Leeder Tomcat
Well my mate has pulled out of our supposed boat syndicate,so i am going it alone.Although i wont be able to spend as much,i have been looking at glass boats 6.2 - 7.5 mtr,ie Cruisecrafts,Haines etc.I have come across Leeder Tomcat boats,made in WA a plus for me as i would like to support local.These boats mostly seem to have inboards which i have no idea about other than 'Gee they can be expensive'. I have seen a couple with outboards and that is the way i am thinking would be the go.Other than that would be good if any owners or previous owners could let me know how they go in any conditions.They look to be a nice solid boat with plenty of deck and nice shady cabin,as i have a haines c/c this plus the deck size is what i am looking for. Any input would be great.
Cheers
Willo
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
Ninety Mile
Posts: 193
Date Joined: 17/01/12
Hi Willo, I havnt owned or
Hi Willo, I havnt owned or tested a Tom Cat but if you want good offshore performance in all conditions you cant go past the Cruise Craft and Haines Hunter.
quadfisher
Posts: 1146
Date Joined: 28/09/10
Dust off the mold boys
Must be a decent hull or they never would have lasted this long , they have been around for a few years now.
A aquantance calls them leener tomcats , cause he says they are a bit flightly , but I never saw it.
I have only been in one , a few times now, a old 90,s version, with the v6 petrol donk ,( I think its a mercruiser , the normal inboard one)
and found it solid , and good to fish off.
That boats had a abosolute flogging , all up north , shark bay , down south, and its still out there doing it.
Best to try and find a kind owner on here , and see if he ( or her) will let you go for a run ( for juice money that you would offer of course)
quadfisher
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
A mate of mine had a leeder
A mate of mine had a leeder Tomcat with the V6 mercruiser driving a duoprop. Purchased new, it was a beautiful looking boat on the trailer but an absolute pig in the water. The boat ran nose high and the passengers got the sh*t pounded out of them in any kind of sea. They ended up putting trim tabs on it but were still not happy. For whatever reason they simply could not get he nose down unless they had a fair turn of speed. Then they were travelling too fast. It was an unhappy experience all round.
Dont know if they are all like that, its merely my observation on the only one that I am familiar with.
cheers
Ben85
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 20/11/11
A lot of the reports I heard
A lot of the reports I heard when looking into the tomcat were the fact it was underpowered with a V6 petrol which is all they came out in, V8 doesn't fit. You will see some with V8's or outboards but these have all been modified aftermarket. Water ingress inside engine compartment was also an issue. From what I heard even mercruiser were put off re-powering them as they knew the V6 wasn't ideal and reflected poorly on them. Anyway, that's just based on talk and my research whether its all fact or not I cant confirm from my own experience.
On a positive side, there is a bloke who just took over Leeder (or at least the molds) and is making the Tomcat. Apparently he was looking to improve on all the faults of the previous models and looking at a factory outboard option, which I reckon would be a winner as the current inboard version looks to take away any chance of fishing directly out the back of the boat.
After all this I ended up with a 680 Haines and couldn't be happier
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Been on one once - hated it.
Been on one once - hated it. But that was a few years back. I didnt look into it much but now realise that it was probably underpowered. On the way back in with a following seabreeze I was worried about it brouching continually. I just thought the skipper (a mate) sucked but was happy to be back in port again.
PS: But he loved the boat, and raved about it. Hence the trip out.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
doublej
Posts: 169
Date Joined: 08/07/09
2004 Leeder Tomcat - 4.3ltr V6 Merc
Willo
Owned one for about 2 1/2 years.........
Have downgraded to a Seafarer Vagabond....(Only reason is something I could handle solo & abit cheaper to run...Am now FIFO)
F*ckin awesome boat!!!!!
Cruise Control - The boat ran nose high and the passengers got the sh*t pounded out of them in any kind of sea
- Never a problem running nose high, could cruise on 22 - 24knts in just about anything...
Ben85 - underpowered with a V6 petrol which is all they came out in
- 37kts WOT with 4 big blokes, 3/4 tank fuel, eskies (with lots of beer) & gear
Cransy - On the way back in with a following seabreeze I was worried about it brouching continually
- Comming home in 3mtr swell & wind up 20+knts sitting backing having a beer...Could virtually let the wheel go...Loved it...
I don't regret selling mine, but when it blows up & turns to shit i wish I still had it.
Couple of things to be carefull of - They weigh up around 3.5t 1/2 tank of juice & some gear...
- Prone for condensation in the engine bay...Pretty easy fix..You just got to know what to look for..
- A good trailer is vitual..
They are a solid boat, plenty of deck, comfortable, have a long range, awesome game boat - Would I buy another one - FUCK YEAH!!!!!!
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
Cheers for the feedback
Cheers for the feedback fellas, doublej did you come across any with outboards when you first started looking and if so what did you think? 3.5t would be max for my bus ,but live only 5 km from ramp so should be ok.
Live in Bunbury so if anyone has one close would be keen to look it over and get an idea.
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
doublej
Posts: 169
Date Joined: 08/07/09
Only looked at the one I bought..
There was on for sale in one of the Mandurah boat yards about 2 months ago, It had a honda 225 on it.
I'll have a search and see if I can find it for you..
There is also another forum member on here who lives down your way who had one for sale about 3 months ago..
I'll send you what I can find....
Cheers
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
Cheers, that would be great.
Cheers, that would be great.
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
Baydreamer
Posts: 11
Date Joined: 06/08/14
Fish on one extencily from
Fish on one extencily from Rotto to Exmouth with from memory a 190hp Evinrude, awsome boat, never felt on edge and we fished well off shore, at times in excess of 30nm, highly rate them .
The bad reports previously mention are driver related, some folks just shouldn't be behind the wheel of a boat
Ben85
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 20/11/11
looking at the above looks
looking at the above looks like doublej is most qualified to be giving advice on these boats. what ever you do make sure you give one a test drive one afternoon in a stiff south-westerly riding into it and then along with it in a following sea.
ace rimmer
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 19/08/13
outboard powered
there is one in ocean reef with a 250 Verado outboard, guy has had it from new and loves it, cheers Ace
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
Ace when you say he had it
Ace when you say he had it from new ,is that with the outboard on from new or did he change it at some stage?
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
bod
Posts: 2319
Date Joined: 03/05/06
site sponsor
http://www.denton-marine.com.au/ any help?
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
Yeah thanks bod,i had a look
Yeah thanks bod,i had a look at that site a few days ago,looks like they are still getting organised,there is a number to call on there to the fella that originally made the leeders,might give him a call if i have no joy elsewhere.
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC