Question for the sportfish crowd

[jim rosenthal]

I was told years ago by someone at either Sam's or the factory that the HP version of the 46C had more reinforcement in the hull than the standard version. How much, I don't know.

 

[Briankinley2004]

Madhatter - Yes the head is in the V along with the anchor locker which is much easier to access than the one on my 55C (Had to climb up on the bunk beds). As for cruise and mpg I really haven't had her out other than sea trial. The boat was located literally a 3 minute drive from my house and about 30 min by water (idling only). According to the owner he got 1 nmpg at hull speed (7-8 knots) and about 35 gph at cruise.
I was underwhelmed on the sea trial. The boat is/was severely over loaded with excess weight. After the trade the prior owner removed 7 truck loads of junk from the boat. There were canned goods in every nook & cranny. Tons of tools, etc. He installed 2" marble tops on the counters, ice maker, 3 small refrigerators, a second generator (600#), dingy, davit, spare wheels, etc. One of the guest bunks has a heavy snap on type tool box mounted on it. He also replaced all the flooring with a plastic core laminate type product with a rubber mat underneath. He applied a similar product over all the walls in the state rooms. He gave me a box that was left and it probably weighed 50# and was enough to do about 1/3 of the salon floor.
I guess I said all that to say I was only getting about 14-15 knots at 1800 rpm on sea trial with a clean bottom. I have not had a chance to run her since he offloaded all of his gear. I plan on lightening her some more but not sure if I want to get rid of the second generator. It is in the lazerrette but far enough forward that a leaky hatch wouldn't mess with it. Also probably will do some wheel work as she was a 100rpm shy of making 2300 at WOT. Will know more when I run with the load she was designed for

Jim - Thanks for the info. I am curious to know in case I ever go with the 892's. These have 600 HR on documented rebuilds so I hope they stay in there. Most likely the next boat I will have is someone else's charter boat (rented) or a friend with a boat but this would still be good info to have.

 

[madhatter1]

Doesn’t matter, way overkill either way.

 

[madhatter1]

At 1800 I get 22-23 SMPH so with the lower HP propped correctly seems right. Our fuel burn for RPM should be different but for any given speed should be the same. I cruise at 20-23 SMPH and the 8-71’s should easily achieve the same. Top speed? Who cares?

 

[rsmith]

I’ve run both versions when they were new charter fishing the NE canyons back then the run offshore was typically at WOT or near it. You run 70nm each way every minute of fishing time counts. That’s why SF got faster and faster. The 46HP with the 8/92 would make 28kts @2300 2100 gave about 23-24. The 8/71 46 from 74-79 had 1.5/1 trans gear reduction these boats would cruise solid 20kts@2100 topped about 23@2300 Hatteras had problems with shaft breakage. And the Alison M gears had issues also. In 1980 Hatt went to 1.9/1 ratio in the Alison M gears. Alison had solved the transmission problems at that point but the bigger slower turning wheels knocked 2 knots off the speed. I got on a brand new 1980 46 and couldn’t get over 20kts 2100 yielded 18kts.
But weight will kill speed. We never carried more than 50 gallons of water and the heads were pumped over the side to keep the holding tanks empty.
Kinda funny story now anyway. First HP boat I ran the owner had upgraded from a 37. He was a big guy probably close to 400lbs. He loved the fact the HP had the queen bed in the bow stateroom. The night before he says he’s going to sleep all the way to the canyon. Typically we leave Cape May about 4-4:30am run hull speed until it starts getting light enough to see debris and pots. We were probably 15 nm offshore when I cranked it up. There’s a saying when the sun comes up the wind comes up. We’re hammering along at almost 28 kts and I hit a couple big holes. Seas were only 2-4 but every once in a while a hole would open up and the boat would drop into it. Jim the owner comes out of the salon screaming I almost killed him. Apparently he was bouncing on the bed so hard he couldn’t get off said it was like a trampoline and nearly hit the ceiling. We released 4 white marlin and jumped off a blue that day so he calmed down by the time we got back to the dock. But I don’t think he ever slept in that forward stateroom underway again

 

[jim rosenthal]

The HP version of that 46C is fairly rare, I think. I don't know what the cost difference was versus the standard 46C, but I think between the 92 series engines and the added structure it would not have been cheap. The 8-92TAs add quite a bit of horsepower, and performance as noted above.

If I had that boat now and wanted to go faster, I'd look at Cummins or Cat 4 strokes, 700-800 hp. She would fly. This would not be cheap, though.

