Queen bed in 53' Hat

[Maynard Rupp]

We are looking at a beautiful 1979 53 MY. All is well except that this poor boat has the twin bed option. I am sure Hatteras would have all the drawings to make the conversion to a Queen bed in the master, but has anyone done that? What kind of cost are we talking about? I would imagine that those twins have fuel tanks under the bed, but I am not sure. If we buy it, and don't sell it immedietly, I would like to convert it to a queen. It also does not have a davit on the flybridge. How tough is it to install that pipe that seems to go all the way down to the hull? Is a simple davit expensive?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Maynard,
The way that those boats were converted to queen is to put it athawtships. The dresser is set on top of the stbd bunk and the and the port bunk becomes part of the queen as well as the night stands on either side. It should not be too much work. You will need some afromosia plywood and some carpentry skills though.

My davit does not have a pole all the way to the hull, just through the hard top and bolted to the deck

Go for it.

 

[Pascal]

Sky is right. it's pretty easy to convert, there are no tanks under the beds. On the later 53s, the steering gear is low and you can cut into the cabinetry along the strern to recess the head of the bed, on centerline. the water tank along the stern isn't as thick as the cabinet. On the earlier boats, like mine, the rudder posts extends above the water tank and the rams, etc are on a shelf on top of the tank so you can't do a centerline conversion although having the queen athwarship is fine too.


Davit stand pipes only extend to the aft deck, not to the hull. It's really just a matter of cutting a hole in the hardtop, and screwing the base on the aft deck. Not sure about the cost, the simple pipe ones shouldnt' be too expensive

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Maynard,
I know of one 1979 53MY for sale in Michigan. I hope that is not the one that you are looking at. PM me for details if this boat is painted bright white and has granite counter tops and all stainless appliances. I happen to know this boat pretty well.

 

[Angela]

I have found out through the process of moving my davit back about 5 feet, that it's a pretty easy job. Just cut a hole, slip the standpipe through the hole and buildup a fiberglass "pad" for the upper plate to rest flat on - the flybridge floor is has a curve to it. No idea of the cost, though. I'm using "Gil Tokens" to get the job done.

Be darn sure that whoever does the davit install SEALS the hole properly. We are completely glassing in the hole (not just painting it with epoxy) so that when the caulk fails one day, the water will just run down the pipe and NOT into the balsa. When I see that, I'll know there is a problem. When it runs into the bals, you don't know of the problem until it's a big one.

Whoever installed my davit originally did not seal the hole well, and I have a large section of not only rotted, but completely rotted away (as in GONE) balsa. Gil is fixing that too. I'm running out of Gil Tokens.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Hey Ang...
when you repaired your hardtop, did the balsa core consist of the 1" squares on a blanket? I have a spot that will be about 4 feet X four feet where the dinghy chocks were not bedded properly. FWIW, the bolts even drip into the salon after a gusher! I figure that will be an early fall job in lieu of winter. ws

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

There is nothing wrong with the "Ozzie and Harriet" type beds....

After 38 yrs of marriage, I kinda like the ones we have.... She can come "visit" and then go back to her side........

(OH, I have no thoughts of letting her read this actual post.........)

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Maynard,
I know of one 1979 53MY for sale in Michigan. I hope that is not the one that you are looking at. PM me for details if this boat is painted bright white and has granite counter tops and all stainless appliances. I happen to know this boat pretty well.

No Sky...I saw that boat almost 2 years ago. That is bad.

 

[SeaEric]

There's a 1980 53 Classic, located behind the owner's home in Ft Lauderdale at $199K listed with Frank Gordon. Its been a year since I saw her but she has the right stuff and the ask is reasonable. May be worth a look. The guy who owns her is getting out of boating. I suspect he sells here for a reasonable offer.

 

[MikeP]

I don't know, Maynard...surely there are some nice oem queen-bed 53MYs around. Why start out with a "project boat?" (apologies to Yacht-Bill!)

 

[Angela]

Bill, I can't say for sure what used to be in there since it's all gone - just a void now, but I am replacing it with the etched balsa (the little cubes of balsa attached to a mesh) since the top up there has some curvature to it for water to run off. I'm using two layers of 3/4" balsa with a layer of glass between the two sheets of balsa.

I suspect Hatteras used the cubes since it is on a curved area.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

No offense taken Mike... I was constrained by my draft; BANK draft that is! ws

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Bill, I can't say for sure what used to be in there since it's all gone - just a void now, but I am replacing it with the etched balsa (the little cubes of balsa attached to a mesh) since the top up there has some curvature to it for water to run off. I'm using two layers of 3/4" balsa with a layer of glass between the two sheets of balsa.

I suspect Hatteras used the cubes since it is on a curved area.

So the rough thickness is about 1-1/2"? I would like to make this as pain free as possible (yeah right!). and re-use the cut out glass skin. I'd hate to get into a "shaving contest" to reshape the innards to fit.
I'd guess that theres not too much filler left as the deck feels pretty spongy up there. What should I use to make the final gap "sponge free"?? ws