Hatteras: Good years and bad years?

[tcpip95]

Hello all,

Getting ready to head into retirement soon, and am pretty much set on moving out of my condo and onto a boat. I will probably look to live aboard full time for at least 2-3 years, mainly in FL but will also look to cruise the Eastern/Southern Caribbean occasionally. It will just be me and the wife.

Everything I've read over the past couple of years has pointed me towards a Hatteras 53 MY or ED. I don't think the C is what I'm looking for. Review after review says that this is the way to go. I understand that Hatteras had built over 600 of the 53's in various flavors from 1971 to 1989. Anytime a manufacturer has a run of anything that long, they experience "good years" and "bad years". This would include making changes that didn't need to be made (remember "New Coke"?), as well as changes that significantly improved the product (i.e. hull redesign to improve speed). Also, workmanship during and 18-year period as skilled workers came and went, etc.

My question is this: Did Hatteras experience "good years" and "bad years", and if so, when were they? If you had to choose a "stock" Hatteras from that period, which year(s) would you say were the good vs. bad? I understand that many of these boats will have been renovated, updated, etc. over the years, but for the moment just speaking in general terms. Thanks.

EDIT: I'm planning on paying cash for the boat, so no loan will be needed.

 

[captddis]

I would look at models made after 1980. They have the better systems.

 

[sandspur1966]

Looking through former threads here could be helpful but the best advice you will hear repetitively is to see as wide an array of boats as you can.

The 53's are great boats but many other models are as well. The 58 cockpit MY enjoys the same 15-10 beam as the 53 but has a nice cockpit. The 58 galley up (my boat) has a terrific salon setup for cruising with the main deck galley etc etc. I would also look at some of the newer models. The 56 is a popular boat and the 18 ft beam gives you terrific internal volume and terrific ER space.

Any boat will be a compromise, the prices of used boats will be your friend these days though and open up tons of options those of us who bought up to 2008 didn't enjoy.

Good hunting and look forward to seeing what you choose.

Shawn

 

[jim rosenthal]

At this point, as old as they all are, condition and history are more important than when they were made. The post-1980 boats DO have better systems, I'm told, but what you want is a knowledgeable broker working for you, an experienced and thorough hull surveyor, and an engine surveyor who knows DDs well (virtually all these boats had DDs although you may find one with Cummins)

They are great boats, but complex ones, so take the time to make sure you buy the absolute best condition one that you can afford.

 

[REBrueckner]

I've not aware of good and bad years for the hulls nor superstructure and if they exist, it's likely a system component or other that may not have proved as long lived as another...like, maybe, an air conditioner...Nor have I ever heard of good and bad year for Detroit Diesels....nor the very common Onan generators you may find. Reading postings here is likely the best way to get an idea of problems, generally not hull blisters, for example, but frequenmtly superstructure moisture due to poor workmanship in fastenings through exterior fiberglass laminate in decks and roofs....a lack of caulk in particular.

You should also consider how you will use the boat....for example gally up versus galley down arrangments may strike you one way or another....I had a cockpit motoryacht with a wide swimplatform and transome door and loved the cockpit...because I was on and off ten times a day with my dog and often went Whaler exploring. The Whaler lift aboard across the stern was only 3 ft, not 12 feet to an aft roof spot...really easy and fast...

Also, there is a widbody model....not sure exactly how that differs.... but maybe someone will mention it..maybe no catwalk for a distance outside the salon...

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The electrical systems were best in the later years. I agree with Dave. Anything after 1980.