65 C Hatteras

Source: Power & Motoryacht Magazine

Built To Take It

The Hatteras 65 Convertible is so tough, you’ll quit before she does.

Out where the land disappears from the horizon, the water runs cobalt blue and monster fish travel the thermoclines in a never-ending search for food. This is a special place with a capricious and sometimes dangerous nature.

It takes a certain kind of vessel to be out here: a fishing machine that is a good sea boat in the heaviest of weather, offers the comfort and range necessary to chase big fish, and is rigged with all the equipment required to succeed. Among the few marques that have endured in the rarified world of big-game fishing, the name Hatteras has become synonymous with strength and dependability. Now with the addition of the completely redesigned 65 Convertible, this North Carolina-based builder offers one of the most extensive lines of tournament-ready fishing boats available today. From her distinctive sheerline to her sleek superstructure to the dizzying top of her optional tower, the 65 is a no-nonsense, big-shouldered powerhouse. And just so there’s no doubt as to what kind of muscle we’re talking about, I’ll offer this bit of information: My test boat was equipped with a pair of 1,800-hp DDC-MTU 16V2000s that after spooling up to 2350 rpm, powered this 103,000-pounder over the placid waters of New York’s upper Hudson River at a speed just a tick over 40 mph.

The 65’s toughness is a Hatteras tradition, for she’s built with the kind of attention to detail that’s expected of a boat that regularly plies the treacherous waters just beyond the company’s New Bern facility. Chief among them is legendary Oregon Inlet, known for its often roiling, hair-raising conditions. It’s no wonder that this boat was built to withstand the rigors of the worldwide offshore tournament circuit. To do so, Hatteras starts at the bottom. The hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline, with nonabsorbent PVC foam coring instead of the more permeable balsa coring used in the sides. The hull and deck are assembled using a shoebox joint and a four-part bonding process: adhesive caulking, Monel screws every three inches, fiberglass bonding on the inside, and the reinforcement of a 1 1/4-inch 316L stainless steel rubrail.

The engine beds are steel plates encapsulated in fiberglass. Hatteras prefers this instead of steel I-beam mounting because, according to the company, it not only more evenly distributes the tremendous forces generated by the big diesels, but also reduces the amount of vibration transferred to the rest of boat. The remainder of the stringer system is composed of all-fiberglass members injected with two pounds of nonstructural closed-cell urethane foam per cubic foot, virtually eliminating a chance of water intrusion. Athwartships stringers are of PVC encapsulated in fiberglass. No structural plywood is used.

Fiberglass ribs provide the hull and superstructure with additional strength, and they and all stringers, frames, and bulkheads are bonded in place before the hull is pulled from the mold, ensuring the shape remains true. To save weight without sacrificing strength, Hatteras vacuum-bags the decks, bulkheads, and many small parts. Finally all primary bronze through-hulls are bedded in reinforced solid fiberglass, as are critical areas for the struts, rudder ports, and shaft logs. To complement the superior construction and impressive power, Hatteras equips the 65 Convertible with both a proven running bottom—a modified-V with a sharp entry, double chines, and hull side “step outs” to reduce spray—and all the amenities you’d expect from a boat of this breeding.

My test boat had the optional three-stateroom, three-head (all en suite) layout; the standard layout features four staterooms and three en suite heads, with a fourth en suite head as an option. My questions about the allotment of space on this boat were ably answered by Capt. Terry and Bonnie Stansel, the team that calls this boat home while she’s on the travel/fishing circuit. “The boat was designed with lots of stowage areas,” Bonnie told me as she guided me through the accommodations area, saloon, dinette, and galley. “If a space could be utilized—whether in the hallway below, staterooms, heads, galley, enclosed bridge, or engine room—it was.”

It wasn’t hard to discover those stowage spaces, as I examined the forepeak quarters (beneath the centerline queen berth in addition to six overhead bins, five drawers, and a cedar-lined closet), port master suite (built-in bulkhead cabinets, two cedar-lined closets, and also beneath the queen berth), and starboard aft stateroom (lots of drawer space and a large closet). And speaking of space, I measured 6’6″ headroom in all the quarters.

