What did I get myself into?

[danshat]

Hello all,

I am the proud new owner of a 1963 34DC. I don't think it has been cared for since 1964. The hull and most of the superstructure is sound. The engines and interior are a different story. I am considering several options for the repower (which I am probably going to tackle first). I can't decide between the Crusader gas engines and the Volvo Penta D6-310. Any ideas from those who know?

 

[67hat34c]

depends on what you want to get from the engines. do you want economy or performance. also consider the ethanol issue and the fuel tanks.
If you want a good moderate speed cruiser then small cummins diesels would make a reliable package.

When reviewing engines dont be fooled by the hp rating, these boats need torque to move not hp. Example the small block crusader has plent of hp but not enough torque.

 

[MikeP]

Lots to be said both ways re gas/diesel on boats in that size-range.

Read this and his related articles if you haven't already:
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasDiesel.htm

The HP/Torque thing can be confusing but the easiest way to view it is:
assuming the total boat weight is the same, a gas and a diesel engine, both producing the same HP will move the boat at the same speed. The difference will be that the gas engine will produce that power at, say 4400RPM and the diesel will produce it at say, 2500 RPM. So the diesel is said to have more "torque" because torque generally refers to the low RPM section of a power curve and HP to the high rpm section of the curve. In actuality, it's just a confusing bit of jargon we developed many years ago for marketing purposes!

 

[Passages]

What do you have for power now?

If gas, I'd stay with gas and rework the fuel tank for ethanol.

Gas to diesel conversions can be done but are VERY expensive.

 

[akintosyali]

I got at 1965 Hatt, with Chrysler 426 engines. Same story - the boat sat on blocks for 15 years...

Hire a off hour mechanic from craigs list. at $30/hr, have them go through the engine. They know what to do.. This will cost you about $500..

Spent $2000K in buying a new aluminum fuel tank. Then spent another $1800 in buying a new tank that is the right size. (if you need a 42" wide, 17" high, 72" long tank, let me know, I have a deal for you!

Run new fuel lines to the engines - do not worry about the current ones..

 

[danshat]

Thanks for all the advice. I will probably stick with Gas for now. My 34dc does not have the flybridge. I am imagining adding a flybridge would not be too difficult since the boat is stripped. It's just a matter of moving all the controls, correct. I think I can have one fabricated fairly easily that would match the original option. Any ideas?

 

[jim rosenthal]

You might call Slane Marine in High Point. They have taken a number of bridges off of small Hatteras yachts. There is probably an old one there which would fit your boat.

 

[danshat]

Thanks I'll give them a call in the morning.

 

[richardoren]

Hi Dan,

Have got the same boat of the same year as you. Let me know if you want info about anything, or pictures as mine is pretty near in original condition. You can pm OR email me anytime.

Regarding gas or diesel, the only way to fit an engine is by tearing out the salon roof. If you're going to do that, then you'll want to think hard about what to plunk in. Gassers are cheap, the original engines are Chrysler 426 Wedge Heads. If you want more power, they can be rebuilt and fitted with multiport fuel injection as an aftermarket hotrod item. All this will cost of course. Diesel would be ideal, but you'll have a hard time finding any engines which will fit. Try to get at least 200hp rating out of any diesel you look at. The original diesels were Detroit Diesel 4-53s rated at slightly over 100hp - not enough and way heavy for this boat.

Anyhow, you'll see these vintage Hatts are great once you've got them up and running.

Cheers,

Richard
1963 34DC
1968 38DC

 

[67hat34c]

there is a member of this forum with a boat yard in Ft Lauderdale. He has a 34c that he is turning into an express. bet he would make you a deal on the bridge. Cant remember his name but i am sure someone else here can find him.

by the way there is a 34dc for sale in Merritt Island Fl. it is very rough and sitting on a trailer. the boat looks to be complete. If you want me to i can stop by this week when i go to my boat and get info on it and post it here.

 

[34Hatt]

there is a member of this forum with a boat yard in Ft Lauderdale. He has a 34c that he is turning into an express. bet he would make you a deal on the bridge. Cant remember his name but i am sure someone else here can find him.

by the way there is a 34dc for sale in Merritt Island Fl. it is very rough and sitting on a trailer. the boat looks to be complete. If you want me to i can stop by this week when i go to my boat and get info on it and post it here.

Took me a few minutes but It is "rtrafford" in Fl doing a 34 sport cruiser.
I have a friend here in N.Y doing the same but he already scrapped the bridge!

 

[neosin]

Bud, 2 words. DIESEL ENGINES. If you can find them get some old school diesels that will run on offroad diesel and bio... Save yourself a ton of money in fuel, most of the time you'll find them with more power than your gas engines in about the same size. If your real luckly and i don't know if they make them that small but get some 2 stroke diesels then play around with a turbo... You'll have fun them. I have 8v71s DDs low profiles in a 1972 hatt 44 TC.. best engines i've ever used. Yea they use a little oil but they make some good power.

Hello all,

I am the proud new owner of a 1963 34DC. I don't think it has been cared for since 1964. The hull and most of the superstructure is sound. The engines and interior are a different story. I am considering several options for the repower (which I am probably going to tackle first). I can't decide between the Crusader gas engines and the Volvo Penta D6-310. Any ideas from those who know?

