GaryNW
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2005
- Messages
- 360
- Hatteras Model
- Not Currently A Hatteras Owner
I believe in letting the boat tell me what speed it likes to run at. In the case of this 31' baby Hatt, Jim Wynne determined in 1974 that this one likes speed. I havn't run her much at my 30 kts wot because of the obvious fuel consumption issue and the fact that the PO had her seriously overpropped- 3800 rpm at wot. The engines run a little too hot for comfort at anything over 2800 rpm; I need to "cool it" until next haulout if I havn't repowered.
I can say that she is just as stable at 30 kts as 20 kts. The bow drops a few degrees, the wake flattens out and we just fly! BTW, the trim tabs are really not needed unless everyone choses to be on the same side of the boat. It tracks straight throughout the 20-30 kt range; steering is only needed to dodge logs and critters and give large passennger vessels and the navy their 500 yards.
Also my twinscans w/gps show that the economics are the same at 22-23 kts/2800 rpm as at 17 kts and everything in between. Tabs only hurt the bottom line so I only use them if I really need to get the bow down for visibility or rough conditions. Handles seas to about 3' at the normal running attitude.
Believe me, I have not become a speed freak. I spent 17 years with my first "big" boat- a 38' woody sloop. I was living large at 5 kts! Speed was not the reason I gave up sailing (workload was). Having said that, it would be a travesty to power this particular Hatt to wallow about at 20 kts. Again this was determined in 1974 by this mad genious. My obligation is to not screw-up the design intent.
BTW, kudo's to this website for having a 1974 Yachting article on the 31' in the archives. Buy the time I closed the deal in July, the PO said I knew more about the boat than he did. He had it for 25 years. He knew of Sam's and had contact with Hatteras over the years, but he wasn't a forum type of guy.
Merry Christmas all- stay safe and try to spend some quality time with your Hatt!
Gary
I can say that she is just as stable at 30 kts as 20 kts. The bow drops a few degrees, the wake flattens out and we just fly! BTW, the trim tabs are really not needed unless everyone choses to be on the same side of the boat. It tracks straight throughout the 20-30 kt range; steering is only needed to dodge logs and critters and give large passennger vessels and the navy their 500 yards.
Also my twinscans w/gps show that the economics are the same at 22-23 kts/2800 rpm as at 17 kts and everything in between. Tabs only hurt the bottom line so I only use them if I really need to get the bow down for visibility or rough conditions. Handles seas to about 3' at the normal running attitude.
Believe me, I have not become a speed freak. I spent 17 years with my first "big" boat- a 38' woody sloop. I was living large at 5 kts! Speed was not the reason I gave up sailing (workload was). Having said that, it would be a travesty to power this particular Hatt to wallow about at 20 kts. Again this was determined in 1974 by this mad genious. My obligation is to not screw-up the design intent.
BTW, kudo's to this website for having a 1974 Yachting article on the 31' in the archives. Buy the time I closed the deal in July, the PO said I knew more about the boat than he did. He had it for 25 years. He knew of Sam's and had contact with Hatteras over the years, but he wasn't a forum type of guy.
Merry Christmas all- stay safe and try to spend some quality time with your Hatt!
Gary
