Hull #1, 50' Motoryacht 1964 "HOPE"

[my50hatteras]

Feeling out the market. We are considering becoming landlubbers again.

We have the No. 1 Hull that Hatteras produced in the 50' Motoryacht. We are also the 2nd owner. We have been living aboard since we bought Hope from the original owners back in 2012. Since then, we have updated the Galley with new corian counter-tops, induction cook-top, convection microwave oven. Replaced the dinette with custom built buffet and bar, new lighting, and headliner. I hauled Hope out in 2014; new bottom paint with barrier coat, all new through hulls, and sea cocks and new sea strainers for AC and generators. We've ripped out the old carpet and replaced with laminate wood upstairs in the salon, and vinyl flooring through out the downstairs. All new Awlgrip for the decks and topside.

Like I said earlier, not really wanting to let go, but just seeing if there's a potential buyer.

Thinking of asking $75,000

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[M&MArmenta]

I would think that with your improvements and if she is in good overall condition, including engines, you could get a little more for her. We have hull #28 and live on board. Can you provide a couple of pictures of what you did with the dinet; we are looking for ideas on what we could do with ours? Thanks, Marcus & Michelle

 

[Walter P]

I seem to remember that Hull #1 of the 50 MY was completely restored back in the early 80's. The story going around was that the job was done by Hatteras. Anyone else remember anything about it?

Walt

 

[Fanfare]

I remember speaking with Hope's captain when she was headquartered in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, probably in the '80s. She was a bonefishing charter boat. Had three Boston Whalers on her bridge deck. Would pick up charters in Marsh, then go around the bottom of Abaco and up to the flats east of Grand Bahama for a week at a time. I commented this must be hard to do without a flying bridge to look down and read the water. He agreed, but otherwise couldn't carry the Whalers. He made no mention of a prior factory overhaul, but I can't really pin down the decade we spoke.

Sam's model brochure section says the 50MY series began in December of 1964 and ended in October of 1968. My boat, hull #22, was delivered on January 7, 1966, so must have been built in late 1965. (Dad wanted her titled as a "newer boat." so had delivery delayed a bit.) I have not personally seen any other 50MYs, but because we have the identical layout of the 53MYs which proved so popular it seems to me unlikely that only two more were built between 1965 and 1968. I do know that a few hulls after Fanfare the salon was widened a foot by taking six inches off each side deck. So there have to be more. If there was no interest in this size MY would Hatteras then have retooled for the only slightly modified 53MY?

I would expect that orders for a particular model then in production would be aggregated because it makes no sense to make fiberglass boats one at a time. Pull out the molds, make a batch of hulls and decks, set up the jigs for the wooden interiors, produce and drop everything in at once and get them out the door. With all the different models Hatteras was making in 1966-7 floor space at the factory must have been at a premium. So where are the other 50MYs?

 

[jim rosenthal]

I really like the way these boats look sans bridge- I'm sure the bridge makes for better running, but they really look nice just with the pilothouse.

 

[my50hatteras]

I seem to remember that Hull #1 of the 50 MY was completely restored back in the early 80's. The story going around was that the job was done by Hatteras. Anyone else remember anything about it?Walt

That was hull no.1 for the 42' I believe. It's parked at one of the docks in Ft. lauderdale I think.

 

[season]

Hello all. While I check the forum daily I have not posted in a while. We moved to Port St Lucie, Fl last fall and I am now actively looking to get back on the water. Boarded a 29 Blackfin FB for sale yesterday in Deerfield Beach. While searching the forum for feedback on the brand came across this link to a video of the boat test for Hull #1 for the Hatteras 50 footer. Could this actually be film of Hope? Thanks to all on the forum for all of the great information on everything marine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teRr6yPOa8I

 

[pizzazsdaddy]

HOPE was first sold and delivered in December 1964 by Spencer Boat Company in West Palm Beach FL. (The Hatteras dealer at the time). I do know that Cable Marine East in Ft. Lauderdale rebuilt her engines about 25 years ago. The first owner maintained her at Cable Marine in Ft. Lauderdale and Spencer/Rybovich in West Palm during the time he owned her. I wish I were in the market right now. I would want her. She's American Yacht Building History.

If I were Hatteras I would scoop this boat up, restore and update it, hit the drawing boards and create a modern version of the same great concept of live aboard luxury and comfort. As a 50 or a 53. Display both boats side by side when you're ready to introduce the new one. "The Quintessential American Motor Yacht"...is Back! Hatteras could use a home run.

Consider how many people are spending $4 Million these days on ugly looking, uncomfortable, Sedan style Day Cruisers? What are they thinking??? That segment of the marketplace has never seen a mid-size flush deck, aft cabin "Motor Yacht" built by anyone in 25 years.

 

[Boatsb]

Back to the same argument. How many people will buy the classic lines and look? How do you amortize the investment of the project when the people interested in it are wanting to buy them when they hit 10 or 15 years old not new?

The market is what it is not what we want. I'd love to see a mid 40's convertible like the 45/46 with modern power and amenities but I'm not ready to buy it. I want to see it. I'm not the hatteras new boat buyer the need to attract and neither are you.

 

[krush]

That segment of the marketplace has never seen a mid-size flush deck, aft cabin "Motor Yacht" built by anyone in 25 years.

That's because it truly is a pretty useless design for people that want a boat that size.

If Hatteras would have made boats like this in the 80's/90's and today, I think they would've sold a lot. People want to be near the water--that's why they are on a boat.

