Well Now I've Gone and Done it!

[riverrandy]

Three years ago I started my search for what I thought would be the perfect boat to acquire, refurbish, and live aboard. I have made the leap and have committed myself to 1975 Hatteras 64' (yes the V-Drive boat). A neglected gem that will take years of TLC as well as blood sweat and tears...and funding. Fortunately I am in the marine parts industry, and have tons of contacts, know how, fortitude, and passion. And being single will help as I can't spend too much time with the other woman...she is the only one. Wish me luck or send condolences. I will try to catalog my efforts for all to watch and laugh at.

 

[Boatsb]

Enjoy the journey.

 

[MadHatter53]

Congrats !! She looks grand.

 

[RonNP]

Welcome to the family. As another single guy I can promise you your Hatteras will be the most expensive woman you've ever had the chance to know but also the most fun!
Ron

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I really like that model. Not too many were ever built. There is one up here in the Great Lakes. It spends most of the summer up at Mackinaw Island. Great layout. Nice lines. Glad to see someone bringing her back to her former glory.

 

[SEVEN]

What an adventure you have in store for yourself. Congratulations and welcome to the forum. Please post photos of your fixes.

 

[eze2bme]

Welcome and congratulations - that is also one of my favorite models - has a great layout - and with the aft engine room the layout seems even bigger and more logically laid out. Enjoy and please keep us posted on progress - LOTS of pics!!

 

[madhatter1]

I brought one back from the dead and recently went as turn key as you can get. Either way these battleships are worth the ride.

 

[riverrandy]

Here is a current slide show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDNVMXiZkII

 

[Scarlett]

Nice to see your pictures. I thought that boat was well priced but it sat on the market for a long time because the pictures they had on Yachtworld were so horrible. I think if they had put some better pictures on Yachtworld from the start I think that boat would have sold a long time ago. Congrats to you for getting it. I just spent 2 years completely rehabbing a 53 MY. And it has been very satisfying. Good luck. John

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Here is a current slide show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDNVMXiZkII

Great photos. The boat looks pretty good. Nothing that can't be brought back. It does look like the connecting cables between batteries are too small. They should be 4/0.


So, how quiet is she when running? It seems the pilothouse would be really quiet with the engines all the way in the stern.

 

[tomrealest]

Thanks for saving another old Hatt. What is your focus going to be in the beginning?

Is the boat in Texas?

 

[riverrandy]

Nice to see your pictures. I thought that boat was well priced but it sat on the market for a long time because the pictures they had on Yachtworld were so horrible. I think if they had put some better pictures on Yachtworld from the start I think that boat would have sold a long time ago. Congrats to you for getting it. I just spent 2 years completely rehabbing a 53 MY. And it has been very satisfying. Good luck. John

Originally I was scared off by the pictures, but I kept coming back to the layout. Then I made the trip to see her. She was so disorganized and messy I was no longer surprised at the quality of photos. once I saw through the clutter, and inspected bone dry bilges (BTW they did not expect me) I was hooked. The photos I put up was after four 14 hour days of cleaning and tossing (3 p/u truck loads to the dump) and 3 inches off the waterline. Like all Hatt's her bone structure was great, and I could work with the rest. on the hard getting bottom paint.

 

[riverrandy]

Great photos. The boat looks pretty good. Nothing that can't be brought back. It does look like the connecting cables between batteries are too small. They should be 4/0.

I have to pull the batteries and the boxes as the sub floor is bad, so I'll make sure the cabling is ABYC compliant.

So, how quiet is she when running? It seems the pilothouse would be really quiet with the engines all the way in the stern.

very quiet. the bulkhead between the engine room and staterooms is over 6" thick of a 3/4" plywood sandwich with 2-2" sound insulation panels and an air space! I have yet to live with the engines running and sitting on the aft deck.

 

[riverrandy]

Thanks for saving another old Hatt. What is your focus going to be in the beginning?

cleaning and organizing, systems checks and education. then everything the surveyor points out

Is the boat in Texas?

Yes Corpus Christi but moving to Seabrook as soon as possible.

 

[BFDfirefighter16]

Congratulation! I was just asking Skip Denison about what happened to her last month in Ft Lauderdale at the boat show. Knowing there were only 16 of the 64's built I'm not sure I will ever find another one. It was nice to see some actual pictures of what she looks like. The YW pictures were horrible.

 

[riverrandy]

Congratulation! I was just asking Skip Denison about what happened to her last month in Ft Lauderdale at the boat show. Knowing there were only 16 of the 64's built I'm not sure I will ever find another one. It was nice to see some actual pictures of what she looks like. The YW pictures were horrible.

I looked at a 72'(?) i think, in Ft. Lauderdale back in august. She was a 64' that had a cockpit added on. Decent shape, but more than what i wanted at this time. good luck on your search, and if I hear of one ill pass the word.

 

[BFDfirefighter16]

If your ever ready to move up in size. Please let me know!

 

[nautibake]

Here is a current slide show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDNVMXiZkII

Congrats and thanks for sharing the photos. That looks like an awesome layout! I didn’t even know that option existed. I would have thought they should have sold many more of these than they did. We love our galley-up 58 but the extra set of stairs you have going down below, the engine room location and the wide beam with the full walk-around look like superb design features. Good luck, and I will look forward to following your progress!!

 

[Red Hatt]

The v drive has never been a popular design, thus the reason Hatteras stopped production. Plus all the engine weight is in the stern.