Swiftcraft dominator reviews for fishing/diving - OR pacemaker/haines? HELP :)
Hey guys im currently looking at this boat with a 140 4 stroke on the back. its the 88/89 model i believe with the inbuilt fuel tank and also kill tank at the back. Im wanting to know peoples thoughts on these boats. Iv been loving my 16ft baron but its super tippy when im trying to line fish. Very good as a dive boat though. Im looking to upgrade to a 18/19ft boat as im 6'4 and 110 kgs. would also love to go out fishing with 3 or dive with 4 people.
Can anyone give me some feedback on these dominators? i have heard they ride well but the back end looks flat and im worried its not going to be the best riding boat in our Perth conditions.
Are they really THAT bad or are they are pretty wicked all round boat?
The hulls in original condition but the bloke reckons its rock solid and you could jump up and down on the deck and it wouldnt move.
Would love some feedback!
Budgets about 20-25k so also looking at other options with 4 strokes.
Cheers!
wooden fish
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 17/01/11
I have Ranmars old boat - 5.3
I have Ranmars old boat - 5.3 mtr with 115 yammie 4 stroke on the back. GREAT BOAT! Handles slop and swell no worries and really stable boat. That flat end is the trick. Don't know why the don't build more and bigger boats on that shape.
WOOD 'n FISH
surfymuzz
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 05/05/14
what model?
Which model is the 5.3m?
little johnny
Posts: 5359
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Had swift crafts for many
Years . Can't beat them. I call them a small big boat. Unreal in following seas , good head on. They don't like strong wind front quarter panel.( not many boats do).1 fault with deck ,they crack where they join hull. My youngest boy has Viking ( replaced deck) bullet proof now. I have mariner replaced deck with 12 mm marine ply. Added extra supports inside hull. And thickened hull(80 kilo) in glass and extra floatation. Bomb proof. My oldest boys swift craft explorer . Nothing wrong at all .brilliant boats but when built. They lacked deck support( just my opinion).i personally have owned 4 different swiftys. Dominator is what I have always wanted . Had to settle for mariner at the time. Very dry and safe boat. Good luck
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18027
Date Joined: 11/03/08
if your after a dominator, i
if your after a dominator, i cant fault mine. handles all sorts of conditions . i am running a 140 4srtoke on mine.
i have made a couple of changes as the transome needed replacing so i got it extended to fit a longer leg.you do get a bit of water over the back at times as the 140 is a heavy motor and sits lower in the back. i also built up the area just in front of the motor with some stainless but looking at glassing it up eventually. this was mainly to stop the water splashing over and atatching the bait board. we have fished 4 on the boat but mainly only 2 of us and neither of us are small and have no probs with the boat tipping too much so that wont be a prob for you. they are a very dry boat and only had water come over the front once in real rough conditions. as little Johnny mentioned , no probs with following or side on seas. certainly dont regret the purchase and refirb , well worth the money spent
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
surfymuzz
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 05/05/14
hey mate
any chance i could come over and have a yarn this weekend and look at your boat?
Would love to see and get someones perspective of one before buying. especially since the person is trying to sell the boat, would be getter to get someones honest opinion on them.
cheers
surfymuzz
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 05/05/14
wicked
thanks for the responses guys,
1 thing i was worried about was the floor and stringers.
any idea what they were made from and craftsmanship? Would i be looking at new floors in the coming years if its an 88 hull in original condition?
little johnny
Posts: 5359
Date Joined: 04/12/11
There a wa boat ( Welshpool)
Inside . 3 stringers either side of main keel. 1.5 inches wide/10 mm high .jarrah, deck sits on thin jarrah planks of memory 3 going cross ways. With 8 mm deck. Crossway ones are the ones I rebuilt out off boating foam and covered with glass( goes rock hard). Track my name and scroll through you will see exactly what there like with deck off. I think it was called swifty rebuild few years back
ace rimmer
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 19/08/13
good boat
they are a good safe boat, bang a bit if you push them, have you looked at a Baron sportsman as they are an awesome sea boat and would run rings around a Dominator when it gets rough cheers Ace
ace rimmer
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 19/08/13
foothills marine
pretty sure foothills marine still have the Swiftcraft moulds, the old bloke there knows all about them and i think they build the odd one for people who want a new one cheers Ace
Woodsy65
Posts: 163
Date Joined: 21/05/15
A couple of reasonable
A couple of reasonable looking Bonito 185's on Gumtree atm. Maybe another option for you.
wooden fish
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 17/01/11
My 5.3 is the Dominator.
My 5.3 is the Dominator.
WOOD 'n FISH
thesupervisor
Posts: 1136
Date Joined: 10/06/09
Look for a seafarer viking
Look for a seafarer viking much better boat and within price range
getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.
Frank F
Posts: 481
Date Joined: 17/03/09
Looking at selling my Haines
Looking at selling my Haines PM sent.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
I'd argue about the Viking being superior
same hull, you are just sitting a lot further forward, with less undercover storage space and no shelter. Fine for fair weather fishermen, I guess
And as you are sitting further forward, as with any hull, you aren't done any favors in the ride department. Yes more deck, but the Dommie isn't short of that. To each his own, YMMV, etc.
little johnny
Posts: 5359
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Go the dominator
:)
surfymuzz
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 05/05/14
rough boat
it ended up being a rough boat :(
back on the hunt guys! if you know of anything going please let me know :)
surfymuzz
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 05/05/14
rough boat
it ended up being a rough boat :(
back on the hunt guys! if you know of anything going please let me know :)
Fresh herbs
Posts: 34
Date Joined: 11/01/19
Rough boat?
Hi surfymuzz.
I see that dominatir is still for sale on gumtree. What was rough about it mate? Have you found a boat yet?
Herbs
surfymuzz
Posts: 121
Date Joined: 05/05/14
i found a haines
hey mate i ended up buying a haines 580SF couldnt be happier!
Yeh that doesnt surprise me, the bloke had it tucked away in a driveway so i couldnt even have a look around it. The deck was super rough and the gunnels, sides and pockets all worse for wear. It just wasnt a tidy boat. The jacking plate at the back doesnt look solid either, im pretty sure he did it himself.
Overall just wasnt worth the price he was asking
you in the market or something?
Fresh herbs
Posts: 34
Date Joined: 11/01/19
Yeah I am. I would really
Yeah I am. I would really like a swifty dominator but am open to any good wa glass boat. Just sold my 16ft stebercraft that my old boy bought back in 1975 new. I need a good safe boat for
menand the family. Budget of 20000