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Looking for Coastal Cruiser

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by LuvBigBoats, Jan 1, 2021.

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  1. LuvBigBoats

    LuvBigBoats Member

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    Thanks to both of you, again.

    Can you please look at my question in post 96 re the inverters? Still unclear on that....
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    ISO-boost, raises voltage on your shorepower if the marina has low voltage.

    A lot of yachts don't have inverters. Inverters require additional (heavy) battery bank and most owners run the generator all of the time and never use the inverter bank. An inverter and battery bank for it can be added if necessary.
  3. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Modern boats have a lot of fixed glass and limited ventilation making it impossible to be inside with aircon except in cold weather. For most this means there are very few days a year where an inverter makes sense.

    an inverter and inverter can be added fairly easily if you have room
  4. LuvBigBoats

    LuvBigBoats Member

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    Thanks again. Maybe they are more prevalent in Southern California where we don't use the a/c all that often.
  5. gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    Sounds like a big boat versus small boat thing. Inverting DC to AC for a few outlets, TV and so forth is doable, powering AC loads on a big boat with inverting is sounding like the wrong way. Makes sense. I love learning.
  6. LuvBigBoats

    LuvBigBoats Member

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    I really use it for things like computer, TV, wife's blow dryer. Not sure what else I'd use it for on a 60 footer.
  7. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    In colder weather it can work on larger boats. I used to run a 70 footer which spent its summer on a mooring in nantucket and I installed a magnum 4k inverter with 16 gold cart batteries. That would power the lights, TVs, a couple of subzero drawers etc for 19 hours before needing 5 hours of gen to charge

    As usual it s all about how you use the boat
  8. gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    For sure, I would have a house bank and inverter on a 60 foot boat.
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Well, generally on that size vessel you have a water pump that could be AC, water heater, refrigerators, ice makers, etc. etc. etc. Here in Florida, I've never found an invertor useful because without a/c you're sweating.
  10. GPO

    GPO Member

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    AC is typically run on rare occasions in the Pacific Northwest so it’s good to be able to run house loads inverted off a house bank. Firefly or lithium batteries will reduce the footprint and weight while providing useful amp hours capacity. Further, augmented by a good solar array, the need to run the genset can be significantly reduced. Quieter on the hook. Then run the genset while underway to the next anchorage. This tends to be the common approach on boats equipped for extended cruising in our waters.
  11. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Again it depends on the boat. New boats have no ventilation so even in SoFl winter you need AC

    first year I got my old hatt back in 2003, I put 1000 hours on the gen. Then i installed an inverter and 12 golf cart batteries.... second year I cut that down to 200 hours. Between the doors and the side windows even on summer the salon was cool so we only needed AC and gen at night to sleep. 800 hours... 800 gallons at $3 back then and the inverter and bank paid for itself in 18 months without sacrificing comfort.

    now in a modern boat... forget it. You need AC even on a 65 deg day so an inverter is useless
  12. LuvBigBoats

    LuvBigBoats Member

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    Just an update. Looked at the Hatt and an OA again this weekend. Also a 64 Jefferson.

    The Jefferson was surprisingly nice, except the engine room was very cramped and everything other than the basics was very hard to get to. I'm going to pass for that reason.

    The OA has all sorts of crazing and it's hard to get past that. Otherwise the thing is absolutely beautiful. Oh, I'm not thrilled with the side exit doors from the lower helm area being sliding pocket doors. Never really liked the whole idea of pocket doors. Seem flimsy. But that's not a show stopper. There was an interesting thread here about an article depicting OAs has having poor quality, but there are so may of them out there and so few complaints it's hard to see how that's a real thing. This one has gyros and fins and is the only boat I've seen with both. Wife would appreciate the gyros. Still thinking about it, but that crazing....

    Keep going back to the Hatt. Unfortunately the price is significantly higher than market, so deciding what to do.

    The wife isn't crazy about the Hatt because she thinks it's too much boat, but my view is if I can get it for market price it will hold it's value, will probably be more reliable than anything else, and it really isn't all that much bigger LOA than the OA 548.

    Oh, and still looking hard at Neptunus, since they seem to be pretty close to Hatt quality with the features I want. Problem is the ones shorter than 62 have a tiny saloon area and there's only one 62 that has a lower helm and it has some pretty rare MTU engines that I'd rather not have to deal with.
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2021
  13. gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    Notorious LBB, you both like the OA it seems. gel coat crazing and cracking could be an issue. Around stanchions and cleats are most concerning and a must fix.
    Sometimes, and it sounds like OA is one to do this, boats will get a slurry of filler after popping out of the molds to fair the edges and corners and bends. This filler is notorious (see what I did there?) for allowing movement and gel crazing and spidering.
    Fixing is either cosmetic and temporary or glassing the areas of concern to make a more reliable fix.
    All of this can be done, the key is how much and how long.
    If you can get a contract pending acceptable gel coat fix or get a quote or two and adjust the price you may be getting closer.
    Pending acceptable gel coat fix will take diligence as you want to be sure a professional is on the job and the color is matched well and blended well and on and on and on.

    Are you ready to expand your search radius, there has to be a boat for you and your family, I know you have done FL before and will do it again.

    I get it, the logistics of travel and transport is more than I would want to deal with.

    Enjoying your search, thanks for sharing.
  14. LuvBigBoats

    LuvBigBoats Member

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    Good thoughts, thanks.

    Not sure I want to buy it and immediately have to do a lot of gel coat/paint work on it, but that's a possibility. Not done searching yet.

    Btw, I'm also having my broker look at the 62 Navigator in San Diego. Haven't given up on that either.

    I'm looking all over the US, even in Mexico. It would be tough to go out of the area right now given Covid, but for the right boat I'd deal with the logistics. The one 62 Neptunus I was looking at is in Illinois of all places, but it has the wrong engines.
  15. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Better check into what it'll take and cost to reflag a Mexican boat in the U.S.
  16. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Gel coat repair and matching is very tricky. I ve seen repairs that look good initially but don’t age well. If the crazing is all over the boat a paint job is much better solution than gelcoat especially if the boat is over 10/12 years old.
  17. LuvBigBoats

    LuvBigBoats Member

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    Good point. I'm not sure if these boats are flagged in Mexico or just located there. Haven't found a contender there yet but will keep in mind.
    Yes this is a 2005 and I think you're right. What I hate is that it's on the non-skid which means I'd have to redo that also. I imagine that's not cheap and probably wouldn't look as good as the factory non-skid.
  18. gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    Sounds like you have all the bases covered, keep up the good work. Ill
    Agreed. Aging repairs show up.
  19. gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    With pictures we could go thumbs up or down more easily, but this is sounding like a big job and $10s of thousands.
  20. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    this, put awlcraft 2000 on it and save the expense of waxing a gel coated boat, just wash with awlwash soap and go.

    OP- what mtus are you talking about? If they’re series 60, they’re good motors and MSU built tons of them for tractor trailers.