Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht

There are very few Hatteras 60 Motor Yachts and, so far, this is the only one in Canada.

Kevin Marinelli at Skyline Marina knew I was keen to write this yacht up for our Canadian Yachting readers. He saw a window of opportunity when the owner – who had recently taken delivery in Cape Hatteras and driven the yacht north to the Greater Toronto area – was onboard with the senior delivery crew from Hatteras. They had flown to Canada to make final adjustments and a few custom changes and additions for the owner Armand Schabel who had now spent some time getting to know his yacht.

‘If you can be here in an hour, we can take you out’, was the message Kevin left me. I raced to the car.

As I approached, the first thing that struck me was the scale – all oversized, gracious, roomy and family size. We have reviewed 60 footers before. Here the designers used the significant size to ensure functionality and comfort, not to jam more features in.

Given the price tag, you can imagine that the Hatteras crew were anxious to ensure that Armand was satisfied with his new yacht. I asked him what he liked best and in a whisper and with a wink, he said, “I like everything about this boat”.

The Hatteras brand is quite famous for their sport fishing boats and their enviable record on the tournament circuit. The design and engineering is the same for their motor yachts. Nothing expresses this better than a trip to the engine room – and it is a room.

Down the centre, there’s about seven feet of headroom and you can get all around both of the 1000 HP C18 Caterpillar engines. The rigging looked to be of a very high standard and every system was accessible. Access is down a ladder through a large cockpit hatch. This is serious stuff!

The layout is traditional and every area seems ready to welcome a whole group to cruise in comfort.

The bridge deck is the focal point, up a flight of stairs and with a commanding view in all directions. The captain’s eye is about 18 feet above the water. The hardtop is enclosed forward with removable Isinglass panels, has air conditioning and a gorgeous pair of Pompano seats with foot rests and lots of adjustment options. The instrument binnacle is huge and nearly vertical to minimize glare. The test boat was laid out for serious navigation with a pair of Raymarine G120s, Caterpillar digital engine monitors, battery monitor panel, FLIR night vision and Side Power thrusters bow and stern with a Yacht Controller system (which we’ll talk more about later). There was also a Raymarine Autopilot and ICOM VHF.

Not on the Hatteras option books was an addition by Armand Schabel; his grandson’s seat. This child-sized seat is on the forward edge of the bridge, safely behind the cowling but with absolutely the best view in the house! Cruising with grandpa will be something he will never forget!

The flooring is white non-slip fiberglass, but the owners are now planning to add snap-in carpeting to reduce glare and add comfort. On either side of the binnacle are huge bins with gasketed lids for charts and miscellaneous items; the starboard side has the stereo protected inside. In fact, all the hatch lids have gaskets to prevent water intrusion.

Guests are well treated with an L-shaped portside seat and removable table. The bridge deck is open aft of the arch and the owners have added comfortable folding chairs and an additional table under the stars. A large refreshment center with refrigerator, storage for the removable barbecue that mounts on the side rail and other items, forms a division between the two areas.

Down on the main deck level is a third dining area, outdoors, but protected by the bridge overhang. The half-moon table follows the contours of the aft bench to accommodate about five at the table plus two more on deck chairs for gracious outdoor dining.

This area is separated from the main cabin by a full glass bulkhead with heavily built sliding glass doors that are in three sections. Two of the sections can be opened up when the climate and location are favourable.

An optional feature is the passerelle door on the starboard cabin side which is very useful when docking and also adds lots of airflow through the cabin when cooking, or when moored. It is beside the galley. Also, the yacht is equipped for a side entrance ramp with an opening section in the railing.

Back to the main cabin, a four-section settee on the port side offers abundant storage areas under the cushions and the owner selected the optional hassocks which can also serve as tables and have storage inside. The cabin interior is all done in a combination of mahogany with wengay trim. The floor is finished in Netico – a composite type flooring that looked very handsome.

Opposite the settee is a cabinet with large flatscreen TV, glasses, storage; the ship’s electrical panel is conveniently located there as well.

It’s up one step and then forward up the port side to a serving area and a family-sized dining area with an elegant table for more formal occasions. Large side windows make this very bright and inviting.

The galley is opposite the dining area and is was quite impressive, even for a 60 footer. The owner had chosen to install a dishwasher and microwave by Miele as well as two Isotherm refrigerator drawers and two freezer drawers that pull out. This design can minimize the mess after a rough run and keep the higher areas clear for a more spacious feel.

Other wonderful features are the garbage disposal and a bank of drawers in the forward bulkhead. Optionally, these can be replaced with a wine cooler. The galley includes an island with the sink. Granite countertops are an elegant touch.

Throughout the yacht a standard-equipment Bose audio system can bring in your favourite music but if you prefer silence, one of the things we were especially impressed with were Whisper Wall interior panels. This gives the entire interior an upholstered look and incorporates both sound and climate control insulation. Whisper Wall uses an innovative track system to install the interior panels giving a remarkably smooth and tight look. They’re also easy to repair or remove for service work and much lighter than most other interior solutions.

The Hatteras 60 is fitted with a huge windshield and an exterior suncover reduces heat build up. The large glass panels are securely supported in welded steel window mullions which are tied into the total structure. The Hatteras engineers told me the exterior has stainless steel and aluminum backing plates glassed into the decks. We really liked the translucent panel in the bulkhead to carry daylight to the lower deck.

Convenient storage lockers line the companionway leading down a few steps to the staterooms. The guest stateroom in the bow includes storage in the night tables, large hanging locker, a big deck hatch overhead and separate access into the day head.

This has a Headhunter MSD, granite countertops and a round acrylic shower stall that will be bright and easy to use. It’s all beautifully finished with a kind of restrained elegance.

The port side stateroom has what Hatteras called crisscross single berths, one longitudinal and one athwarships for a more open layout. They have storage underneath; there is a hanging locker and flatscreen television. This is a perfect cabin for grandchildren and it could also be a crew cabin for an owner who doesn’t want to handle the boat by themselves.

The master stateroom is absolutely a highlight in a boat that’s full of highlights. It has a full king-sized bed with storage underneath, the owner chose the starboard side desk/make-up table option with standing headroom throughout. The lockers are extremely deep and two very large oval-shaped side windows both port and starboard bring lots of daylight into this full beam master.

The master has a Sharp 42-inch flatscreen, a full closet and like all of the lockers onboard, it’s lined in aromatic cedar.

The master head is remarkably spacious. You feel more like you’re in a luxury condo than onboard a boat. There is a home-sized shower stall with glass sliding doors, an elegant vessel sink in a granite countertop and there’s loads of storage in the vanity area.

A washer and dryer are concealed in the companionway. The Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht really has it all. So, how does it all go?

We spent most of the day on Lake Ontario in fresh winds and a sharp chop and I never felt a thing. The twin Caterpillar C18s are smooth, quiet and powerful holding any speed easily but happiest cruising at about 80% throttle. With 94,000 lbs. to move, the Hatteras 60 is not sprightly but moves with determination and delivers what I believe will be impressive seakeeping qualities and comfort.

As we pulled into the berth after our trip, Armand took out his Yacht Controller remote and with precision, placed the boat right in its slip just like a joystick boat. He says, “I wouldn’t have a boat without it.”

The Hatteras heritage of offshore performance and the very substantial size and weight of the yacht combined with all the conveniences you could ask of a motor yacht in this size add up to serious seakeeping in comfort!

By Andy Adams

To see if this boat is available, go to www.boatcan.com to check listings!