Specific Hatteras Issues???

[seasalt]

I am looking at several mid 80's MY's and hope that I will soon need some surveyor recommendations.

Besides the mechanical issues that come with an older boat are there any Hatteras specific issues that I should be careful of?

The first thing that comes to mind are the fiberglass fuel tanks and the fuel lines. Then hull blisters.

What else is getting old and may need attention?

Thanks

 

[Passages]

Do a search for 'That Hatteras smell'. Not uncommon for older waste lines to have issues.

Blisters are cosmetic and only a problem if you think it's a problem.

Fiberglass fuel tank are great for diesel. Nightmare for alcohol laced gasoline.

 

[Scarlett]

I did not have this problem but from others look carefully at the fly bridge deck for core problems, seems like a lot of them had this problem because the fly bridge enclosure is screwed down with a lot of screws. Also if you have fixed framed side windows on the aft deck look for a gap at the top of the frames, water can get in there and cause problems, mine had a gap as big as 1/4 inch that was partially hidden below the aluminum trim piece that runs around the edge of the upper deck. Good luck, overall great boats, I am a marine surveyor and I see a lot of terrible boats, but I bought an old Hatteras. John

 

[seasalt]

I am a marine surveyor and I see a lot of terrible boats, but I bought an old Hatteras. John

In the last six months I have attempted to buy several boats in the $400k to $500k range that were less than 10 years old and rejected all of them after survey. One had a bad case of blisters in a vinylester hull after the owner assured me that it had no blisters, Another one had coolant in the oil of a QSC11 and one had on sea trial an overheating engine and generator which the owner refused to fix.

So I am ready for an old Hatteras that someone has treated as they should. I listed four that I am considering in the For Sale Forum here to see if anyone knows one of more of them.

 

[Pascal]

The fiberglass tanks are a huge plus as they will last as long as the boat. Fuel tanks problems are only with the smaller gas boats

Core problems on decks (fly bridge and main decks) are a common problem and an easy fix if the damage is limited to a small area

Fuel lines (as well as water) are solid copper and rarely a problem

Like just about any boat, a butchered electrical system can be a source of heaches

Rule nr 1 when purchasing: do a short sea trial before survey to make sure the boat is worth surveying

 

[seasalt]

Rule nr 1 when purchasing: do a short sea trial before survey to make sure the boat is worth surveying

Boy, do you ever have that right. The brokers try to cram everything down your throat on the same day...sea trial...survey...and haulout to get you financially committed.


Good advice Pascal.

 

[krush]

The biggest problem with Hatteras is that the owners are all freaks and love their boats too much.

 

[seasalt]

The biggest problem with Hatteras is that the owners are all freaks and love their boats too much.

Understand. I used to own a Bluebird motorhome. Same deal.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Exactly. The upside of owning a Hatteras yacht is that you get to hang out here on the HOF.

The downside is who you get to hang out with. Us.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Understand. I used to own a Bluebird motorhome. Same deal.

Ha,Ha, I think you got that right. The WOG and the HOF are pretty similar.

 

[SEVEN]

The waste tank suction tube disintegrates after about 30 years. If they have been replaced with plastic you're good to go.

 

[bobk]

All good advice above. I'll add two suggestions:

1, get a marine moisture meter, learn to use it and go over all the deck and house walls with it to locate moisture in the cores on your initial visit. As was already said, it can be an easy fix, but if the problem is extensive, it becomes an expensive job.

2, Look for a boat that doesn't have signs of deferred maintenance.

Bobk

 

[Fair Well]

Hear are a couple more suggestions. I agree with everyone on deck core. Look in bow under windless and around pulpit. This is also a problem area. Look hard for Termites they are on more boats then you think and they are good at hiding. I added some pic's of some of hiding places.
In A/C condensate drain line.


Along A/C coolant line

Along wall in back deck storage area.

Good luck on your search and hope you become a proud Hatteras owner like the rest of us.

 

[krush]

Understand. I used to own a Bluebird motorhome. Same deal.

I have a Foretravel....similar ownership style. Hatteras and Foretravel have much in common.

 

[seasalt]

Ha,Ha, I think you got that right. The WOG and the HOF are pretty similar.

It takes a villiage to keep a Wanderlodge running. The WOG was my go to place when I was scratching my head on why it was not agreeing with me when I wanted to go and it did not. I am assuming the HOF is the same.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The waste tank suction tube disintegrates after about 30 years. If they have been replaced with plastic you're good to go.

Depends on the year. Somewhere in the early 80's Hatteras switched from using a copper drop pipe to PVC.

 

[krush]

It takes a villiage to keep a Wanderlodge running. The WOG was my go to place when I was scratching my head on why it was not agreeing with me when I wanted to go and it did not. I am assuming the HOF is the same.

Wanderlodges have a reputation for being overly complicated (some have altimeters, right?). I'd say a hatt is more like a Foretravel.

 

[seasalt]

Wanderlodges have a reputation for being overly complicated (some have altimeters, right?). I'd say a hatt is more like a Foretravel.

The older Blue Bird Wanderlodge FC models had an altimeter. My 2004 M380 was way too complicated for me. Open a bay and there are many flashing lights and pressure gauges...open a panel and there are more relays that you can count. Front slide is air and rear slide is electric plus front independent suspension was made in Italy with no available parts and on and on. A Hatteras at least has no Italian parts.

Looking at a 53 ED tomorrow. Wish me luck.

 

[Bob Bradley]

A Hatteras at least has no Italian parts.

Other than a couple captains.

 

[Stripes]

Leaky windows.

Hull blisters.