Review: Hatteras 60 Luxury Motor Yacht

Sixty feet may be at lower end of the spectrum for serious offshore cruisers but Hatteras believes it’s big enough to deliver the amenities and the fit and finish you expect in a top-end yacht. And it’s set out to prove it with its 60 Motor Yacht; small enough to put in at any port for fuel but big enough to be a first-class entertainment platform and distance cruiser. 

Hatteras 60 MY

Another way she measures up is in the 3785-litre fuel capacity – much more than some rivals and hugely extending her range, particularly at a typical 10kt cruise on a long passage.

Boarding is either from the side decks via removable stairs or from the swim platform that stands out 1.30m from the transom.

In the transom corners are large pull-up cleats, while a hatch to starboard conceals city water connectors and two 50-Amp shore cords on electric reels. The hydraulic platform option (US$55,968) adds a place to store and launch a PWC or tender.

Moulded steps each side lead to the aft deck and Hatteras thoughtfully added rails to both sets of stairs, plus teak treads (US$6068) and courtesy lights for night-time safety.

A water-tight hatch in the transom leads to the lazarette. Also accessible from the engine room, there’s an option (US$59,800) to convert this space to a crew area if needed.

Aft deck

The aft deck is the first of several entertainment areas, with a C-shaped sofa across the transom wrapping around a high-gloss teak table on chromed pedestals, and two freestanding chairs ahead. The whole area is protected by the 2.11m ceiling created by the extended flybridge above. Teak decking (US$20,398) on the test boat is a continuation of the teak from the stairs, while a hatch in the centre leads to the engine room.

The bow is accessible from decks to port and starboard that are protected by 66cm bulwarks topped with rails, raising protection to 84cm.

At the working end of the bow is a Maxwell windlass with foot controls, and two access hatches to the rode. The anchor is mounted to a stainless steel roller, but we’d like a cleat to secure the rode when the anchor’s deployed, to take the load off the windlass.

Behind that is a large sunpad; the end flips up to create a forward-facing bench seat to enjoy the view ahead. This is sure to be a popular spot underway, so a pedestal table option would be welcome.

Flying bridge

The Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht’s flybridge is accessed by stairs starboard and forward from the aft deck. Protected by a hardtop and isinglass curtains, it’s another comfortable space, with a U-shaped sofa around two teak pedestal tables to port, close enough to the captain and observer for easy conversation.

Aft (on the roof of the aft deck below) is an open area suitable for use as a boat deck if you tick the box for the optional 450kg hydraulic davit (US$26,585), though in this case it’d been left as a sun spot. Ahead there’s an electric grill, with space for an icemaker beneath.

Helm

The flybridge helm is the only operating station on the Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht, which explains the wrap-around protection. The area also has heating and a/c, with two vents at the helm to keep the skipper happy.

A starboard-mounted pod console includes two engine displays for the twin CAT C18s, with another pair of 15in displays ahead of the operator. Steering is hydraulically power assisted, and left of the wheel is the autopilot, while right and above is a Furuno digital display for depth, speed and water temperature. The VHF is alongside and below that the engine start/stops flank the fuel gauge. Also below are the rocker switches, digital engine controls, engine and throttle overrides, bow thruster controls and two SeaKeeper gyro controls (US$235,000 option).

Given the Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht’s beam and displacement, she’s the last boat in her class to need gyros but rough-weather sailors might want them.

Behind the helm, Platinum Series helm seats put the captain in the centre while the observer gets a slightly better view thanks to their starboard location. The captain’s position limits the view of the side decks, though we’d add that we had no problems docking, and stern-to docking is helped by the view down the companionway stairs.

Below deck

Access to the salon from the aft deck is through a sliding glass door; inside, frameless tinted and tempered glass windows and the 2.01m clearance to the fabric ceiling keep things airy.

Forward, the galley and dining areas are up a step, with a matching ceiling boost. The starboard galley is well thought-out with no dead ends, making it easy for two or three to share cooking duties. An island bench with sink has storage underneath.

The remainder of the L-shaped galley features stone countertops, a four-burner ceramic cooktop, five refrigerated drawers, a dishwasher and a convection microwave.

Ahead, a watertight pantograph door leads to the starboard side deck where an opening rail lets you attach stairs to the dock for convenient deliveries.

In the dining area, the synthetic wood flooring from the salon and galley continues, and L-shaped seating wraps around a high-gloss table. The beam really pays off here as six can comfortably eat at this table. Behind, you’ll find storage and an icemaker, with a wine fridge ahead.

Built in L-shaped seating to port includes storage underneath and a high-gloss coffee table in front. To starboard there’s a freestanding chair and a 37in flat-screen TV wired to the Bose surround-sound system.