 

[MikeP]

I don't know if a diesel exists that will fit AND give you the same power as those gassers. So in addition to the expense of converting you also need to consider that with diesels, it's possible you might end up converting the boat into a weird-looking trawler!

It's not a conversion I would ever consider but, as has been pointed out on a variety of threads - it's your boat and you get to do whatever you want and the heck with what anyone else thinks!!

 

[richardoren]

John Deere or Lugger will make small enough ones to fit under the low floor, and with enough power to plane nicely. However, it is a budget item but worth considering if the boat is without power. Shafts might need upsizing though...

 

[danshat]

Thus my predicament. I'm not sure what power the boat has. I've never seen it run. All I know is, it floats. I've got a marine engine guy coming in a few hours to look at the engines and see if they'll ever run again. I'll let ya know. The boat needs so much work that I would rather not have to double it, i.e. not repowering now and then having to in a year.

Limited money + Limited experience + lotsa motivation + one horribly abused Hatt = an even greater sense of success and pride when it's all done.

 

[richardoren]

Dan,

Sent you a PM and email. These smaller Hatts are nice because they can plane with considerably less power (or torque) than most other models which are much heavier. In this boat, a gas engine being considerably lighter than the old technology 2-stroke diesels make it feasible. The same cannot be said for bigger Hatts in the 40'+ range which limp along on gas with high fuel consumption. If cost is no object, I know of a fellow who repowered his with futuristic technology engines but they cost him over $25k and that was thanks to being written of by insurance of a salvaged boat.

Older diesels will be too big, or underpowered as a relatively light boat is more sensitive to weight/power ratios. For example, the 2300lb each diesels in my bigger 38DC work fine despite their huge size and weight because the "engine room" under the floor is quite a bit bigger and the boat is heavier overall, making their weight less of an issue.

Unless you plan on boating a lot all year round, the fuel saving from diesel will be offset by higher maintenance costs not to mention the price of the engines themselves. Everyone seems to want the lighter weight recent engines which makes them very hard to find second hand. More readily available running pull outs either won't fit, or will be to short on power to get the boat on plane.

But sticking with gas brings up the haunting Ethanol issue. Ethanol in gasoline, an increasing practice in most States these days, will dissolve the resins in our older Hatts. Not only this presents a risk of leaks and riding a bombfire while off the coast, but also makes a sludge which causes gas engines to misfire and blow up, or if not will coat their innards with a hard tar substance which pretty much puts an end to their useful life.

Another problem is that there is no good replacement for our fuel tanks, they are bellowed meaning that one cannot coat the inside easily to protect them from attack. Some have replaced theirs with custom aluminum tanks which works for a while but does present electrolysis corrosion issues in the long term. One last thing about ethanol in gasoline, it separates condensation humidity from fuel; this creates pockets of water in the fuel tanks which will stall any engine.

Enough of the rant, these are great boats once you've sorted out the issues.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[34Hatt]

Limited money + Limited experience + lotsa motivation + one horribly abused Hatt = an even greater sense of success and pride when it's all done.

Hey Dan I like that you should make that your signature line!

 

[MikeP]

As far as the power - 350CID Crusaders would be excellent. Someone mentioned having the 426 Mopars in that size boat - as I recall they were rated for around 300HP in the marine application back then. The 350 Crusaders would be in the same range, a bit more or less depending on their configuration. Frankly, I don't think the boat would need any more power than the "standard" 270HP 350CID Crusader.

The first thing I'd THINK ABOUT is the possibility of rebuilding the engs that are in the boat. The downside of this is if they are NOT small block GMs, it might be tougher to find some parts, especially risers and associated plumbing. I have a next door neighbor (at the marina) with International Marine gas engs in his boat and he has to have risers fabricated.

If rebuilding the original engs is not on your preferred things-to-do list or not feasable, than I would drop rebuilt or new Crusaders in there in a heartbeat. I would personally try to find some Crus that needed rebuilding and do that rather than buy new engs but that's me. I've always preferred rebuilding engines as opposed to new engines since you can make a better engine than the factory will.

Yes, you have to sort out the fuel tank issue and determine the best way to approach it. Since the boat will be laid up for a while, I wonder if it would be possible to actually cut off the top of the tank(s), clean and seal them with some sort of epoxy or whatever is used for that purpose, and re-lay a new Fglass top. Obviously that depends on access but with sufficient time, you can get access to ANYTHING!

Good Luck!!

 

[67hat34c]

Mike, I do not think the small block engines will give sufficient performance unless he plans on running it slow all the time. All the 34c's that i have see including mine have 454's. Seen a few 34sc's with 350's in them and they do not move very well. I do not think the 350's have the torque for cruise speed.

Jackman is repowering his 32 with diesels, bet he will part with he rebuilt 454's for a reasonable price unless he has already done so.

 

[wndsr]

YOU THINK YOU ARE CRAZY? I bit for the free 34' Hatteras that was posted on this site! Anyway-If you want to add a flybridge-let me know. I am removing the flybride to transport the boat home. It is a nice original unit. In fact the entire boat is actually very salvageable. I just cant handle taking on another boat project. My plans at this point is to salvage the boat for parts unless someone wants the entire boat as a project. Please email me direct at wndsr366@aol.com if interested in anything and I can email you pictures.
Thanks
Ben