upgrade
Hi guys.
was hoping to get some advice.
AM slowly starting to approach a time where i will be loking to upgrade my current stacer 5.39 sea runner. this has bene my first boat, and have been super happy, but will be looking to go a bit bigger given an expanding family, and also getting more experienced so hoping to push things a bit harder.
Hopefully will be looking at a plate aluminium as i want sometihing pretty tough that rides well, but may struggle to tow a fibreglass, and do a lot of boating myself, so need ot be able to habndle solo.
Problem is i dont really know where to start my research as am not familiar with many brands.
It will be primarily a fishing vessel.
solo launch and retrieve is a must.
will be brinign the wife and little one, so need ot be capable of doing occaisonal overnight stay at rotto etc.
towed by a prado with 2.5tonne towing capacity
ride well ( im starting to feel the knocks a bit)!
cuddy preffered
not intersted in the river, so needs to be an ocean going boat.
looking at something about 6.7m, anyhting bigger wont fit in the garage, and hardotps not really an option because of this.
rough budget or around 100k
so far looked at the barcrucsher 6.7c as will be able to fit in the garage which is also important. but not sure if they live up to the price tag?
have heard god things about razorline and surtees.
I am a year or so off, but want to take the opportunity of the boatshow to explore a few diffent names and get some info.
I was after some reccomendations of anything you more experience boaties think may fit the bill, and personal experiences, so i can do some digging!
Any advice greatly appreciated!!
cheers
goat
VIC DORY
Posts: 308
Date Joined: 28/05/15
Go the barcrusher if you hate
Go the barcrusher if you hate your back and don’t mind feeling stiff after every trip, there’s a reason there’s so many of them for sale on gumtree.
Sea goat
Posts: 941
Date Joined: 26/03/17
good to know lol. thats
good to know lol. thats exactly what i dont want!
cheers for the input!
suzi q
Posts: 51
Date Joined: 16/02/17
Have a 670c
mate - first thing is to forget all the negative comments on the Bar Crushers. Seems to me like a bunch of folk who have never been in one, but love to type....strange thing that.
i have a 670C - works really well for what it is - a great, solid, plate Ali. It’s a wet ride, but a soft ride. No boat is perfect, and all boat design is a compromise of one thing for another. I think BC have compromise a. It of water coming in, for a generally good ride with balance at rest.
If you go with a BC - the trim tabs are compulsory.... not an option. The kill tank has a problem with filling and emptying....and request an auto bilge.....a must in my opinion. The rest of the boat and trailer has been bullet proof - we have done Gamex a few times, done Mackerel Islands, coral bay, Exmouth, Busselton, a few times each....and we do 40 miles plus off Ocean Reef often, and Kalbarri to the Abrolis island area even more.
All in all, great boat, no better or worse then the next one....but don’t listen to the ill informed - not sure if it’s jealousy or what...but clearly ill informed opinions like Vic Dory are often.
i had my 70 yo father out a few ago, of Mackerel islands, and we were chatting about his former Haines in relation to the BC. His view was that there was little noticeable difference.......
happy for you to come around for a chat and a look if it helps....
Coastrunner
Posts: 414
Date Joined: 25/10/14
Sea trials
Dont take online opinions as gospel mate.
Mulie
Posts: 546
Date Joined: 20/02/11
Southbound boats look good
Southbound boats look good and seem to be priced well.
Mulie
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Size
Dont take the size of the boat from what they call it as a model number. Use a tape to confirm
We recently parked a 730 HT next to a commodore 670 it it was noticably shorter. The commodore was definitely a bigger boat
silly
Posts: 382
Date Joined: 02/01/09
Barcrushers are over rated,
Barcrushers are over rated, generally speaking most owners are first time boaties who haven’t owned other boats before. It’s pretty much sold as a package deal with all accessories available so marketed towards first “big” boat owners. They have very clever marketing when it comes to size as they measure from the transom to bow sprit.. need to take off almost 0.5m to compare between other size boats.
narrow beam which means less HP to push it around but lose out on stability at rest hence the floodable tank to try counter balance this. More of an east coast boat IMO where trolling is the main game, drifting and anchoring suffer as a result.
Woudl personally go for a razerline or similar design if you like bottom bashing
MyDisco2
Posts: 102
Date Joined: 28/06/17
Corrections..
Personally Im not bothered by peoples opinions on boats but just a couple of actual facts you can probably check out for yourself if you need more info.
The "clever marketing" reffered to here is well documented as the overall length - the reason being this was changed to assist with exporting to other markets ie 620 BC became 670 BC.
The flooded keel has nothing to do with "narrow beam" in fact they are comparable width with most boats. It's because of the deeper deadrise thats futher sharp at the bow slicing in to the water. This needs help to be stable at rest so the boat sinks down to the chines at rest and is quite stable and easy fishing platform.
I have a 2 year old 615 side console BC that is a great tough little unit and rides as well as anything in its size / class. Over the last 25 years of boat ownership, it's certainly not as nice to ride in as the 23ft Key West which was my last but I wouldn't trade it again as it's so easy on land to trailer / care for and cheap to run. Bit of a wash and some salt away and shes looking brand new still, unlike the few fibreglass boats I have had which take a little more care in the harsh conditions of some areas of WA.
One thing they are is more expensive to buy, but they also attract a premium when you sell second hand so it basically cancels itself out - a bit like how Toyotas are more expensive to buy mostly but hold their value second hand.
