Hatteras retrofit cost and ideas

32 volt is not expensive to maintain, but it sure as heck is difficult and getting more difficult. If you need to repower, which might be in-evitable sometimes given the age, having a 24 volt boat is much easier. 24 volt also allows A LOT more flexibility with updating any systems.

Inconvenient- locating the parts, some are no longer made such as 32 volt g 4 lightbulbs and other bulbs, the blower motor, most of the time the scroll cage bearings are bad too so you have to buy the 24 volt model, then hope the 32 volt motor is in stock then have to change it around. bilge pumps only Rule 2000's made in 32 volts, they short cycle in the shower sumps. Battery charger, only one I know of is a 30 amp Sentry, well what if you need more than 30 amps.

Difficult- changing any of the systems. Want to update to new toilets, nobody makes a 32 volt toilet other than galley maid stinky saltwater flush toilet, so you need a DC converter. Want to upgrade to a modern windlass, well does anyone make a modern 32 volt windlass? Want to change to modern light fixtures, same deal cannot get the bulbs for them. So you either end up with a bunch of DC to DC step down converters all over the boat, or??? Even engine gauges are hard to find and limited, so are you going to put diodes on every single one of them? What about blowers for the heads? The 32 volt galley maid freshwater pump, want to change it to a variable speed so you don't have a 20 psi pressure differential, nobody else makes a 32 volt freshwater pump......The last 32 volt boat made was almost 30 years ago......Yeah, you have it so you live with it. But if you really want to do updates to the boat, it makes it difficult

Shopping takes time and creates delay. Also, if you're not mechanically inclined yourself, you may find yourself in areas where the people you're dealing with don't have a lot of 32V knowledge and experience. If I had a functioning 32V system, I wouldn't change. However, if I was doing a major refit and changing much of the equipment, then I'd bite the bullet.

If I have to be inconvenienced regularly and wait for parts, search for knowledgeable people when cruising, then I'd find that very scary. Saying the stuff is out there doesn't make it a desirable situation. Also, if one doesn't face it now, they likely will later. I don't believe in continuing with outdated technologies in any endeavors. Yes, if you're already stuck with it and it's working for you, that's fine, but to jump into it head first isn't very appealing. You're an industry professional and while you might find it ok to deal with that would likely not apply to the average person.

No, the service tech either has the others in stock or can pick them up locally.

As to stocking parts, we do. But then we also don't have a 32v system and we stock a tremendous number of parts ourselves. On top of that, we have access to a plethora of parts locally. I just never liked downtime and if I was prevented from boating by a wait on parts (other than for major engine work) even if just for a few days, that would be enough to turn me against a system.

I also see your pointing to Don's as a resource. For bulbs, hit or miss, old stock, no listed price, limited quantities. Yes, for the one's J hasn't been able to find, a place to turn perhaps, but not the way I want to have to search and scrounge on a regular basis.

That's the problem, when you need a 32 volt item, most places will have the 12 or 24 volt item in stock and not need to be ordered. The 32 volt you have to call this place and that place and this place. Sure you can find the stuff eventually, and it's probably easier for Rcrapps because he has a 32 volt yacht and knows all of the normal sources to find stuff. But eventually it becomes frustrating. A lot of bulbs are simply no longer made in 32v, as well as other items. I'd milk a 32 volt system as long as I can, BUT, if I was doing any major changes I'd swap it out in a heartbeat. BUT, much easier and more desirable on resale to have a 24 volt boat to begin with.

I do carry a spare battery charger on most of the boats I manage that do travel. Nothing will kill a fun trip like a dead battery charger. On most yachts after running the normal living items: lights,pumps, sump pumps, etc. the batteries will only last a day or two......even conserving a bit.

Depco still sells 32v Jabsco blowers. In my six years of full time living aboard and cruising my '81 56MY, converting away from 32 volt seems like a completely unnecessary item. You can install NewMar converters to get you 12 or 24 where you absolutely needed and small converters from MarineBeam if you want to go to LED lighting. Plenty of 32v stuff, including things like bilge pumps, chargers, inverters and light bulbs, still available, and starter motors are rebuildable.

As for the OP unless you are a highly skilled DIY person, the type of refit you describe is extremely expensive; 500k will just get you started. Not to mention the base costs of just maintaining a boat in good condition to begin with. I agree with the statement about not replacing the Detroits, just maintain and rebuild. I remember finding the bill from two PO's ago from Annapolis Yacht Interiors (I think that's the name), for an interior redo in 1996, it was well north of 100K, and a lot of the cabinetry and case goods were left OEM. The subsequent PO and I each put in another 100k over the years and I could spend another 100k in a heart beat, and this is a boat in beautiful condition. But a new fancier davit here, galley and salon floor there, slight electronics upgrades and additions, a new genset or two, and as the great Everett Dirkson put it all of a sudden your talking about real money.

The 56 is a fantastic boat, we loved it as a full time liveaboard and cruiser. But we bought one that was pretty much turn key and had had a succession of "open check book" caring owners.
For the kind of time and money you are contemplating (and reality will dictate both of them being double original budget), I wholeheartedly second the notion of buying a boat where the work has already been done, let that guy take the instant hit, and get yourselves out on the water.

Another thing to keep in mind. All of these older Hatteras do have a 12 volt bank (generator), for running electronics and such. So you could run some things off of this such as a control unit for a gyro. You don't want to convert 32 volt items throughout the boat to 12 volt as the wiring size won't be sufficient.