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What have I done?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phasma2128
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Phasma2128

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2021
Messages
257
Status
  1. OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
Hatteras Model
48' COCKPIT MY-Series II (1993 - 1996)
Over the years I owned several boats. Boston Whaler, Fisher, Nitro, Regal, and 2 Sea Rays 24 and 36 respectively. Now freshly retired my obviously limited mental capacity has had me make the decision that I must have a “retirement” boat. Having the same dreams as many of you have, I decided on a Hatteras. Wow! What a boat. Built like tanks and capable of long cruises into the horizon. After all…..what could go wrong?

So many years with gassers has me under the delusion I can handle this new project. I found a 1994 Hatteras 48 cockpit motor yacht. 2600 hours on Detroit Diesels 6v92TA. Once again, I am far from a beginner boater yet I find myself stressed over this Friday’s closing on this boat. I’ve begun to realize how much I don’t know about Hatteras or Diesel engines. While I do understand how a diesel functions and I do understand the concepts of fuel filters. I don’t know simple things like fuel tanks. This 48 footer supposedly has a 200 gallon keel tank as well as a 460 gallon main tank. There are two fill ports one starboard and one port. Which one goes what tank? Is there a cross over pipe between the tanks like on a semi-truck? Is there a transfer pump to access one tank over the other? Do I need to manually switch them at some point? Which tank should I primarily draw from? Do I need to prime the system before starting? I know enough about diesels to know air is the enemy in fuel supply system.

I also am interested in what this is and the correct way of using it?
294897FF-CD00-4C44-AFB5-C6B18877B63B.webp

fuel shut offs? Transfer valves? I understand that diesels have a fuel return line from the injectors. Just not sure about if I draw from one tank as the supply and return to the other? Or should supply and return be to the same tank? My limited imagination tells me the keel tank should be last to be used as that is a lot of keel weight. Is that true?

Isn’t it funny how some decisions in life humble you? They make you realize how much you don’t know about anything….

Thanks in advance for any help
 
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That's your fuel manifold which should be labeled to make it self-explanatory. You can configure them to where you can run off one or both tanks with either engine. Just be careful not to return fuel to a tank you're not pulling from as it can overfill it.
 
If I understand you, it is a manual controlled system. In the interest of cycling through old a new fuel and avoiding emptying one of the tanks is there a standard practice of when to change over the tanks supply from the main tank to the keel tank? I know these sound like stupid beginner questions. I am only interested in doing thing correctly and safely
 
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If I understand you, it is a manual controlled system. In the interest of cycling through old a new fuel and avoiding emptying one of the tanks is there a standard practice of when to change over the tanks supply from the main tank to the keel tank? I know these sound like stupid beginner questions. I am only interested in doing thing correctly and safely
The only stupid questions are those you don't ask that end up costing you problems.

I would first get a feel for how old the fuel is in both tanks. If both are reasonably fresh, I would personally run the small tank down to next to nothing and run off the primary tank IF it doesn't supply the generator. If it does, I'd keep it full. You should have an owner's manual from Hatteras that will tell that particular tale.

Then it boils down to how you plan to use the boat. If you make long runs and need the extra range, keep the small tank filled. Conversely, if you are primarily a short hopper and don't plan to run the boat that much, run the large tank down and use the forward tank to keep things fresh. Again, the generator draw will answer that too. It'll only pull off one tank with no way to change that.
 
I have dual racor primary filters and I use one for the forward tank and one for the aft tank. That way I can see if either has an issue over the other.
 
Every boat is a learning curve and it s always a bit intimidating at first. When I got my 53 18 years ago, my previous boat was a 37 gas express. First time at the helm of the 53, was ... oh s..t this is big. That lasted an hour till I docked for fuel and realized the 53 was easier to handle than the 37

I can’t help with the tank set up on yours but I m sure others will. The fuel manifold you pictured indeed allows you to select which tank your mains draw from and which tank they return to. As Randy said, just make sure you pull and return from the same tank unless you are sure level in the return to tank is low enough. Detroits return a lot of fuel to the tank

In many ways Diesels are a lot more simple than gassers. And safer too

Ask questions here... it’s a great support group.

Hatteras usually come with great manuals and blueprints. Study them and get familiar with the boat especially where your thur hulls are etc.
 
Thank you all for the help. I was a long term member of clubsearay.com and helped a lot of newbies through their early days of buying their first sundancer. It is obvious to me already that this group of boaters will be the same for me. I look forward to not only getting to know you but also to lend my two cents in when I can.

My background and education is in technology. I also was a volunteer firefighter and a full time paramedic for 25 years.

thanks again for the help’
Martin
 
And I would add that Detroits move a tremendous amount of fuel. Most of it is returned. Even a good sized tank can easily end up drained before you know it at 60-90 GPH. The best outcome might be stalled motors. A worse problem would be bottom scum clogging the lines. You’d be well advised to pull and return to the same tank as a matter of course.
 
Congratulations. Welcome to the asylum. It took me a month or two to get my head around 90% of the systems. I stayed in the back yard while I did so.
 
Get the manuals for your boat if they're not onboard. Get familiar with those fuel valves and what position does what. I had a professional Captain on a 52 CPMY 1991 that ran her out of fuel with full tanks. I should also mention that he was 35 mi off shore when he did this. Those fuel valves can be daunting for even the most seasoned operator!
 
I was reading that the 6v92 enjoy about 1300-1500 RPM for cruising speed of about 12-14 knots. Is that accurate information? Can anyone tell me what my GPH rate will be with calm seas?
 
