InTheBite

Captain Billy Black: A Pirate Looks At Eighty

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captain billy black

Capt. Billy Black (left), with a 694-pound blue marlin caught in 1981. Photo courtesy Billy Black

By Dale Wills

Ask Captain Billy Black about his fondness with red bottom paint or saving a seven-year-old boys life from drowning ten feet under the ocean’s surface in choppy seas or running around Walkers Cay at wee hours hour in the morning with former President Nixon unbeknownst to the secret service or outfitting his boat dogs with sunglasses so they could spot fish from the bridge of the Duchess. For a captain who has invested over 50 years of his life to his sportfishing craft, these stories and countless others are worthy of a comfy dock box and your favorite beverage any time you cross paths with Captain Billy Black.

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A Life on the Sea: Capt. Billy Black on the 50′ Duchess

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captain billy black with dogs

Captain Billy Black is well-known among the sportfishing community, especially along the Treasure Coast and the Bahamas. With a wealth of experience, and an interesting history to boot, Black is one of those captains who can truly say that he’s ‘been there and done that.’

We stopped by to chat with Black on his classic 50-foot Hatteras sportfisher, Duchess, that can be seen taking charters out to fish the waters off Stuart and the Bahamas. For more information on Capt. Billy Black’s sportfishing charters, visit captbillyblack.com or check out his fish de-hookers and lures here: captbillyblack.com/index.php/dehooker

Hatteras GT65 Carolina Makes World Debut at Miami Yacht Show

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MIAMI, FL ‒ February 14, 2020 – Hatteras | Cabo Yachts, LLC, an industry leader in building luxury motor yachts and convertible sportfishing yachts for over 60 years, proudly announced the world debut of the new Hatteras GT65 Carolina at the 2020 Miami Yacht Show this February.

A small boat in a body of water Description automatically generated

The Hatteras GT65 Carolina represents the next generation of the builder’s tournament-proven GT Series sportfishing yachts, which runs from 45 to 70 feet ‒ while maintaining the line’s core DNA and 40+-knot performance. The yacht features a sleek new profile, a high-tech hull and a new level of customization available to discerning owners, whether they plan to target big game offshore or cruise long-range in luxury and comfort.

“I picked an exciting time to join the Hatteras team with the launch of this ground-breaking new yacht,” said Gary Smith, who was named CEO of Hatteras | CABO Yachts in January. “My second day in the office, I met with Chris Jessen, soon-to-be owner of the first GT65 Carolina along with his wife, Laura.

The Jessens, who have an elite tournament fishing team, were great partners with Hatteras in developing this new sportfish model. Our R&D, Engineering and Interior Design staff really stretched themselves to realize their unique vision for the boat, particularly the many custom fishing features and the striking contemporary interior.

The new GT65 Carolina also helps to move the needle on boat construction technology for the rest of the industry.”

Hatteras Yachts’ Engineering team utilized Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to design a new hull and tunnel design for the GT65 Carolina that maximizes performance, handling and seaworthiness. The hull and stringer system are infused as a single part, an industry first, in order to reduce weight and increase strength.

The boat also has a new engine-room layout that optimizes ease of maintenance and serviceability. The tandard power package includes twin 1,622-bhp Caterpillar C-32A diesels; upgrade engine packages with twin 1,800-bhp and 1,900-bhp Cats are available. The GT65 Carolina also is purpose-designed to operate with twin Seakeeper 9 gyro stabilizers for added comfort without compromising the yacht’s 1,900-gallon fuel capacity.

salon of a hatteras gt 65

Standard salon/galley interior design for the GT65 Carolina featuring a peninsula counter

The GT65 Carolina’s four-stateroom, three-head interior makes the most of the abundant volume provided by the boat’s 65’2″ LOA (68’2″ with pulpit) and 20′ beam. The salon/galley is clean and spacious, providing ample room to feed a hungry crew and abundant storage space without obstructing views of the sea through the large windows.

Owners can configure the galley with an island or peninsula counter. Below, the yacht features the largest en-suite master stateroom in its class amidships, along with a generous forward VIP and two bunkrooms.

Ultimate fishability was the design imperative for the GT65 Carolina’s huge cockpit, which is overlooked by a full mezzanine with optional seatback air-conditioning and large built-in stainless-steel storage boxes. An ergonomic ladder leads up the flybridge, which features a “glass-cockpit” helm array and excellent sightlines all around the boat.

The first Hatteras GT65 Carolina, Fish Tank, was in the water at the Hatteras Yachts Miami Yacht Show display. Fully loaded with valuable options, it features upgrade power ‒ twin 1,900bhp CAT C-32A diesel engines ‒ along with a full tower with outriggers, 60/40 split berth in the forward stateroom, and the Hatteras Integrated Tackle Storage center.

