Mate  u could get a killer 6 m boat for 45 k any of the big name boat hains hunters Caribbean the older frasers all good hulls. I've a 6 m carribbean and love it not sure on the bt50 towing but should be under on those size boats

 cheers Matty. Had a look last night n there some sweet looking glass boats.. how can you tell if they are repair or going to have potential problems with the fiberglass?

 Hey barra being your first boat, and if you have lack of experience in know what is a good boat and what is a money pit, I would recommend getting someone to check it out for you first before you commit to anything, we all know how much boats can cost with lack of love and care throughout their life. I don't know anyone to recommend myself as I have always done all that stuff myself but I think that it would be a couple hundred well spent to maybe save you thousands

This Savage Escort was recently advertised here, I thought it seemed like good value for the price, and it would make a great first boat. May be worth a look http://fishwrecked.com/forum/2007-52m-savage-escort-sale-28000

Hey Barra

Definitely get someone to check the boat before you lay down your hard earned cash if you go glass.

But a couple of things that I learnt from my first experience which would help you narrow it down before you get an inspection are:

Bang the underside of the hull with your fist or a rubber mallet where the stringers will be, if you here something loose i.e rattle (you'le know if you hear it) the stringer has delaminated from the hell and needs reglassing

Walk all over the deck feeling for sponginess, once again you'l know if you feel it

Stand on the motor hanging onto the cowling and shift your weight up and down sort of jumping, if there is quite alot of movement then the transom is rotten.

All these things can be fixed no problem but for the money you want to spend you shouldn't and wouldn't want to have these problems

If you are OK with a bit of a stiff ride, then Ali's are a good option as you get heaps of deck space and can get away with a smaller motor and better economy.

My first boat was a trailcraft 540 and 90 hp Etec, great first boat, caught lots of good fish in it.

For Perth, I recon a 6m boat is a good compromise of safety and economy. The 540 was a bit light with following seas in wind over 20 knots (every summers arvo....), had some hairy moments and threw a few guys overboard when the boat broached.....

If your like me and have a dodgy back, then fibreglass a good option, but a good ali with trim tabs and properly trimmed motor can be better than most expect.

Get a 4 stroke motor. E-Tec.....hmm, not based on my experience.

Haines 600 offshore would be a great boat if you could get one for the money.

 thanks for the fiberglass tips, had a bit of a read about rotting wood and fiber and I think I might go with the Ali.

Really like the sound of the 5.5 Surtees or the 1850 stabi. Keen on a 2nd hand to get more options for less $$$. If something cheaper n long comes up that would be good.

Is the summer rougher? Winter between the storms on the charters has been fairly good.

 Ended up looking really hard at an Extreme 570 centre console and would have ordered it had not the freight costs on top priced it out. Went a bar crusher instead as they seem to have all the options fitted that are add on's that others charge for. 

The list of boats I had quotes include:

1850stabicraft frontier - only didn't like the fact feet are too far from gunnels but every thing else was awesome. Would have had to buy a canopy extra which was pricey.

5.5 Surtees - nice boat but not keen on dealer or price offered compare to east coast.... I had the feeling he thought I was wasting his time. Also needed a canopy.

570 Extreme Boats - awesome boat and my top choice. Dealer over east was awesome and offered to pay half freight but as I said all of the options I wanted were to cost

Bar Crusher 575wr/xc - just a bit too small so I went the 615wr which was a lot more boat than I initially was prepared to buy and they had one I could look at.

Can't wait till it rocks up.... 

 I have a stabicraft 580HT I'll let go as is for 25k

90hp merc 4 stroke 1998 model.

edit... Whoops... Just saw you bought the barcrusher... Hope she's a cracker mate

Guys flicked me some progress pics (above)

 Budget blown to pieces.. wait is taking forever. Getting pumped & booked Exmouth house in May.

Luckily it has taken so long so I could save more deposit to cover the extra $$!!!!