2021 Boating
EXTRA
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS
2021 Boating EXTRA Boating Extra, we have a YouTube channel full of boat tests and reviews. Make sure you search Fishing Monthly Magazines on YouTube to connect with our tests. You can also scan the QR codes in each of the stories and these will take you directly to the relevant tests.
FISHING MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Welcome Aboard Who would’ve thought, the Boating Extra has had its first birthday! And what started as a Boat Show replacement supplement in 2020, has quickly grown into a feature full of boat tests, new products, and added extras for your boat. We have had limited ability to get out and test boats in 2021 with the matrix of COVID travel restrictions, but we have got out enough to fill this feature with heaps of great boats. We all know that boating and fishing have experienced an increase in popularity since COVID appeared. We are particularly lucky to be in an industry that has benefited from the pandemic rather than suffered from it. Eighteen months ago it would be difficult to believe that the main problem in the boating industry was the ability to get a boat in a short time frame. But that’s where we are. Most local manufacturers have a waiting list that’s as long as your arm… And getting an outboard motor to fit it is nearly as difficult. What this means, I suppose, is that doing good research is as important now as it ever was. If we find it hard to get a boat to test, you may also find it hard to get a boat to test ride. In addition to the stories published in this
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Just like Fishing Monthly magazine, we produce and print this Boating Extra supplement in Australia. It would be cheaper for us to do it overseas, but we love supporting local industry. We hope you do too. There is an amazing array of locally built boats out there, and we want to help you discover them. – Steve Morgan
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2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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2021 Boating EXTRA
YAMAHA OUTBOARDS
Yamaha Extends Outboard Colour Options Yamaha has announced the release of their new pearlescent white colour option across the best-selling F50, F70 and F90 outboard range. This follows the successful rollout of the F115, F150, F200, F250 and F300 pearlescent white outboards earlier in the year. Yamaha Marine, National Sales and Marketing Manager, Grant Binskin said,
“We are seeing strong growth across the industry in the average spend on boating packages, as boaters increasingly demand the latest hull, engine, boating control and display technologies to take their on-water experience to the next level. “This drive for personalisation and customisation extends to aesthetics, with more and more buyers requesting painted or wrapped hulls, to express their individual styles and tastes. “Yamaha has come on board with this trend, by allowing boaties to mix and match their outboard with their hull with the release of our eye-catching pearlescent white outboards, in addition to our ever-popular traditional Yamaha grey. “We are really excited to finally get our hands on the F50, F70 and F90 pearlescent white models, as they are well suited to 4.2m to 5.2m aluminium and fibreglass boats, which make up a large part of the Australian boating market,” Grant said. The pearlescent white option is now available across all key models in Yamaha’s mid and high horsepower lineup, from the compact F50 all the way up to their big horsepower F425 XTO. With current demand for outboards at record levels, Yamaha recommends you contact your local authorised Yamaha dealer today to lock in your order. W
4 2021 Boating EXTRA
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2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
2021 Boating EXTRA LOWRANCE
Lowrance launches new ActiveTarget live sonar
Lowrance, a world-leading brand in fishing electronics since 1957, announced today the launch of its new, high-resolution ActiveTarget Live Sonar system, revealing live-action views of fish moving in and around structure as they respond to lure presentations. This new technology delivers top-of-theline live sonar functionality to the highresolution HDS LIVE Ultimate Fishing System, as well as HDS Carbon and Lowrance’s recently introduced Elite FS displays – providing ActiveTarget Live Sonar connectivity with a wider range of displays and pricing options. The ActiveTarget Live Sonar views show high-resolution images of fish movements in real time and in detail. With this immediate feedback, anglers can adjust the presentation to trigger a strike, and know if more than one predator fish is active in the area. Offering three viewing options,
BAR CRUSHER BOATS
Bar Crusher’s 24/7 boat show No boat shows? No worries. Bar Crusher’s highly-informative website is essentially an online boat show, which you can visit every day of the year. With hundreds of pages of content – from boat buying tips, videos, news, reviews and model overviews right through to its industry-leading ‘build and quote’ system – the easy-to-navigate website also includes a search function, so you can quickly find the answer to pretty much any question you may have. Of course, don’t forget Bar Crusher’s social media channels across Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, where you can access even more information about this iconic Australian boat brand. With nearly 30 models in the range, spanning 5.35m to 7.80m, these genuine
Fishing Weapons are available in a number of configurations – cuddy cabin (C), hard top (HT), hard top pilothouse (HTP), centre console (XS), rear centre console (XSR), open hard top (XT), walk around (WR), and bow rider (BR). There are also a couple of Special Edition
