Boat Recommendations
Me and a mate are looking to upgrade from our 18ft Carribean Cougar to something a bit bigger.
The plan is to get something big enough to reach the FADs, able to do Abrolhos weekend trips and able to beach launch (we go to Wedge and launch from there quite often).
We are thinking of something around 6 meters and probably a cabin or half cabin layout. We want a bit of shelter if it gets rough out there. We are leaning towards an ally boat because they would be easier to tow long distances, easier to beach launch and cheaper on fuel to run. Neither of us have spent much time in a big ally before however so I'm not sure how harsh the ride would be.
Our budget isn't huge so new boats are out of the question. We have about $25000 plus whatever we can get for selling our current boat (maybe another $5000).
Here are some of the boats I've seen advertised:
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/carramar/motorboats-powerboats/bayliner-trophy-2002wa/1015830621#
Any feedback on the ride quality, build quality, things to look out for etc would be appreciated.
Terry
Posts: 458
Date Joined: 04/12/05
Trophy
If it were me I would go for the Trophy. But if it's stretching the budget ??
Better ride in the rought stuff.
Downfalls would be may be a bit big for beach launching,
Fuel economy may be higher with that donk on the back.
I feel that it would be a better all round boat especially if your planning to go way offshore in it.
But these are just my opinions and I like the Trophys .Good luck with whatever you decide on getting.
Terry
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
Thanks. The Trophy does look
Thanks. The Trophy does look really nice. I would have to chisel him down a bit on the price though or else it's just out of our range.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
The trophy is certainly my
The trophy is certainly my pick of the bunch as well.
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
I'd go the trophy for sure,
I'd go the trophy for sure, I'm pretty sure that model comes in under the 2.5m width too so no silly towing restrictions ;)
Maybe invest in some max trax's for the beach launching tho, still might be a bit of a struggle tho depending on beach conditions
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
Good point. The specs say 8'
Good point. The specs say 8' 1" which works out at 2.46 meters just under the limit.
shortfuse
Posts: 211
Date Joined: 02/01/12
I would be going for the
I would be going for the trophy too for ride, finish build quality. I had a 2002 trophy that came on a escort trailer with bunks and if you intend on frequent beach launching your gonna hate that type of trailer. We regularly fish out of Cervantes and unless you had the tide just right and the beach was in mint condition it was a absolute pain in the arse retrieving the thing, after many mods to the trailer we ended up buying a multiroller trailer. The trophy is a great boat but believe me if you intend on frequent beach launches you will want to get rid of that trailer.
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
Trophy because its the only
Trophy because its the only fibreglass boat there, but not sure about the old mercury
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
The engine only has 280 hours
The engine only has 280 hours on it. How much can I expect before it falls apart?
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Could do a couple of
Could do a couple of thousand, could do no more.
Its really about service, care and regular runs.
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
If its not used regularly
If its not used regularly (280 hours over probably 10 years is not much) thats when you start to get problems. If you become more serious, get a compression check and a mechanic to look over it, see if you can hook up an hour meter to it to see if it has really done 280 hours. As till said could do a few thousand hours
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Everyone goes glass
But you prefer Ali. Ride no doubt rougher with seas. Way more durable with beach launches and lighter. I would look out for a Stabi or a barcrusher. I have a Trailcraft and a little rough on ride, but then I dont mind it.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
The Trophy will ride the
The Trophy will ride the best, great for offshore work, honestly i think its under powered( i have a 220MPI and i use every pony), its a bit hard to sleep on when you have any gear and its hard to beach launch haha...but a very nice boat, tows pretty well about 2T un loaded.
As for the ally boats, im starting to look at big ali's but the ride hurts haha.
Olliej
Posts: 155
Date Joined: 27/08/12
Whats the dead rise like on
Whats the dead rise like on the trophy - i remember looking at the smaller ones but being put off by such a flat bottom
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
The 2152 is 19 degrees
The 2152 is 19 degrees
Justo82
Posts: 482
Date Joined: 17/10/11
Definitely the trophy. No
Definitely the trophy. No comparison. But get the engine checked. Or sell the 2 smoker and repower it $$$$$
dodgy
Posts: 4580
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I feel that the Trophy is
I feel that the Trophy is definately overpriced for what it is.
Realistic money is probably alot closer to mid to high 20's with that power.
Newer trailer is a bonus though.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
reevesie90
Posts: 62
Date Joined: 30/12/12
trailcraft
mate from what you described using it for i would go the trailcraft, good to tow, lot better fuel economy easy beach launch, its all good to have a nice ride but most boats ride nice when you do the appropriate speed for it, and at lest if you just go out with a mate the pair of yous will be able to load it by yourselves unlike the trophy
fishfinger
Posts: 64
Date Joined: 08/09/07
Ally
Mate as what reevesis said i have a 5.7 westaberg and myself and wife have beach launched from cervantes and port gregory . I am selling my boat but i need it for the school holidays in april so its not on boats on sale yet
5.7 westaberg refurbished in 2007
trailor hot galivinized 2006
Johnson 4stroke (500HR) all the gear
If thats what your looking for I can guarantee the hours as i had the counter changed the same time as the motor Iam looking for around 27000 if you like contact me
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
PM Sent
PM Sent
brg
Posts: 666
Date Joined: 31/12/09
trailcraft for sure we run
trailcraft for sure we run heaps of ali's up in cervanties
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
I would of thought that
I would of thought that trailcraft is way under powered for an abrolhus trip?! A lot better for the beach launching tho
Doooma
Posts: 791
Date Joined: 05/12/09
Westerberg would be my pick
Westerberg would be my pick if going an aluminium boat...
Out of the walk arounds.. Id prefer a proline due to having a tad more deck space over the trophy... Have a look at a few and check the well that the outboard is in..
AaronC
Posts: 118
Date Joined: 26/10/11
Trailcraft
If you plan on beach launching all the time i would go the trailly. Trying to beach launch/retieve a big trophy at wedge NO WAY!!!! fished there many times with my ally but no way i would retrieve a big fibreglass off that beach unless you have a tractor. You will destroy your car in 2 seconds and get bogged all the time with that weight.
That motor on the Trophy looks 200 years old and obviously has not been used much. Thats when problems arise. The most expensive part of your boat is the motor and that old donk looks like it could cost you a fortune in years to come. Saying that i agree with the merc on the trailcraft being underpowered. but the trailly looks well looked after.
Good luck.
Rob H
Posts: 5807
Date Joined: 18/01/12
had the same trailcraft
I had the exact same Trailcraft 580 but with Yam F115, 90 is too small. 115-140 perfect. They are rated to 200hp-thatd be dangerous!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
Thanks for all the
Thanks for all the responses.
The beach launching stuff would only be once every 3 months or so, it would be mainly metro based.
I agree that launching a Trophy at Wedge would be silly. Our Cougar only just clears the sand bars and it's got a pretty flat bottom and is half the size. Our current strategy is to beach the boat as high as we can get it so it's out of the surge, then back the trailer underneath the boat until the boat tips over onto the trailer then winch the last bit in. I imagine a two tonne boat would pose some difficulties. However I'm pretty sure my mate used to launch his seaswirl at Greys so that might be another option.
I like the look of the Jackman boat although in this price range all the boats have questionable motors on them. I will have to get out there on the weekend and look at a few of them.