tinnie vs fibreglass

[anhie]

Hi how are we all. It has come time to upgrade out stacer 479 nomad.
I want some feed back from people who own boats like cruise craft , haines hunter, australia offshore marine master, off short marine master to give me some feed back. Any info appreciated.

Am looking at boats like the haines hunter 602 f cruise craft 595 outsiders etc. IF i missed any good qualitfy built boats please provide feed back

[Troy711]

Is it a dedicated fishing boat or will it be part cruiser? Also, what's your budget?

[anhie]

Hi troy will be mainly for fishing. About 100k

[Sabre]

Anhie,

What about a Cat, especially for offshore (I assume that's where your using it for that amount of budget).

Sabre

[Alex86]

Have a look into the US imports like Grady White, Boston Whaler, they build fantastic boats.

Other good ones from the States are Proline, Seaswirl, and a few others i cannot remember off the top of my head. You'll get a 24ft twin rig less than a couple years old for that budget.

if haines, id go for the patriot, they are sweet. Haines is a top brand.

personally id stay away from Yamaha motors- ive seen too many of those with issues- my mates 115 busted a big end bearing on the water, the girlfriends 25 for some reason isn't pulling revs (this may have been because someone has tinkered with it, not sure what's wrong yet), and one of my colleagues had an electrical issue affecting both of their motors individually resulting in them not being able to put out much power either.
i like mercury motors.

fibreglass is a heavier boat compared to the same size Ali. This means they generally take the sea better- can smash thru bigger chop and more stable at rest, but stability is largely affected by hull shape anyway.
i prefer glass, mine is glass. It looks and feels better, not as easy to clean but don't get any electrosis issues between metals like a missing sinker and the hull!

as for cats, i have no experience with them. Wont often find single engine cats. They take the chop better and are more stable at rest than a mono hull. Apparently in a following and quartering sea they aren't as good, but i wouldn't know.


are you more interested in a cabin, half cabin, centre console type machine? Each have pros and cons for different applications. CCs you get more fishing room and can work around more boat whereas a cabin you lose a lot of the front portion for fishing- walkarounds help alleviate this but its still less room and not as easy as a CC.
cabins, space and shelter.

hard top, open or closed? Or Bimini??? Lots of options.

fuel/water/shower/toilet/kitchen etc???

2 or 4 stroke?? Pros and cons for each the modern 2s are pretty damn good.

[Nik]

Have you thought about a Polycraft or Stabicraft? The Polycraft is very tough and a soft ride. The 599 would be a lot cheaper than $100k as well. Not as nicely finished as say a Cruise Craft, more a purpose fishing/utility boat . Not as deep a V as a glass boat, but deeper than the allies and will be more stable than a plate ally and at least as stable as a glass boat. My 599 is more stable than a 7m Mustang glass boat a friend used to have.

If you want a real ocean going boat that's 6m the Stabicraft is an excellent hull. It'll be the most stable of all with it's pontoons and they cut through the waves incredibly well. You lose a bit of internal space with the pontoons, but that's about the only downside. That and it's a lot more expensive than a Polycraft but they are an impressive performing hull and you'd easily get into a 6m one for under $100k.

[Paj People 2009]

Hi Anhie,

Love our Cruisecraft Explorer 575.

We got it secondhand, but it was set up by Tweed Marine as their demo boat, so had all the bells and whistles. It actually went to Melb first and then came back to the Gold Coast to us (had it shipped up).

If you get a secondhand one, look for after 2005 onwards, with the foam filling.

We have used it way offshore from the Gold Coast, catching great snapper and mackerel.

Have also used it offshore at Port Stephens, when the Marlin were on in Feb.

We did the Cruisecraft factory tour and boy, do they make them well and strong.

It is very stable - brilliant in fact and the ride is very good. Not quite as soft as the Signatures we've had before, but makes up for it with that great stability. It has a big, stable bum on her!

We've got a Merc Opti 150 on ours. Great motor, still economical like a fourstroke, but has better puch out of the hole, which is great for the bars, when you need it.

Big deck for fishing and we also use it with a roll out mattress to sleep on. Fits 2 really well.

We upgraded the trailer to an electric braked one with 14 inch wheels. Worht the extra money for safety if you do long trips. Interestingly it weighed 2.160 tonnes at the weighbridge, so legally required brakeaway frakes.

Dealers sell them "dry" without fuel or water, so they keep it under the 2 tonne mark -like the caravan caper with weights too!

Anyway, we love Gizmo. For fsihing and general boating, they are fantastic boats. Love the stainless work too!
Cheers,
Sally


Offshore Port Stephens


The Blue Marlin at Port Stephens!





Like the rego?......CC 575 Q



Yeah, yeah, small snapper,....but tasty! Got to start somewhere!

[Betz]

If you are looking for a serious offshore weapon

http://cootacraft.com/

They have a very good rep.


Thats a Striped marlin btw Sally

[Alex86]

ah yes, towing weight. As sally mentioned, the published weights don't include much!

start adding some options a full fuel tank, water, eskies, gear etc and the weight gets up pretty quick. This is the advantage an Ali has over fibreglass, for the same size they are lighter.

merc opti is a good motor. Id love a verado or two whenever i upgrade!

[anhie]

thanks for feedback all appreciated.

[Paj People 2009]

Show us your new toy when you get it Anhie!

[Alex86]

Add Trophy and Wellcraft to the list of manufacturers to look at.

And yes, when you get it, photos please!

[anhie]

will do sally

[frog]

100k will get you into a Arvor no doubt the best outside boat I ever owned . Diesel shaft drive under the floor and a dry cabin