Theyre a solid well built boat. Just from my experience they slap hard haha depends on your use really!

 What bout buoyancy with 2 people on one side??

iv heard they r very rocky- the design suits my type of fishing, tho iv been told to go for a 4.9 coast runner quintrex instead?

 I still want to beach launch and head up north alot fishing so need to tow a fair bit

my dad owned a 5.3m trailcraft runabout about 5 years ago and after mucking around in his boat for years i was happy enough to buy my own 6.6m trailblazer. They are tough, extremely safe, stable, have an unbelievable amount of deckspace, a big rear door and will get you where you want to go. They can get a bad wrap from some people when it comes down to the ride, alloy boats can pound a bit but ive never noticed mine being that bad at all. Take one for a test if you are really concerned about it but unless you have a shot back you would have no problems. I wouldnt say trailcraft are best boat out there but for the price you cant go wrong. Im sure there will be a few other opinions but thats mine!

 Beam = stability so in most cases, the boat with the highest waterline beam will be the most stable, though it will have more wetted surface area and thus require a bit more grunt to get going.

I have been looking at 5.7 - 6.4m trailcraft sportcabs and there seems to be nothing similar around. Lightweight for beach launching and roomy nights at Rotto.

Damned if I can tell the difference in sea worthiness, I have been out in both in bad weather and felt very safe on both.
Arrange to go for a ride in both makes of approx. the same size and see if you can tell the difference, providing the fitted power plants are of the same size of course and take the same people on both occasions.

 Yeah ok, Iv heard u need more power on trailcraft than quintrex of same size?

just like the beamy hull off the trailcraft

Traicraft a bit stronger built. Quinnies are really a bay boat and their stringers can rip from the hull if pounded hard.

Both ride hard. I would choose a traily if you are going offshore, if inshore, the quinine may be a bit nicer.

 Yeah ok, I do a bit of both- both r round the same price too!

 I have a 510 Profish side consol with a 90 Envinrude E-Tec on it. The boat does slap around a bit and sometimes lands hard after i inadvertantly launch it off a wave but I feel safe in it. I have been over to Rotto a couple of times in it and slept overnight in my swag on it (the girlfriend only slept once on it and refuses to do so again). I launch it myself in Cockburn or Warnbro Sounds and it is easy to do so. 

I think its a great little boat all be it a wet boat when the chop is up. I am putting a cray winch and tipper on it this year because i believe it is stable enough with a 100kg guy on one side with the pot tipper bringing a cray pot up. 

I dive off it and it is great for that with the walkthrough transom and the deck space of the 510 is enough for 2 guys diving and all their gear. I've had four grown men fishing off it and had no trouble with space limitations. 

Best thing is to find some advertised and have a good walk through through them.

Its a hard decision choosing a boat because of the choice out there but I'm happy with my trailcraft.

good luck finding what you want

rigpig

We had a Quinny Bayhunter, then upgraded to a Cleveland 5.0 Heavy, that was essentially a Trailcraft. The Cleveland (Trailcraft) was rock solid, and a tough boat. Did Slap a bit much for my liking, but was stable on the water. Had it out to the FADs a few times, never had any problems with it. Totally differant to the bayhunter though, worlds apart.

 Ok thanks guys, I suppose getting Ali ur going to slap no mater what

Traily 5.4 Sportcab with Etec 110. It was the perfect boat up Karratha way, because the swell was never realy an issue, and handled average chop well. Very tough as some of my mishaps will attests to (once fell off the trailor and only ended up with a few scratches, the old Johno leg didnt fare that well). Never once felt unsafe in it, and solid as a rock.

It is no speedster as it takes some grunt to get out off the hole, hence why I went for the ETEC insted of a 4S.

Only draw back up here is it can slap a little, but I dont mind that. Never noticed any stability issues at rest other than what you might expect with 4 adults perving over the side looking at a nice fish coming onboard.

Nowhere as comfortable as a glass boat but then some areas we fished (will fish) is reefy with some surprising bommies, beach launching and overnighters on the islands lent itself to a tough boat. A glass boat with a gelcoat scratch or ding from a sinker is an issue, but with the traily its basically a mere fleshwound, and I dont cry at the chips.

Safety is always an issue and I feel very safe in my beast. Might upgrade to a 6.6 down here, but the back is still just OK so dont need glass (yet).

I am sure JohnF had one so his opinion counts too.

 Yeah great- I think I will put my energy in looking at a few trailies

 My brother inlaw bought a 6.1m Trailcraft after having a smaller fibreglass boat previously. First time out we couldn't believe how much slap water noise etc. It was terrible compared to fibreglass, also I don't understand people saying they are stable at rest. If two people lean or even walk off centre it tilts quite a bit, very easy to stumble or fall. Saying that yes they are extremely solid and strong but I  or my brother inlaw wouldn't buy another one. He had it for about seven years but thought it was a huge mistake the whole time.

 If someone offered me a straight swap for my smaller fibreglass boat for a 6m or bigger Trailcraft, on the provisions I had to use it and not sell it,I wouldn't do it. I also used to have an aluminum tinny previously different brand as well and even that was more stable at rest than the trailcraft. 

