Looking for "Assisted Living" 1974 53 Flush deck

[Vintageboatfan]

I really liked this boat. It was listed on YW in 2024 and I spoke with the broker several times. It was featured on Boat Snoop youtube and
I spoke with Clint several times also. I could not find a suitable marina spot for it up here in NWFL. Suitable to me that is. The owner was from up North and due to age was selling. Has anyone seen this boat recently? Hurricane season 24 was an issue also, insurance was almost impossible to bind.
It was listed with Pieroneyacht sales, whom I have contacted and the broker is looking into it for me. The boat was out of Sarasota and being kept in Alva FL on the water there in the FT Myers area. I know the owner loved the old boat, I would sure like to correspond with him if possible. What really got me was the original condition. Can't get it out of my boat dreams.

 

[SeaEric]

Her Official Number is 560894. You could order a copy of the Doc Certificate from the USCG. That would have the owner's name and address. Current Doc is good until Sept 2026, so we can assume that it's accurate.

 

[carolinacoast]

Here is the Hull #HATAM4430674

 

[Vintageboatfan]

Her Official Number is 560894. You could order a copy of the Doc Certificate from the USCG. That would have the owner's name and address. Current Doc is good until Sept 2026, so we can assume that it's accurate.

Eric,
Thank you for the info, after a lot of red tape trying to find the number on the CG website I finally found a link to log in with my .gov account. What I got was how to order the certificate for 125.00.
I have a call out to the original listing broker, she is going to contact the owner to see if the boat is still available.
Again, Thank you for the info.

 

[SeaEric]

A certified copy of the Doc Cert is $4.00 from the Coast Guard. You found a scammer website.

 

[Vintageboatfan]

Here is the Hull #HATAM4430674

Appreciate the info. I am getting closer to maybe having a conversation with the owner.

 

[Vintageboatfan]

A certified copy of the Doc Cert is $4.00 from the Coast Guard. You found a scammer website.

It was the actual USCG site, the cert was 125.00 and 4.00 if you want a paper copy mailed to you. You need a login.gov account to even access it. If it was 4 bucks it would be on the way lol.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Last I saw this boat was at Sanibel Marina or on that canal next to it.

 

[Vintageboatfan]

Last I saw this boat was at Sanibel Marina or on that canal next to it.

Thank you, do you recall about when? 2025 or 2026?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

April 2025

 

[Vintageboatfan]

April 2025

Thank you for the info. The previous broker has a call out to the previous owner, left a message but nothing yet.

 

[Vintageboatfan]

Update, the boat has been located and a discussion with the owner is underway. Super stoked!

 

[Hatty53]

I saw a boat tour of this boat on Boat Snoop (?). It was a 2 year old thread. It looked to have a very clean interior. The 8V71naturals looked fairly clean as well. I guess the only down side is the lack of a flybridge.
However that is one less set of controls and electronics to maintain.

 

[Vintageboatfan]

I saw a boat tour of this boat on Boat Snoop (?). It was a 2 year old thread. It looked to have a very clean interior. The 8V71naturals looked fairly clean as well. I guess the only down side is the lack of a flybridge.
However that is one less set of controls and electronics to maintain.

Hi Hatty, Yep, that is the one. Everyone has a dream and I am working on securing mine, working with the owner on the details. I wanted a boat with naturals and no fly bridge is fine by me. How is your 53 set up compared to the boat snoop video?

 

[Vintageboatfan]

Update:
I know some of you old Hatts (pun intended) know the challenge, a suitable marina location which I have now, acceptable insurance quote in hand, haul out yard picked out, prop shop found, 1 survey reviewed and a plan for the boat visit. A lot of positive indicators coming together.

 

[bostonhatteras]

Update:
1 survey reviewed

How old was the survey and what were the recommendations?

 

[Vintageboatfan]

How old was the survey and what were the recommendations?

