Cabin/side/centre Or Runabout

[Garfield28]

HI All,

Would like some advice on a good all rounder boat.

 

I currently have a 5.2 Savage escort with a Merc 125 saltwater series outboard, plenty of power and room, I love her but she's just too big and heavy. 

I used to fish mainly every weekend with my son who is 19, but he has recently found love and has brushed me, so I haven't been out as much as I would like mainly due to me having troubles launching and retrieving by myself. 

The boat and motor combined are really heavy to tow on my wifes 4 cylinder Kia, it does do it but chews and extra tank of fuel whenever I tow it, add to that the cost of fuel for the outboard, ice bait etc and it makes for an expensive day, which isn't so bad when its split between 2 fishos. 

What I am looking for is a boat that is decent brand aluminium boat that I can fish the bay/river but also get outside on a half decent day also, I'd really like to have something that can handle at least a 90hp outboard (4 stroke) be in the 4.75 - 5m, 5+ meter range for about $20,000 if it is really good buy I may be able to stretch that a couple more grand but ideally would like not to have to. 

I want something I can launch and retrieve fairly easy on my own, something I can fish the estuaries for bread and butter fish like flatties, whiting etc and also drop crab pots in tight places. 

I'm half wanting a centre console for the fishing space it offers if I were to have a few extra on board, but realistically that is very rarely the case, so I like boats like the Stacer Nomad type shape or the Quintrex renegade also but not sure how they'd handle things outside and whether or not they are a half comfortable ride in chop. 

I like the cabin style boats also, I like how you're up nice and high and see where you are going without having to stand up rather than sit down, I like that they offer cover but wonder about the weight of them and launching and retrieving those type boats if that would put me in the same pickle I am now. 

Any advice or boats that people can mention or recommend would be really appreciated, as I know there are so many to choose from but I don't really know half the models I should be looking at. 

 

Thanks 

Geoff 

[kmcrosby78]

The all-rounder boat - a very contentious issue  You will get a lot of advice and a lot of it will be useful and accurate, but a the end of the day you will need to decide which style suits you best overall (then you can worry about brands). If you haven't already done so I'd pop in to a dealer local to you that has a decent range/style of boats, and look at them in the flesh. This will give a good guide on what size you think suits you best and you can also start to form a better opinion on types/styles of boat. The tricky bit is picking a boat that will be well suited to your main usage type (bay/river) but still capable (safe, comfortable, etc) to be taken offshore.

Without having met you or knowing your age, size, health, etc my basic advice would be to look at the 4.8-5.2m range as they should offer enough room but be manageable. There can be big differences in makes they - as an example a 4.8m Formosa centre console is a very large, beamy boat compared to more 'standard' sized ones.

In the price range and size you are looking for you'll get yourself a great boat if you are patient (whilst looking) and then act quickly (once you've found it). My advice would be to get a plate boat as it will ride better than a pressed one. You'll then probably have the option of newer 'bulk standard' makes like Formosa, etc or a slightly older better (thicker and better build quality) hull (Fisher, AMM, etc).

Keep us updated as you continue your search, there'll be plenty on here happy to help  

Oh and an example of what you should be able to end up with (if you go CC):  https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/little-mountain/motorboats-powerboats/formosa-plate-boat-5-2m-centre-console-with-90hp-e-tec-evinrude/1181644139

 

[Garfield28]

Thanks for the reply KM, appreciate it. 

That's a nice looking boat you shared the link to, how did you spot that so quick? I've been looking at heaps the last few days and haven't come across that many good buys. I was really leaning towards a centre console a liitle while back but now just don't know. I'd like the space for fishing but on those cold mornings heading out in winter you'd like that cover a cabin or runabout boat gives you... so hard. The thing I hate about most of the runabouts I've looked at in the pics lately is they look as though your legs are cramped up while driving... just how it looks maybe someone who owns one could let me know. 

Also mate, hate to sound like a dummy but I am, what is the difference between plate boat and pressed and what would you recommend there? 

 

Thanks 

Geoff 

[kmcrosby78]

Just been through the looking and then buying process myself, so have my eye in  I'd recommend checking Boatsales and Gumtree religiously as good deals come up - the better the deal the quicker you have to be to snap it up. With regards to runabouts, I'd go and sit in some to work out how they feel to you. My personal preference would be for a boat I can drive standing up when taking it offshore - this may be possible with runabouts/bowriders (another option for you) but I haven't been in enough of them to know.

I found this to explain the difference between plate and pressed: 

In the marine industry, plate boats are manufactured from the thicker and higher tensile plate sheets whereas pressed boats are generally manufactured from the thinner and softer coiled sheets. Generally speaking, a serious plate boat will have a hull constructed of five or 6mm plate alloy with the sides of at least 3-4mm alloy. The average pressed alloy vessel would generally have 2-3mm sides and a 3-4mm hull. Most of the standard tinnies used by Aussie fishos are constructed via the pressed hull method, athough more and more boats are being marketed as being “plate alloy”.
Read more at http://www.fishingworld.com.au/boating-bits/step-up-to-the-plate#UPchFh8cphhegjk2.99

 

So basically it's heavier (therefore rides better) and tougher  

[Garfield28]

Thanks again KM.

