Offered for sale by her owners

La Mer

1977 Hatteras 53 Motor Yacht

·

Arrange a showing See the refit
53′Length overall
15′ 8″Beam
2 × 435hp · Detroit 8V71 TI
3 / 3Staterooms / heads
550Gallons diesel
$79.5k+Documented refit since 2020

An introduction

A blue-water classic,
recommissioned with care.

La Mer is a Jack Hargrave–designed Hatteras 53 Motor Yacht: the model many consider the most successful mid-size motor yacht ever built. Since 2020 her owners have worked through her system by system. The fuel system was rebuilt, the air conditioning was renewed, and the electrical system was updated with a modern inverter and lithium bank. She also has new reverse-osmosis drinking water, AIS, canvas, flooring and more, with every dollar on a receipt.

She has the space, sea-keeping and solid hand-laid hull that made the 53 a legend. She is ready for the Bahamas, the ICW, the Great Loop, or a life aboard.

“After five years of owning, cruising, living aboard, and improving La Mer, we’ve decided it’s time for her to find her next owner.”

Erik & Patrick, her owners

The pedigree

Born of the roughest water on the Atlantic coast.

In 1959, North Carolina textile man Willis Slane set out to build a sportfisherman that could handle the notorious inlets off Cape Hatteras. His company helped pioneer large fiberglass yachts, and the name Hatteras came to stand for overbuilt hulls and honest seamanship.

Naval architect Jack Hargrave drew the 53 Motor Yacht, and it stayed in production from 1969 to 1988. Roughly 350 were built as motor yachts, more than 600 counting every variant, which made the 53 the company’s most popular model. La Mer was launched in 1977, when the yard was owned by AMF.

Fifty years on, 53s are still cruising the Bahamas, the Loop and the inside passage. The way they were built is the reason. Her own line of owners includes Hal Jones, the Fort Lauderdale broker whose name was synonymous with Grand Banks trawlers for decades. A man who could have owned anything, he chose a Hatteras 53. Few have kept their paperwork as well as La Mer: her original owner’s manual, copies of the 1977 builder’s blueprints, and a binder of every invoice from her years in Galveston are still aboard.

Builder
AMF Hatteras Yachts, North Carolina
Designer
Jack Hargrave
Model run
1969 – 1988
Hull
Solid hand-laid FRP, semi-displacement
Records aboard
1977 owner’s manual, builder’s blueprints & Galveston service binder
Replacement cost
$2,310,000BUCValuPro, per 2021 SAMS survey

Provenance

Four names. One documented history.

Her U.S. Coast Guard official number, 587692, has followed her since she was built. Through it, her bills of sale and the Coast Guard's own historical record trace every chapter, from Minnesota and Texas to the Florida Keys, Québec, and home again.

  1. 1975–76

    Commissioned

    Her first owner, William Funk, orders a new 53 Motor Yacht from Hatteras. As her story has been passed down to us, he was an attorney from Red Wing, Minnesota, with a winter home in Florida.

  2. 1977

    Built by AMF Hatteras Yachts

    Hull HATAM4970977 is completed in North Carolina and documented with the U.S. Coast Guard as O.N. 587692. Her first name is Our Toy.

  3. 1980s–2000s

    Sybil Belle IV

    Renamed Sybil Belle IV, she passes through the hands of Thomas J. Blaney and Bill E. Holley, as the Coast Guard record shows. For a time she is kept in Galveston, Texas, where her owner had the marina care for her and kept every invoice. That binder of Galveston service records still comes with her.

  4. 2000s

    Annie J and Hal Jones

    She is bought by Gulfstream Trawlers Inc. of Key Largo, whose president was Hal Jones, one of the best-known names in the trawler world. His firm, Hal Jones & Co., had been a Grand Banks dealer since 1977, and he served as commodore of the Lauderdale Yacht Club. He had always wanted a Hatteras 53. He named her Annie J after his wife, Annie Jones, with Key Largo as her hailing port.

  5. c. 2010

    The storm in Key Largo

    As the story was relayed to us, a strong storm collapsed the roof of the covered slip where she lay, bringing it down onto her flybridge. Hal, getting on in years and finding the climb harder, had the bridge removed rather than rebuilt. Her last U.S. certificate as Annie J is issued that September.

  6. 2011

    North to Québec

    On April 4, Hal Jones signs her bill of sale. Through Atlantic Yacht & Ship in Dania Beach she goes to an owner from Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec, and on April 12 she leaves U.S. documentation for the Canadian flag, registered at the Port of Québec.

  7. 2019

    Laid up in New Jersey

    Her Canadian owner brings her south to New Jersey and leaves her on the hard. Then COVID arrives, and she sits. Eventually he turns her over to the yard to be sold. Windows left open let rainwater in, and the Canadian bill of sale records her as sold “damaged by rainwater while on the hard in a New Jersey port.”

  8. 2020

    A new chapter

    Her current owners buy her at Hoffman’s Marina in Brielle, New Jersey, on December 12. Once the sale closes, the yard pumps her completely dry. The new owners run dehumidifiers and clean her stem to stern, then start a full recommissioning.