 Now that has thrown a spanner in the works :)

i have been told they r very rocky from side to sode

 You've got to try and look at perspectives Cobbs.

One person's rock and roll could be another person's idea of awesome - it really depends on how much eperience they have and also how much experience with other boats/brands/materials.

I've got a 21ft fibreglass boat and it isn't as stable as my old 30 footer. I also wouldn't expect it to be.

The trailcraft brand has been around a long time and they have sold loads of boats - you can't do that if they are crap. 

Work out what you want to use it for, what your limitations are and what your preferences are and start to make a checklist.

Intended Use:

• Estuary
• Near Shore
• Offshore (the deep)

Towing limit:

• 1200kg
• 1800kg
• 2000kg
• more

Size:

• 5m
• 5.5m
• 6m
• 6.5m
• more

Power source:

• 2st
• 4st
• etec
• inboard

type:

• Open
• Centre Console
• Dual Console/bow rider
• quarter cab
• cuddy cab
• full cab

Once you start answering some of these things then you will start to develop a picture of what your boat could be. If you want a light duty estuary boat with a 2 stroke you'll probably go aluminium as you won't gain much with glass.

If you're shopping on price then being a bit flexible on what might work for you is the best way. You usually can't get the perfect boat at a rock bottom price at the time you are looking for a boat (not saying it can't happen but isn't generally the rule).

If you're interested in coming for a fish on my boat one day to see how fibreglass rides then let me know. Then maybe you can deckie on some's boat that is aluminium then you can start getting a picture of what would work best for you.

 Thanks mate, yeah will stick with Ali as I tow down south and beach launch alot so want to keep wieght down and I like a bit of river fishing too. Perfect world- fibre for outside and tinny for bay and river :)

 Yep quite rocky side to side, I have seen seen it lean over so far just from the wake of another boat even when at very slow speed. We put trim tabs on it and they helped a little while under way but not at rest.

 I'm really keen on the 5 mtr coast runner quinnie?

I had A coast runner for about 4 months. Couldn't get rid of it quick enough. Ok in the river on a nice day, but wouldn't take it near the ocean.
As discussed earlier, really depends on what you want to do with it and price range.
I would be going a plate Ali boat before pressed hull.

 Roger that 

 Ive got  a 5.3 traily and l fish 20nms off shore regularly with 2 orher guys. 1 weighs 120kgs and the other 110. There pretty stable with the flat bottom they have. Doesnt broach in a following sea.  Slaps and pounds abit but all alis do. You just drive to the conditions.

Never felt unsafe.

 Hi Cobbs, I have had three trailcrafts over the years  and they all have been great for ali boats. First one was 5.6mt cuddy cab had it for about six years went every where in it around Perth and a couple trips up north,sold that one and got a 5mt Pro fish did the same with that one but more trips up north,was a little bit wet for me so sold it .Last one was a 5.3 mt runabout awesum boat plenty room fished 4 blokes out of it often fished anywhere from river to fads in Perth.Took it up to Carnarvon every year we had it (5)and fished the islands out from there 29miles to north end and all the way to dampier reef south end nearly fifty miles one way.Always felt safe in them and got caught in some average weather.They have a good size fuel tank and handled the water great for ali.Great value for money. My brother has one and my nephew had one both thought they were great boats.I would buy a trailcraft (plate ali) over any pressed ali.

Cheers Davo              

 Mates got a 5.6 trailcraft. I like the layout, and it's good to fish from, but it is horrible motoring in rough seas. Slaps and bangs more than the videos on redtube 

 Had a bowrider with a 115 ETEC and was rock solid, even started planning a trip to monties with a heap of other crew. Thought about turning the seats to storage/casting deck and repower with a 130, lost interest and sold it for a renegade for some remote trips cause it needed a new trailer (single to duel axle/extended drawbar) and couldnt decide on a layout. Was originally a bunbury boat and never had drama down there either.

Dont listen to anyone whos talks smack about glass blah blah blah, its a whole different ball game, Quinny's are tinny's no matter there size, plus you pay extra for the name, not a plate/pressed boat like a traily which normally have self draining decks and plenty of room up the back

 Had a bowrider with a 115 ETEC and was rock solid, even started planning a trip to monties with a heap of other crew. Thought about turning the seats to storage/casting deck and repower with a 130, lost interest and sold it for a renegade for some remote trips cause it needed a new trailer (single to duel axle/extended drawbar) and couldnt decide on a layout. Was originally a bunbury boat and never had drama down there either.

Dont listen to anyone whos talks smack about glass blah blah blah, its a whole different ball game, Quinny's are tinny's no matter there size, plus you pay extra for the name, not a plate/pressed boat like a traily which normally have self draining decks and plenty of room up the back

i have had two traillys  5.7 C C. With a 115 2 stroke.  And then and 6.1 Island cab with a 150 yammy.  Both great boats but a huge change to their ride capabilitys was installing  Q L trim tabs , I found the boats both very stable with 2 or 3 guys fishing from one side at drift and well built 

i have had two traillys  5.7 C C. With a 115 2 stroke.  And then and 6.1 Island cab with a 150 yammy.  Both great boats but a huge change to their ride capabilitys was installing  Q L trim tabs , I found the boats both very stable with 2 or 3 guys fishing from one side at drift and well built 

Great thread.