models available in the C and HT series. Renowned for quality construction, superior performance and maximum fishability (with a range of standard fishing-related features other manufacturers charge as extras), every Bar Crusher boat is factory-packaged on a custom-designed trailer, which ensures towing, launching and retrieving is a breeze. Self-centring and aligning perfectly every time, Bar Crusher’s innovative Bar Catch® system also allows for single-handed launch and retrieve. Check out Bar Crusher’s website and build your Fishing Weapon at barcrusher. com.au. W
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NORTHBANK BOATS
ActiveTarget can be set to Forward, Down or Scout mode. Forward and Down views allow anglers to track fish in front of or below the live sonar transducer, and Scout mode delivers an ultra-wide, overhead view of structure and fish activity in front of the transducer – perfect for finding bait balls and big schools of fish. ActiveTarget is a perfect complement for Lowrance Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar, which includes extreme high-resolution SideScan and DownScan Imaging views for finding structure, and the superb target separation of Lowrance CHIRP Sonar. ActiveTarget Live Sonar, complete with black box module and transducer is priced at $2,299.00 AUD RRP. For more information on ActiveTarget, HDS LIVE, Elite FS or the full range of Lowrance products, visit www.lowrance. com. W
lowrance.com.au Lowrance.ANZ lowrancefishing
6 2021 Boating EXTRA
Northbank fibreglass boats experiencing amazing growth phase Who would have expected that a worldwide pandemic would create the demand that our industry has experienced over the past 12 months? During our time in the boat building industry, we have not seen anything like this with our range of Northbank boats. All our dealers nationally are experiencing an amazing growth phase, and it’s good to see that people are either coming back to boating, or getting into it for the first time. What is also exciting is that Northbank is their chosen vessel to enjoy their time out on the water. At the moment, we have build dates well into 2022 for all models 6m and above. Our 5m and 5.5m models are currently out to early 2022. This provides us with confidence going forward, we are currently in the process of expanding our boat production facility, which will allow us to increase our level of staff and boat production. In the past 12 months we have developed some great relationships with key influences for our brand.
Al McGlashan, has been very active with his 650HTF along the East Coast of NSW, and provided us with some amazing images of his experiences out in his Northbank. Aaron Habgood from Salt Guide has also been putting his Northbank 600C through its paces, both offshore in Bass Strait and in his local waters around Port Phillip. Our long-term brand ambassador Patrick Dangerfield is soon to take delivery of his third Northbank, which is a 750HT. His boat is currently at Melbourne Marine Centre for its complete fit out, but will soon be on the water. Pat’s boat will feature some gear that we have not yet fitted into any Northbank models, including the Optimus steering system from Seastar. In our home state of South Australia, we
have Ned McHenry (an up and coming super star from the Adelaide Crows) out and about in his 600C; and, Shimano sponsored angler, Andrew Harris, will soon to take delivery of his 600C. The next 12 months for Northbank will see us continue to produce high quality fibreglass boats, as we work to meet our customer’s demands. We will also continue to review features of all our models, and work towards the development of a couple of missing models in our range – watch this space! W
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2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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2021 Boating EXTRA QUINTREX
Quintrex Challenges ‘Where Next?’ with the 2021 Cruiseabout
Quintrex is prompting Australians to think ‘where next?’ with their adventures as they release an all-new line up to the public this year; inclusive of the family favourite, the Cruiseabout. As local travel booms, boating has increasingly become hot topic with sales industry-wide seeing record numbers as people explore new ways to escape their everyday. “Between cruising the waterways solo and heading out with a group of family or friends, or venturing out for a morning run and loading up for a boat camping trip, boating provides an endless source of travel opportunities and we are excited that we get to share that with so many people,” Madeline Bishop, Marketing and Communications Manager said. “It is a thrilling industry to be in, every day we help make countless people create endless memories by exploring their backyard, and as we welcome an increasing number of new boaties into the industry, we have invested our efforts towards making their purchasing process as seamless as possible.” This year, Quintrex will launch its first brand-specific Boat Bundle strategy aimed towards ease of consumer optimisation. Whilst still able to opt for individual features, consumers can now choose a boat suited to their budget and lifestyle with a group of clean-cut packages: • Cruiseabout – the most cost-friendly
10 2021 Boating EXTRA
option that features only the essentials. • Comfort Bundle – offering optimal comfort and sun protection with a bimini and envelope, tonneau cover, upgraded seats, an upgraded rear lounge and backrest, bunk infill cushion, cockpit table, plus a sound system and speakers. • Fishing Bundle – to assist fishos in hooking that big catch with a berley bucket kit, transom cutting board and ski pole duo, VHF radio, and LED cockpit lights and switches. • Captain’s Bundle – built specially for the captain with an upgraded steering wheel and a mechanical tilt to hydraulic tilt steering upgrade. • Cruiseabout Pro – the deluxe model inclusive of all premium options and features incorporated in the Boat Bundles, plus upgraded seating.
