Hatteras 60 Convertible Attracting A New Generation
Two years ago we looked at the new
Hatteras 60 when it was first introduced at the Palm Beach boat show. Since that
time the 60 Convertible model has become the most popular model at Hatteras and
her beautiful Carolina styling has caught the eye of a whole new generation of
big game anglers. That’s right, the baby boomers are not the ones buying the boat;
they have moved on to boats more appropriate for the geriatric set. Rather, virtually
all of the buyers of the 60 are men under 55 – and the new generation of tournament
angler has swagger. They evidently like the sassy, classy Carolina look of the Hatteras
60.
 The Hatteras 60 is all-Carolina sass from bow to stern. The boat is a hit with over 29 being built in the last two years. |
See video of the Hatteras 60’s 5 distinctive features--
See video
of the Hatteras 60 flying bridge--
When it comes to Hatteras, as the name suggests, it has always been about the waters
off the Carolina coast – that strip of land jutting out into the Atlantic, and toward
the Gulf Stream. There the confluence of currents and the infamous Diamond Shoals,
graveyard of the Atlantic, attracts the bait fish that bring big game billfish.
There sportsmen went from all over America to find the big ones.
Hatteras -- A Sportfishing Pioneer
The first Hatteras
yacht was a 41 sportfishing boat launched March 22, 1960. Nit Wits was designed
for the angler that wanted a fiberglass boat strong enough to withstand the rugged
conditions off the Carolina coast, and she incorporated all of the elements of “fishability”
that were extant at the time. (BTW -- Nit Wits is still afloat and fishing, 49 years
later.)
 The business end of the Hatteras 60 has mezzanine seating. Note the ladder on the starboard side to the flying bridge. |
For decades Hatteras used designs from the drafting board
of Jack Hargrave, who was strongly influenced by John Rybovich of Palm Beach, the
godfather of all sportfishing boats. Other builders started building fishing boats
in fiberglass, some in Florida such as Bertram, and others in New Jersey such as
Egg Harbor, Post, and Viking, and the boats from each of the areas had their own,
slightly different look.
Because Hargrave was the foremost powerboat designer of
the 1960s, ‘70’s, and early ‘80s, his designs – over 7,000 of them -- were engrained
in the mind’s eye of yachtsmen all over the country. But his retirement and then
his death in 1996, forced Hatteras to stand back and take a fresh look at their
designs. In the case of their sportfishing convertibles, the company decided to
return to its roots – Carolina boat building.
Outer Banks Boat Building
While Hatteras Yachts was building convertibles and large
motoryachts for the world market, over a dozen small boat builders on North Carolina’s
Outer Banks began building custom sportfishing boats. In sheds and in boat yards
from Harkers Island and Morehead City in the south, to Roanoke Island in the north,
charter boat captains were building boats for themselves or having friends build
for them so that they could cash in on the lucrative big game fishing business that
drew hundreds of anglers to the Outer Banks each season.
 The bottom has a deadrise of 20-degrees at the stagnation lines, which is about where the boat is running in this picture. |
As time went on these builders started building for their
fishing customers and it wasn’t long before a number of men gave up their charter
work to build boats full time for the wealthy sportsmen who liked the idea of owning
a custom Carolina boat. Most of these boats were built in wood, cold molded, or
built of glass over plugs.
Carolina Flare
With time, a certain and distinctive “look” developed with
tumblehome aft and severe bow flare forward. The bow flare was to fend off the rough
seas, throw water to the side and keep the cockpit and flying bridge dry. The tumblehome,
which on many boats was carried forward to the cabin, just simply looked cool. Below
the waterline the hull was very sharp forward with a convex shape to cushion the
ride, and avoid pounding, and flattish aft for speed and fuel efficiency.
 Note how the double chines throw the spray to the sides. In rough water at slower speeds the bow flare does the same. |
Today, these and other design elements in sportfishermen
are grouped together and simply called “Carolina Flair.” Hatteras decided to make
this design its own. In essence the company is building a custom “Carolina Flare”
boat on a production basis, with all of the construction efficiencies, warranties,
and follow-up service that entails from a big company.