 

The Story Behind Their First—Hatteras Yachts

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The original Hatteras Yachts fiberglass boat sitting on land at the boat yard

Crew at work on the Knit Wits, the original fiberglass “convertible” from Hatteras Yachts.

Hatteras Yachts, Knit Wits

Nearly 60 years ago, Hatteras Yachts leapt to the forefront of the big-game sportfishing industry with the introduction of the very first fiberglass boat over 40-feet in length. Named Knit Wits, the 41-foot “convertible” was the brain child of textile magnet Willis Slane of Highpoint, North Carolina. She rolled out of the shed in 1960.

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Splash Report: Hatteras GT59

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Captain Jeff Donahue provides a thorough breakdown of the all new Hatteras GT59. Captain Jeff runs the Hatterascal, hull number one of the GT59 series, on it’s wide ranging tournament schedule. See how the boat is designed, performs and what all goes into making a Hatteras. You won’t want to miss it.

The 2019 Hatteras Cup Million Dollar Sportfish Challenge Has Begun

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NOW OPEN TO ALL ANGLERS FISHING FROM HATTERAS YACHTS 
$1.115 MILLION IN PRIZE MONEY AT STAKE!

NEW BERN, N.C.– MAY 6, 2019 – Hatteras Yachts, a world-leading builder of convertible sportfishing and luxury motor yachtsfrom 45 to 105 feet, is pleased to announce that the 2ndAnnual Hatteras Cup Million Dollar Sportfish Challenge kicked off on May 1, 2019. The competition, which runs through December 31, 2019, is open exclusively to anglers fishing onboard a Hatteras yacht, regardless of model or year, who register in advance atwww.hatterasyachts.com/hatterascup.

The Hatteras Cup_lores 3The Hatteras Cup $1 Million Grand Prize for Heaviest Atlantic Blue Marlin will be awarded to the registered angler or team that catches an Atlantic Blue Marlin from a Hatteras yacht during an official billfish tournament that exceeds the current IGFA All-Tackle World Record. For the official Hatteras Cup Rules, please visit https://www.hatterasyachts.com/media/3362/2019-hatteras-cup-rules.pdf

If no registered Hatteras Cup participant wins the Million Dollar Grand Prize by Dec. 31, 2019, then $50,000 will be awarded for the Heaviest Atlantic Blue Marlin caught from a Hatteras during an official billfish tournament that was entered by a registered Hatteras Cup participant.

Prizes totaling $65,000 will be awarded to registered anglers in two other Divisions: Game Fish – Heaviest Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Snapper, Grouper – and Catch & Release (multi-species). Participants competing for prizes in these Divisions do not need to be fishing in an official tournament when they make their catch.

The Hatteras Cup awards will be presented at the Miami Yacht Show in Miami, Fla., in February 2020.

“Last year’s Inaugural Hatteras Cup was a great success with 245 anglers competing across the globe,” said Hatteras Yachts President and CEO Kelly Grindle. “We are looking forward to even more owners, anglers and teams to participate this year and compete for prize  money, as well as bragging rights for themselves and their boats..”

The tournament is easy to enter—just visit hatterasyachts.com/hatterascup.

The 2019 Hatteras Cup Divisions and prizes are as follows:

ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
Grand Prize – Exceeding current IGFA World Record Weight (per Hatteras Cup rules) $1,000,000 Yes
Or – First $50,000 Yes
CATCH & RELEASE – MULTI-SPECIES
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $10,000 No
Second $7,500 No
Third $5,000 No
GAME FISH – TUNA – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GAME FISH – WAHOO
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GAME FISH – DOLPHIN
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GAME FISH – SNAPPER – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GAME FISH – GROUPER – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No

Hatteras Yachts Announces New GT65 Carolina Debut in Fall 2019

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Hatteras_Logo_CMYKBlack 2
HATTERAS YACHTS UNVEILS THE DETAILS OF THE 
ALL-NEW GT65 CAROLINA 

NEW BERN, NC– Sept. 24, 2018 – Hatteras/CABO Yachts LLC (“Hatteras Yachts”), a world leader in the construction of convertible sportfishing and luxury motor yachts from 45 to 105 feet, today released more details about the all-new Hatteras GT65 Carolina. This is the newest addition to its proven GT Series tournament-ready sportfishing boats, which includes the GT70, GT63, GT59, GT54 and GT45X. The new GT65 Carolina will replace the GT63 and signals a new design direction, enhanced performance and custom features for clients seeking an alternative to either a custom builder or other competitors’ ordinary off-the-shelf boats. The new GT65 Carolina is scheduled to debut in Fall 2019.