Cheers,
Disco.
little johnny
Posts: 5329
Date Joined: 04/12/11
As coastrunner said (sea trials)
Been in 4 different bar crushers . Personally I didn’t like ride. They are a well finished boat. For size not much fishing room. Anything you have to fill with water doesn’t seem right to me. Go out in s/west wind on trials. I’ve heard Assasian ones are okay only been in one. Good deck space pretty good ride. Try many different hulls . Big investment get one you like feel of and suits what you want. Some people drive boats differently from others , some punch through, some read the ocean . This also makes a difference on how comfy/wet you are. Good luck with boat hunting.
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
Screw ali
now I’ve had a glass boat, I will never buy another Ali boat. If you’ve got the misso and kids to think of, a soft ride and comfort is very important. My kids would hate going out if I still had any of my old Ali boats, due to the shit ride
$100k will get you a MINT second hand reef runner, all rounder 670, etc, with plenty of coin left over for extras.
Belly Fish
Posts: 499
Date Joined: 09/03/12
Compromise
I know what Scotto is saying, but if I look at your requirements I think you need to compromise with aluminium. 6.7m glass will be heavy and a mission to handle on your own.
I have owned 2 x 6m glass boats (Swiftcraft and original Haines 600R) and now have a 7.5m Ali (Genesis). The 600R was an awesome sea boat, but lacks a lot of "fishing" features.
There is no way my ali boat rides better than the 600R...its a fact, but I would never go back either.
big john
Posts: 8726
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Limiting
Limiting factor is a 2.5 tonne tow rating.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
z00m
Posts: 1086
Date Joined: 10/05/14
Ride and solo launch
I've got a fibreglass Caribbean Crusader runabout repowered with a diesel stern drive. It's 7m long and I launch and retrieve solo almost exclusively. Comes in at 2.4t ready to fish on the Ally bunk trailer. The ride is outstanding and very dry but I don't head out when the forecast is anything more than 15 knots (since it will be 20 knot gusts anyway). Good size cuddy with a very high freeboard to keep the young ones in the boat and plenty of fishing room. Being a soft top it could be folded down but I leave it up and just put the cover on.
Your list is not something you can achieve in one boat. Fit in the garage and big enough for overnight stays at rotto, yet light enough for 2.5t restriction and stiill a soft ride.
Good luck in your search. I would suggest a 6 to 6.5m glass boat (launch and retrieve is all about setup if solo) with an outboard. Seafarer, Haines, Caribbean etc will all give a good ride with varying levels of stability at rest. Anything deep V will be good offshore, but not that flash for stability.
avatinni
Posts: 141
Date Joined: 06/06/10
Tuff plate boat look at the
Tuff plate boat look at the fishhunter boats from midway marine built by Willie from bullet boats.
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1018
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Lol, the negative barcrusher
Lol, the negative barcrusher comments, if you know how to use a bc they handle and ride extremely well.
Like any boat they need to be setup well.
Don't take comments from the nuffy brigade, test drive all types and see what works for you.
I personally love the genesis range but that's me.
squidvicious1
Posts: 821
Date Joined: 22/07/10
Perth boat show in 2 weeks ,
Perth boat show in 2 weeks , go along for shitzs and giggles.
Sea goat
Posts: 941
Date Joined: 26/03/17
thanks heaps guys. lots of
thanks heaps guys. lots of good info. certainly gven me a few questions to ask and a good spot to get started!
will definitely be looking to do trials on as many different models as i can, and am certainly aware will need to compromise on some factors to optimize others.
will hit up all the stalls at the boat show and try to sift thorugh the sales jargon.
cheers!
PBS
Posts: 36
Date Joined: 06/10/13
Why restrict your options by
Why restrict your options by only trading your boat and trailer. Trade the Prado for something with a better towing capacity, then theres a lot more options.
Mulie
Posts: 546
Date Joined: 20/02/11
I know you said ali, but
I know you said ali, but your description reads like the reviews on a Caribbean Reef Runner.
Mulie
resurgence
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 23/04/14
My experience for reference
I used to own a Haines Hunter 650R. Our use was very similar to what you've described - primarily fishing but also occasional family use. My thoughts, in no particular order are:
- As far as ride and seaworthiness goes, I'd consider it to be up with there with the best in that class. My personal preference is for a glass boat, and certainly the ride delivers.
- Being a true small cuddy it has huge deck space. For good weather nights at Rottnest plenty of room to roll out a double swag. Cabin space is not bad, and could sleep the three of you in a pinch. We also had an electric toilet fitted between the bunks. Fishing three is very easy, four is still comfortable.
- With aluminium trailer, Yamaha 250 four stroke, fuel etc, it came in at just under 2.4t. I used to own a Prado at the time (2013 T/D) which was my tow vehicle. You definitely know it's there but it did a decent job. Towing to Jurien Bay and back averaging about 16l/100km.
Some general advice:
- as mentioned, if garage space is critical, be sure to measure how long the boat actually is. Manufacturers are all over the place when it comes to how they measure their boats.
- solo launching is all about technique and preparation for boats that size. I used to regularly solo launch and retrieve the Haines without any problems.
- sea trial as many boats as you can. Go out if you can in less than perfect conditions for a genuine trial. All boats ride well in flat conditions.
- Glass is my personal preference for a variety of reasons but if your intended use includes beach launching or using some of the more exposed ramps in remote locations then I'd probably lean toward ali.
- It's definitely a buyer's market for boats at the moment, so do your research well and if a used boat is acceptable to you there are some great value lightly used boats around that might gain you more bang for your buck.
hooty
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 25/05/10
My experience is that whilst
My experience is that whilst boats may ride slightly differnt, its the person behind the steering wheel that makes it either a comfortable or shit house ride.