How Long Did It Take To Restore Your Hatt?

[Freebird]

Okay guys, now you are getting the hang of the intended question posed in this thread. There is no right or wrong way to answer it as there certainly is no set time that I now of to accomplish a restoration.

I asked the question just to get an idea of how long you guys spent restoring your boats to your personal levels of satisfaction.

 

[Boss Lady]

Randy,

I am closing in on completion of a total rebuild of the same level as Chris is doing to Boss Lady. Gutted my 53C to the Hull and rebuilt everything. Did keep the 12V71's but went completely through them. I am almost embarassed to say this but it has taken close to ten years. I did everything myself. Fool's rush in, etc..... I've been a Hatt owner for eleven years but only a Hatt user one year long ago and again now. I like being a Hatt user much better than a Hatt restorer. I think I would advise anyone wanting to restore a boat to not take on any part themselves that keeps the boat out of commission more than a few months. Keep the boat useable even if she's not 100% complete. Makes the job much better if some fun can be mixed in. For the big jobs hire it out to the professionals, get it done, and get back to using the boat. I regret not doing it that way. I should have called Starman.

Barry Barbour

HI Barry, I feel your pain. I had to buy another boat to fill in for Boss Lady. But it will be worth the wait.

You can't have the Starman til I get finished with him! You other guys need to stop calling him too. I found him first. Ninner ninner ninner...

 

[Freebird]

HI Barry, I feel your pain. I had to buy another boat to fill in for Boss Lady. But it will be worth the wait.

You can't have the Starman til I get finished with him! You other guys need to stop calling him too. I found him first. Ninner ninner ninner...

Hey, I have a reservation for two weeks from now!

Don't be giving up my time slot, and don't forget you told me I could live on "Boss Lady" while Paul was giving ole' "Freebird" a complete makeover!

Don't forget to leave the light on for me and I'll need a little heater too! It brings me true "Joy" to spend time on fellow member friends' boats!

 

[Boss Lady]

I ain't worried cause you have to get that one armed bandit up to NC before anything happens, LOL Boss Lady has two staterooms so if you come you can have the guest room all to yourself. It is closer to the frig anyway.LOL

 

[Freebird]

Closer to the "frig"? Is that what you're calling her these days?

 

[ELECTRA VI]

Okay guys, now you are getting the hang of the intended question posed in this thread. There is no right or wrong way to answer it as there certainly is no set time that I now of to accomplish a restoration.

I asked the question just to get an idea of how long you guys spent restoring your boats to your personal levels of satisfaction.

I took me three years starting with the interior and moving to the exterior. Of course, the big jobs like stripping the interior and painting the hull sides etc. were done on my vacations.
George Jeandheur
ELECTRA VI
1966 34C #068

 

[Freebird]

I've got the interior stripped on my 58 and all my paint is really good topside. That thing looks better stripped than it did with all that silly stuff in place. I need furniture, but that is certainly no big deal.

It just needs a good buffing like I had Mike Bustle do when he stripped the name off the transom. That transom looks great with plenty of depth and shine to it. I've played with other topside areas and know they will come out well also. Bottom paint is less than two years old.

I have yet to get anybody to take my money for repairing the swim platform that got damaged by me handing that kid the wrong line! Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm ready anytime you are Pascal.

 

[67hat34c]

oh forgot to mention also depends on level of perfection. restoring to new or better than new finish and condition being the highest level, would suspect your 41 is in this area.

Not seen your 58 but next time you are around will have to take a ride

 

[Freebird]

Steve, I'll be happy to take you for a ride on the 58TC, just bring a big paddle!

The 41DC is the best example of the breed I have seen and I say that from an unbiased point of view. She is one sweet ride and simply overwhelmed me the first time I took the helm

I spent a lot of time on that boat with the PO before making the purchase, and everytime I boarded her I found more to like.

I certainly would like to see the 58 brought up to the level of my 41 even if I have to watch someone else do it. Old Freebird deserves better than she got from her PO's in many respects.

 

[hunshatt]

badbird, here you go..... http://ajxne.com/hunshatt/
not much done lately, as it was buried in cold white stuff, and the shrink came crashing down, so now we wait for the thaw. On a good note the motors are just about done.
Thuddddddddd

 

[Freebird]

Dang Thudddd, that polish express cruiser makes ole' Freebird look mighty good!

