The first Hatteras ever to be launched—Knit Wits, a 60s-vintage beauty—was much different from today’s sportfishing vessels, especially true top-notchers like the Hatteras GT60 seen here. Certainly Knit Wits was beautiful (as the following photos will show) and she was comparatively inexpensive and uncomplicated (as copies of spec sheets and other paperwork included here will also show), but she was not nearly as sophisticated, engineering-wise, as vessels built even a decade or two ago. So after you finish admiring the beauty of Knit Wits (in both her original and recently refurbished states), take an extra moment to admire some of the finish work the GT60 showcases and some of her engineering details as well. Boatbuilding’s come a long way over the past 50-plus years.
Read our boat test of Knit Wits vs. the Hatteras GT60 here ▶
Enroute to her launch in Morehead City in early 1960, Knit Wits makes her entry onto the world stage via the streets of High Point, North Carolina.
Read our boat test of Knit Wits vs. the Hatteras GT60 here ▶
Some old paperwork hints at the simplicity of Knit Wits, at least by comparison with one of today’s battlewagons. Note the owner’s name: Willis H. Slane, Jr. Mr. Slane was the founder of Hatteras Yachts.