over 5m receiving hydraulic non-tilt steering and all Cruiseabout Pro models boasting hydraulic tilt steering. All Pro models will also feature the new upholstered side pockets, along with updated bow cushioning and deluxe rear
TELWATER TRAILERS
“True to our history, the 2021 Cruiseabout has been updated with family and overall consumer experience front-of-mind to deliver an all-new aluminium bowrider experience,” Madeline said. “All changes have been derived from customer and dealer feedback, along with data drawn from an industry specific survey in order to continue building on the famous Quintrex product whilst setting new boating standards.” The 2021 Cruiseabout will see the new 2021 transom with the duckboard positioned higher on the stern to glide over the water, a redesigned dashboard for a more seamless finish and to fit larger electronics, a fresh aluminium deck fascia design, new split bow rail and bowsprit design, dual maxi brackets, increased underfloor storage and much more. To optimise the overall experience and ergonomics for all drivers, tilt steering has been newly introduced to the Quintrex line up with Cruiseabout models 5m and under featuring mechanical tilt steering; models
Telwater trailers are set to take the industry by storm Telwater makes big movements in the trailer industry by launching its first loose trailer range, Move Trailers. This enables any boatie across Australia to purchase the handcrafted, purpose-built product for their new or used boat. Whilst the line is set to hit the pavement soon, Telwater has decades of trailer building history under its belt, first putting their tools towards the original prototype build in 2003. Following two years of Research and Development, which is said to be the ‘perfecting stage’ of Telwater’s craftsmanship, the Gold Coast built range made its public debut in 2005. As the muscle beneath the industry’s leading aluminium boat brands while on road for Quintrex, Stacer, Yellowfin and Savage. Telwater trailers quickly gained traction in the market becoming renowned for their strong, durable and dependable reputation. “Throughout our 16 years of production, we have continued to develop and improve our products in line with industry demand and the evolution of engineering, and now, we are excited to be able to afford this safety and certainty of safe trailering to every boatie with a Telwater built trailer,” General Manager Telwater, Sam Heyes said. Built from strength within, Move Trailers are crafted around a sound structure of marine grade aluminium, meaning their lifespan triples that of a steel build. Their C-channel frame, as opposed to box sections, ensures water is not retained, preventing waterlogging and weight
lounge upholstery that deliver a seamless finish due to hidden fastenings. Reflective of the new range comes an all-new look for the Quintrex brand as it launches a fresh stripe design, set to trademark all boats under the Quinnie umbrella as it rolls out across the entire range. “We hope that the stripe design will become as recognisable as the Quintrex name so our boats make a statement on the water from near and far,” Madeline said. Quintrex, owned by BRP; global leader in the world of powersports, was founded in 1945 and has established itself as the most recognised Australian-built aluminum boat brand in the country. W
quintrex.com.au quintrexaustralia quintrexboating
overload. Whereby the aluminium build results in the prevention of rust, increased durability, and a more lightweight product therefore making Move Trailers easier to tow and manoeuvre. Other key build qualities that set Move Trailers apart from the industry are: • A wide range of standard features including LED lights, moulded wheel guards and a swing-up jockey wheel, as a benchmark for safety and functionality whilst on and off the boat ramp. • Catch and release system – (optional extra) a carefully structured design to take the grunt out of the drive-on/drive-off experience at the boat ramp, especially built for the solo boatie or those who enjoy simplistic trailering. • Spare wheel carrier – (optional extra) to ensure that no bump in the road gets in the way of an adventure. • Trailer walkway – (optional extra) for safe movements when walking along the submerged trailer whilst at the boat ramp. “As passionate boaties ourselves, we understand the importance of keeping our boats as safe on the road as they are on the water so with purpose-built engineering, we have delivered a wide range of models to suit all trailerable boats – both aluminium and fibreglass” Sam said. Boasting nearly 30 models within the range, Move Trailer’s have almost every boatie covered, with a trailer available for boats ranging between 3.5m to 7.1m in length. The movement doesn’t stop there, with Move Trailer’s also catering to a wide range of customer needs with both braked and unbraked or hydraulic options available. Get on the move with your boat by purchasing a top-quality trailer at an affordable price for your new rig, or upgrade your old wheels, by contacting your local Move Trailer dealer today. W