I did notice one picture which I assume to be of the ceiling which is covered in wood with recessed lighting. That is exactly what I had envisioned doing with my 58 along with matching wood flooring in the upper salon.

I hate to sound critical, but why the heck did you cut the top off that old Classic? To each his own, but I kinda like the look of the boat with the hardtop there myself. Maybe you just have a better imagination than I do as to how you view they way she'll look when you transform her from a caterpillar to a butterfly.

Looks like you may end up winning the Freebird Associated Restoration Tournament trophy with that project.

 

[Norm Mayer]

Hey Bird! Glad to see you back on the forum. Hope all is well, at least as well as expected. Hope to see you down this way again soon. The 58 Hatt you looked at is now tendered right in front of mine. Three Hatts lined up together! Want to make it 4? I think we could arrange it!

 

[Freebird]

Hey Bird! Glad to see you back on the forum. Hope all is well, at least as well as expected. Hope to see you down this way again soon. The 58 Hatt you looked at is now tendered right in front of mine. Three Hatts lined up together! Want to make it 4? I think we could arrange it!

Hey Norm! Good to be home in more ways than one!

All is well, but I never know what to expect these daze and still keep a suitcase packed just in case! So Dan and Sharon are in line with you now? Why didn't you line the Hatts up by length starting with yours? Now you have to sit and look at that big Hatt which is blocking your view of the bay! Is the 41DC I saw one of the three in a row now? What happened to the nice folks with the trawler behind you? PM if you want to keep the rest of the guys from sharing. Either that or give me a call.

I came by your marina on the way back up from Miami, but all of you were gone. I'll be back down again soon though, and yes, see if you can arrange to put me in front of Dan and Sharon! Say "hey" to Miss Sue, is she still running around too?

 

[34Hatt]

I hate to sound critical, but why the heck did you cut the top off that old Classic? To each his own, but I kinda like the look of the boat with the hardtop there myself. Maybe you just have a better imagination than I do as to how you view they way she'll look when you transform her from a caterpillar to a butterfly.

Well maybe its his Imagination or he just Drinks a lot more of the Goose, Juice you don't get the nickname Thudddd for no reason

I saw the sketch of the lay out it will be pretty cool when done!!!!
I don't know if you ever finished digging it out of the snow yet

 

[hunshatt]

Dan, not yet, other issues that I think I mentioned. If not and you want the low down give a ring a ding.

Bad bird. before it was cut off all the headliner was done over in white pine beadboard that I put 6 coats of thompsons water seal on(top and bottom) I had about 60 of those halogen puck lites thru out, on dimmers. Neat effect. as the wood got older it became a nice golden color.

Far as the express plan. We got lots of stupid people up here(myself included, i think), so it's tuff to find crew. Xpress is easier for me to run with 1 crew member. The river that I dock in has a 9knt current coming and going, so its a joy when the wind kicks in. stupid crew = me haveing to wind the fish, gaff the fish, and run the boat(schooly blue fin tuna) tuff to do from a flybridge.
after I looked into selling the hatt (figured 50-70k) and if I was willing to throw even another 100k(which I wasn't) I'd have some claped out hunk of crap that I'd have to restore anyhow. Sooooooooo after surfing the net, talking to people, stealing ideas at the liquerdale show and wasting wayyyyyyyy to much of Tom Slanes time I came up with a budget, a plan, and a time line, as well as realistic expectations of how much I'd get done every fall and winter. this year I figure to be back in the water, pretty much running just 12v with the bulkheads and walls replaced, and the new power and decks, but almost no finish. I guess you'd call it "charter ready" sometime in July. kathi says as long as the head works she'll be ok with it.
The other thing, almost all my systems were less than 3 years old cause I replaced everything when I first got her, so most of the salvage is reusable, a/c, head, stove, wire , fuse pannels, bla bla bla

 

[neosin]

It's kinda like the IRAQ war... It'll be finished when it's finished and we have had someone from dang near every country come in and try to mess it up!

Just had to chime in...

I doubt anyone sits back and says, "ahhhh, all done!" From what I can tell, being a newbie Hatt owner, refurbs never have an end date, always something to do........