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Hatteras GT-54 Sportfish or Viking?

Discussion in 'General Sportfish Discussion' started by Liberty, Nov 18, 2011.

  1. Liberty

    Liberty Senior Member

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    3.75 degrees ... which I was really nervous about given our seas. It turned out to be absolutely fine.

    She's getting the anchor changed today to a 45kg Ultra and 100 metres of 10mm chain. Lightweight ally tender fitted tomorrow.

    I modified the electronics panel at the helm. Why would you want to cover the electronics screens with a 3/4" plexi panel when the entire bridge has clears? All very well made and all, but significantly reduces brightness of the screen. And useless with touchscreens.

    Bluewater Magazine are taking her for seatrials next week.
  2. Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    Hi Liberty,
    Great pictures.
    I know that feeling as she comes off the cargo ship.
    On the Offshore which was offloaded in Mackay, I was aboard with a friend as they offloaded her. They would not let me do so this last time in Newcastle.

    Interested in your tender, the fact that you have chosen an alu one?
    Any info on this and why not a rigid hull inflatable?

    BTW, good to see you from the distance at the marina. I am now carrying a fully fueled up boat with a LOT of Fuel Doctor. 5000 litres.
    Will let you guys know how the treatment of the fuel works.
    Cheers
  3. Invictus

    Invictus New Member

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    Thanks CaptJ.
    What do you think about this configuration?
    Have you never tried it?
  4. Invictus

    Invictus New Member

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    Very very thunderous! Its always fascinating to see an exemplar like this touching the see!
  5. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Have not tried it. Keep in mind if you add a tuna tower that will knock off another 2 knots. It should be fine if you don't mind cruising at 2-3 knots less. You could also go with the C18 acerts and run them at 70% load and get the same speed/economy as running the standard c18's at 80% load most likely.......
  6. BrandName

    BrandName Member

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    Beware of the "station wagon" effect if you don't have clears aft. I have a 3 side enclosure and I keep my plexi down until I need to mess with the electronics.
  7. Liberty

    Liberty Senior Member

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    Yah I have 4 sided clears.

    Amazing. Everyone should have them. Yes, they eliminate station wagon effect, but much more.

    It was tipping rain in North Carolina and steamy. We had the bridge A/C on and it was a wonderful place to be.

    And boy it does a great job reducing engine/wind/sea noise. I rang my wife and during the chat she asked why I hadn't left port yet ... when in fact we were 10 miles offshore ... doing 30 knots!!!!
  8. Liberty

    Liberty Senior Member

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    No, sorry I wasn't clear. It is a custom rigid hull inflatable with hypalon tubes, but it has an aluminium hull not a fiberglass one. It's tougher against knocks and lighter for my wife to pull off the beach when the tide goes out.
  9. Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    Makes sense now.
    I had this image of a tinnie sitting on this beauty of a boat and thought
    "must be some new fancy tender style for you to do this!"
  10. 84far

    84far Senior Member

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    3.75deg! haven't heard them been that flat, I'm guessing those tunnels would help, plus she has a decent entry and midships!
    The conditions bringing her back up were on the nose, right...? but did you get a chance to go with the breeze at all...?

    Also, what chain did you end up getting... S/S or grade L gal... and who did you get it off serafini's or bridco...? Just out of interests... Cheers

    Far
  11. Liberty

    Liberty Senior Member

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    Australian PWB Grade L short link chain.

    Yes the conditions on day 1 were on the nose and I can attest to her ride.

    We spend all of the second day from Port Stephens to Coffs Harbour with 6ft+ following seas. Left the autopilot on. No problems.

    As you say the prop tunnels take up most of the stern section - there is only 3 sections of flat and they are only a foot wide. By the time the wave gets back there, the water has been pushed aside.
  12. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    The Carolina boat designs have always been more about the sharper entry angle than the deadrise at the transom. I have ridden on the 60GT and it is a wave eating machine, the weight and entry just part the seas like buddah....

    I am guessing there is not a better running 54'. Just curious, how are the noise levels from the C18?
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I've run the 60' GT and I agree it was a very good running boat and dry. The only complaint is that I felt that it really should have larger rudders on the '60.
  14. Liberty

    Liberty Senior Member

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    C18 is louder than MAN V10, no question.

    Having said that, when we run, I have 4 sided clears and a floor hatch which was a custom modification (and may become a standard option).

    I had a hatch added on top of the ladder. In really hot summer days, it keeps the a/c cold air in and keeps the mosquitos out. The kids can sleep upstairs in their "cubby house".

    It also has the benefit of sealing the bridge from all wind/sea/engine noise.

    Conversations are a quiet chat. :D
  15. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    Nice touch with the hatch on the bridge, it seems to add a new dimension to the use of the boat. I am sure the conversations are not only quiet but comfortable as well :)

    I have heard the same on the C18's, was interested to know if the engineers at Hatteras had developed some tricks of the trade to knock the noise down a bit.
  16. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    It's biggest benefit is nobody can fall down the ladder, in it's location I could see someone stepping on the step to nowhere and tumbling into the cockpit as the opening for the ladder is fairly close to the ingress/egress from the helm and companion seat.

    The CAT's are louder than the MAN's. I've had a lot of issues with the MAN 1100's, all related to electronics on them......bad alarm monitoring boards, bad sensors, erroneous alarms, etc etc..... nothing mechanical on them.
  17. 84far

    84far Senior Member

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    Lol! Like buddah, hey! Haven't heard that reference for a while :D!

    So true about the N/C boys, Bill and I designed the L64 with around 10-12degs (off the cuff), I'm actually more use to hearing high teens or even into the 20s down in oz. But it seems there's more 'pros' - better running with the swell, better on fuel, less scaring fish, with the flatter transom. Plus a good midship entry, and a decent entry at the bow. They know how to do it in N/C that's forsure. Cheers

    Far
  18. Liberty

    Liberty Senior Member

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    Yah.

    Got to run back into the Seaway twice on the weekend with 20-25kt following seas and a ripping tide heading out. Big standing waves.

    There was a ketch coming out that looked like a metronome and we just steamed on in. All very undramatic.

    Met up with Kafue and his son yesterday on board. Nice people!
  19. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yes, Kafue is a great guy. I've met him as well as Graham, your Hatteras dealer he is a good guy as well.
  20. 84far

    84far Senior Member

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    Lol! I know the feeling, sometimes you want a smaller boat justs for the thrills!.... So how does it compare to your Riv in overall performance and say built quality...? :D Cheers

    Far