I was reading that the 6v92 enjoy about 1300-1500 RPM for cruising speed of about 12-14 knots. Is that accurate information? Can anyone tell me what my GPH rate will be with calm seas?

Like every boat, your most economical speed will be hull speed which for a 48 is going to be about 8.8 to 9kts. 13 kts is just about the worst speed as you burn almost as much as you will if fully on plane. You ll l also be loading up the motors which is never a good idea.

Either run at hull speed where you ll burn around 8 or 9 gph (combined) or hop on plane. Not familiar with the 48 but I m guessing about 30/35 GPH at 18 kts or so.
 
Where is the OP from? Any of us could help run him through the basics to get him going in the right direction.

I am in Cape Cod now and will be in St Pete FL next week if he is close to either.
 
Over the years I owned several boats. Boston Whaler, Fisher, Nitro, Regal, and 2 Sea Rays 24 and 36 respectively. Now freshly retired my obviously limited mental capacity has had me make the decision that I must have a “retirement” boat. Having the same dreams as many of you have, I decided on a Hatteras. Wow! What a boat. Built like tanks and capable of long cruises into the horizon. After all…..what could go wrong?

So many years with gassers has me under the delusion I can handle this new project. I found a 1994 Hatteras 48 cockpit motor yacht. 2600 hours on Detroit Diesels 6v92TA. Once again, I am far from a beginner boater yet I find myself stressed over this Friday’s closing on this boat. I’ve begun to realize how much I don’t know about Hatteras or Diesel engines. While I do understand how a diesel functions and I do understand the concepts of fuel filters. I don’t know simple things like fuel tanks. This 48 footer supposedly has a 200 gallon keel tank as well as a 460 gallon main tank. There are two fill ports one starboard and one port. Which one goes what tank? Is there a cross over pipe between the tanks like on a semi-truck? Is there a transfer pump to access one tank over the other? Do I need to manually switch them at some point? Which tank should I primarily draw from? Do I need to prime the system before starting? I know enough about diesels to know air is the enemy in fuel supply system.

I also am interested in what this is and the correct way of using it?
View attachment 50689

fuel shut offs? Transfer valves? I understand that diesels have a fuel return line from the injectors. Just not sure about if I draw from one tank as the supply and return to the other? Or should supply and return be to the same tank? My limited imagination tells me the keel tank should be last to be used as that is a lot of keel weight. Is that true?

Isn’t it funny how some decisions in life humble you? They make you realize how much you don’t know about anything….

Thanks in advance for any help

I laughed at this because I thought the SAME thing looking at the fuel valves. I thought "Jesus, this looks like a bit much!" That was this past January when I made the last deposit. I cleaned and oiled 'em and haven't touched them since.
Same deal here too...started with a Carver in 1994 and few center consoles...then a Trojan and then a Post 42 and 46.

Forget the surface complexities - you're gonna love it. Everything is made so heavily and so well that working on it is a joy. You're going to remember working on plastic junk in other boats and laugh about it. When a couple months pass, you'll realize what everything is and why it's situated as such. Best thing I did was spend several days cleaning the boat from top to bottom. Going through every hatch and closet and the ER in a thorough cleaning helped me find everything and make a long list of to-dos.

This forum has been VERY useful to realize what's vulnerable and needs attention and what really does not. Most of all, you'll realize what's original and what has been changed - because the work of previous owners has been where all the attention was needed.

Just for kicks, peruse my "My first Hatt" thread. In so many areas, I had no idea what to think. Only 4+ months in, the ol' girls kinda' seems to fit like a glove!
 
Juice those are words I needed to read! I was hoping that would be the case as that is what I found to be the case on other boats.

Pascal, 9 knots certainly seems slow to me coming off of owning a Sundancer but I knew going in that life was going to be a lot slower than what I was accustomed to. I guess that is why they call it a retirement boat. I do love the idea of 8 or 9 gph. I’m thinking settle her into 9 knots per hour, set the autopilot, turn the music on and sit there and play backgammon with the admiral.

A Hatteras manual would be really nice. If there isn’t one onboard does anyone know where I can get one?
 
call hatteras or sams with your hull number, they should be able to help. where are you located? a forum member may be close to you and may swing by to help you out
 
The boat is currently in Grosse Ill Mi but will return to LaSalle Mi on Saturday for a month. I need to get her ready for a 600 miles journey around the top of Michigan and down to Grand Haven Mi. I had both a general survey and an engine survey completed prior to the purchase agreement. Other than a few minor repairs/maintenance, mechanically the boat is able to make the trip. It is the new squirrely captain that needs to get ready. Needless to say I have a bit of shopping to do and get accustomed to taking her out on eastern Lake Erie before the long trip.

My brother asked me the other day if I was excited. I told him that I was so excited I might have peed my pants a little. Then I said no wait……hmmmmmm….yep it’s pee. If this level of excitement keeps up I will need to progress to wearing adult diapers. The admiral just keeps staring at me shaking her head.
 
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Like Pascal said, you will want to run around 9knots or get on plane. Anything in between and you will just be pushing water and burning fuel for little gain.

My 53 with 6v92's will get about 1nm/gal at 1300rpms and 9kts. If I want to run faster, I run at 2150rpm and 16kts.
 
Thanks Skycheney. I am assuming that at 16knts you are closer to the 30-35 gph. I am thinking 9knts will suit me just fine
 
Thanks Skycheney. I am assuming that at 16knts you are closer to the 30-35 gph. I am thinking 9knts will suit me just fine

Yes, right around 35gph.
 

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