys are a must and making sure the family is having fun is what it is all about. Having any vessel with unhappy family is NOT my idea of a good time. Part of why I (opps! I mean "we" ) am really considering doing this is in talking to my boating friends that have kids that are older they constantly talk about how hard it is to get out on the water due to the soccer games, football, etc. of their kids. I think the light went off for me this summer when i was on the TN River that my kids are going to get big faster than I would prefer and I am very blessed to be in a position to be capable of getting a large boat now. Basically, unless I want to wait until they and the wife and I are much older, it seems the window of opportunity to create once in a life time memories on the water is kind of now or never.


Freebird.....Hmmmm....hugs? phone numbers? Ummm....I AM a married man. Just kidding. Seriously, thanks for the warm welcome. Right my current boat is not on the TN River...down on Lake Allatoona outside of ATL. We did the gorge eariler this year and a fall cruise would be awesome...absolutely stunning scenery! Let me talk to the wife...maybe we can get ourselves up to Chatt to say hello or something...? We are also considering moving our current boat up to the river for the winter or until she sells to get us more acquainted with the river so who knows.

Sorry for my second long-winded post but I appreciate all the input. As someone else mentioned, the last thing we want to do is go buy a large, relatively expensive boat and then find out soon thereafter that it is not the boat for us!

BTW, what does "TC" and "DC" stand for in relation to hatt models??

 

[Freebird]

I KNOW, I KNOW!!!! DC is double cabin which was dumped when the "new" TC twin cabin came out.

 

[Freestyle]

two more thoughts:

1. Get a cell phone booster and a small printer, scanner, fax. There is nothing better than earning a good living while cruising.

2. My wife says focus on the age of the heads and freshwater/ hot water systems. Family cruising puts a lot more stress on these. We have spent a lot upgrading.

3. You are right about your kids ages. Get the boat and do it now so it will be part of their life. Lunatic youth sports coaches are lurking around the corner.

DC means double cabin and TC means triple cabin

Bruce
1976 Hatteras DCMY
Freestyle

 

[Freebird]

Freebird.....Hmmmm....hugs? phone numbers? Ummm....I AM a married man. Just kidding. Seriously, thanks for the warm welcome. Right my current boat is not on the TN River...down on Lake Allatoona outside of ATL. We did the gorge eariler this year and a fall cruise would be awesome...absolutely stunning scenery! Let me talk to the wife...maybe we can get ourselves up to Chatt to say hello or something...? We are also considering moving our current boat up to the river for the winter or until she sells to get us more acquainted with the river so who knows.

I'm surprised you have enough water to float your boat on "Outtatuna". Give me a holler and I may be able to help you get rid of that "other" boat and find a new home in Chattanooga for your new custom 1965 Hatteras 41DC that you decided to buy after wading through the other "stuff" out there!

Seriously, give me a yell. I got connections!

 

[Paul45c]

Woodsong, it sounds to me like you'd be an ideal candidate for one of the MY's mentioned. BTW, TC = Triple Cabin, DC = Double Cabin. They're slightly older styles no one really builds these days anymore, but they have their plusses and adherents among the faithful. Check out the whole brochures archive on Sam's main page to see the differences.

I'm currently a sportfish guy, but I keep an open mind. The older I'm getting, the less I care about speed. It becomes more an issue of quality time on the water and enjoying the destination to the fullest when you get there.

On the maintenance -- even though there's no question that a larger boat equals more maintenance time and $$$, it does not necessarily go up proportionally with boat size as you may expect. Pascal alluded to this, and I think he's right. Washdowns absolutely go up proportionally, but things like oil changes, fuel filter changes, basic maintenance on pumps & hose replacements, etc. that are bread-and-butter follow-up items do not. The bigger boats have vastly superior access, and this just makes those jobs much more pleasant if not materially easier. Nothing worse than becoming a contortionist to get at some !@#$* part the boat builder stuffed in a truly terrible place.

Still, be warned -- there's an oft-quoted rule of thumb about maintenance cost expectations in relation to boat expense, and it generally runs at around 10% of the purchase price of the old used boat. For someone paying for much of their maintenance over the long haul, I don't think that's far off the mark. Most owners see substantial costs up front while they're "getting everything right," and then the costs gradually taper as more of the boat is updated and you learn to tackle more things on your own. Oh, don't worry -- the solo owner/mechanic thing will happen eventually. Depending on how far you go down that road and your proficiency, your maint costs can dip significantly below 10%.

If that sounds unreasonable, stay smaller. Just go HATT!!