On the main deck the galley, dinette, and saloon are one large space in an interior that on my test boat was beautifully finished in maple (dark cherry is optional) with complementing venetian blinds, valances, and interior frames around the large windows to either side and aft. Fit and finish were superior throughout, and I noted how the grains on all doors, bulkheads, and furniture perfectly matched.

Our saloon’s L-shape kidskin couch—rumored to be a $35,000 option—had yet more stowage beneath, as did the large maple table adjoining it. A pair of gas-assisted rams makes opening the table’s lid effortless and reveals ample inside space. The dinette, forward and to starboard, comfortably seats five and is within easy reach of the port-side galley, where amenities include a four-drawer Sub-Zero undercounter refrigerator and freezer, four-burner electric stove, microwave/convection oven, and trash compactor. Standing there I was surrounded by enough counter space to accommodate preparations for a dinner for five, with room to spare, and with Bonnie pulling out every drawer and cabinet, both above and below the counters, it was easy to see how the 65’s owners could go weeks before having to replenish their stores.

The business end of this battlewagon is her 183-square-foot cockpit. Here I found a transom livewell, in-sole fishbox, tackle locker, bait center with refrigerator-freezer and sink, chipped-ice maker, and Murray Brothers fighting chair. Rod holders abound, and a wide transom door can easily accommodate a grander being floated aboard on its side.

Terry told me he is especially pleased with the engine room. (Given the room’s access through a door in the aft saloon bulkhead, I could see why.) There’s six feet of headroom, full access to all engine maintenance areas, and room to get around to the outboard side of each engine.

The bridge is another place where Hatteras provides a no-nonsense design while supplying a high level of comfort. The 65 I tested had the optional enclosed, air-conditioned bridge. Here there were two adjustable Pompanette pedestal chairs, a settee to port, a lounge along the aft bulkhead, stowage compartments, and a massive console finished in leather and wood. There was also every conceivable piece of electronics, including Northstar 961 and 951 GPS/plotters, Furuno FCV1000 sounder video and FR 1525 radar, and two SEA 156 VHF radios and 8000 hailer. And my test boat sported a 15-inch Samsung flat-screen monitor for the closed-circuit television system. While the sight lines into the seaway were excellent, I found the thick support columns located forward for the tower were distracting.

As both the Stansels and the boat were on a tight schedule, my sea time was limited. But I did get in a fair amount of driving during our morning and early afternoon in the environs of the upper Hudson River. Getting this big powerful boat up and running was impressive, as was wheeling her through big, loping turns and quick full-turn maneuvers. She tracked true on straightaway runs, and most important, I always felt in control of the vessel whether at high rpm or setting up for docking.

I was also pleased with her performance numbers. At just under 30 knots at 2000 rpm, she has a 382-NM range. An increase of 250 rpm yields just under 33 knots and a range of 320 NM. With that kind of reach combined with the impressive speed, this battlewagon can spend more time fishing after running long distances. As for seakeeping, test day unfortunately offered up only calm waters with barely a scallop ripple.

The Hatteras 65 Convertible comes to the playing field heavy on a heritage borne out of years of building fishing and cruising boats that have to operate in conditions where only the toughest endure. Not only is she built to take it, but when the going isn’t so rough, she’ll pamper you and your crew in style and comfort.

Boat Specifications: 65 C Hatteras

LOA: 65’5″
Beam: 18’0″
Draft: 6’0″
Weight: 103,000 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 1,800 gal.
Water capacity: 445 gal.
Test engines: 2/1,800-hp DDC-MTU 16V 2000 diesel inboards
Transmissions: ZF Ratio: 4.13:1
Props: 48×89, 7-blade Michigan Nibral
Steering: Hynautic hydraulic power-assisted
Controls: Detroit Diesel Sturdy electronic

Optional equipment on test boat: enclosed flying bridge w/overhead hatch and 2/Stidd pedestal helm chairs; 28-hp hydraulic bow thruster; refrigerated cockpit fishbox; chipped-ice machine; Murray Brothers fighting chair; trash compactor