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Still looking for a good Live-A-Board

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by patch, Feb 27, 2011.

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  1. patch

    patch New Member

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    I posted here several week ago asking about live a boards, but I think my needs are changing. I was most interested in the 58 Hatteras because of the flush deck.
    We have a 42 Ft Sabre Sedan which we love, but it was purchased to compliment our house here in the Bahamas. We have a large dock in front of our house and wanted to visit several of the Islands here in the Bahamas for a week or two at a time. We plan to live in the Bahamas most of the year and decided we want to sell the house and live aboard a MY.
    The Sabre does not have a full size Refrigerator and no freezer. It also does not have a walk around bed. My wife says , she will not make a V-berth bed all year.
    With fuel being right at $6 Gal here in the Bahamas and who knows what it will be next year or two, cost is getting to be a consideration.
    A lot of the Marinas here in the Bahamas, have special rates for boats 50 feet and under. The traffic is way down this year and they are scrambling to get customers.
    We joined a club that has 65 boats at a marina and moved our Sabre over to it. After talking to the other members, the operating cost very greatly from boat to boat. I topped my Sabre off in Stuart, Fl (It holds 450 gal) Dec 5th, 2010 and today (3.5 months later and travel to the Abaco's) it still has 1/3 tank left. I cruised over at 23 Kt and have made 3-4 side trips to Green Turtle, Treasure Cay, Little Harbour, etc.

    I've talked to some of the friends I met on the dock and they are on their 2nd tank burning a total of 1600 gal. crusing over from Fla.
    Also, on walking up and down the docks, I've seen some nice live a boards under 50 ft.
    My wife and I have narrowed it down to three things we want, a aft room, a walk around queen master and a full size Refrigerator (preferable a side by side).
    So, we may have to go trawler or something else that is cost effective.
    Thanks
    Glenn
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    A 53' Hatteras has all of that, but is a touch over 50'. The 50 MY newer then the 53' has that as well I believe..........You can run the Hatteras' at trawler speeds and get tremendous fuel economy.
  3. patch

    patch New Member

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    50 ft Sport Deck

    I just went to Sam's web site and looked at the Hatteras 50 SD. I may have just found my ideal boat. It was made a lot later and has a great layout. Only problem, could find only one on YW for sale.
  4. maldwin

    maldwin Senior Member

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    I always thought one would damage the engines running at trawler speed for long. What sort of economy do you get in a Hat 53/58 at trawler speed?
    Many thanks,
    Maldwin
  5. MeLikeCookies

    MeLikeCookies New Member

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    you need to look at the Hatteras LRC or Long Range Cruiser.
    They are on Yacht world under Hatteras LRC or Hatteras Long Range Cruiser and range from 42 & 48 & 58 & 65 and most are in the $100's & $200,00s for the 48 & under. Their 58's & 65's are approx $400-$600 and are hell of nice Heavy boats full displacment with small 453's Detroits diesels and some have the 671's naturally aspirated with great fuel milage. I looked at a 42' this past weekend and it has everything you need and it was stabilized and I think he said he average 2 nmper gallon at cruise of 7-8 knots. Cheap to rebuild them if you ever need to, these motors get 4000 plus hours. I have heard of some getting 7000 plus hours on them. Anyway great trawlers that are stabilized with tons of room. We are looking at the 48 Mac Daddy in a few weeks and hope to pull the trigger this fall on a 48' or 58 if we can stretch the finances. Anyway check them out, they are mostly from the late 70's & early 80's when the last Gas Crunch was on (carter days and now we have the Obamainator) This could last a while so a economical cruiser is all I will be able to afford.
    Good luck.
    check out the Hatteras LRC website which lists a bunch of boats for sale by Owner. hatteras lrc dot com
  6. patch

    patch New Member

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    What is the fuel consumpsion difference between LRC & MY

    I have been looking at LRC's, but wonder if I can get used to 8 knots all the time. I don't mind cruising all day at 8 Knots, but if bad weather is coming or tide problems, I would like to crank it up to 15-18 kn. This is the reason I'm only halfheartedly looking at Trawlers

    Does anyone know the difference in fuel consumption between a 48ft Hatt LRC at 8 Kn and a 48 MY at 8 kn

    My wife and I are hoping that the next boat will be our last so, we are taking a lot of time researching our needs.
  7. MeLikeCookies

    MeLikeCookies New Member

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    I would bet (don't hold me to it) but the 48' LRC will beabout 50% heavier and if stabilized will ride out most anything you get into with comfort compared to a equivilent semi planing hull. I had a 57' Hyatt yachtfish and 95% of the time we went 7-8 knots and when it got around 4-5' beam sea (always seemed to be a beam sea) we had to get up on a plane or change our heading both of which cost $1000's of extra in fuel. For me after 4 years of that I finally decided I am a trawler guy.
    Not to mention the fuel economy and maintence on a pair of Detroits 671 TIB's which were 485 hp each so with almost 1000 hp sucking 50-70 gallons per hour just to out run a storm and running to the next port to fuel up is not my idea of fun. We will get weather reports and pick our days for crossings and in the long run will probably get there just as fast in the long run plus less fuel & maintence cost. I am sure I will arrive much more rested at 8 knots in 4-6' beam seas than pounding through them @ 17 knots.
    Rebuild costs of a 453 detoit naturally aspirated compared to a 671 Turbo'ed with high HP output with be much higher and much sooner. My 671 TIP's 485 hp the mechanic said will need rebuilds around 2000-2500 hours which I don't doubt (that boat is sold and I am looking at trawlers myself) but the little 453's I have seen with 4000 plus hours and still running strong and I am sure much less to rebuild. Anyway I am finally glad to be settled on a type of boat (Trawler instead of half sportfish/half motoryacht hence yachtfish). I am leaning strong towards Hatteras LRC but have looked at a few Kady Krogens and Nordhavn's but they are a bit pricey for what I am planning on doing (coastal crusing and bahamas & carribean and over to mexico & Colombia south america) for now. Good luck in your hunting
  8. patch