GT65 Running lores

“Hatteras caters to customers who expect the most from their boats,” said Hatteras/CABO President and CEO Kelly T. Grindle. “The GT65 Carolina will exceed the demands of the most avid angler. The boat will feature a cockpit, mezzanine and interior with greater volume, as well as higher performance in real-world conditions.”

GT65 Running Profile_w_rods

The first renderings of the new Hatteras GT65 reveal a sleek profile that refreshes the look of the GT Series while still maintaining its core Hatteras DNA. Its new flybridge arrangement features an ergonomically designed console that puts all the controls within easy reach. It also incorporates the latest and largest navigation and fishfinding electronics in a non-glare, flush-mounted, “glass cockpit” helm array.

GT65 Cockpit 2

The GT65 Carolina’s added volume is evident in its class-leading 194-square foot cockpit, which is designed for ultimate fishability. The mezzanine incorporates optional integrated seatback air conditioning for all-day comfort, and large stainless steel built-in storage boxes.

GT65C_arrangementThe GT65 Carolina’s four-stateroom, three-head interior layout maximizes the boat’s additional volume in both living and storage space. The ensuite master stateroom is the largest in its class, but guests billeted in the forward VIP will not feel slighted in the least. Two big bunk rooms allow owners to bring along a big team of anglers and crew.

But the GT65 Carolina’s key advantage over the competition lies in its new hull and tunnel design. Utilizing high-tech Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, Hatteras’ team of engineers optimized hull form to ensure superior performance, handling and seaworthiness. In addition, the hull and stringer system will be infused as a single part, an industry first, to reduce weight and increase strength. The GT65 Carolina incorporates an all-new layout of the engine room for ease of maintenance and serviceability. For owners seeking additional comfort, there is also an optional twin Seakeeper 9 installation, without compromising fuel capacity.

Hatteras Yachts is building the first GT65 Carolina, due in Fall 2019, for tournament-winning sportfishing couple Chris and Laura Jessen, owners of Fish Tank Sportfishing. The Jessens have had tremendous success campaigning their Hatteras GT63 Fish Tank since 2012. Chris and Laura, along with Fish Tank’s award-winning captain, Ben Horning, are collaborating with Hatteras on the new Fish Tank, and the builder has given them the opportunity to customize it to meet their competitive needs. The result is the GT65 Carolina, a tournament-ready sportfishing boat that embodies the best boatbuilding traditions of the brand and state that spawned it, along with features forged by the Jessens’ years of tournament-angling experience.

Additional features available on the GT65 Carolina include:

  • Sealed cockpit and additional fuel in lieu of fish boxes
  • Hull side vents with Delta -T system
  • Premium finish throughout engine room
  • Single-level controls with bow thrusters incorporated
  • Tackle room in lieu of fourth stateroom.

The first GT65 Carolina, Fish Tank owned by Chris and Laura Jessen, also will incorporate custom features such as: tower with carbon fiber hardtop and buggy top, tuna tubes, and a custom wood interior.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the team of seasoned engineers and boat builders at Hatteras to ensure the GT65 Carolina will continue to enhance our competitive sportfishing lifestyle,” said Chris Jessen .

“I’m thrilled with the collaborative results of the project team, including: Hatteras engineers and designers, Chris and Laura Jessen, Capt. Ben Horning, Scott Roberton and Pete Havens,” said Kelly T. Grindle. “The GT65 Carolina will be second-to-none.”

SPECIFICATIONS

OVERALL LENGTH                                       65’2″               19.86 M
OVERALL LENGTH W/BOW PULPIT           68’2″               12.80 M
BEAM                                                             20’0″               6.10 M
WEIGHT DISPLACEMENT                           103,000 LB     46,270 KG
DRAFT                                                           5’0″                 1.53 M
FUEL CAPACITY                                           1,900 GAL      7,192 L
FRESHWATER CAPACTIY                           270 GAL         1,022 L
HOLDING TANK                                           150 GAL          568 L
DIESEL GENERATOR                                  21.5 KW
TWIN CAT C-32A DIESEL ENGINES           1,600 BHP      1,622 MHP

The specifications measurements are approximate and subject to variance.


For more information on Hatteras sportfish yachts, visit www.hatterasyachts.com/sportfish.

