hatteras liveaboard??

A current model Hatteras 60 with twin 1135 CAT's, uses around 12 gph at 10 knots. Now there are some 7 knot trawlers that will get much better fuel mileage at 7 knots. The Hatteras theoretically will only use 6 gph at 7 knots but it's not realistic to expect to run it at 600 rpm. So, these numbers are right in line with what Capt J experienced.

The old 2 stroke Detroit Diesels in most of the yachts the OP is looking at, use about 1/2 as much fuel at 1000 rpms or below than 4 cycle diesels and new electronic diesels (similar size), now past 1000 rpms the pendulum swings in the other direction.

Useful factoid; did not know that.

-Chris

For me, it's the noise more than anything.

Or find a way to cut the noise without cutting the generator. That's our choice.

Hi, cutting the noise would mean a new genny, most probably, the 7.5 Onan is a little noisy even with the sound shield. maybe re-routing the exhaust ........ Since most of my cruising is near populated areas, if it's too hot, we find a marina. This time of year is really the best, for me anyway, to hang on the hook in a secluded cove and stare at the stars at night. Thankfully, my wife is pretty low maintenance and I'm easily amused so a couple hrs. of genny time a day is all we really need.

Real yachts would require more, I'm sure. We are really just " luxury camping " when anchored out.

Sometimes you can add more sound insulation in areas and make a significant difference. Now, doesn't sound like yours is really a problem to you.

I learned a lot reading this thread... thank you to all contributors...

Rookie

You guys are a wealth of information and each of your answers brings to mind another 6 questions that I would like to pose. My wife and I hope to get back to the boating lifestyle in the next couple years. We had cruised Florida to New England for about eight years until the recession hit hard and owning a boat on the coast while living in the Midwest just would not work. During those years cruising, we set up a 1981 49' Albin Tri-Cabin and a 1989 43' Tradewinds to cruise the coast. We loved both of those boats because that is what we could afford and they allowed us to enjoy the water and create so many great memories.

This time we are able to step up a level or two regarding quality and size and somewhat like WI3175 above, are starting to look at larger yachts in the 54' - 65', $450k to $650k range. Fuel costs won't be the main consideration We plan to follow the seasons each year (for a couple years at least), between New England and Georgia or SC. They say: "You don't know what you are missing ......" and we really don't because we have absolutely no experience in a seaway on anything like a 70,000 to 100,000 lb displacement motor yacht. Obviously, there is no comparison with seaworthiness between the boats on which we have experience, but ......

Let me start by asking: What is your tolerance for comfort in a seaway in something like a 56' to 65' Hatt? If you know that you will be facing into 3-5 ft seas for the day, I assume that isn't too much of a consideration? What about going into 4-6' for 4-5 hours? We have never had the benefit of stabilizers on our boats. I realize everyone has their own tolerance, but in what we have owned, a 3-5 head sea was not a fun day. Poking our nose out of Barnegat Bay one day we ran into 4-6' head seas on our way south to Atlantic City and instead of fighting through them, they chased us back up the coast three hours. Can I assume the 56' - 63' Hatt with stabilizers would have no problem that day?

Glad to have found this site again and thank you in advance for any input as to what we could expect as far as seakeeping abilities on these larger boats

A 63' Hatteras MY with stabilizers (early 2000s) would be in your price range. It would do ok in 3-5' and be a little uncomfortable in 4-6', but nothing too uncomfortable. They should be in your price range. It's been a very long time since I ran a 63', but they rode pretty good although were a little wet.

Well, this time I won't have a schedule aboard and I will consider that waiting a couple days for weather is just another two days in paradise to clean the boat. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking that washing the boat is not paradise, but when you live in Kentucky and have not been to the shore in 3 years, one has a different perspective.

Pascal, am I right in that your boat is a 58' Hatt? Do you have stabilizers? Knowing your current boating activities, and you were buying this same boat today, are they a must have for you?

I have traveled New England to Florida several times in my Taiwanese "yachts", but never really considered going "outside" except when I had to along the New Jersey coast. I'm assuming with a 56-65 foot motor yacht, those cruise patterns will change. When you get outside, anything can happen with the seas, no matter how closely one watches the weather patterns. I'm going to be buying a used MY around $500k and at this point I'm thinking stabilizers are a must have. I also understand that it is quite a project to fit an older boat with new stabilizers.

My old boat's (Marine Trader) displacement was around 30,000 lbs. It was top heavy. The larger Hatts are heavier of course, but still appear to be top heavy. I am surprised to not be hearing from Hatt owners that stabilizers are a must.

Whether seas of 3-5' or 4-6' are comfortable or not is going to be very dependent on the period. You'll need to learn to think not simply of the height but the timing.

We prefer to travel outside as much as we can while others prefer inside. You'll find what works best for you.

There are Hatteras owners who have been around for years with boats not stabilized and have been happy. However, that doesn't mean you'd be happy without them. With going outside being new to you, I'd then strongly recommend stabilizers to make things as enjoyable as possible.

Thank you for your insight on stabilizers Pascal. Checked out the Johnson. Great boat for someone, but out of my league and not really my style, even if I could afford to maintain her.