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Afloat Again!

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Kafue, Nov 9, 2010.

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  1. Kafue, Nov 9, 2010
    #1
    Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    Nov 29, 2006
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    Gold Coast Australia
    Well we are back on the water.
    After a few false starts and disappointments, our family is once again on the water.
    I have been studying the best boat for my family for sometime and we finally settled on a Hatteras 53 Convertible. Built in 1970 and TOTALLY gutted and refurbished by Merritt’s Boat works, Bob Downey and others over the next few years.
    Many thanks to those at Yacht Forums and HOF who gave me their time and advice, Capt. J, you were a great help, K1W1 and others. In fact just being on the Forum is a great help.
    So thanks Guys!
    Was hoping to meet up at FLIBS, missed it by just a few days, had to get back to work, maybe next year!
    Here she is:

    Attached Files:

  2. YachtForums, Nov 9, 2010
    #2
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Well Kafue, you pulled a real snafu! During a week of hectic coding leading up to FLIBS, I forgot to lock the "Reviews & Feature Stories" forum, which is directly linked to YF's front page articles. Imagine my surprise when I logged on to find your 53 Hatt preempted our review of Northern Star... and generally made a mess of the front page because it didn't contain any of the code necessary for publishing.

    Congrats on your new boat, although I'm not sure it fit well into the Yacht Reviews & Features category of YachtForums? It certainly has me begging the question... what were you thinking? :D
  3. Kafue, Nov 9, 2010
    #3
    Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    Gold Coast Australia
    What was I thinking?
    Before I realised the situation....not much...
    After logging in a few times to make sure it was truly on the "Review & Feature Page"....HOLY SH*T!!! :eek:
    This may be my last post:(
    How did I do it!
    Sorry Carl, no harm, no foul I hope!
    Kafue
  4. 84far, Nov 9, 2010
    #4
    84far

    84far Senior Member

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    Kafue... What were you thinking....

    Mate, when your sitting on the back deck with family and friends, having a few drinks and having a great time, while watching the sun set... That's when your realise it was all worth it.

    Great boat, enjoy! :D

    Far
  5. T.K., Nov 10, 2010
    #5
    T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

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    She looks beautiful.........congratulations.
  6. MaxPower, Nov 10, 2010
    #6
    MaxPower

    MaxPower Senior Member

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    At Sea ... Aahhh ...
    beautiful mate ... congrats ...
  7. Kafue, Nov 10, 2010
    #7
    Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    Thanks, soon I too will be back at sea, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:D

    Hope to have her in Aussie by mid Jan, just in time for the best in cruising and fishing.

    Not a bad ER for a 40 yo yacht! Blew me away.
  8. Loren Schweizer, Nov 10, 2010
    #8
    Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    Coral Gables/Ft. Laud., FL
    With the Merritt-style air intakes and the teak & holly engine room floorboards, you are now the proud owner of a Hatteritt....Merriterass....well, it's a good-looking boat. Congrats!
  9. Capt J, Nov 10, 2010
    #9
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I got the pleasure of meeting George (kafue) and seeing the boat first hand as well as going on the seatrial. Merritt's did a truely exceptional job. The engine room of a standard Hatteras of that era and Lady Carolyn is like looking under the hood of a Geo Metro, and under the Hood of a Ferrari 430. The engine room is very very nicely done, there is no visible wiring, very very few visible hoses, think Cabo when you think engine room. Merritt's woodwork inside of the boat is exceptional also. The teak cockpit and cockpit area were done very very nicely also.
  10. Kafue, Nov 10, 2010
    #10
    Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    Hatteritt or Merrit

    Hi Loren, the knowledgable pick up the detail! Yes, those are Merrit intakes. When you see the detail in the timber work inside the saloon, galley and all the wiring, it is also all Merrit. Yet the "Bones" are all classic Hatteras. I will post more as we do some minor refurnishing internally.
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2010
  11. MaxPower, Nov 10, 2010
    #11
    MaxPower

    MaxPower Senior Member

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    At Sea ... Aahhh ...
    well said mate ...

    :D:D
  12. mbgator, Nov 10, 2010
    #12
    mbgator

    mbgator New Member

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    That is an amazing boat. Congrats! What beautiful work.
  13. Kafue, Dec 5, 2010
    #13
    Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    Finally loading for the trip to Australia.

    Big thanks to Bob Downey!

    She willl need a good hull polish after a month on the deck!

    Attached Files: