For 60 years, the Hatteras brand has been wowing the boating public. I attended the unveiling of this beast at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2018, and by the turnout, you could tell there was no shortage of people — fishing people — who continue to love all things Hatteras. The crowd anticipated the introduction of the new-and-improved Hatteras GT59. The collective gasps only reiterated the brand’s placement: Hatteras is here to stay.
If you’re looking for a fresh, out-of-the-box tournament competitor, this is it. While your choices of layout vary, everything about the new GT59 has your competitive interests at heart.
And for a production boatbuilding company that has no doubt been an assembly-line model for many other builders, Hatteras must be doing something right.
Boasting the most comfortable ride in its class, the GT59 does not fall short. I sea-trialed this boat on the second day of a South Florida cold front, with winds whipping from the northwest at 20-plus knots, and even out of North Key Largo where you get a bit of lee, the seas were no less snotty with the incoming tide.
Construction and Performance
The resin-infused foam core is married to a solid fiberglass hull bottom which makes this Hatteras not only strong, but light on her feet. The convex V-hull and double-chine design provides a dry, comfortable ride in most conditions, but maximized performance — and style — is the ultimate goal.
By deepening the prop tunnels, Hatteras has been able to create a hull that is responsive to even the smallest change in rudder, and its own multiblade propellers were designed to reduce shuddering and increase fuel economy. These two innovations alone are responsible for the quiet, almost vibration-free ride.
The hull sides, bulkheads and decks of the superstructure are all resin-infused to be light but strong, and every inch of the exterior is painted and polished to a mirror finish worthy of a second look.
As we left the channel, I immediately went inside. Only there will you know what a ride feels like from an owner’s perspective. There was very little noise and no squeaking joinery to be heard, and I could easily walk the entire interior — including the forward stateroom and head — which can be a challenge at times.
Before I knew it, we were running at a cruising speed of almost 33 knots, with wide-open throttle producing a speed of 41 knots, even into the large-chop head sea.
Interior
The salon is a fisherman’s dream. With no carpet, the durable, wide-plank walnut Amtico flooring makes going in and out during a tournament day a nonissue, because worrying about removing your shoes isn’t the first thing on your mind. A simple rug at the entry is all that is needed when your concentration is fixed on the spread, not the carpet. Satin-teak veneers with gloss cabinet tops accent the salon floor for a truly clean, incredibly polished look.
Directly to port lies a comfortable L-shaped couch with storage below, accompanied by a solid-teak coffee table. The galley is forward to port with a stainless-steel sink, cooktop and a three-stool island for dining. Multiple storage cabinets line the forward bulkhead, and in lieu of a standard dinette, a cabinet bar with deep-set storage keeps everything from liquor to cups and glasses in easy reach but out of sight. A bar-style ice machine also occupies this space. For those who prefer a dinette, Hatteras provides an alternate layout to include one.
Down the companionway, the plush carpet underfoot keeps the boat cozy. Immediately to starboard there is a cleverly designed rod-and-reel cabinet and locker hidden beneath the same stunning teak cabinetry seen throughout.
To port, the master stateroom with an en suite head and large shower is decked in functionality and style. With premier wall coverings, countertops and fabrics available at multiple, upgraded tiers, you get exactly what you want when working with the Hatteras Design Center.
To starboard, forward of the rod-storage system, an upper and lower bunk arrangement is perfect for a tournament crew on the road, and forward finds a VIP berth with your choice of either a queen bed or over/under bunks, complete with head and shower. All staterooms feature full-length dressing mirrors and large closets. For the teams that require even more room, the rod storage can be substituted for an additional head.
Cockpit and Bridge
The GT59’s cockpit creates the perfect platform for tournament fishing, laid out with all the essentials necessary to make wins happen, whether you’re live-baiting sails in South Florida or trolling lures for the big girls in blue.
A Seakeeper 16 gyrostabilizer is accessible in a large deck hatch for easy maintenance, and all the cockpit lines are rounded in a perfect radius for backing up quickly when needed. Should your program require fuel storage over comfort, an additional 250-gallon fuel tank can be installed in place of the gyro.
The golden teak deck is easy on the eyes and is accented by beautifully matching rolled covering boards, complete with locking transom gate, a 42-gallon in-transom livewell, and an additional in-deck 62-gallon livewell. Large deck drains are set in the gunwales instead of on deck for maximum drainage while making your last moves toward a release.
On the flybridge, a Palm Beach-style center console completes the purposeful arrangement. The helm integrates three large-screen Garmin multi-functional displays while air-conditioning vents keep the captain comfortable and on-point. A full-size lounge forward makes cruising a pleasure, and the massive freezer hidden beneath the lounge is definitely a plus. Two bench seats occupy the bridge — port and starboard — and offer even more storage for a team on the go.
Visibility is ample on this bridge, with a full wrap-around enclosure — and seeing the pointy end or the rocket launcher is not a problem, even for a person of shorter stature.
Engine Room
With a little more than 5 feet of headroom, this engine room is a maintenance dream come true. There is not a single system that is out of reach or requires a contortionist’s skills for access.
Entering the engine room, you’ll find the sole wide enough to easily walk between the two Caterpillar C-32 ACERT engines that carry 1,900 hp on molded-fiberglass, longitudinal-stringered steel engine beds. Fuel separators, coolant reservoirs and various other accoutrements are easily accessible, and the entire vessel is loaded with necessary redundant systems.
The forward bulkhead houses the electrical components away from possible saltwater intrusion: battery switches and chargers, breaker panels, and an automatic fire-extinguishing system with its own shut-down control panel.
Larger systems such as the watermaker and Spot Zero are easily accessible outboard of the starboard engine with plenty of workable space for tasks such as changing filters and other general maintenance and repairs.
All of this is wrapped up in a neat, tidy package where the sole and bilges are fully finished and all the wiring is bundled out of the way but within easy reach.
The GT59 screams luxury and functionality at every turn. New boats are delivered with a one-year, worldwide full-factory warranty — and with a tagline like Designed for speed, built for battle, Hatteras must be damn sure it can back up that claim.
If you’re looking to get anywhere within a reasonable time safely, this 59-footer has you covered.
Specs
| LOA: | 59’9″ |
| Beam: | 18’9″ |
| Draft: | 4’9″ |
| Displ: | 89,000 lb |
| Fuel: | 1,750 gal. |
| Water: | 200 gal. |
| Power: | Twin 1,900 hp CAT 32 ACERT |
