Custom Refit just what you ordered

[Cleaniedini]

If you had the chance to restore a boat any way you like what would you do. I have been hired to restore a 1982 65' Hatteras LRC for sale in the spring. There are only 13 made and two sank. So this one has gained the unique title as the worst 65' LRC. Well I am pretty set on changing that. The boat has lots of leaks and lots of mold. So we have stripped any fabric out of it and redoing just about everything inside. We are repainting many parts of the boat and updating every system.

What would you want in a 65' Hatteras LRC if you could rebuild your way? What is important and what is not? You may see your suggestions put into the boat.

Check it out at www.cleaniedini.com/hatteras.htm

Cleanie Dini

 

[drewpster]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

Great website! Cool videos.
First the obvious..what I would do depends greatly on budget and what the asking price would be. Assuming your budget reflects a reasonable asking price for that vessel class in used condition, I would do the following.
1) Restore the vessel structurally and mechanically to function to at least the manufacturers specified range classification and use. (this means the next owner can use it as designed, safely)
2) Modernize everything, use current technology. (sticky controls? Posh! Huge helm? Nooo! Everything is fly by wire my friend.
3) Redesign the interior to a more open floor plan. Some of these old cruisers have too much stuff packed in them. Nowadays people like room to move and lots of seating. A small rack is ok as long as there is plenty of room in the trunk. Getit?
4) Use what you have. Utilize your budget wisely. The canopy can be easily modified to look more factory. Heads can be rebuilt, stainless sinks can be cleaned up..you get the idea.
5) Find the hook. Look through the eyes of the prospective buyer. Center on the one thing that will make them want it.

For me, I want updates and upgrades, perfect finishes, nice open saloon, modern galley, great lighting (factory lighting in older cruisers is usually dismal). I want the boat safe and able to do what it is supposed to do. I think the biggest mistake is assuming making it pretty will be enough. A pretty counter top from 1982 is still a 1982 counter top. I would go the extra step and laminate it or refinish it or whatever to make it look not only new but up to date.
To me that thinking makes a restoration special and I would give top dollar for it. But that just me...If you want me to be more specific, show more of the boat. I have built many.. (in my mind)

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

what a mess. some people have more money than sense. i agree with bringing all equipment to the present or future. color, it's very drab and dismal right now. completely self contained. hidden 50 cal gun on bow and stearn (pirates). it can be a beautiful boat.

 

[Cleaniedini]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

We have taken the mold issues seriously and are now attacking all the headliners. We thought that they might all be able to be used but then we cut into one to find mold lining the inside just waiting to just through the perforation and get someone sick. So all the headliner is out. We found that one of the 90 deg deck drain fitting was corroded though. It looks like someone tried to use a piece of re-bar to clear out the deck drain but didn't know that a chromed copper 90 was right under it. So the thin copper gave way to a 1x2” hole in the fitting. This then dumped water right into the master head and was the source for some serious ickiyness. With a plastic hammer we found that the area around the drain had some serious moisture and delams and would have to be replaced. The heads are gutted and the pumps are all getting replaced or rebuilt. The hull is in the process of being stripped and lucky for us no surprises there. No serious blisters or anything of the sort. After we hit it with a sand and let it dry out for a month or so we are going to seal it up and put a fresh coat of paint on the bottom, we are thinking going from blue to black...

One thing we are doing to update the look of the boat is making custom 32V LED boards that fit in the current fixtures. This will eliminate some serious power draw and will never have to be replaced. LED lights can be added in two colors to the Pilot house to switch between white and red depending on if you are going to do any nighttime cruising. Lighting is essential in an old boat like this one because Hatteras used a lot of wood. The dark wood needs good light to make it all work. LEDs come in 3mm-7mm I am going to be testing to see which ones work best for this application.

We have a few surprises in store for all you avid followers up on the flying bridge (the upper helm I guess you can also call it) as there is no door (hatch) there now and we are going to make something really special to separate the pilot house from the flying bridge. We are blessed and cursed with a HUGE aluminum super structure that makes the flying bridge like a living room. It covers the entire upper deck minus a small area for the skiff. This is nice as it provides a lot of room out of the sun but it is about the ugliest thing EVER. You can see that on the video. We are going to keep it and use the fact that you can make a serious entertainment area up there.

