This Vintage Boat

1966 41’ Sport Fish Hatteras

This Hatteras was sent to New Orleans in December, 1966 from the Hatteras manufacture facility in High port North Carolina. She was commissioned in New Orleans in March of 1967. Her first name was Serenity. She was powered with 440 Chrysler gas engines, and then repowered in 1977 with Johnson & Towers 8V53 Detroit’s. Her cost new was in the area of $65,000 in 1966.

She was repossessed in the early 80’s and sat in a boat yard for 5 years prior to auctioning off. Her home port became Freeport TX, where she had a new paint job in 1987. Believed to have had the name, "Hatt’s off" at this time.

The prior ownership purchased her as she was sitting at Clearlake marina under cover for 18 years and the owner never took her out (due to his age)... just let the engine run at the dock and bottom job every 3 years. Her name then became Hatt-A-Tude.

She was repowered again in 2006-7, new Cummins 450 HP 6CTA's, along with new ZF gears, new Ray-marine electronics (GPS, Depth & Fish Finder, Radar, Autopilot), new shafts, cutlass bearings, props, Canvas and aluminum tower. Ruthless has 150 gallon fuel tank each side, and a 150 gallon water holding tank in between the engines.

At that time they stripped the bottom, added new bearer coat and bottom paint. During this same time she was given a new water heater, 2 new A/C units and a 8KW diesel generator set.

The prior owner fished Her in the Gulf out of Galveston, prior to moving her to Roatan in June of 2009. While in Roatan, She was fished and used for island hopping, and enjoyed an active life until her owner passed away suddenly, which is how she found her way to us, beginning 2012. 

After sitting untouched for a long time she was in badshape and needed a lot of love and attention. She received new decks forward and aft, a lot of fiberglass work, paint, a complete makeover inside, new rose wood counter tops, and eventually she was brought back to a wonderful and happy boat again. 

In 1966, Hatteras became the only boat company building solid fiberglass boats from the stringers up, and back then, the knowledge of the strength of fiberglass was not tested over time, so her hull is very thick and much heavier then the boats you see today, which is a real asset in her ability to handle rough seas and maintain incredible structural integrity as she has over the years.

After a full make over this vintage boat was renamed Ruthless, and she stays busy showing vacationers the time of their life going to Cayos Cochinos, half and full day fishing, sunset cruising, Snorkeling and fishing combo day trips and going on other adventures to places near and far. She is an extremely sea worthy and very safe vessel, with vintage style and design, but built like a tank. Ruthless absolutely loves to have fun and show her guests a great time catching fish, cruising the Caribbean and seeing the best sunsets.

After a lengthily search for more information about Ruthless we eventually dug up some old original Hatteras TV commercials. It’s amazing to see how back in the mid 1960’s the difference in “innovation” they had then, verse today is quite impressive! View the links below to see a couple different Hatteras models that at the time, had a lot to offer for luxury and technology.

38' Hatteras Yacht Convertible Sales & Promotional Film 1960s

36' Hatteras Yacht Convertible Sales & Promotional Film 1960s