  9. 2021

    Recommissioned & surveyed

    Hoffman’s Marina completes $29,334 of yard work and relaunches her. An independent SAMS-accredited surveyor inspects her on October 29, and in November she runs past Lower Manhattan to winter in Mystic, Connecticut.

  10. 2022

    Home under the Stars & Stripes

    She is returned to U.S. documentation as LA MER. In April she leaves Mystic and runs south to St. Augustine, Florida.

  11. 2025

    Documented through 2030

    Her Certificate of Documentation is renewed for the 2025–2030 term.

The refit · 2020 to present

Every system touched. Every dollar documented.

$0 invested in recommissioning and upgrades, excluding purchase, slip, fuel and insurance. A full receipt binder is available to serious buyers.

The heart of the boat. Contaminated fuel was removed, and the tanks were cleaned and swabbed. The fuel delivery system was then rebuilt from the pickups to the injectors.

  • Fuel tanks emptied, cleaned & swabbedHoffman’s Marina · 2021
  • Four new Racor 1000 FH filter/separatorsNew dual set-up fabricated for each engine · 2021
  • Fuel pickups, sending units & lines reworkedInline fuel pump and check valve added · 2021
  • Shaft & rudder packing replacedPort, starboard & rudders · 2021
  • Raw water impellers, zincs, props swapped to spares2021
  • Shift cables reconnected, ignition switches replaced2021
  • New Groco ARG raw water strainer2022
  • New engine fuel & turbo hosesApril 2024
  • New Detroit fuel pumps, port & starboardMarch 2024
  • Custom engine hoses by Florida HydraulicSeptember 2024

The original 32-volt Hatteras system has new batteries, and a modern 12-volt house system with an inverter and lithium bank now runs alongside it.

  • Eight new Rolls Surrette 8-volt batteries32V bank · 2020
  • Renogy 3,000 W pure sine inverter2022
  • 200 Ah LiFePO4 lithium batteryBuilt-in 200 A BMS, 10-year warranty · 2022
  • Renogy 50 A DC-DC MPPT charger & monitor2022
  • ProMariner 1240P charger & remote2022
  • Blue Sea Systems 16-position 12V DC panelPlus A/C-series breakers throughout · 2021–22
  • Blue Sea battery selector switches2022
  • 36V LED bulbs throughoutDimmable 12V recessed lighting added · 2021–22
  • Tinned marine-grade wire & terminalsAncor/BSP, heat-shrink throughout
  • Pepwave router & Blink camera systemRemote monitoring while away · 2021

More than $10,500 has gone into keeping her comfortable from Florida summers to New England shoulder seasons.

  • New 12,000 BTU Mabru A/C with digital controlGalley · Hansen Marine · June 2022
  • Two 16,000 BTU A/C units2023
  • Dometic 12,000 BTU A/C & controls2022–23
  • March TE5C & Oberdorfer raw water pumps2022
  • Aft stateroom blower motor & rechargeSalon start capacitor · Hansen Marine 2022
  • 8 kW diesel forced-air heaterDedicated Racor filter, through-hull exhaust · 2021
  • Dehumidifier, vent fans, hygrometer2021–22

Fresh water you can drink from the tap, and new heads that work the way they should.

  • APEC reverse-osmosis drinking water systemRO faucets in master & VIP heads · 2021–23
  • New water heaterReplaced 2021
  • New 12V fresh water pump2023
  • New galley faucet & filtration2021
  • Jabsco Quiet Flush electric toiletForward head · 2024
  • New macerator pump & sanitation hose2022–24
  • Rule 37A float switchesBilge pump automation · 2021

Set up for cruising: modern AIS, all-chain ground tackle and a fully re-equipped safety locker.

  • Vesper Marine XB-8000 AIS transponder2022
  • Furuno radar & chartplotter, Garmin plotterStandard Horizon Quest VHF · Ritchie compass
  • 275′ of new 5/16″ BBB chainChain markers, snubber hooks · 2021
  • Todd 5-Star helm seat & pedestals2022
  • Eight Kidde smoke detectors, four CO detectorsEight ABC extinguishers
  • New flares, life ring, marine first-aid kit2021–22
  • Air horns, mounted & handheld spotlightsLED anchor light · 2024

Original Hatteras Afromosia teak joinery with updated flooring, galley and bedding, and new canvas.

  • New LVP flooringSalon, galley & forward stateroom · 2022
  • New aft deck canvasMay 2024
  • Windshield canvas, front cushions & coversMay 2024
  • KitchenAid 4-burner convection rangeWith matching KitchenAid convection microwave; replaced the original 1977 Modern Maid oven
  • Memory foam mattress & Froli sleep systems2021–22
  • Curtains professionally cleaned2021
  • Stainless French-door refrigeratorGalley. The old built-in ice maker was removed, leaving space for a wine fridge, ice maker or whatever you like

Gallery

Aboard La Mer.

