Hatteras Yachts, the New Bern Builder That Defined the American Sportfisherman

From Knit Wits to a New Bern institution

Hatteras was founded in 1959 by Willis Slane, a North Carolina hosiery executive who wanted a sportfisherman tough enough for the waters off Cape Hatteras. The first boat, the 41-foot Knit Wits of 1960, was one of the earliest large fiberglass yachts in America and proved that the new material could handle offshore conditions. The company soon moved its production to New Bern, North Carolina, where it still builds boats today.

Through the 1970s and 1980s Hatteras became the default name in American convertibles and motor yachts, with a long list of models from about 36 to over 100 feet. Ownership changed several times, including long stretches under Brunswick and private equity owners, and the brand is now part of White River Marine Group, the boat division associated with Bass Pro Shops.

Four boats, from the 1970s classics to the GT59

Two of the Hatteras models we cover come from the late 1970s, when the New Bern plant was turning out heavy solid-glass yachts in large numbers. The Hatteras 53 Yacht Fisherman, on a Jack Hargrave hull shared with the 53 Motor Yacht and 53 Convertible, went into production in 1977 and blended motor yacht cabins with a fishing cockpit until 1990. It remains a favorite with buyers who want an affordable, seaworthy coastal cruiser that can still fish.

The Hatteras 58 Motor Yacht, a pure cruiser with no fishing cockpit, appeared that same year. The first generation ran from 1977 to 1980 with three staterooms, three heads and twin Detroit Diesel 8V92s in separate engine rooms, and a wider second generation followed from 1985 to 1987. Most boats listed today are 1978 to 1980 hulls, and they sell for anywhere from about $60,000 to $380,000, depending almost entirely on how much refit work has been done.

The Hatteras 70 Motor Yacht, launched in 2015 and no longer built, shows the brand's late-model motor yacht engineering, with an infused hull, in-house design and a full-beam master; an enclosed-bridge version followed in 2017. The Hatteras GT59, built from 2018 and now part of the legacy GT series rather than current production, is a modern sportfisherman designed to compete with Viking and the Carolina custom builders on speed and tournament readiness.

Today's Hatteras range has narrowed to sportfish only, with the GT59, GT65 and GT70 forming the legacy GT series, a 77-footer in production and a new 48 announced.

Why old Hatteras yachts still sell, and what to inspect

Hatteras resale reflects a split market. Late-model GT convertibles hold value well against Viking and Bertram, while older motor yachts can be inexpensive to buy because of their age, fuel burn and maintenance needs. A well-refit 1980s Hatteras can be one of the best values in big-boat ownership, but the refit is the whole story. Service knowledge is widespread along the East Coast and Gulf Coast, and the factory in New Bern still supports owners.

Classic Hatteras surveys should focus on the systems more than the hull.

• Engine hours and overhaul history on older Detroit Diesel two-strokes and later MAN or Caterpillar engines
• 32-volt electrical systems and stabilizers on 1970s motor yachts such as the 58
• Aluminum fuel tank corrosion, a known cost on older boats
• Deck and superstructure core around windows, hatches and the flybridge
• Generators, air conditioning and wiring updates
• Shaft, strut and rudder condition, plus cutless bearings
• On GT models, tournament use, structural repairs and electronics upgrades