 

[Briankinley2004]

Madhatter I guess we have hijacked your thread so I will continue to hold it hostage until you get your question answered. Rsmith you have an interesting comment about the gears. Mine has M15's. I thought they were 1.5:1 but I guess not. As for the shaft breakage there is actually a storage pocket in my transom for a spare shaft. I guess it was really a bad problem. On the 71/92 question I guess even Hatteras got confused. I pulled my manual this am and it indicates I have 8-92's but the spare parts list includes a manual for 71 series. I checked the port serial number and it matches the engine so they were not replaced. Either the mechanic rebuilt as 71's and bought 71 parts, putting them into 92s??? (I have copies of the papers) and subsequent surveyors mistook 92's for 71's or Hatteras made a mistake on the paper work. I have attached a picture below. Based on the speed numbers your posts sheds alot of light onto my craft.

 

[Briankinley2004]

I just realized even the serial number (8VA) means these are V71 series engines. I think the 8-92's were 8VF. Either the typist at Hatteras made an error or someone gave them the wrong information in my case.

 

[madhatter1]

Thread is not hijacked. Started out as a 83 46 thread.

In everything I read early on about the 46HP which has the same 2.5" shafts I never saw anything about breakage. And Jim responded that the HP with 8-92's is rare. Most of the ones I have seen listed during the HP years have the 8-92's. Getting older and while still working 24/7 (business owner) I do have a bit more time available to amuse myself looking crap up. And the dry sleeve 71's are probably a better package with no O rings to fail as I'm sure not many are willing to cruise as fast as I potentially could.

But in the words of Cal Naughton JR, try to take my power away and I'll sock ya right in the eye!

 

[Captain Ralph]

8VA is the serial number suffix for a 8V71.
8VF is the serial number suffix for a 8V92

 

[rsmith]

Thread is not hijacked. Started out as a 83 46 thread.

In everything I read early on about the 46HP which has the same 2.5" shafts I never saw anything about breakage. And Jim responded that the HP with 8-92's is rare. Most of the ones I have seen listed during the HP years have the 8-92's. Getting older and while still working 24/7 (business owner) I do have a bit more time available to amuse myself looking crap up. And the dry sleeve 71's are probably a better package with no O rings to fail as I'm sure not many are willing to cruise as fast as I potentially could.

But in the words of Cal Naughton JR, try to take my power away and I'll sock ya right in the eye!

Shaft breaking was on the early 8/71 46 with 2” shafts and the 1.5/1 transmissions.

 

[rsmith]

Madhatter I guess we have hijacked your thread so I will continue to hold it hostage until you get your question answered. Rsmith you have an interesting comment about the gears. Mine has M15's. I thought they were 1.5:1 but I guess not. As for the shaft breakage there is actually a storage pocket in my transom for a spare shaft. I guess it was really a bad problem. On the 71/92 question I guess even Hatteras got confused. I pulled my manual this am and it indicates I have 8-92's but the spare parts list includes a manual for 71 series. I checked the port serial number and it matches the engine so they were not replaced. Either the mechanic rebuilt as 71's and bought 71 parts, putting them into 92s??? (I have copies of the papers) and subsequent surveyors mistook 92's for 71's or Hatteras made a mistake on the paper work. I have attached a picture below. Based on the speed numbers your posts sheds alot of light onto my craft.

View attachment 63497

And the paperwork shows MH gears which were put on the 8/92 and 12/71N

 

[madhatter1]

Madhatter I guess we have hijacked your thread so I will continue to hold it hostage until you get your question answered. Rsmith you have an interesting comment about the gears. Mine has M15's. I thought they were 1.5:1 but I guess not. As for the shaft breakage there is actually a storage pocket in my transom for a spare shaft. I guess it was really a bad problem. On the 71/92 question I guess even Hatteras got confused. I pulled my manual this am and it indicates I have 8-92's but the spare parts list includes a manual for 71 series. I checked the port serial number and it matches the engine so they were not replaced. Either the mechanic rebuilt as 71's and bought 71 parts, putting them into 92s??? (I have copies of the papers) and subsequent surveyors mistook 92's for 71's or Hatteras made a mistake on the paper work. I have attached a picture below. Based on the speed numbers your posts sheds alot of light onto my craft.

View attachment 63497

Brian, We are at Clearwater Beach marina 12/26 till the 29th if you want to run down and compare boat differences (or more likely similarities) over cocktails. Bet with all that weight removed it runs just fine and might make full RPM. We use our little electric scooters to get around so even if traffic is gridlocked we can still get around. Got to get our Frenchie's She Crab soup and super fresh red snapper from their fish market to cook on the boat.

 

[Sonic Boom]

Appreciate everyone sharing knowledge on this thread. Our series 1 46C was one of the few with 8v71N's and had the 2:1 gears and not the 1.5:1's. Was this due to being a non turbo engine?

Our series 2 46HP has the 1.5:1 gears. MH15R, not sure what the R means?

Anyone know the factory prop size on the 46HP?

Ironically, both boats are blocked on the same yard right now so easy to see the differences in the 46C and 46HP

 

[Briankinley2004]

The R is for Right hand rotation