From the galley and staterooms to the run south past Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Tap any photo to view it full size, and scroll down for video.

In motion.

Leaving Mystic, firing up the Detroits, and cruising the St. Johns River.

Video walkthroughs and more photos are on Instagram and Facebook.

Specifications

The particulars.

Vessel

Builder
Hatteras Yachts (AMF)
Model
53 Motor Yacht
Year
1977
Designer
Jack Hargrave
HIN
HATAM4970977
USCG O.N.
587692 · documented to 2030
Flag
United States

Dimensions

LOA
53′ 0″
Beam
15′ 8″
Depth
7.0′ (USCG)
Displacement
55,000 lb (dry)
Tonnage
39 GT · 31 NT
Hull
FRP, semi-displacement

Machinery

Engines
2 × Detroit Diesel 8V71 TI
Power
435 hp each · 870 hp total
Shafts
2″ stainless
Controls
Mechanical; lower & aft stations
Steering
Hydraulic
Stabilizers
Fitted
Fuel filtration
4 × Racor 1000 FH (2021)

Tankage & Power

Fuel
550 gal diesel · 2 FRP tanks
Fresh water
2 FRP tanks in service; a third can be recommissioned (350 gal original capacity)
Holding
Type III MSD
Shore power
1 × 50 A 240 V, 2 × 30 A 120 V
DC
32 V ship’s system + 12 V house
Inverter
3,000 W pure sine

Accommodations

Staterooms
3 — master aft, VIP & guest forward
Joinery
Original Afromosia teak throughout
Heads
3, electric
Galley
KitchenAid 4-burner convection range, KitchenAid convection microwave, French-door refrigerator
Climate
Multi-zone reverse-cycle A/C + diesel forced-air heat
Water
Reverse-osmosis drinking water

Deck

Ground tackle
Danforth on roller; 275′ 5/16″ BBB chain
Davit
On aft deck hardtop
Tender
Not included · optional RIB available (see below)
Canvas
Aft deck & windshield (2024)
Swim platform
FRP with boarding ladder

Survey & records

Nothing to hide. Everything on paper.

In October 2021 a surveyor accredited by the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) inspected La Mer in the water for condition and value. That was before most of the upgrades listed above.

  • Exterior hull in good condition
  • FRP stringers properly tabbed; no notable moisture; sound on percussion test
  • Bulkheads properly tabbed; non-skid and bow rail in good condition
  • Exhaust hose, engine mounts and beds in good condition
  • Wiring panels clearly labeled; outlets show normal polarity
  • Rated “suitable for its intended use” once the safety items were corrected
2021 SAMS survey · fair market value $100,000 Assessed before the upgrades of 2022–2024. Asking .

Available to qualified buyers

  • 2021 SAMS condition & value survey21 pages
  • Hoffman’s Marina recommissioning invoice$29,334 · itemized
  • Hansen Marine A/C service records2022
  • Complete receipt ledgerDefender, West Marine & more
  • USCG Certificate of Documentation2025 – 2030
  • Chain of title & prior documentation1977 – present

Kept aboard, conveying with the yacht

  • Original Hatteras owner’s manual1977
  • Copies of her original builder’s blueprints1977
  • Galveston service binder, every yard and marina invoiceSybil Belle IV era

The next chapter

Where her next owner takes it from here.

We would rather you hear it from us. These are the projects on our own list, so you can plan the boat you want with a clear picture of where she stands.

Generator

The original Onan is out of service. We have an old-school Onan 7.5 kW MDJ-series marine diesel to replace it: a slow-turning 1,800 rpm two-cylinder, with a second unit included for spare parts. It is available to the buyer for $1,250.

House batteries

The port-side 32 V battery bank needs replacing.

Tank gauges

The fuel senders are not working. We had planned to upgrade to digital tank gauges.

Stabilizers

Seals, hoses and a pump rebuild will bring the fitted stabilizers back into service.

24-volt conversion

We planned to move from 32 V to readily available 24 V: alternators, starters, bilge pumps and a modern windlass.

Haul-out

Bottom paint, strainer rebuilds and seacock replacement are best done together at the next haul.

Finishing

The remaining two heads, flooring in the aft cabins, new headliners in the master stateroom and master head, and refreshed paint on the aft deck and transom.

Cabinetry & wallcovering

Cabinet refinishing is under way but not finished: the faces need fairing and paint, and new drawer slides to bring the fit and finish up to today’s standards. The engine room passage wallpaper was in poor condition and has been stripped, ready for new wallcovering. We may get to it before she sells.

Deep cleaning

After the water damage on the hard, she was pumped dry, dehumidified and cleaned. A few spots can only be reached by taking something else apart, so we have been cleaning those as the refit opens them up. The next owner should expect to do the same.

Optional

A watermaker and an electronics package to current spec.

Inquire

Come aboard.

La Mer is lying in , and can be shown by appointment. Sea trials are available to serious buyers, subject to survey.

Asking 2021 survey value: $100,000

Available separately