moveboattrailers.com.au telwater telwater
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
“Reliability is everything.” - Andrew Ettingshausen
Australia’s only 3-Year Commercial Warranty on all outboards* *Honda is offering a 5 + 2 = 7 years domestic and 1 + 2 = 3 years commercial warranty. The additional 2 years are based on the following conditions: The Outboard must either be sold and set up by an authorised Honda Marine dealer or be sold by an authorised sales agent for Honda Marine Australia and set up in accordance with the instructions in the Product Registration & Set-up Guide (if applicable), in conjunction with the Owner’s Manual. The Outboard must be serviced for the entire warranty period by an authorised Honda Marine dealer, in line with the recommended service schedule, using genuine Honda parts and lubricants. Visit marine.honda.com.au for full terms and conditions.
2021 Boating EXTRA radio, lean seat, LED cockpit lights and switches. • Captain’s Bundle – upgrade from mechanical to hydraulic tilt steering, upgraded steering wheel. As the new line up hits the water, the entire Hornet range will don fresh stripes with the 2021 Quintrex design plus dual maxi brackets as standard across all base and Pro models and a modular bow aimed towards improving overall product quality. The Hornet is crafted around the Apex Hull, which is heralded as the industry’s most innovative design, delivering an unparalleled ride experience and stability at rest thanks to its cutting-edge concept.
QUINTREX
Quintrex takes fishing to a whole new level As part of the new 2021 Quintrex line up, Australia’s ultimate fishing boat, the Hornet is getting a revamp. Reducing from nine models to five, the new Hornet has been redesigned to deliver an all-inclusive product, adapting from both the previous Hornet model and the now discontinued Stealth Hornet. The three Hornet models, 450, 481 and 500, will compliment the preexisting Hornet Trophy line up with the 420 and 440, in order to continue delivering a fully comprehensive size variation across the range. “Derived from market research and dealer feedback, the Hornet has been streamlined and recrafted to meet the needs of a wider range of fishermen, achieved by an array of design changes including an increased freeboard making it better suited to a greater variety of waterways, including lakes, estuaries and
open water,” Jorge Alejandre, New Product Development Manager said. Together with a deeper layout comes more storage room and greater possibility for more optional extras or longer adventures that serve for camping on board. In line with an all-new Boat Bundle approach, aimed towards simplifying the boat buying process for those new into the market, customers will now be gifted the ease of choice with five bundle options available to choose from. Not only easy, but also affordable, consumers can now opt for an entry level boat that only features the bare essentials with the Hornet, a range of Boat Bundles for ease of upgrading the vessel to suit a particular lifestyle or, go all out with the deluxe Hornet Pro which includes all premium features. The Hornet Pro will incorporate standard features including a VHF Radio,
Berley Bucket, lean seat, seat option upgrade and more. “Each bundle has been crafted to meet the needs of our most frequent boat buyers, for example those looking for a budget-friendly boat simply to get out on the water, a premium vessel with all the frills, or something more pointed like a Comfort Bundle for families, a Fishing Bundle for avid fishos and a Captain’s Bundle for the driving comfortability,” Madeline Bishop, Marketing and Communications Manager said. “Each option included in these packs have been carefully selected by our team, who are avid fishos themselves, to deliver the best on-water experience possible.” Options included in each Boat Bundle are as follows: • Comfort Bundle – lean seat, seat upgrade from Angler Sport to Bass Sport, and a sound system and speakers. • Fishing Bundle – berley bucket kit, VHF
“The 2021 line up has been derived from over 75 years of industry excellence and aims to continue the strong Quintrex name within the market by enhancing our product and incorporating changes driven by customer feedback,” Madeline said. W