 

[34Hatt]

Welcome Woodsong
Well I must say after reading your first post I was thinking that was a big jump. But after reading the second I feel you have a good handle on it.
The bit about soccer and sports is always a problem for a lot of families so your are right to do it now. I also feel that the more fun you make it for the family the more they want to go and it hopefully does not turn into a problem to find time to go boating. Life is always a choice of what to do never enough time to do it all.
Just be prepared for heavy bills if you pay for it all which I feel is not right. You should always know what is going on with your boat and what is best for your boat. There is plenty of help here for that and also boatdiesel.com is another one.
TC twin cabin
DC double cabin
Now what is different between the two well maybe someone can teach us both that one

Good luck with your upgrade!

 

[egaito]

BTW, what does "TC" and "DC" stand for in relation to hatt models??

DC is Double Cabin, and I thought TC was Triple cabin...maybe I'm wrong.....anyway,

My profile is very similar to yours, or was when I purchased my last boat, so I'll throw my 2c in....

Thoughts on what to get:

We boat on Lake Lanier, our boat being pretty much our weekend home, though I'm spending more and more week-days on it as well. We decided bigger boat rather than lake house for cost (the lot would have cost more than the boat, never mind the house) and the lifestyle. We like the idea of being able to pull the anchor and changing neighbors. We're also a member of a yacht club on the lake, which provides a pleasant and relatively secure (read, the kids can go play) infrastructure when we're at the dock.

I upgraded from a 34' Cruisers express boat, looking at everything from bigger expresses, to flush-deck, aft-cabin, sport-fish, trawler, you name it, style boats as well. As with everything in boating, you trade off the positives and negatives of features of each to find the best fit for your boating style and needs. We ended up going for a convertible, for a few reasons.

Express boats, particularly newer ones, are built for day boating, and in some cases to look good....sexy lines, lots of living space outside, but inside is generally kind of dark. Great to go out for a day, or even a weekend, but you always feel like you're "down in" the cabin. These boats are hands-down, the easiest to move around, but check with your local yards…..On Lanier, (Angela might correct me here) I believe you can get up to about 60k lbs. lifted out before you are forced to rent a couple of cranes to have if done. The 50’ Sea Ray ‘Dancers that are on Lanier are floated onto the lake from the trailer and lifted with two rented cranes as the Travel-lifts can’t handle them. I bet the limits are even greater (the lifts smaller) on Alatoona.

Aft Cabin boats offer great space, but are "chutes and ladders" boats. Steps from the aft deck to the bridge, steps down into the solon, steps aft, steps forward, basically steps to every living area. These are tall boats, and generally have to be dis-assembled to transport.

Trawlers arguably offered the best livability, and the highest level of efficiency cruising, but most seem to be designed to keep you on the boat when you're away from the dock. Great in a seaway, but when you've got kids that want to swim off the back, or you want to board a dinghy, or get a dog on and off, a pain. Many trawler style boats also have full keels protecting the running gear, which is great for river boating.

Convertibles or Sport Fishers "waste" a lot of space with a cockpit. It takes a ladder to get to the upper helm (where I do most of my driving). They do have a saloon, so there’s climate controlled cover that still offers visibility. The fly-bridge has to be removed to travel, and some have ½ or full towers that need to be removed for trucking as well.

Our priorities when we were looking were first, that we have a child that was about 8 at the time. She spends most of her time in the water when the boat isn't moving, and we like to float out back as well. We have always had a large dog, two now, which have to be run to shore occasionally whether we’re in the slip or out on the water. I wanted a boat I could single hand comfortably as I like to go out whenever. Whenever the sun is setting, the moon is rising, the wind is blowing, or the music across the lake sounds particularly inviting. Lots of boats handle easy, you’re going to love diesels for their maneuverability, but you have to be able to run around and handle lines as well.

The “perfect” boat after I filtered everything I was looking at through my priorities was the 58 YachtFish. It has the living space of a motoryacht, with the water access of a convertible. Basically, it’s a ’53 with a cockpit added.

Ultimately, we chose a convertible (pics are on my profile), and made a few tweaks. She’s basically a sport fisherman style, that doesn’t have the windows up front glassed in, so there’s 360 degrees of visibility from the saloon, and ours has a lower station as well, so I can join the party when it’s down below. The tweaks I mentioned were adding a transom door (many have this already) and an oversized swim platform. The way the boat “works” for us, is that the cockpit makes for a great “deck” on the water, and the door to the platform makes it easy to get to for play time, and for getting the dogs in or out of the dinghy. There are only two steps in the boat, from the saloon down to the galley/cabin area. People thought I was nuts bringing a sport fisher to the lake, but it works great here. I’ve seen more of these, and similarly designed “sedans” making there way here over the years as well….heck, someone put a 48’ Ocean on the lake last year.