    patch New Member

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    What you are saying makes sense. But like I said, we are going to take our time and make our next purchase our last boat. We are setting here at the marina in the Bahamas with 65 other live a boards. Everybody sets here 3-5 Months a year, then heads back to the USA or Canada. My wife and I have visited the people on most boats and we note what we like and don't like.
    Here's our short list
    1. Has to be Power. No sail.
    2. Must have an enclosed aft deck (can be zippered plastic) We have noticed, people with these decks, enjoy their boats the most and spend a lot of time out on them.
    3. Must have Queen size bed with walk around on three sides. Won't the bed in Rear or mid section of boat. My wife said, she will not make up a V-berth bed for several years.
    4. Need stack washer and dryer. we've had combo units before and they suck.
    5. Need full size refrigerator in Galley.

    The above are must have's.
    The thing I don't know about is, can we travel at Trawler speeds for the next few years.

    The Hatteras LRC is out because it does not have an aft deck. Wish it did, because it looks like a nice boat.
  9. SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    The 58 Hatteras LRC has an aft deck. Also has your other "musts".
  10. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You would get 2mpg at 1000 rpms possibly as close to 3 mpg at 800rpms at trawler speeds with a 53' MY. If you run them up to cruise every 6 hours or less for 30 minutes, the engines should be fine. I ran a 58 Yachtfish with 8v71TI's with smaller injectors installed 90lph versus the factory 110lph. They ran very clean at trawler speeds, and at cruise burned 30-35gph for both versus close to 50gph with the 110lph's.

    The 58' Yachtfish would be a good boat as would a 53' MY. I think they have over and under w/d from the factory. Ours was changed to a single unit.
  11. patch

    patch New Member

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    Thanks, Capt J
    That would be great to get 2-3 MPG on a boat capable of going 16 Kns if you needed it. The Hatt LRC and the YF both don't have an aft room that is one of our requirments.
    It looks like the 58 MY is our best choice right now. We have wanted to stay under 50 ft and are still looking. The 49 ft Hyundai might be an option. They are priced right over $100K and have a nice layout (but, ugly outside)
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yes the 58' YF has an aft stateroom. It is exactly the same boat as a 53'MY with a 5' cockpit and extra 330 gallons fuel, extra 150 gallons of water.
  13. patch

    patch New Member

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    Yacht fish

    I don't think we will get a YF. I going to get a MY with no cockpit. I think we will use the ft inside more than outside.
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    The cockpit has A LOT of advantages for the Bahamas. Ability to fish, easy to get into and out of the water to go snorkling, swimming, etc. Boarding at various marina's is easier, and the extra range from the fuel capacity, and extra water capacity for anchoring and such.
  15. wsdemmer

    wsdemmer New Member

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    Patch,
    You might look at ebay right now as there is a yacht fish 58 no reserve in ft lauderdale. Says they have a survey on it with a recent bottom etc. Not a whole lot of equip but has stabilizers, 8v92's I believe (550 hp) and some basic electronics with the galley up. Might take a look. Good luck!
  16. patch

    patch New Member

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    Thanks

    Thanks for the info. I will take a look.
  17. patch

    patch New Member

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    Hatteras

    The E-bay boat looks like a fairly good boat, but I'm afraid to buy a boat under the terms, "your high bidder, you own it" type of deal. Its at $87,000 right now and if no one bids it up, will be a good deal for someone.

    I also decided that I don't want a Yacht Fish. We want the aft room in the back.

    As I stated earlier, I'm having a hard time deciding what I want. I don't plan on cruising to South America or way down South, so maybe I can be happy with an boat under 50 ft and less Sea worthy. I love the 58 Hatt MY, but here in the Abaco's, the bigger the boat is, the harder it is to get around.

    Maybe, when my wife and I walk on a boat, we will both say, "This is it"
  18. wsdemmer

    wsdemmer New Member

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    Our boat is really a 61' Hat with an aft extension (with a full Isenglass enclosure and juice bar) that we love. The area beneath the large extension is being turned into a workshop and storage unit (that has a/c and a full head). I am thinking about doing a battery bank and inverter in the workshop as well. You get down to the water via sweeping euro transom stairs. Although it is larger yacht than we thought we would end up with we are very happy as it will be our home for the next few years. Good hunting.
  19. dd12v71

    dd12v71 New Member

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    check out chris craft 501

    they have the most room for a live aboard in 50 feet
  20. SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    Chris Craft 501 Motoryacht

    Agreed. The full beam deckhouse on a 501 Chris is as large as on most 70 footers.