I am in the exact same boat and want to upgrade my dinghy for something I can start doing some inshore fishing with and head out deeper as well as just cruising with the kids and Mrs. I have been looking at getting a Trailcraft or a Quinny in around the 5-5.3m range but am now also looking at the Haines Hunters. Only problem with the glass boats is that it seems most of them (or the ones I've been looking at) around that size only have a 70hp outboard.

My other problem is going to be that I am going to be launching and retrieving solo a lot so I need to get something that is going to be managable.

Let me know how you get on with your decision when you pull the trigger mate as I am still a good 30 weeks off with my savings account.

A couple of mates have/had them. 6M Sports cab rode better than the 6M center console. The center console slapped alot, and very wet boat. no good fo fishing unless you want to fish 1-2 people because at rest they flop over on the side a fair bit

Depending on price I would be aiming for a plate boat from around 5.3m and above. I had a 5.8 Goldstar with twin 75hp Honda's and a mate of mine has a 5.3 Goldstar with a 115 Yamaha. Both of these boats we did and do take pretty much everywhere,from the Fads, to Steep Point, and even Marlin fishing at Exmouth.
Both of these are Jackman designed as are quite a few that are around. You just need to pick your days and be ready for a bit of a pounding. It doesn't take much of a wind chop to make these boats slap, but they are safe as houses and very predictable.
They are light to tow, Ali is durable allowing you to pull them up on the sand etc without having to worry. They are easy enough to beach launch.
This size boat allows you to have a mid sized 4 stroke which are awesome on fuel. We used to travel 50 / 60 mile for about 70 - 80 litres of fuel. Mine had a 200 litre tank which allowed me to travel big distances.
We could fish 4 at a pinch , 2 at a time is better.
What I will say though is that I have recently switched to fibre glass because the slapping drove me nuts after 3 years. My Goldstar enabled me to decide what it was in a boat I wanted.
My new boat is much bigger, uses triple the fuel, is on the limits of towing, but once I am on the water it is all worth it.

 I have only got a little one. Trailcraft that is. But compared to my mates quintrex, even he prefers mine. Less slap more stable btter layout and much stronger. I only wish I went a size up on the donk. Boat motor that is...

 years at Gamex in Exmouth out of a 5.95 Trailcraft and have to say never felt scared and we got caught out in some shit that you would not normally fish in but because you were in a comp you persevered , yeah they can slap a bit but it's how you drive them , I'd buy one , three blokes hanging over the side tracing and tagging billfish not a problem , buy with confidence I reckon 

 Yeah ok, ol Tom what size u get? And motor?

im looking at the 4.85 mtr with 60 4 st would that b a little under powered,

5 mtr would b good for what I do with a 75

 I got the 4.65 with a 50hp four stroke. 60hp would be better. They can take upto 80hp so I would have liked a 70 Yamaha. The boat goes OK its mainly when fully loaded i.e 4-5 people and eskies etc or towing buscuits that I really want more power. I can get 25 knotts out of it but it is working hard. The boat is really good size for first boat and especially around Mandurah with the rivers estuary and out to FFB. Its been to shark bay twice. We have been out in shocking weather in it so many times, no probs. Dont think you will be disappointed. 

 Yeah thanks, I'm pretty well got my heart set on one so il start looking seriously at them

Good safe boat, stable and predictable. Good fuel capacity. I sold mine because it slapped too hard but I owned it from new for seven years.

i have a 570 Trailblazer with a 135 4-stroke Honda.  Love it.  Sturdy,  safe and plenty of room..   Highly recommended

 dangerous boat, breach too easily. Not enough weight in the rear. Wouldnt touch one if you gave it to me.

Overwidth anyway.

 Yeah there r alot of mixed reviews, stable- to slappie- it's a hard one

had the 5.1 profish side console on chrismas island for 5yrs and shark bay for 1yr before selling it and I fair caned that boat with no dramas at all,it had 80 4 stroke yammy 2000hrs going strong.HEAPS of space yes it slapped but for a packet boat 4 out of 5 stars.dont know anything about the chinese ones?

 No I'd be buying older Aussie built one

Yeh they slap hard going quick but my young back enjoys the massage
(4.8m runabout)
One thing I love about them is the fully sealed deck
Not once have we pulled the bung and had a drop of water come out, even after sloppy days where a fair bit of waters splashed on the deck.
Compared to some other boats that piss out more water than fuel we use

Mate I have a SeaQuest (19') and it rides soft (Jackman hull) - although it's plate... Have been in a Quintrex 610 which was soft (but never went fast in it) however it was slow going when the chop came up.. Both are softer than a Trailcraft.. From all reports (I've heard) Trailcraft fit a space in the market, and they do that well.

Not sure what your budget is, but try this:

www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/trailer-boats/seaquest-4-9-fishing-family-all-rounder/168246