Accommodation

The Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht is a three-stateroom/two-head design. The lower decks are accessed from a curving stairway to starboard, ahead of the galley. Windows and a glass safety panel allow light in, and cupboards lining the stairway include one concealing the breaker panel.

The full-beam master is aft. Centred around a king berth, there are nightstands each side, with drawers both sides and rectangular hull windows above; the starboard drawers can be swapped for a settee, and there’s also a desk and chair this side.

The en suite with walk-in shower is ahead to port. A mirrored ceiling lends a spacious feel, while there are marble countertops, with stone tiling and a frameless glass door in the shower.

VIP and guest berths are forward and to port respectively, and share a head. VIPs get a private entrance to this head; it serves the guest suite and functions as a day head via a second entry in the hallway. The VIP stateroom features a queen-size island berth with portlights both sides, storage alongside the berth and the usual hanging locker behind.

In the guest room you’ll find over/under berths in an L configuration. This is more spacious than conventional or Pullman bunks, and made possible by the 5.53m beam.

Engine room

The engine room is accessed from an electrically actuated hatch in the centre of the aft deck. A ladder leads to the aft section where as standard there’s a pair of 1000hp CAT C18s – the upgrade to 1136hp C18s on our test boat is a US$125,000 option. At 2.01m, there’s plenty of headroom, and it’s half a metre wide at its narrowest, between two fuel filters. There are no sea rails but there are grab rails overhead.

To the port-side rear is a single 21.5kW generator; a second is a US$22,694 option. There are individual seacocks for each engine and the generator, plus high-speed pick-ups for the water maker (4500L/day water maker, US$25,900), a/c and raw-water pumps. The fuel tank is aluminium while the water tank is polyethylene. Both engines have electric fuel priming but we’d like to see sea strainers on the main engine water intakes.

Handling

Quite simply, she’s a dreamboat. Solid and stable are the operative words. We had flat calm conditions on the day, but crossing wakes the Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht was exemplary, her high bows parting waves quite well and keeping spray low and wide for a dry ride.

With four wheel-rotations from lock to lock, turning her can be more aggressive than other models in the line-up. Few owners would operate her with the heavy hand of a test captain but it bodes well for operating in heavy seas, particularly a following sea where the wheel works harder to maintain a steady heading. In that case, the brisk handling will be a godsend.

The docking qualities of yachts like this are always a talking point because few of us get to do it without making a purchase, and the Hatteras handles the task with grace and poise.

The 60 Motor Yacht is equipped with a bow thruster only. With side-to docking, put the wheel hard over, add a shot of ahead to the dock-side engine and the stern will start to move over. Now add a touch of thruster in the same direction and she’ll start to glide sideways. With a light touch on the controls she’ll lay up with a gentle squish of the fenders so the crew can step off and tie her up.

Pulling away is the same, with the wheel in the opposite direction; push the stern away, then add thruster and she slides off pretty as you please.

To back into a slip, centre the wheel and use the separate engine controls to steer her back. Reverse the port engine, the stern will come back and ease to starboard. Add starboard to stop the side drift, and leave it on for another second and the stern swings to port. Nudge the thruster to keep the bow where you want it and you go in as easy as side-to docking.

Hatteras yachts are among the easiest to handle around the dock, plenty of thrust getting the job done without needing a heavy hand. Apply the old docking rule – don’t move faster than you’re prepared to hit something – and things seem to work out fine.

Less seasoned captains can add the CAT 360 Joystick control system at US$133,646 to simplify things.

HIGHS

• Sleek yet functional styling

• Sturdy and voluminous hull

• Smart systems are family-friendly

• Properly fast

LOWS

• Hull trim needs a tweak

• No fiddles in galley

Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht specs

Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht price: US$3,400,000

Price as tested

OPTIONS FITTED

Teak steps treads and decking; Seakeeper gyros; water maker; 1136hp engine upgrade; more

PRICED FROM

US$2,995,000

GENERAL

Material fibreglass

Type monohull

Length 18.57m

Beam 5.53m

Draft 1.37m

Weight 38,782kg (approx, wet)

CAPACITIES

People (night) 6

Fuel 3785L

Freshwater 946L

Holding tank 378L

ENGINES

Make/model CAT C18A engines

Type Inline six-cylinder four-stroke

Rated HP 2x 1000 (2x 1135bhp optional)

Displacement 18.125L (each)

MORE INFORMATION

Game & Leisure Boats

Factory 1 Runaway Bay Marina, Queensland 4216

Phone 07 5577 5811

Originally published by Boattest.com.