Hopefully get some more ideas on boat models that may suit that I know nothing about, so many boat makers and models that I have never heard of.

 

Thanks 

Geoff 

[Drop Bear]

Sounds like you have your heart set on a cuddy cab type. Your thoughts are right RE the cold wet mornings. I agree with KM on size but a 5m Cuddy cab only has a small area to fish from. 

I have a 5m tiller steer. It is light, cheep to run and easy to tow. It has a huge amount of space inside the boat, is very comfortable and I take it offshore on a good day. 

The down side is that it is very wet when you get a side wind. On a winters morning this boat is not a nice place to be if there is 10+ knots and you need to travel in open waters with a side wind. There is no sun protection and visibility is not as good as when standing up. 

Like KM eluded to there is no real "All Rounder" when it comes to boats. 

If you want to go up creeks crabbing and fishing (especially with only 1 or 2 People) a 3.8m pressed boat with 15 horsepower tiller steer is hard to beat. Cheap to buy, Cheap to run, light to handle and tow and quick with plenty of room. But... as soon as you want to go through open waters it is rough and hard to be in and if you want to carry a few people and a few eskis you quickly end up with no space and not enough power. 

If you want to stay warm out of the wind and spray having a cabin to sit in is very nice. If you want to go offshore having the wheel up front and standing up is a big advantage for bar crossings but you loose so much space and can only fish out the back of the boat. Its harder to get to the anchor and If you have a large fish they can sometimes go around the front of the boat and if you are at anchor there is not much you can do. 

If you want to fish from the front and back, stand up to drive and still have a reasonably light boat a center console is great. Easy to get to the anchor and cast to bait schools. Easy to walk around if you hook a big tuna. But they are still wet and this can be cold. If you have a few people on board the console takes up  so much room. Not great for crabbing as you dont have much space to store pots and you cant get under mangrove branches. 

I think many of us would like 4 boats... I know I would... 

I don't think I have been much help sorry.

 

[Garfield28]

I'm confusing myself actually... I'm starting to wonder if instead of probably losing about $6,000 on my boat from what I paid for it, if I should now maybe keep it and re power it with a four stroke outboard 

I would need a new trailer or need to get work done on the undercarriage of mine as she has a bit of rust and not sure she'll pass rego this time, and I would definitely want to somehow raise the height of my seats if it can be done, as I am tired of standing up to drive when the conditions are a bit blowy, as the back of my legs rub against the chair and it gets very irritating, but I cannot see if I'm moving along when I sit down, I need to stand up to have a clear view. 

[tugger]

I have a cuddy cabin on a 5.4m alloy it used to have a 90hp 2 stroke till I upgraded to a 100hp 4 stroke both engines pushed it along well I love the cabin for overnight trips as well as the protection from the elements it has been a good alrounder for me I mainly do offshore fishing but it still goes well in the creeks and up in the dams skiing with the kids and me

[Garfield28]

Thanks Tugger

 

So you sleep in yours mate? 

Can I please ask what make and model too please so I can check them out

 

Cheers 

Geoff 

[tugger]

1 hour ago, Garfield28 said:

Thanks Tugger

 

So you sleep in yours mate? 

Can I please ask what make and model too please so I can check them out

 

Cheers 

Geoff 

I got a allycraft cuddy cab the model is the 'palm beach' I have had mine for 14 yrs now and it is a great little boat alround offshore it punches above its weight it runs on a single axle trailer and is still light enough to tow with a medium size car

 

[Garfield28]

Thanks mate, they look a nice rig, don't know how you find the room to sleep on it though.

[Drop Bear]

4 hours ago, Garfield28 said:

Thanks mate, they look a nice rig, don't know how you find the room to sleep on it though.

Its better than you might think. It is more camping than 5 star. I slept on a similar sized boat for 2 nights with 3 of us on it. Again not the Hilton but allows you to go to places that are not accessible on a day trip. When I grow up I will have a 50 foot mother ship... Not much prospect of growing up for a while haha 

[Garfield28]

Ideally I'd have a half cabin boat as I could see myself snuggling up with the Mrs overnight on the bay, but you lose so much space in them I believe and not enough room up the back to fish, unless of course you buy one of them really expensive boats where there's plenty up the front and the back... I can only dream. 

[Drop Bear]

11 hours ago, Garfield28 said:

Ideally I'd have a half cabin boat as I could see myself snuggling up with the Mrs overnight on the bay, but you lose so much space in them I believe and not enough room up the back to fish, unless of course you buy one of them really expensive boats where there's plenty up the front and the back... I can only dream. 

yep one day  you can buy second hand. I would like walk around sides too... 

[Garfield28]

Thinking of just hanging onto my donk now. If I sell I will lose from what I paid and for what I have put into it, which I know is to be expected, but very hard to decide on what I want. 

I love a center console for the space to fish around the boat but don't know I'd be that keen with the cold wind blowing in my face on the way out first thing in the morning...