Pinging PascalG

"Apples to oranges as you well know."

I'm not so sure about apples and oranges, more like Granny Smith Apples and Fuji Apples. Unhappy customers are unhappy customers. It has been my experience that commercial customers have a more sophisticated understanding of working in the ocean environment and the limitations of the vessels that they charter. Yacht charterers, especially first timers, have generally only looked at brochures and magazine ad's or listened to a charter broker sitting at a desk in a land locked office somewhere, so they have unrealistic expectations about life on a boat. None of the boat ad's I've seen show snotty weather with boat rolling heavily (even with the stabilizers engaged) with the mate walking around with kitty litter to soak up the puke.

"Interesting that you mention "Reliabilt components". They don't have a very good rep in South FL., at least from what I have been told. Especially the injectors. I take the word on them is more positive there?"

Like most anything with a brand name on it sold in South Florida or the Caribbean, there is a pretty good chance you are purchasing a counterfeit/knockoff product. I have used many dollars worth of "Reliabilt" components over the years, generally purchased from three shops in the Northern Gulf and have had really good results. I'm not saying there couldn't be some duds as you are dealing with re-manufactured parts. I have had issues with new, out of the box Detroit Parts (Cat and Cummins parts also), but the factory stood behind them and made the issues right. Genuine Detroit parts have the part number stamped/engraved on them, so check for that number, even on the smallest component. "Reliabilt" parts carry the same warranty as new parts.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Woodsong

If you are going to do the loop I would go for a trawler UNLESS you really want something with more speed. You will see a huge difference in fuel burn. A 49 Defever with twin 120HP Lehmans will burn around 4-5GPH. What is it you are looking for the most in your larger boat? Speed? Layout? Size/space? Unless you need speed, you could get the same size vessel and if truly cruising long distances, save $200-250 a day just in fuel costs. Do that for 30 days= about $6k in fuel. Obviously fuel is just a minor part of cost of ownership though so other factors are more at play as you decide what you want.

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Well I am looking for a larger boat that I plan to live on most of the year in the next few years. Ideally a 46 to 50 foot boat with an aft cabin 400 or more gallons of fuel, 200 or more gallons of water, 4'6" draft max. The Admiral is really into the sundeck type trawlers. The 53 looks good to me for the amount of room available at a reasonable cost. Our plans are to do the loop so a straight up trawler would be ideal but there will be times that if needed to kick it in the ass to outrun weather or make a destination. Plus we may never make the whole Loop anyway. I have familiy that lives on the Chesapeake and I live in Florida so the Bahamas and Keys will probably the majority of our cruises. I would love for a couple of 120 Lehman naturals just for economy an ease of maintaining. There are a ton of boats out there and I have a few that I am going to look at when get home this week but I have always liked the 53 Hatts and the room they provide.
 
There is a Defever next to me, it s about 53 with a cockpit and difference in space with my boat is incredible. Both inside and outside. I ve helped him a few times and I find my Hatt to be much easier to handle, lots more torque and heavier boat

And on long trips having an extra stateroom is great for storage.

Over the typical day, 4 to 5 gph amounts to about $100 to $120 (most cruisers run 6 to 7 hrs), not 200 to 250.
 
I agree with Woodsong. I would at least take a close look at a big trawler. Especially one with a cockpit if you like watersports. (I'd look at cockpit Hatts for that matter.) While trawlers do not have the saloon room of the Hatteras they do have walk around decks that a lot of folks like for docking. Plus as you mentioned it's hard to beat Lehman's for ease of maintenance and longevity.

I've handled both Hatts and big trawlers and I can't say there is that much if any difference in how they handle around a dock. They are both heavy boats and Lehman's swinging big wheels move a boat around just fine at the dock.

"Our plans are to do the loop so a straight up trawler would be ideal but there will be times that if needed to kick it in the ass to outrun weather or make a destination."

I think you will find those situations with proper planning to be fairly rare to say the least. Especially the weather related ones. If you want to out run weather you'll need to go a lot faster than just 15 knots.

But again, while a 53 Hatteras is a nice boat. I would, as you seem to be doing, just look at your options a bit before putting your money down on any one boat right off the bat.
 
"It has been my experience that commercial customers have a more sophisticated understanding of working in the ocean environment and the limitations of the vessels that they charter."

Hence, apples to oranges. :-)

As to the Reliabilt parts, they have not been counterfeit. Some parts seem to be OK but I know few if any mechanics who will recommend using Reliabilt injectors over brand new ones. To many issues to bother with them.
 
The 53 doesn't have a big saloon, at least not much bigger than a 50ish trawler.

Yes side decks are nice, but I find an easy access to the deck more important and many trawlers have steps up to the deck unlike a flushdeck

Cockpit? Absolutely in the bahamas... On the loop, not important as you won't spend much time in the water, it s either too cold or too muddy! Yeah, living on Biscayne bay I am spoiled rotten! A larger swim platform is a good compromise... A friend of ours has a 58 Hatt with a platform twice as deep as ours and it s very nice...

Most trawlers don't have a large foredeck with sun pad. I like having the 2 big deck boxes to sit on and a 6 or 7' long sunpad... We spend a lot of time their on the hook

I think that details like those above are more important than the hull shape or brand.
 
Thanks for all the replies and answers to my questions. I found that the 53 was a little larger than I wanted and I did not like the flybridge layout. (Felt like I was in a tank). I found a 48 Foot Californian and my offer was accepted, so survey and seatrial next week. Now just to get rid of my existing boat. I really do not want two slip fees but the Admiral said she wants this boat so what's a good Captain to do.
 
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