quintrex.com.au quintrexaustralia quintrexboating
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Monitor the health and state of your battery from your phone
BLA Vertical Capstan and Pot Hauler VC900
BLA Marine Performance Lithium Batteries
Features a powerful 900W motor and is designed to withstand even the harshest environments with its 316 Stainless Steel head. Features: Marine grade sealed motor
Premium range of batteries consisting of the highest quality Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) composition. Features: 12V, 24V, 36V options Lasts 8 times longer than standard batteries 2000+ genuine cycles
Low noise Fast retrieval Max power pull of 185kg Includes footswitch & marine grade circuit breaker
Helm Seat – Luxury Luxury helm seat provides maximum comfort for those long rides. Features: Back rest reclines 45˚ Armrests flip up for ease of access Universal 126mm X 305mm mounting pattern Rear and side pockets
Less than half the weight of standard batteries Faster charging 7 Year Warranty
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12 2021 Boating EXTRA
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
MORE INFO
Check out www.ausmarine.biz for your nearest dealer PH: (02) 9792 6000 F: (02) 9772 4858 E: sales@ausmarine.biz
Alloy Boats
Trailers
• 15 years in Australia/South Pacific • Nationwide network of distributors in each state • Proven long term quality/back-up • Standard features which for our competitors are optional • Unbeatable value for money
TRAILERS from 3m to 8m (3500kg ATM)
BOAT PACKAGES
FOLDING 8
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2.1m car topper, 2 adults, max 4hp, only weighs 22kg
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NLY
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RANGER 330
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• Suits up to 4m hulls • Roller version available •Ford Bearings & hubs • Web strap winch • Submersible LED lights
3.3m car topper, 3 adults, max 6hp
World’s first drive-by-wire 115hp/140hp 4-stroke outboard Suzuki Marine is globally recognised for making advanced technology and features available to boaters of all types, not just those who run the largest, highesthorsepower outboards. This tradition continues with the introduction of Suzuki’s new-for-2021 DF115BG and DF140BG 4-stroke outboards, the first in their class to offer all the advantages of drive-by-wire technology. By bringing its proven drive-by-wire technology to its 115hp and 140hp in-line four-cylinder models, Suzuki is providing simplified rigging for a wide range of boat builders, along with silky smooth shifting, instant throttle response, enhanced performance and superior fuel efficiency. The reliability and precision control of
From
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ADVENTURE 360 3.6m open tinny, 4 adults, max 15hp
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From
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& hubs • Web strap winch
BOAT PACK
AGE
• Submersible LED lights
Boat & trailer & 9.9 4 stroke
AL4.2M13
NAVIGATOR 400 4m flatwater V-nose tinny, 4 adults, max 30hp
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• Roller version available
From
Suzuki’s drive-by-wire technology has been proven for years on Suzuki’s popular 150hp through 350hp models. W
• Suits up to 4.4m
• Ford Bearings
$6999
& hubs • Web strap winch
AG BOAT PACK E
• Submersible LED lights
Boat & trailer & 15hp 4 stroke
AL5.2M13
SNAPPER 425 4.2m open water deep vee wide-sided fishing boat. 5 adults, max 40hp
YALTACRAFT
• Suits up to 5.4m • Roller version available •Ford Bearings & hubs • Web strap winch •Submersible LED lights
From
$9700
Yaltacraft are back A couple of years ago, Bribie Marine’s Dave O’Neal collected the Yaltacraft moulds from Gympie’s George Groth after 26 years of being made there. They moved to a newly constructed facility behind his marine dealership and have since surpassed a dozen boats from the new digs. “Every boat is now 100% composite – there’s no wood in a Yaltacraft,” Dave said, as he showed us where the 18, 20 and 22ft models begin their life. And with a strong brand and a strong Facebook owners group, the future looks bright, with a dozen more boats currently on order. “If they want to, buyers can come and see their boat at every stage of construction,” Dave said, “which is an opportunity that not all companies can offer.” Dave’s always been a boating tragic, with several boats adorning his property when he was in the smash repair game. Buying a boat dealership just made his passion his job.