The Hatteras 60 GT – Tournament Edition
The Hatteras 60 GT is a tournament-ready version of the
Hatteras 60. Equipped with the big engines – Twin Cat C-32 ACERT 1800-hp diesels
– Hatteras says the boat has a WOT of 40+ knots and will cruise at 35 knots. (The
engines have a standard 2-year warranty.) The reason the boat will go so fast, in
addition to the bottom shape and all of the horses, is because the boat is 25,000
lbs. lighter than earlier versions. Hatteras also uses a 4.1 gear ratio in the Twin
Disc marine gears which connect to 8-bladed Nibral props.
The Bottom is Important
Another thing that Hatteras has done on the 60 is to eliminate all protrusions below
the running surface. There is only one water intake hole in the bottom of the boat
which goes into an internal sea chest from which water is drawn for all purposes.
The hull has double chines which knock down spray and adds some stability. Most
important it has propeller pockets, which give the props a better angle of attack
and permit a shallower draft vessel. The Hatteras draws only 4’9” which is quite
shoal for a boat of this size and weight. This means she can track across the Bahamas
Banks with a little less concern than most.
By resin infusing the hull, coring the gunwales, using
lightweight coring joinery where possible, and keeping needless weight out of the
boat, Hatteras has been able to bring the 60 in at 90,000 lbs. Despite the desire
for light weight, Hatteras as not forgotten why many people are attracted to the
brand in the first place – a reputation for tank-like strength. The hull bottom
of the 60 is solid fiberglass.
The Flying Bridge
As you can see in the video, the standard flying bridge
on the 60 is a “center console” design. Captains like this concept because they
can pop quickly to port or starboard to get a look-see. There is also lots of seating
on the bridge, good counter space and even a freezer to back up the one in the galley.
 Have it your way with the Hatteras 60. |
Accommodations to Order
Hatteras offers four different interior accommodation designs
on the 60 convertible. We’re told that the three-stateroom, three-head version is
the most popular. One version actually has a fourth stateroom. On all of the configurations
there is a small double bunk stateroom on the starboard side which makes an ideal
cabin for captain and mate.
In the foreword cabin one can have either a queen berth
or two singles, one high to starboard and one low to port. We prefer this arrangement
because of its versatility. Hatteras tells us that their customers split about 50/50
on this arrangement.
 There is plenty of open space in the salon for anglers to hang out. |
The salon and galley arrangements (there are two versions)
are pretty much the same as convertible builders have been offering the last 10
years. Hatteras will entertain some customization so long as it does not involve
structural bulkheads or affect the modules that go into the boat’s interior. For
example, they are happy to turn a head compartment into a closet. Prospective buyers
should inquire if they have a unique requirement.
Building Continuity
While the Hatteras 60 is a design departure for Hatteras,
it is important to know that the people working at the 95-acre New Bern, N.C. facility
are the same people who have been there for years. In fact, some of the top engineers,
construction managers and customer service personnel have been working for Hatteras
for three decades, and some even more.
This is terribly important because it means that the corporate culture that has
evolved over 49 years of boat building is intact. It means that there is great peer
pressure to do things right all of the time. It means there is continuity in boat
building on the factory floor, where it counts.
 Many Hatteras North Carolina craftsmen have worked for the company for over 30 years. Here is the master stateroom. |
With the demise of many builders of large powerboats in
America in the early 1990s due to the 10% luxury tax, it is reassuring that Hatteras
is still with us and that the men in the factory who built the great boats of the
past are still there doing their best with the exciting new designs.
It means that the new bread of tournament angler can get
the best of both worlds – modern design, styling and construction executed by veteran
craftsmen.
It takes six to ten months, sometimes longer, to get a new 60-footer, so anglers
must plan ahead. Fortunately there are a couple of new Hatteras 60s available.
To find out where they are, contact Hatteras.
For more information
about the Hatteras 60, go to the website…