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1973 Hatteras 58' with Detroits

Discussion in 'Hatteras Yacht' started by Cape, Nov 20, 2010.

  1. Cape

    Cape New Member

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    Hey everyone, I'm the happy (still) new owner of an old 58' Hatteras with two Detroits diesels, 8V71TI. The run good, and the smoke is minimal in my opinion. w.r.t. resale value I already planned to exchange for Caterpillars or MAN's, heard Volkswagen Marine can produce pretty strong engines as well not with their TDI's and whatnot. The resale value aside, would changing a pair of well running detroits make sense, or would you think it's fairer to leave them running until they give. (that may be some time, as far as I can read they're pantser-engines that are literally bullet proof ?)

    I myself used to be a car mechaninc and sailed sailing boats up till now across the atlantic, so I can do my share w.r.t. technical issues.

    Any other items on the Hatteras I should know about (or have found out before I bought it ?) :)
  2. Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    I would not be in any hurry to change them out. Especially in this down market.

    Use them till they start to smoke at start up, then start using block heaters and use them a while longer. :)
  3. ThirdHatt

    ThirdHatt Senior Member

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    No reason to change the Detroits at all, expecially in this market. Service those Detroits and run them regularly and they will last indefinately. Those are 2300rpm engines so when running on plane, keep the revs around 1900rpm for long life. If you spend alot of time cruising at low rpm be sure to run them up at the end of the day for a few minutes to get some heat in them and clean them out. Those are great engines that are not stressed at the 425hp rating so with good care and maintenance there is no reason to worry about them. ENJOY!
  4. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    You re never going to recover the 100k needed to repower

    And I ll take these old DD over Mans!

    The only downside to those 8V71 is that they are a liitle short on power to push these hatts at a good clip but is it worth 100k?
  5. Cape

    Cape New Member

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    Thanks everyone, I think it's unanimous, the Detroits stay, I'll probably have the props reworked (they're enlarged by a Pastry baker or something, overpropped now and rough around the edges) Running with the original prop design I should be completely happy again I guess :)
  6. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I'll add to it also. They are great engines and I would just run them. Of course they are going to smoke a little on startup, leak some oil in the bilge and stuff. But will always run and last a long time. Make sure they're propped correctly to achieve top RPM, which I believe is 2350 rpms on 8v71 TI's........run them at 1900-1950 rpms at cruise. Make sure they have the proper temperature thermostats in them as some people have put cooler ones in them over the years and they don't run as clean or last as long that way......
  7. Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    Props have come a long way from those originals. I'd talk with a real good prop shop like S&S about reworking them.
  8. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    After you reprop, if that extra 98K or so is still burning a whole in your pocket I'll give you my address.:D Yes, stick with what you've got. Enjoy!
  9. jollytar

    jollytar New Member

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    8v71s and fuel economy

    I would like to know what you all think about 8v71s and their fuel economy in a Hatteras.

    Thanks!
    Jollytar
  10. Lucky guy

    Lucky guy New Member

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    maybe not the thread, but here it is;

    in mine (58', 40.000 Kg) the props are too big, (32'' instead of 28'')
    it uses between 1.2 and 1.5 gallon per mile at a speed of appr. 8 knots. the boat doesn't go much faster without the turbo's overheating but I've heard numbers of 25 - 35 gallon per hour, but on 15 - 19 knots speeds. Nothing is fuel economic at any speed more than 80% of the hull speed for the bigger, displacement yachts where one usually finds the big detroits....
  11. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    On the 53 I burn 9 to 10 gph at 9kts. Note that when running in shallow water (under 9' speed drops up to a full knot at 7' so you burn a little more fuel)

    The 58 should burn about the same since the extra 5' of LWL offset the extra weight. If you re burning that much at 8 kts you have a serious prop Issue or real dirty bottom