BOAT PACK
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FIB5M14 • Suits Fiberglass boats up to 5.3m •Ford Bearings & hubs • Web strap winch •Submersible LED lights
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AL5.4M13T
BOWRIDER 490 4.9m deep ve Bowrider
• Dual Axles
side console, transom door, 5 adults, max 115hp
You can see the demo Yaltas at the Bribie Marine yard and we’re sure that he’ll give you a great deal on a Honda and trailer to go with it.
• Suits Aluminium hulls up to 5.6m
From
•Ford Bearings
$31,999
& hubs • Web strap winch
AG BOAT PACK E W
yaltacraft.com.au Yalta Craft Boats Australia yaltacraft
LED lights FINANCE AVAILABLE
ALLOY TRAILERS RANGE FROM 4M TO 6.5M AL4.2M13A
FIB5.7M14TA • Alloy Frame • Alloy Wheels • Ford bearings + hubs • Web strap winch • Submersible LED Lights
FINANCE AVAILABLE
2021 NEW RELEASES
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Boat trailer & 30hp 4 stroke fwd control electric start
• Dual Axles •Alloy Wheels • Skid Version Available • Ford bearings + hubs • Web strap winch • Submersible LED Lights FINANCE AVAILABLE
ALL PRICES GST INCLUSIVE, EXCLUSIVE FREIGHT, REGISTRATION & DEALER DELIVERY CHARGES.
2021 Boating EXTRA HONDA MARINE
Honda Marine world-class performance and reliability
With over 60 manufacturing facilities across the globe, Honda produces more automotive, power equipment and marine engines than any other brand. More people put their trust behind Honda to consistently power their products, whether on land, sea or air. With so much experience and global state-of-the-art research and development going into each engine, Honda Marine is able to offer Australia’s ONLY 7-year* domestic outboard warranty and is the only manufacturer in the country to offer a
3-year* commercial warranty on their entire outboard range. With an unrivalled team of R&D professionals re-defining the limits Honda has been able to produce exclusive innovations such as Honda’s VTEC™ system. VTEC gives you a broader, flatter torque curve and smooth power delivery throughout the engine’s operating range. The result is a superior combination of power, torque and fuel efficiency. VTEC is now available on several high horsepower Honda outboards. It’s the same technology that has powered Honda Formula 1 racing, Marc Marquez in the Honda factory racing team and his domination in the MotoGP. A challenging spirit and never-ending passion for racing fuels the development of every Honda fourstroke outboard.
