Still looking for a good Live-A-Board

A 53' Hatteras has all of that, but is a touch over 50'. The 50 MY newer then the 53' has that as well I believe..........You can run the Hatteras' at trawler speeds and get tremendous fuel economy.

I always thought one would damage the engines running at trawler speed for long. What sort of economy do you get in a Hat 53/58 at trawler speed?
Many thanks,
Maldwin

you need to look at the Hatteras LRC or Long Range Cruiser.
They are on Yacht world under Hatteras LRC or Hatteras Long Range Cruiser and range from 42 & 48 & 58 & 65 and most are in the $100's & $200,00s for the 48 & under. Their 58's & 65's are approx $400-$600 and are hell of nice Heavy boats full displacment with small 453's Detroits diesels and some have the 671's naturally aspirated with great fuel milage. I looked at a 42' this past weekend and it has everything you need and it was stabilized and I think he said he average 2 nmper gallon at cruise of 7-8 knots. Cheap to rebuild them if you ever need to, these motors get 4000 plus hours. I have heard of some getting 7000 plus hours on them. Anyway great trawlers that are stabilized with tons of room. We are looking at the 48 Mac Daddy in a few weeks and hope to pull the trigger this fall on a 48' or 58 if we can stretch the finances. Anyway check them out, they are mostly from the late 70's & early 80's when the last Gas Crunch was on (carter days and now we have the Obamainator) This could last a while so a economical cruiser is all I will be able to afford.
Good luck.
check out the Hatteras LRC website which lists a bunch of boats for sale by Owner. hatteras lrc dot com

I would bet (don't hold me to it) but the 48' LRC will beabout 50% heavier and if stabilized will ride out most anything you get into with comfort compared to a equivilent semi planing hull. I had a 57' Hyatt yachtfish and 95% of the time we went 7-8 knots and when it got around 4-5' beam sea (always seemed to be a beam sea) we had to get up on a plane or change our heading both of which cost $1000's of extra in fuel. For me after 4 years of that I finally decided I am a trawler guy.
Not to mention the fuel economy and maintence on a pair of Detroits 671 TIB's which were 485 hp each so with almost 1000 hp sucking 50-70 gallons per hour just to out run a storm and running to the next port to fuel up is not my idea of fun. We will get weather reports and pick our days for crossings and in the long run will probably get there just as fast in the long run plus less fuel & maintence cost. I am sure I will arrive much more rested at 8 knots in 4-6' beam seas than pounding through them @ 17 knots.
Rebuild costs of a 453 detoit naturally aspirated compared to a 671 Turbo'ed with high HP output with be much higher and much sooner. My 671 TIP's 485 hp the mechanic said will need rebuilds around 2000-2500 hours which I don't doubt (that boat is sold and I am looking at trawlers myself) but the little 453's I have seen with 4000 plus hours and still running strong and I am sure much less to rebuild. Anyway I am finally glad to be settled on a type of boat (Trawler instead of half sportfish/half motoryacht hence yachtfish). I am leaning strong towards Hatteras LRC but have looked at a few Kady Krogens and Nordhavn's but they are a bit pricey for what I am planning on doing (coastal crusing and bahamas & carribean and over to mexico & Colombia south america) for now. Good luck in your hunting

The 58 Hatteras LRC has an aft deck. Also has your other "musts".

You would get 2mpg at 1000 rpms possibly as close to 3 mpg at 800rpms at trawler speeds with a 53' MY. If you run them up to cruise every 6 hours or less for 30 minutes, the engines should be fine. I ran a 58 Yachtfish with 8v71TI's with smaller injectors installed 90lph versus the factory 110lph. They ran very clean at trawler speeds, and at cruise burned 30-35gph for both versus close to 50gph with the 110lph's.

The 58' Yachtfish would be a good boat as would a 53' MY. I think they have over and under w/d from the factory. Ours was changed to a single unit.

Yes the 58' YF has an aft stateroom. It is exactly the same boat as a 53'MY with a 5' cockpit and extra 330 gallons fuel, extra 150 gallons of water.

The cockpit has A LOT of advantages for the Bahamas. Ability to fish, easy to get into and out of the water to go snorkling, swimming, etc. Boarding at various marina's is easier, and the extra range from the fuel capacity, and extra water capacity for anchoring and such.

Patch,
You might look at ebay right now as there is a yacht fish 58 no reserve in ft lauderdale. Says they have a survey on it with a recent bottom etc. Not a whole lot of equip but has stabilizers, 8v92's I believe (550 hp) and some basic electronics with the galley up. Might take a look. Good luck!

Our boat is really a 61' Hat with an aft extension (with a full Isenglass enclosure and juice bar) that we love. The area beneath the large extension is being turned into a workshop and storage unit (that has a/c and a full head). I am thinking about doing a battery bank and inverter in the workshop as well. You get down to the water via sweeping euro transom stairs. Although it is larger yacht than we thought we would end up with we are very happy as it will be our home for the next few years. Good hunting.

check out chris craft 501

they have the most room for a live aboard in 50 feet

Chris Craft 501 Motoryacht

Agreed. The full beam deckhouse on a 501 Chris is as large as on most 70 footers.