We also took out all the windows (i can't call them portholes in good conscience... I know the boating lingo and if they are tinted and slide they aren't portholes). That was a big job but what is a bigger job is getting the glass out of the frames. I will have to call Steve from SAM's Marine because i cracked one piece of glass trying to get it out and I don't want to ruin any more. Once all the glass is out the frames are going to be anodized black and then put back together with all new material. YIPPIEEEE No more leakes! We have taken off most of the wall paper to find some pretty nice mahogany plywood. Think we can clean that up and use it.

This boat could be the perfect all around boat, sorry Yacht. It can cruise, it can party and it can explore. Antarctica here we come! The second video is on its way, we had a first cut and it turned out to be far to “jack ass” and not enough substance. After a long talk with the video guy We eventually changed directions and kept some of the comedic sections but added something that boaters actually care about.

Suggestions are welcome. What do you want to see.


Cleanie Dini OUT

 

[drewpster]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

I agree with tashasdaddy, a couple of Brownings for and aft will deter to odd miscreant. In lieu of anti-armor, a nice seating and sunning area on the upper deck would be nice. I notice that many modern high end large sized yachts are being designed with really nice open deck areas. Most I have seen lately include sinks, fridges, and even complete bars, in mini size, on the upper deck and fly bridge.
I am a firm believer in the "all weather" approach to yatch design. I want to be able to use all areas of the boat no matter the weather. You may consider a convertible enclosure for your flybridge. Since I will be making one, on a lessor scale, for my little cruiser I'd love to see you screw up, I mean complete yours first.

 

[Cleaniedini]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

We aim to please.

Have you seen the first video

www.cleaniedini.com/hatteras.htm

Regards
Dini

 

[DJ]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

Great project, I just hope you're not putting all that time, effort and $$$ into an Edsel.

As you stated, that particular model has a dubious reputation, deserved or not. For all we know, the two that sunk were run into the rocks but that doesn't matter once "opinions" set in. The truth is a minor detail compared to an opinion.

I think I'd be looking around and talking to brokers to find out what that model would be worth in "pristine" fully updated condition.

You're right about the interior, it can be dark, with all that wood. If possible, lighten up the tone of the wood. That would be allot of work but less work than major structural changes.

It looks like you are on your way. It will be nice, I'm sure.

Keep us posted.

 

[Cleaniedini]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

I have a surveyor coming tomorrow to take a look at the pipes. What does everyone think about upgrades. How do you feel about new air or vacuum heads? Fly by wire? Electronics? What would you want to see on a 65' LRC. Post and email your ideas and if we use your idea (same ideas will be selected at random) you will get a Cleanie Dini T-Shirt!
Check out the shirts

http://www.cleaniedini.com/CleanieClothing.htm


Email Ideas to dini@cleaniedini.com

Regards Dini

 

[CodyGrizz]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

personally, once all the common stuff was hit like safety, the heads, and galley.. I would say hit the entertainment value! This big of a boat SCREAMS entertain! Since you are going LED lighting you can add color changing lighting that the customer can choose the color from a touch screen remote or let it cycle through colors. Interactive audio system using computers/MP3s that can do your audio/visual/communication with zones for lounge area, master suite, pilot house, and deck area. Then you can choose what you listen to through the master server. Outside deck I would run a hidden drop down screen and projector in a special sealed box that could open for night time dock/sea fun.. movies on a 120" screen at see with surround sound.. THATS life!!

Thin marble overlays (marble without the weight), wood floors, stainless steel galley, CCTV throughout (imagine having a few cameras like on the bow, pilot house, atf..maybe port/starboard that anyone anywhere in the boat could look around.. hell you could do video conferencing!).. tasteful paintings, wall treatments, tile floors

IMO the person who is buying this boat is the type of person who is use to.. and expects.. finer things. They are a CEO of a fortune 500 company. They fly private. They work hard and when its time to relax and get away, they need the same comforts at sea as they do at home.. a good kitchen, satellite tv/internet access, solid feel to things, and the "see I have arrived" factor. Something they can put pics of in their office wall. Something they can do business meets on. You get the picture.

If you dont have a buyer.. be cool to sell it at the Barrett Jackson Auction.. be fun and bet ya make a piece!