Thoughts on reliability:

I’ve seen new boats with more problems than old ones. I tell anyone I encounter that they should treat them all the same. Have them surveyed whether they are brand new, or 30 years old.

On an older boat, 15-30 years old, the materials, workmanship and equipment were (generally speaking) of higher quality. Hatteras is one of several “top tier” boats of their time. Wood was wood, not “foil” over particle board. Hardware, such as hinges and latches were tougher, a better grade of metal, and secured better. Fiberglass was thick, and layed up with resins that were considered better and more water resistant. I’ve Carvers at boat shows with doors that wouldn’t close right, and 30 year old Hatt’s, some not maintained all that well, where they do.

What it comes down to in an older boat is maintenance. Everything wears out, from the engines to the cushions. If you run across a boat where maintenance has been deferred, you will have to do it, or have it done, and will consider your “old boat” experience nothing but trouble. If you run across a boat with a caring owner, that has kept up with things, a 30 year old boat may give you BETTER service than a newer one as when maintenance tasks are performed, many owners take the opportunity to make improvements to prevent the need for such maintenance tasks again.

Misty left Highpoint, NC in 1968. The previous owner purchased her in a poor state of condition as the PO to him had let her go. She was completely re-fit with new engines and systems in the mid-90’s, so I ended up with a tank of a hull, with modern power, that ran great, at about 1/3 the price of a new boat. I’ve kept up with things pretty well since I purchased her, and have had fewer problems with her than any of my dock mates with newer boats. The problems I have had for the most part have been self-inflicted. I think I have the best of both worlds with an “old boat” that still has wood on the interior rather than Formica, vinyl and “monkey fur”, but still fires right up every time I hit the start button.

Being a local guy, I’d be happy to meet up with you, buy you a cocktail, and let you see Misty as a data point in your search.

I can tell you with confidence that you are on the right track as I believe raising my child on the water has kept her close to the family as she enters her teen years.

Boat: $200,000
Fuel: $2000
Maintenance: Well, lots of boat bucks….

Finding something that keeps your kids close that also puts a smile on your face: Yea, you get it…PRICELESS.

 

[Pascal]

WS

unless you end up routinely docking in tricky conditions, there is no need for a coffee grinder on these boats... by tricky i mean lots of current or at a slip with no margin for error, like near rocks, bow pulpits, etc...

otherwise, even wind isn't a big deal as the hulls are deep with a keep.

personally, i really prefer the true flush deck design of the MY to the double or triple cabin with the saloon a few steps down. having the aft deck and saloon on the same level is great and the view/privacy is better

 

[egaito]

WS

unless you end up routinely docking in tricky conditions, there is no need for a coffee grinder on these boats... by tricky i mean lots of current or at a slip with no margin for error, like near rocks, bow pulpits, etc...

otherwise, even wind isn't a big deal as the hulls are deep with a keep.

personally, i really prefer the true flush deck design of the MY to the double or triple cabin with the saloon a few steps down. having the aft deck and saloon on the same level is great and the view/privacy is better

Agree on both points! As a gas/express convert, and recently becoming a '58 driver, big props, swung by a diesel, make a difference you won't believe until you try it.

I still prefer having a cockpit, but as MY layouts go, flush deck MY's are the only one's I would own. That's why the YF struck me as a great layout.

 

[MikeP]

I think the 58YF might be the ideal boat. The interior space of the 53MY with the cockpit make a great combination. If I was buying a Hatt now, I think we MIGHT look for the 58YF rather than the 53MY. However, I say that without ever being aboard a 58YF! I'm assuming that the interior layout on a 58YF is the same as the 53 and that the additional 5 feet is the cockpit area with no reduction in interior space. The only 58 Hatt I've ever been on is the 58LRC which is a completely different (but very nice) animal.

But for any watersports - the cockpit is a great thing! Carrying SCUBA gear up down that MY ladder and doing all the gear donning on that swim platform is tight!

 

[Pascal]

mike,

an oversized swim platform maybe a good compromise... angela's is almost twice as wide as mine and it makes a huge difference. while there are structural issues, considering how strong the hatt hulls are, I'm sure you can upgrade to a much wider platform with very little reinforcement needed.