Need your honest opinion(s)

[Capt. JJ]

My boss and I are looking at a redone 41 hatteras in Louisiana. The only original part is the hull. New bridge, 3126 Cats, etc. Totally custom. 31kts. 425 gal fuel. What is your opinion? 34' Venture to a 41' Hatty. No more gog fishing in the mornings by myself...Thanks for the input!

[TTesterman]

the Hatt. has a decent cabin and has storage a place to sleep and get out of the weather and makes a great Island / all around boat. plus rum storage

[Disco Lady]

Originally Posted by TTesterman

the Hatt. has a decent cabin and has storage a place to sleep and get out of the weather and makes a great Island / all around boat. plus rum storage

Me too JJ. That 41 is a great boat, bro! but I like tha 45 better.Lots of room awesome fishing machine but now you need a mate for sure.As far as goggle eyes get a little boat for towing and bait.Maintanance on a rig like that is way more.... for you a cost for him but worth the comfort my friend. I love bottom fishing on the hook,and nothing better than A/C and shower out there.


Cheers,DL

P.S need a mate! bring it down here COÑO!!!!!!

[Capt. JJ]

here are some pictures. custom bridge is slick.

[Disco Lady]

Nice....... Boy someone spent lots of money on that bridge.Hope it works out for you guys.



Cheers,DL

[bajakian]

JJ - you need to decide how you are going to use the boat. Its two totally different styles of fishing. Get the Hatt and you need a mate. Kite fishing is more challenging on the Hatt. And the fuel burn is higher by quite a bit. So that means less charters at the necessary higher prices. If you want to go trolling and hang on the hook in comfort and cost is no option, then its a no brainer.

[dbisland]

JJ - you really do need to figure out what your game plan will be going forward. About the only thing you will gain with the Hat is a cot and a shower....and a smaller bank account. Remember that More = More...exponentially !
....Tight Lines either way

[DIRTYFOOT2]

With the way the economy is going I don't know. If your running the boat for charters yourself, the venture will put more $ in your pocket. I love the Hatt, and know a couple good mates in your area. Good Luck either way

[Tuna Devil]

An old 41 hatt is not meant to run at 30 knots.

I fished on a couple souped up old Hatts and long story short, they are not designed to take that kind of stress.

Sure is pretty.

[Disco Lady]

[ballyhu]

I owned and redid an older 46' Hat and have sold many of them over the years between the 41 you are looking at and the 53'. Here's the bottom line....the 41' weighs a lot. Back when she was built, the prevailing ideology was that heavier was better. In a traditional inboard powered, planing hull, fuel consumption is a function of weight and hull shape. Look at miles per gallon for that boat and you might be unpleasently surprised . Also, I don't know where you charter out of, but if it involves a long, down sea run, I would urge you to sea trial the Hat in a 4' - 6' following sea . Good luck whatever you do, but if the goal is to provide a cabin for your customers there are some much more economical and seaworthy options.

[Disco Lady]

Yeah! a 43 Merritt......COÑO!!!!!!!!!

Ballyhu,very well said brother. those Haterrass...were pigs in a following sea old school for sure heavy boats.But for comfort in a head sea kite! fishing,and on the hook, give me that big 53 foot pig. Good advise Capt.

DL,

[Shockwave]

Bigger boat with better emenities equals more clients and more money. So really the answer is simple, both. Hire another captain and leave yourself options.

[Ed Walker]

I think you will regret that move. Ive been in the charter business for nearly 20 years, mostly inshore but have run the big deisels for a while and now run a 31 Yellowfin for offshore. One thing that I can say for sure is that charter fishing as it has been known for the past 30 years is being phased out and the 1st to go have been the six pack boats. Im in the Keys right now and the guys at the charter docks here are dying. Fuel costs, slip rent, fuel costs, and inboard maintenence pretty much negate any chance of being able to make a living. My friends in the 6 pack business have had to jack thier rates up so high they have lost a lot of business. Add that to the current trend in fisheries management with red snapper and grouper closures coming your way, pitiful bag limits, NMFS wanting VMS on charter boats, MPA's, and more restrictions coming out of NMFS and the enviros, and the future is not bright. Reselling such a boat nowadays is tough at best.
If you have a sponsor by all means. If you want to make $ chartering Id stay with the open fish and do your best to change with the tides.
My opinion. Sorry to be the bringer of bad news.

[Disco Lady]

COÑO!!!!!!!! Time to open that 'Disco' again. You are right about the charter business Capt.


Tight Lines!

DL,

[Capt. JJ]

The boat itself has been lightened considerably during its refit. All the old wiring, interior wood, and the old bridge were tossed. The new bridge is honeycomb. I have had the pleasure of running an old, heavy one downsea and got spun around in boynton inlet (i recovered, but it sure was fun!) . If i go up to see the boat, i will most definately check out the claims of speed and lightness. If it's a pig, i'll call it that. We'll see. For fuel efficiency, if those diesels aren't spooled up and i'm trolling local on the 4 hr trips, I can't imagine i'll burn much. Not defending the boat here, I am impartial. I really like the Venture, but inboard diesels troll so much nicer, and it would be nice to be able to comfortably sailfish on theose snotty winter days when we actually have customers and are booked 7 days a week. Thank you all who have contributed. I really appreciate it.

[DORADOsteve]

Those mid 1960's Hatt's make great charterboats.

I would love to see more picts as that one looks tricked-out.

[quack quack]

Tuna Devil and Ballhu took the words right out of my mouth.So make sure you check out the things they told you to look out for.Good luck no matter what you guy's decide.Also make sure they replaced(not rebuilt) the steering system and all its componets.Like Bill said they are a beast in a following sea.But it will 10kt into any head sea you would want to be in.

[Popi]

It could use more fuel. 425 gal doesn't give you much range

[ameristrat]

JJ, does your boss happen to be Rex VanValkenberg?