Review: Hatteras 77' Skylounge

Hatteras 77' Convertible​

Raising the Bar!​

Review by Loren Schweizer​

A quantum leap is defined as “a sudden, dramatic and significant advance”. 30-years ago, Hatteras drew the world's attention when they unveiled something totally different in large convertibles... the magnificent new 60 Enclosed Bridge. It’s not easy to enclose a flybridge and maintain a symmetrical look that actually improves on the original open design... a design that has stood the test of time. ​

Enter the new 77 Hatteras Enclosed Bridge: a quantum leap repeat. The profile of the new 77’ Enclosed Bridge is nothing short of stunning, as can be seen on the faces of onlookers gazing at the sheer magnitude of this monster... or is that a worried look from other manufacturers today who may have been too complacent in the 70-80 foot Convertible market? But these are just surface effects. It's what's below the surface that counts, so with tournament titles in mind, Hatteras put a multitude of hydrodynamic principles & technologies to work. The result is not only impressive performance, but a level of quiet, smooth and tight only seen in automotive sectors. There is most definitely an aggressive new direction in engineering and design at work here.

Still, some things remain the same. With literally 1000's of yachts in service worldwide, Hatteras has learned a thing or three about materials, lifespan, reliability and convenience. Topping this list is the very foundation of a Hatteras... a SOLID fiberglass bottom. Divinycell coring is used elsewhere to keep weight down and performance up. In areas where tolerance is critical, such as engine room bulkheads and decks, Hatteras has adapted resin infusing procedures as well.

About the time you recover from size-shock, you realize this baby's got altitude. The tower is over 40 feet high! Bausch American built it... and we're pretty sure they took cues from Eiffel. A pair of 40' Rupp hydraulic outriggers flank the orbit vista with the requisite array of radar & radio filling any void.

Offshore Aerial...

It’s not until you check out the cockpit and, having determined that it looks reasonable enough for a 77-footer, that you walk forward and then the sheer magnitude of all that bow freeboard just astounds. And it seems to go on forever. Yeah, she’s a big ‘un! No bowrail, either, or an anchor, for that matter. That’d be for wimps, right? Other than that amidships porthole for the master stateroom, this new Hatteras 77 Enclosed Bridge presents a clean, almost sinister look. She is purely American and, most definitely, a Hatteras.

Offshore Close-Up...

You are looking down at 192 sq. ft. of the business end of this 77-footer. And that doesn’t include the additional 25 sq. ft. of seating up on the ‘mezzanine’. A hatch-pulling exploration reveals that Hatteras made judicious choices in allotting storage. There are twin 65” fish boxes equipped with macerators, a five cubic-foot bait freezer, a five cubic-foot deep storage tub, three 20-gallon storage tubs, storage in the step to the salon with the top step acting as a chill box, and finally, a boarding stepbox with… you guessed it... storage!

Cockpit Aft...

While the fighting chair is an option, an aluminum backing plate is laminated in the cockpit sole for future use. The coaming height at the transom measures 28”, which is just right for those handling a gaff or reaching for the wire leader without tripping over the gunwale. Everything has its place, neatly concealed behind purpose-built compartments. As well, the shore cords retract and the ends hide behind hinged doors under the forward gunwale. Other details include cockpit drains that are plumbed through the aft lower shearguard (neat!). Did you know that the quick disconnects for the washdowns and shorewater inlets are patented by Hatteras? Note to Hatteras: we know you build ‘em like brick you-know-whats, but you might think about doing the transom gate in Airex so Torg the caveman-mate isn’t required to heft it.

Cockpit Zoom...

FISH ON! How do they know? Why, the cameras mounted to the ‘riggers watching the baits are playing it out on the TV inside the enclosed bridge. Quick, push the skylounge door button and you’re at the wheel of a Rybo-style aft helm to let you know how well you’re backing down on that blue. It's equipped with single lever controls, tachs and a bow thruster joystick to keep the line straight off the transom. Gonna have to really reach back though, the trailing edge of the flybridge starts to cut off the sightline to the port transom corner, but that's nitpicking.

Upper Helm...

For single-hand maneuvers, two flip-out electronic helms are tucked away along the port side, both on the fly deck and also adjacent to the mezzanine in the lower cockpit. In this Lionel version of a real helm, rotory dials replace throttle levers and switches double as clutches. Basically, you have all the buttons needed to manage big blue, or back down a slip without pier pressure.

Lower Wing Station...

Here’s an example of Hatt's attention to detail: the tackle box drawers are totally plastic. No wood to rot. The bottoms are perforated stainless steel so they will drain—no more rusty hooks! The drawers are positive-latched and hide behind a cabinet door (and note the rubber gasket). When a builder puts this much thought into a tackle box, it's likely that same thinking is evident in places you can't even see.

Tackle Box...

Eight steps up the staircase take you to sportfish heaven. There you are, bombing along at 28 knots in total comfort, surrounded by up to ten friends, enjoying a cold drink and downright chilly A/C. It is very quiet at the top, with only the gentle motion of a head sea as a reminder you're underway. It is almost otherworldly when you’re used to spray in your face and the rain forest-like conditions of an open flybridge. Ah, but you get up to fetch a cold one from the refrigerator/icemaker, marvel at how this brute softens a seaway and savor the scenery going past from your position on the elevated L-shaped sofa which does double duty by housing yet more rods & reels. Bored already? There’s a 37” plasma TV that flips down from the overhead, another clever touch. Life is very good, indeed, at the top..

Skylounge...