But then again, thats me.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

Dini, Again I have to go through the eyes of your prospective buyer. As I see it your buyer is going to be someone who has some money, but does not want to spend what it takes for a new boat in your boat's size.
All the boats I have owned have been used. While I have never owned anything as big as what you are working on, I am sure the principle is the same. Regardless of the size of the boat or the amount it costs the needs are the same for the used boat buyer. No matter if it is a used bassboat or a used mega-yacht, I believe the used boat buyer is going to be looking for the same thing.

Being that it is a used boat, and a long range cruiser, your buyer is going to want reliability. The first concern is a used boat buyer is going to be reliability. Is it abused? So, make sure all the systems onboard are up to date and fully functional. Improve on old technology that makes the boat safer or more user friendly. For example; Helms and engine controls on older yachts having long, multi-station, control cables are notoriously stiff. If this so on your boat, install a hydraulic helm and electronic engine controls, with redundant safety controls. Its something you can show your buyer as a marked improvement over the original equipment and shows the detail in your restoration.
I am also going to be looking for improved styling and design in a boat this size. To sell it you are going to want to concentrate on amenities that are universally appealing. Stay away from dark hardwoods as a theme of the interior. In years past the prospective yacht owner may have wanted an old world feel of their cruiser. They may have wanted the insides to look like an old manawar with lots of thick timber and dark hardwood. That is not so true today. Most modern high end boats are light and open. Light colors throughout and plenty of windows, I mean portholes, windows, whatever.
My point is this. If you make it wholly reliable and updated throughout, you are going to get top dollar. Concentrate on detail with a 2007 style and be able to show that to the buyer, and your boat will sell for the most it can bring.
If you can find the balance between the amount of cost to get the boat usable and the amount of potential profit, then you will be fine. Avoid going ape with allot of high priced do-dads that cut too deeply into your resto budget. Stick with operational reliability and user friendly improvements overall.
In short I do not care if the head has a pump handle or a pushbutton. I just don't want it to stink. And since I'm spending allot of money, I want the fixtures to be new. Get the idea?

 

[Cleaniedini]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

More Cleanie Dini Videos up (Episode 2) at
http://uncutvideo.aol.com/users/cleaniedini

soon to be on www.cleaniedini.com/hattears.htm

Enjoy, and as always, let me know what you want to see.

Regards,
Dini

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

keep up the good work, you ought to write dirty jobs, discovery.com

 

[Cleaniedini]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

I would but this is my "clean job" in the summer I run the pumpout boat in Mystic and I have a job with the NYC DEP on a sludge barge moving dewatered waste around the city... HAHA

 

[Cleaniedini]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

I am in the process of laying down diamond plate in the engine room. I will post photos as soon as I am able.

Regards
Dini

 

[Cleaniedini]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

Just an update!

I have been working for about a year now and things are starting to come together. As is with anything budget has made me simplify things quite a bit. The galley is coming along nicely and we have made an arch that matches another archway in the aft salon. We have put lights into this and built in AC controls, all switches, and down draft controls. The fridges are all pull out drawer Sub-Zero with a Wolf touch electric range and wolf convection oven. All slab granite counters. The Pilot house has new gauges and new counter top and is awaiting trim wood and finishing touches. The Engine room is painted and new decking installed. The engines have been run and tested and look great. Same with the generators. New moisture proof lighting has been installed.

There is still quite a bit to go but we have gone a long way. We have had major issues with a TV lift for the salon. The one we got was complete garbage. The first one never worked and we asked if we could take it apart to see what was wrong. They sent a second one when the first was shot and we installed it and had cut holes in the counter top and it stopped working. I am not very happy about the time and energy we had to put into it thus far.

I believe you can see new photos at www.cleaniedini.com

Let me know what you think. As always we are still having fun, isn't that all that really matters??

Dini

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

I'm having some deja vu here.. I could swear a similar question got asked with a similar description of a rarish boat a year or so back...

Anyway, my requirements for updating a boat, any boat, are simple now:

1) Rip out all the (&#@&$( foam
2) Add lots of storage
3) Cup holders

 

[Marcq]

Re: Custom Refit just what you ordered

Just an update!
I believe you can see new photos at www.cleaniedini.com
Let me know what you think. As always we are still having fun, isn't that all that really matters??
Dini

Can't see new photos, all from last year

Marc..