Honda has been focused on fourstroke technology since introducing the first outboard engine of its kind over five decades ago. All Honda marine and power products sold in Australia have only ever contained four-stroke engines. In a bid to ensure impact on the environment was minimised in as many engines as possible, Honda lead the motorcycle industry by being the first manufacturer to stop production of the two-stroke engine due to concerns about their environmental impact. Honda Australia has been committed to producing four-stroke marine engines in Australia longer than any other manufacturer. Honda’s commitment to protecting the environment is reinforced by their partnership with Sea World Australia. Sea World chooses Honda engines for environmental performance and exceeding world emissions standards. Honda is proud to power the Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation vessel. The reliability and speed of these engines allows the Sea World team to reach stranded and sick marine life as quickly as possible. Honda is also proud to support Rugby League hall of famer Andrew ‘ET’ Ettingshausen, who put his trust in Honda outboards to power the Escape Fishing with ET team to some of Australia’s most remote fishing locations. Escape Fishing with ET is the longest running program of its kind in Australia and embodies Honda Marine’s
passion for fishing and adventure. All of our dealers share the same level of commitment to the Honda brand as they do their relationships with customers. When it comes to sales, service and parts, you can always rely on a Honda Marine specialist for
knowledge and advice. Every Honda Marine outboard is supported by Honda’s extensive national dealer network and dedicated aftersales support team. Thinking about a Honda outboard? Speak to your local Honda dealer or find your closest dealer. * Conditions apply. W
14 2021 Boating EXTRA
marine.honda.com.au HondaMarineAustralia hondamarineaus
GARMIN
Garmin’s Apollo Series amplifiers boost for Fusion audio systems The world’s largest and most innovative marine electronics manufacturer, today announced the ApolloTM Series amplifiers from Fusion® Entertainment, a Garmin brand, delivering the best performance and most power for boats equipped with Fusion Digital Signal Processing (DSP)-enabled stereos and Fusion speakers. Designed exclusively for Fusion marine entertainment systems, the new Apollo Series enhance audio clarity and reduce distortion for a superior onboard entertainment experience. “With Apollo Series amplifiers on board, boaters can play their favourite songs louder and cleaner than ever before, even when cutting through the waves at full throttle,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales. “By offering an innovative amplifier range specifically designed for Fusion systems, boaters can expect to have the same quality of sound performance found in high-end home audio systems while out on their boats.” Amplify the moment Thanks to 150 W RMS per channel3, High Power Mode and reduced Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Apollo Series amplifiers deliver clearer audio on the water and optimise audio reproduction for each individual zone on board. To protect Fusion marine entertainment systems on board, Apollo Series amplifiers also feature Multiple Protection Modes and ignition protection. Simple installation and set up With in-the-box mounting brackets and Easy Tune functionality, the installation and set up process has never been quicker or simpler. Using a wireless Fusion-LinkTM connection, fine-tuning and adjusting complex audio settings for marine entertainment systems is no longer a problem that requires the help of outside audio experts. By simply selecting the relevant DSP audio profiles in the Fusion-Link app, boaters can sync and tune their Apollo Series amplifiers for
optimized audio reproduction, right from their mobile device. Built to last Featuring Fusion’s signature TrueMarine design and 3-year warranty, the Apollo Series amplifiers are built to last season after season with protection against harsh marine environments – such as salt fog, water and UV – enclosed in a slick, white powder-coated aluminium casing that provides a modern aesthetic to any boat. In addition to 1-, 4-, 6- and 8-channel options, the Apollo Series also offers a 2-channel Apollo zone amplifier to target and make use of zones not being amplified on board. The Apollo zone amplifier is available with 12V and 24V compatibility and features a compact design that fits anywhere around the boat.
Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionised life for anglers, sailors, mariners and boat enthusiasts everywhere. Committed to developing the most sophisticated marine electronics the industry has ever known, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday. For the sixth consecutive year, Garmin was recently named the Manufacturer of the Year by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). The Apollo Series amplifiers are available now. For more information about the Apollo Series amplifiers and their seamless integration with Garmin marine electronics visit the website. W
garmin.com Garmin·product/service garminau
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
NEW RELEASE
SEE THEM AT YOUR LOCAL HORIZON DEALER • CREATING MEMORIES SINCE 1992 •
WWW.HORIZONBOATS.COM.AU
BOAT S NOW AVAIL ABLE 2021 Boating EXTRA 31
2021 Boating EXTRA
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Whittley SL22 HT with 200hp Mercury 4-stroke SPECIFICATIONS Overall length............................6.79m Length on trailer........................7.90m Height on trailer...... 2.20m (to windscreen) Width on trailer.........................2.40m Beam..........................................2.40m Transom deadrise..........................23° Fuel............................................... 210L Water.............................................. 40L Standard hp............................... 150hp Max hp.......................................225hp Capacity...............................7 persons
FMG
Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au
We must have tested more Whittley Sea Legend combinations over the years than any other boat. We’ve used them with inboard Volvo Pentas, Yamahas and Mercurys in soft and hard top configurations. We’ve done them with owners and with Whittley staff and dealers. And you know what? Everyone loves their Whittleys. They’re an Aussie built boat with a heritage in cruisers, but are rapidly evolving as fishing rigs as well. These Sea Legend (SL) Hard Top models will tick plenty of boxes for the anglers amongst us. Whittley’s new partnership with Mercury has come at a good time for the builder. Mercury’s V6 and V8 platforms are finding plenty of advocates as more and more enter the market. They say there’s no replacement for displacement, so we were keen to see how the SL22 went with a 200hp 3.4L V6 strapped on the back. The answer? Quite nicely, thank you! Jumping straight into the performance specs, the rig has a top speed of 67km/h at 5,850rpm. At that point, it’s burning a litre of gas for each 900m it travels. Not the most economical craft we’ve tested. But drop it back into the 4,000rpm range as your economy nearly doubles, yielding 1.6km for every litre you burn. Couple that with the standard 210L fuel tank and there’s around 300+km of range. Plenty for 90% of keen anglers.
