Trade-A-Boat — February 2018

quick specs

Hatteras 45

PRICE AS TESTED $2.47m

MATERIAL GRP

TYPE Planing monohull

LENGTH 13.59m

BEAM 5.03m

ENGINE 2 x 1150hp Caterpillar

C18 turbo-diesel

FUEL 3028lt

WATER 378lt

FOR MORE INFO

Visit gandlb.com.au

Hatteras 45

BLACK TIE FISHING

T

he Hatteras

45 Express

Sportfish is a

stunning boat

with impeccable

parentage, born from a

marriage of two American

boating royals, Hatteras and

Cabo, when under the giant

Brunswick Corporation.

Now in the hands of Versa

Capital Management, the

new model owes its hull

to Cabo and its interior to

the progressive Hatteras

design.

Where most homegrown

gameboats have a fl ybridge

and enclosed cabin, this

Hatteras is open and places

the main console on the

raised helm deck. For

chasing fi sh, the skipper can

ascend the stylish tower to

a full display of instruments

and a commanding view of

proceedings.

A traditional timber fi nish

pervades the cockpit and is

at home in an ultra-modern

layout that leaves nothing

to chance, with fi shing

features right at hand. Crew

will be impressed by the

raised mezzanine rear-facing

lounges that’s just a jump

away from the action.

A starboardside door leads

to the rear swimplatform

and the transom is home to

a 210lt livebait tank, while

twin 1.2m-long insulated

killtanks, plus macerator and

lazarette, are located under

the cockpit sole.

Our test boat is used for

stand-up and fi shing deep

with electric reels, so the

central mounting plate has

a fi nely sculptured rocket

launcher/bait station. You

can, of course, include

your fi ghting chair on the

reinforced fl oor plate.

It’s only three steps up

to the helm deck but views

improve from there and

the slight dip in the bow

means that, even as the

hull lifts underway, vision

is unimpaired. There’s an

L-shaped lounge wrapped

around the port and back of

the helm deck too.

It seems no expense

has been spared in fi tting

this boat out, with all

conceivable extras from

the options list included,

and most of the electronics

are repeated in the tower,

including the single-stick

electronic engine controls

that are a joy to use.

The companionway

starboard of the helm leads

to the accommodation

downstairs where two cabins

and a single head reside,

along with a galley and

dining space.

That Cat Three60

joystick control system is

astonishing. It connects the

hydraulic bowthruster with

the props to give instant and

accurate response, putting

the boat exactly where you

want it whether docking or

backing down on fi sh.

Shoehorning a pair of

18-litre 1150hp engines into

this 45-footer was always

going to be fun. In basic

trim, 715hp C18s spin the

speedo past 30kts, which

is pretty much the

benchmark for serious

gameboats. The test boat is

a totally different scenario

and more than 40kts is

achievable in a hull that

rides soft and true.

Everything has a downside

though, and the price of this

awesome power is the fuel

burn. Let’s just say: “If you

have to ask, you can’t afford

it.” I had to ask.

With a clean bum, expect

32kts at 1800rpm and

283lt/h from both engines.

WOT delivers 42kts and

435lt/h. Back off to just

above planing speed and you

will still suck down around

200lt/h.

There aren’t many 45s that

will outshine it, either at

the dock or in a comp. The

comfort, speed, seagoing

ability and X-factor are all

world class. Regrettably,

quality costs.

STORY & PHOTO

JOHN FORD

Archive Tests

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