Hatteras Yachts and Fish Tank Sportfishing Team Up

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HATTERAS YACHTS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH FISH TANK SPORTFISHING

World-Class Anglers Will Help Design Next Generation Hatteras Sportfishing Yacht

 NEW BERN, N.C. – JUNE 12, 2018 – Hatteras/Cabo Yachts LLC (“Hatteras Yachts”), a world leader in the construction of convertible sportfishing and luxury motor yachts from 45 to 105 feet, announces a partnership with sportfishing couple Chris and Laura Jessen, world-renowned anglers and owners of Fish Tank Sportfishing. Along with their captain, Ben Horning, the Jessens will collaborate with Hatteras to design a next-generation sportfishing yacht.

“We’ve been fishing on our Hatteras GT63 since 2012, and we chose Hatteras again because we have had a tremendous experience,” said Chris Jessen. “They build a high-quality boat at Hatteras with amazing attention to detail. We’re honored that our ideas and designs will live beyond our boat and influence the legendary Hatteras Sportfishing line.”

“Hatteras is thrilled to collaborate with Fish Tank Sportfishing,” said Hatteras Yachts President and CEO Kelly Grindle. “Chris, Laura, and Captain Ben have incredible expertise, have logged thousands of hours on the water, and have released countless fish. We will be designing a boat where every detail has been considered by world-class anglers.”

The partnership officially begins today. In the coming months, Hatteras will work closely with the Jessens and Captain Horning to design the new boat. Caterpillar Marine will also be a key partner in the building of this new sportfishing yacht.

For more information on Hatteras sportfish yachts, visit www.hatterasyachts.com/sportfish.

Follow @hatterasyachtsnc and @fishtanksportfishing on Instagram for regular updates on the partnership between Hatteras and Fish Tank Sportfishing.

1st Annual Hatteras Cup: Open to Anglers on Hatteras Sportfishing Boats

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HATTERAS YACHTS ANNOUNCES $1.15 MILLION HATTERAS CUP
Open Exclusively to Anglers Competing on Hatteras Sportfishing Boats

NEW BERN, N.C. – JUNE 1, 2018 – Hatteras/Cabo Yachts LLC (“Hatteras Yachts”), a world leader in the construction of convertible sportfishing and luxury motor yachts from 45 to 105 feet, announces the launch of the inaugural Hatteras Cup, an elite fishing tournament beginning today that is open exclusively to participants fishing on a Hatteras sportfish. At stake is $1.15 million in potential prizes.

“At Hatteras, we want to feed the passion we share with our sportfishing customers for going after big game offshore. The Hatteras Cup is an opportunity for the brand that started it all to recognize the passionate anglers who fuel us – Hatteras owners,” said Hatteras Yachts President and CEO Kelly Grindle. “Our boats are built to break both waves and world records.”

“While there are many highly competitive teams fishing on Hatteras sportfish boats in tournaments around the world today, we wanted to give Hatteras owners and their teams a chance to compete against each other for big prize money,” said Joe Cacopardo, Hatteras Yachts director of marketing. “Hatteras Cup winners are going to have serious bragging rights.”

The Hatteras Cup officially begins today. The $1 million prize category, for the registered team that catches the Heaviest IGFA-Verified World Record Atlantic Blue Marlin from a Hatteras sportfish, ends on December 31, 2018. Competition for a total of $115,000 in purses for the Heaviest Blue (non-world record), Catch & Release and Game Fish Divisions ends on January 31st, 2019. Special Recognition Awards also will be presented to the top Lady Angler and Jr. Angler. The awards will be presented during the 2019 Miami Yacht Show.

The Contest Rules for the 2018/2019 Hatteras Cup are as follows: All participants must register on the Hatteras Cup website at www.hatterasyachts.com/hatterascup at least 24 hours prior to submitting any catch, regardless of Division. All fish submitted for prize consideration must be caught while the angler is fishing on board a Hatteras yacht of any year or model with a verifiable HIN number. No other brand of boat is eligible for the Hatteras Cup. Entrants must submit images (video and/or still) of each fishing day including action shots of fishing, weigh-in (where applicable), Captain, crew, anglers, and boat.

There are three Divisions and each has its own unique set of rules beyond the Contest Rules stated above. Please visit www.hatterasyachts.com/hatterascup for a complete list of rules. The three Divisions and prizes are as follows:

HEAVIEST BLUE DIVISION
PRIZES

ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN
Place Prize Tournament Entry Required
World Record $1,000,000 Yes
First (Not a World Record) $50,000 Yes

CATCH & RELEASE DIVISION
PRIZES

CATCH & RELEASE
Place Prize Tournament Entry Required
First $10,000 No
Second $7,500 No
Third $5,000 No

GAME FISH DIVISION
PRIZES

TUNA – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
WAHOO
Place Prize Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
DOLPHIN
Place Prize Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
SNAPPER – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GROUPER – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No

For more information and to register for the Hatteras Cup, please visit www.hatterasyachts.com/hatterascup.