[ohcaptainron]

Have been looking at mid 80s Hatteras 53 Classic/ED to do the loop.
I came accross a really nice 49 Gulfstar w/3208s, interesting boat, very well laid out, tons of room, 3 cabins 3 full heads, semi-displacement hull, less than 4ft draft, 17ft bridge clearance. Seems to be well made, well finished, and at least this example well maintained. To me it seems more suitable for the loop than the 53 Hat, without sacrificing any room.

I know Hatteras, known quanity. Anyone owned, operated, familiar with this boat, good bad or indifferent. Thanks

Ron

[SeaEric]

The Gulfstars are well known for major blister issues. Beyond that, I agree with your assessment. Great layout, great space, low profile, US built. Fly bridge is a bit small. I like the 3208's. Survey her carefully and happy loop boating.

[Loren Schweizer]

While one normally looks to the past to search for a pedigree for a current build, you can do a 180 as well for edification: Vince, with sons Dick & Brad, built the Gulfstar trawers (yes, notable for blisters early on), then turned to motoryachts which were then built/sold, in 1990, as Vikings, one of the most far-thinking boats of their time (notable for their lack of blisters), and then, currently, to the very advanced/high-end line of Lazzara Yachts.

Gulfstar pioneered Star-ply, the laminated wood-strip joinery for curved sections, such as doorways and galley fiddles. By the 1980s, their workmanship was very good and interior joinery was top-notch.

[patch]

My neighbor at the marina has a 49 Gulfstar and I also was impressed with the layout and workmanship. I am considering it for for a live a board. I guess it was only made in 1988, then Viking bought them out. I was hoping Viking continued the line, but was told, they dropped it.

It has everything my Wife and I wanted, but I was hoping to find a newer model.

[Loren Schweizer]

The Lazzara-built Gulfstar 49 was available from '84 to '87. The Lazzaras then went on to build their Gulfstar motoryacht line with the 55 coming on line in 1987. The tooling was sold to Viking (New Gretna, NJ) around 1989/1990 who continued production of the 50'-72' motoryachts--very different from the earlier 49.

[Pascal]

i looked at the gulfstars when i bought my 53 but the amount of space didn't even come close. the Hatt is a true flush deck and offer a lot more space in only 3 or 4' more LOA and obvously for the same maitneance costs.

also, two big drawbacks in my opinion... lack of a lower helm/pilothouse which makes single handling harder as you have to come down from the FB to get to your lines where as with a PH you are just 5 steps away from your spring lines. Even if you dont' plan on singlehandling, it's nice to be able to handle the boat on your own in case your wife/GF is busy with something else. even more critical on the loop...

the other big drawback is that the saloon is a few steps down instead of being on the same level with a pair of double teak doors. much nicer! also, with the pilothouse doors on each side and opening windows, you get a lot more air flowing thru and out the double aft deck door. most of the time, when anchored out, even in summer, as long as there is 10kts breeze the saloon is cool enough not to use AC.

draft is a non issue as the 53 draws just about 4'...

[patch]

I cannot believe I missed the 53 Hatt in my search for a live-a-board. It has the exact layout that my wife and I want. I thought the layout on the 53 was the same as the 52. I went to Sam's website and looked at the brochures and it looks like the 54 has the same layout.
Whats the difference between the two?

My only problem is, I don't know if I want a 25 year old boat. Wish they made made them a few more years.

[Pascal]

i'll take a 25 to 40 year old Hatt. over most other 10 year old brand... it's only the hulls that were solid but the systems. things like heavy copper plumbing, fiberglass tanks, etc... they obvioulsy have issues but fewer than most boats.

age isnt' the issue, it all comes down to how boats have been built AND MAINTAINED/UPGRADED