What a panoramic view! Fortunate indeed is the owner or captain who will ease into that Pompanette chair and run this beast. The windshields are frameless safety glass and should remain leak-free for many years to come. The A/C system includes a defogger up here as well. Hatteras proudly adds their proprietary computer-controlled Ethernet monitoring system with LCD touch screen display that doles out info for engines, gears, gen set, fire, high bilge water, tank levels, charger/alternator failure, and a history log of events. Pretty impressive! Standard electronics include a Northstar 6000i GPS/Plotter, an ICOM VHF, Simrad AP26 autopilot, and a Simrad IS15 Depth and temp. Remember when all you got was a compass?

Bridge...

When you own a sportfishing boat of this size, you'll undoubtedly have a number of friends to entertain, so... seating is a plenty. Whether bellied up to the bar or settling into the grand L-shaped sofa (with rod storage underneath), the size of the salon rivals most motoryachts. A 50" plasma stands ready to replay the day's action while you ponder the one that got away.

Salon Forward...

Looking aft, the salon is decidedly upscale. At the push of a button, the salon door quietly slides opens. This is a radical departure from the past and even some current manufacturers. If you haven’t been aboard a Hatteras in the last few years, you will be mildly shocked at how far the joinery has come. The 77' features a high-gloss cherry and you’d have to be severaly retentive to find a flaw. For a builder to carve all the drawers with dovetail joints shows some serious attention to artistry. In the background, a sweeping staircase rises over the dayhead and leads to the enclosed bridge. The location of this dayhead, immediately off the cockpit, should be standard protocol on ALL boats. Good job Hatt!

Salon Aft...

To call this a "galley" is almost a misnomer. THIS is a kitchen. No cramped quarters here. Counters abound, wrapping the chef with nearly 360 degrees of prep tops. That’s a 15 cu. ft. Sub-Zero refrig./freezer in the corner. A trash compactor, dishwasher, microwave (hidden above the 4-burner stovetop) and good, deep storage surround. Going off to the Abacos for a couple of weeks? There is, just forward of the galley, a largish walk-in pantry which will easily swallow up some upright freezers and cases of this and boxes of that. This room also houses some serious entertainment equipment (Direct TV modules, Xantech/Polk/Denon are apparently the current hot names to have) in a neatly organized, dry environment. Also located here is the main electrical distribution panel as well as ‘local’ 120/240 & 24VDC panels. Across from the pantry is a dedicated laundry room, which includes a 220 dryer to handle all the towels after a day of fun. The designers acquitted themselves well here.

Galley...

Most, if not all, of the owner’s party will find a roomy spot seated at this dinette which measures a whopping nine feet long. The salon windows are low enough so that no one has to crane their neck to see outward. Hatteras offers a choice of which granite countertops on which to set your Scotch. There is even a smaller flat panel TV in the corner if you can’t quite see the monster unit over on the left side aft of the galley. There is more than ample light provided by a plethora of halogen fixtures throughout the overheads.

Dinette...

Entering the master suite, you're eyes are drawn to the luster of cherry joinery that "pops" against lighter wall coverings. But fear-not, fish-finders... the New Bern gang also offers mahogany and maple. High gloss or satin? Choices, choices. Of course, some things are fixed, such as the amidship portholes measuring 23” X 14”. Not large by today's standards, but they let in a surprising amount of sunlight given their relatively small size.

Enter the Master...

As seen from the opposing corner, this particular owner chose the vanity room option in Hatt's flex-space layout. Other options include a walk-in closet or a seating/reading area. Need a workstation? An option is available for this as well. Alternative choices continue, such as the portside dresser shown here, which can easily be a sofa or a hanging locker instead. As befitting a 22-foot beam boat, a king-size bed takes center stage. There is 6’5” headroom here and plenty of lighting including dimmable AC and low-voltage DC under the berth. Cool A/C exits the soffit above the berth. A flush-fit, plasma TV measures 37” and stereo speakers are from Boston Acoustics, all first-rate.

Master Vanity - Dresser...

Ceiling mirrors add depth and dimension to an already large master head. Kudos to the designers for adding a civilized second sink. The sole, including that in the shower stall, is marble. The stall walls are FRP for easy clean-up. The toilet (as throughout) are Headhunter units which are freshwater fed and difficult to choke. Down through the years, Hatteras has typically shown the industry the proper way to size a head.

Master Head...

A queen-size VIP is located in the bow. The berth hinges up on pneumatic cylinders to access a cedar-lined storage area beneath. Hanging lockers and outboard storage lockers surround the berth. Guests are treated to their own CD/DVD changer coupled to a 20” LCD TV. When it comes time for lights-out, this stateroom has an overhead hatch to enjoy moonlight and fresh air, plus a privacy screen. Headroom is way up there as well.

Forward VIP Berth...

This en suite head dedicated to the forward guest stateroom is a mirror image of the one across the passageway serving the port side twin guest stateroom, complete with it’s own overhead hatch, which is worth mentioning all over again. Teak & holly soles form the foundation of each guest head.

Bow Head...

The VIP guests will not feel shortchanged in their stateroom whose en suite head rivals that of the owner’s. Due to the substantial freeboard forward and noticeable ‘crown’ to the foredeck, the headroom in here is almost seven feet tall. They can enjoy their own local stereo, CDs, and DVDs shown on the 20” LCD TV pictured on the upper right. Hanging locker space is very ample which is sometimes the bane of being #2 on the cruise. The ensuite head aft plus a head forward of this stateroom affords acoustic privacy.

VIP Suite...

Got tall, lanky teenagers? Bed ‘em down here. As explained in the VIP cabin, the headroom here is a similar just-under-seven feet tall. Those twin berths measure 80” in length. They get their own local CD/DVD changer with 20” LCD TV plus AM/FM audio access. There is a cedar-lined hanging locker plus blanket lockers outboard/above the berths. The aft bulkhead is mirrored and there is a mirror on the door which accesses the ensuite head.

Twin Guest Stateroom...