 

[pizzazsdaddy]

I don't know why you seem to have such a problem with me BoatsB. I am merely pondering the topic of motor yacht design. The original 50 Hatteras was groundbreaking. I'm interested in everything about boats. Including new ones.

I happen to think the new Hatteras 70 is pretty cool looking. I also happen to think a new generation 53 using the same styling cues as the new Hatteras 70 could be a hit.

I just hope that HOPE goes to a loving new owner who can appreciate what she started more than 50 years ago.

 

[Boatsb]

History is a wonderful thing but progress is what it represents. Progress from what was the norm 50 years ago is not progress today.

Buyers today want significantly different boats. He old styles just don't sell boats and suggesting a. Company should go back an restyle their modern boats like old style is not going to build sales in the mainstream.

Even the musle cars they build today that have ties in styling to the old school have a very limited market.

 

[savarese1]

It is a beautiful boat and with my limited knowledge it is worth more than $75,000.

 

[my50hatteras]

Hello all. While I check the forum daily I have not posted in a while. We moved to Port St Lucie, Fl last fall and I am now actively looking to get back on the water. Boarded a 29 Blackfin FB for sale yesterday in Deerfield Beach. While searching the forum for feedback on the brand came across this link to a video of the boat test for Hull #1 for the Hatteras 50 footer. Could this actually be film of Hope? Thanks to all on the forum for all of the great information on everything marine.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teRr6yPOa8I

Yes, the video is of Hope. I found the video along time ago and even contacted Hatteras to find out. Another really cool thing is if you look up 50' Hatteras for aparrel, the shirts and stuff that have to old classic look is of my boat.

 

[my50hatteras]

Thanks again everyone for the feedback. Im still up in the air about getting rid of her. We've been living aboard for awhile and just really love the lifestyle. As much as I know that owning a house is usually a better financial decision, Hope is a part of me. I will be posting pics soon.

 

[pizzazsdaddy]

Hi My50Hatteras. Is there an e-mail address for interested parties to contact you? Also, please post a few current photos here.

 

[M&MArmenta]

My50HatterasWe have the 28th 50M/Y and love it! We love the classic Hatteras style and look; and we love the life style - we sold our house, 90% of our stuff and live on board. We wouldn't trade it for he world!Just think, if your neighbors piss you off you just move the whole "house"! LOL!

 

[jim rosenthal]

Years ago, there was a company in Annapolis which built very fine motoryachts. Parts of the boatyard that built them (John Trumpy and Sons, I think) are still in Eastport, Annapolis.

There have been several efforts to revive the Trumpy name and designs. None of them have gone anywhere as far as I can tell. The usual series of events is a lot of lovely sketches, a big press launch, and then nothing. Certainly no actual boats. If anyone knows different, I'd like to be wrong about this.

Old makes DO get revived occasionally- the exception which perhaps proves the rules is Indian Motorcycles, which (after a few failed attempts) was bought by Polaris, who successfully revived the name, with a complete line of modern bikes which look like vintage Indians. This is an instructive case of how to succeed at the revival of an old name, because Polaris had 1) a great deal of capital to do this 2) a very good engineering staff already available in house 3) experience building motorcycles.

Hatteras Yachts has two of those ingredients. They also own the designs for their older boats. But (as Scott points out) modern MY customers are not shopping for an old-appearing boat (if you want to be kind, you can call it 'vintage styling'), any more than modern luxury car buyers are looking for a 1957 Cadillac.

For the cost of a modern MY (several million bucks) you COULD buy a 53 or a 58 Hatteras, and completely go through it and install modern propulsion, electricals, plumbing, nav systems etc. You would then have a beautiful boat that was worth a small fraction of what you had put into it. You would also have the small interior spaces, dated but beautiful styling etc, that the boat was built with.

When you were done with such a boat, you would end up selling it to a member of this forum for pennies on the dollar. The forum member would be delighted, and you would have taken a bath on the project.

There isn't a huge market for big MYs right now, evidently, and the segment we represent- folks who prefer the styling and layout of the older boats- is a small part of a market that isn't that large to begin with. I do wish Hatteras would make a 'small' convertible (the size of the express boat they now build) but I think building a boat that looks like their old MY series would be a pointless endeavor. New MY buyers are not the same people as buyers of used older MYs; they are a different income group and possibly a different demographic altogether.

 

[Walter P]

I believe Jim and Scott are correct. While most of us on this forum lament the demise of our beautiful old classics, most of us are not the folks that will plunk down a couple of million or more for a brand new model. We do however have a real option, which is a complete restoration of our old girls (boats, not Admirals). While the cost would be substantial, it would still be considerably less than a new boat and the result would be delightful for us but not necessarily for the general market. A major factor to consider is that the original year of manufacture follows the boat so that even though you may have a "like new" boat, it is always "like new and not really new. Shops like Slane's can accomplish such a task and do it well. It is an option that I have contemplated but since I'm pushing the 80 mark, I don't think I have enough time left in boating to justify the cost and as Jim said you will lose most of your investment on a resale, so you need to keep and enjoy it yourself for a long time. There are only a few Yachtsman Willy's or Quinton's out there with the time, energy and skill, not to mention patience to be DIY restoration mavens.

Walt

 

[jim rosenthal]

The thing about YW and Quinton is that they are doing it themselves, saving huge amounts in labor costs because they are using their own time. And they have the skill to do it. I don't- I am reasonably handy but not nearly at that level. We have some outstanding craftspeople on this forum, and their results show it.