It was dated June 2025. The owner had it done for insurance purposes, so a hull and general not a detailed engine systems survey.
I am waiting on the owner to get me a list of what was corrected to date.
I am pricing out services I know have not been done yet.
1. Bottom job, at some point the hull may have been peeled years ago. The new epoxy is not sticking in several areas creating bubbles under the paint not blisters specifically noted... and the surveyor recommends blasting the bottom to bare fiberglass and drying, then correctly applying the epoxy bottom coat. This appears to be the most expensive item on the survey.
2. Windlass is inop
3. Seacocks and strainers need cleaning for all motors
4. Engines need hoses/belts replaced, which I planned to replace all of them on the hard upon arrival in my marina and any bad ones before the trip up of course. I am picky about hoses, especially ones with paint on them.
5. Add air PSI to the hydraulic steering system, (not sure what this is??)
6. Fire systems were out of date in the engine room and other stations
7. Port and Stbd aft spray rails are rotted and need replaced
8. General bilge cleaning needed
9. Battery shelf is rotted, under the galley in the genset area
10. Props recommended to be pulled and serviced
11. Replace hull zincs

Last but not least, original engines and transmissions, unknown hours (doesn't scare me) as they fire right up and are reported to run smooth). I want to have a direct conversation with the owner about this, his whom passed away loved the boat, I have to think there are some records of service. Right now, the broker is "between" our communications but I will be visiting the vessel soon for 2 days of my own inspections and should have a conversation with the owner who lives up north.

I am doing my research, combing thru the blogs and most of the stuff is common and not a show stopper. I have a lot of mechanical experience, from being a Navy helicopter crew chief servicing jet engines to building hot rod engines and frame off trucks so that is my approach, I know the cost is not the same but the mechanical stuff is not scary. In the end, it will all come down to my price point offer and will it be acceptable.

Any advice/insight will be appreciated, I have read a lot of the 53 owner messages here, very helpful stuff.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The air needed in hydraulic steering reservoir probably means a leak in the steering system. It may be a leaking cylinder or helm. Take a look at those.

 

[bostonhatteras]

Not too bad of a list. The boat was out of the water long enough during survey to determine the 'blistering' was in the paint and not laminate I hope. Paint blistering will go down as the hull dries out superficially, laminate blisters will not. Watch out for your eyes if you ever try to pop one, the resulting liquid is acidic. The hynautic systems will operate properly with very little air pressure. Sometimes finding a happy equilibrium between leaks and air pressure is what to do instead of finding a tiny leak that only occurs over 20 psi or such. The air charging port is a regular schrader valve on the reservoir. The fully green hoses said to me that they are perhaps original hoses. I hope he called out the hoses as an A finding. Overheating a detroit due to broken fresh water pump hose will crack the heads, hence place the boat in peril. Pump should come off to replace those hoses. As for the fire safety equip, the ABC hand helds are easy enough to have serviced/replace. The engine room Halon 1301 unit likely is hugely out of date. You will have a tough time finding anyone to service a Halon 1301. The solution though is pretty easy. The tank by regulation is supposed to be hydro tested after 12 years, this will cost more than replacing with a new unit. If the tank isn't rusty and you can shake it and feel liquid inside just do this; find a precision digital scale such as a refrigerant scale and weight the tank. The tank will have a label on the side telling what its regulation weight is. If you weigh the tank and it is within 5% of its regulation weight that means its not leaking and still has its, within 5% or less, correct amount of halon inside. Sign the inspection tag yourself, with date and current weight at inspection and you'll save yourself a boatload of money and meet the insurance companies inspection requirement. They are supposed to be inspected every six months!

 

[Vintageboatfan]

The air needed in hydraulic steering reservoir probably means a leak in the steering system. It may be a leaking cylinder or helm. Take a look at those.

Thank you Sir, I will be checking steering and rudders in the aft stateroom access I presume. There will be a learning curve to access some of these systems. I am not familiar with helm access panels.