My 1st Hatt - 1984 52C

[JuiceClark]

I looked at the boat early on and she was very clean. This was pre-covid and pre-boat value increases. The owner was very actively fishing her out of West Palm with his son. They were going to go to an open or CC platform, I was told. I couldn't bring myself to spend 200k at that moment. Boat was listed with two different brokers during this time. I contracted on my current boat and then bailed after survey. I flew back to West Palm and offered the full asking price, but I was told the boat was coming off the market and owner had decided to keep her. I ended up recontracting on my boat after a coring deck repair around the windless.

That's good discipline in your dealing. Holding out until those core repairs were made is excellent. I'd probably have gotten excited about the boat and moved ahead knowing it would be a big job to fix that.

You're Gulf fishing her, right? We're going to be fishing her this summer and I'm starting to think about a live well. The one in floor is too dangerous - because I'll forget and fall in. So, I'm thinking about a 30-50 gallon removable tank in the back corner opposite the cockpit door.

Wherever I put it, I'm pretty sure I'll use the thru-hull and line from the watermaker...which is off the boat. I guess I can just run the overflow into the scupper?

Anyway, any pics and suggestions for a simple livewell setup would be really appreciated.

 

[Eddieclemons]

My Boat is a family cruiser in Tennessee. We do plan to winter in Florida in about 5 years.

 

[rsmith]

Dometic stock really dropped as the COVID new boat craze wanes. You'd think prices would start coming-down a bit, but it doesn't seem to be happening in any industry.

View attachment 59055

Nonessential items will ultimately crash in any financial crisis the reality hasn’t hit yet but it will. Priced have only been supported by low interest rates. That’s over now.

 

[JuiceClark]

Hey, that reminds me: Where did y'all get a good steering wheel cap? 2.25" I think.

I am curious as well. Mine came apart when I removed the wheel to service the helm. I cant remember what I miked the hole but it was a bit over 2". I never found anything on Sams and keep forgetting to call them

I was going over the boat today making a list of all the storm-affected items for the adjuster. It appears the storm blew-away my steering wheel cap! (wink wink)

Did anyone ever find a source for the 2 1/4" cap on convertibles?? I recall calling Sams long ago without success for that part. I've scoured the internet and all are 2" or 2.5". I tried whittling-down a 2.5" and it was a mess...and that nut sticking-up in the middle gets in the way.

 

[Briankinley2004]

Never found them here. I was going to try and adapt something but it sort of fell off the list

 

[rustybucket]

Would be pretty easy to design and 3d print new caps, anybody have a pic of an original cap (mine is missing too). Could do hatteras logo or something in the middle too.

 

[JuiceClark]

Would be pretty easy to design and 3d print new caps, anybody have a pic of an original cap (mine is missing too). Could do hatteras logo or something in the middle too.

That'd be sweet...especially with a "52C" centered on it.

Been meaning to buy a 3D printer for the kids, so I could play with it.

 

[warrenw]

That'd be sweet...especially with a "52C" centered on it.

Been meaning to buy a 3D printer for the kids, so I could play with it.

I have a friend 3D printing a set of Chris-Craft center caps that I promised to another Commander owner. It has been problematic, as the surface finish is poor. Even cleaning up the model and changing the slicing software couldn't clean up the surface finish enough that it is acceptable without secondary operations. My friend is likely going to hit them with multiple coats of high build primer, sand smooth and paint them gloss black.

 

[JuiceClark]

I have a friend 3D printing a set of Chris-Craft center caps that I promised to another Commander owner. It has been problematic, as the surface finish is poor. Even cleaning up the model and changing the slicing software couldn't clean up the surface finish enough that it is acceptable without secondary operations. My friend is likely going to hit them with multiple coats of high build primer, sand smooth and paint them gloss black.

I would think CNC machining something out of plastic, wood or metal would be good, but who has one of those machines sitting around!
The best thing about 3D is it's pretty cheap and one can do it himself on a laptop...but would certainly have to be well painted up there in the Sun.

 

[rustybucket]

I have a friend 3D printing a set of Chris-Craft center caps that I promised to another Commander owner. It has been problematic, as the surface finish is poor. Even cleaning up the model and changing the slicing software couldn't clean up the surface finish enough that it is acceptable without secondary operations. My friend is likely going to hit them with multiple coats of high build primer, sand smooth and paint them gloss black.

We have resin printers, so the part (even debossed words/logos) comes out flawless to 2microns, no layer lines like a filament printer. I'd still want to sand/paint. Hatteras white with navy blue gel paint (or whatever the boat accent color) in the debossed logo/font would look nice.

I'll take some dimension next time I'm at the boat and throw something together.

If you have the stl file for the commander project we could print one out for you, unfinished cost would only be $30-$40ish printed in resin.

 

[warrenw]

rustybucket,

I will take you up on that offer! I think two pieces. Send me a PM with your e-mail and I will send you the stl file.

Thanks,

We have resin printers, so the part (even debossed words/logos) comes out flawless to 2microns, no layer lines like a filament printer. I'd still want to sand/paint. Hatteras white with navy blue gel paint (or whatever the boat accent color) in the debossed logo/font would look nice.

I'll take some dimension next time I'm at the boat and throw something together.

If you have the stl file for the commander project we could print one out for you, unfinished cost would only be $30-$40ish printed in resin.