PERFORMANCE RPM..............km/h............. km/L 600...................... 3................ 0.8 1000.................... 5................ 0.6 2000...................11................ 0.6 3000.................. 22................ 1.0 3500.................. 32................ 1.6 4000.................. 44................ 1.6 4500.................. 52................ 1.5 5000.................. 60................ 1.3 5850.................. 67................ 0.9
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Main: Just the typical Sovereign Island mansion in the background and Whittley’s SL22 Hard Top in the front. It’s a nice match with the Mercury 200hp V-6 4-stroke. Above: Even though it’s 25hp less than the maximum allowed, the SL22 has plenty of punch, especially in the mid-range, which is what the platform is known for. Subjectively, though, it’s that cruising speed punch you get when you drop the throttle that makes the grown men giggle. The hard top itself is connected to the hull with some huge windscreens. There’s ample visibility and side windows to let the breeze flow through in the warmer days. With an optional shade extender, you can add clears to make this a fully enclosed section if that’s what you want. From the transom forward, there’s a full coverage of Whittley’s EVA decking, which looks great and makes for much easier maintenance than the carpet it replaces. There’s a freshwater shower concealed inside the transom and a neat battery closet under the optional bait station. This allows easy access to the isolators and breakers. The SL series also features Whittley’s quad helm seats – with a forward (higher) and rearward (lower) for the driver and passenger. There’s a mile of storage under these. The test boat used some of the space for a slide-out fridge. Luxury! This seating arrangement does chew up a little cabin space, but if you use your rig for more than fishing, they’re very practical. The helm has evolved to take large MFDs
flush mounted. Round of applause there. There’s plenty of room to run all of your electronics as well as the digital engine gauges. The cabin can be shut with a sliding door to gain some security and privacy.
Overall, it’s more a ‘dad’s boat’ than a ‘mum’s boat’, although we’re sure that mum will be happy with the appointments and dad will be happy with the fishing chops of this rig. And if you have a 3.5t towing capacity ute, you’ll have no problems towing it – even if it’s fully loaded. For more information, visit www.whittley. com.au. The test boat was supplied by Whittley Queensland Sales and it is priced at $141,962 as tested. You can watch the video review of this boat by scanning the QR code at the start of the article.
Sometimes when we instruct the boat driver to ‘not be shy’, they really do lose lots of their inhibitions.
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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You really do need an anchor winch on a rig like this, considering that it’s not easy to access from around the cabin or through it. Who wants to pull up and anchor anyway?
Even fully fuelled and loaded, the SL22 easily falls under the 3.5t weight rating for many twin-cab utes.
All Whittleys come with ‘rubber’ decking as standard. It’s a decent sized cockpit for the hull size and gunwale height isn’t a problem.
This is neat – a cupboard under the bait station that houses the dual battery setup and all of the isolators and breakers that you’d need to access.
Whittley’s unique forward/rear facing seat setup is great for both fishing and social reasons. There’s a pile of room under them to store gear...
... or you can add a fridge! How neat is that?
A raw water deck wash is an option, but the Sea Legends come with 40L of freshwater capacity as well with a shower at the rear.
There’s dedicated room for a toilet in the cabin and access is controlled with a sliding door. Like most Whittley cabins, it’s pretty plush.
The dash will hold huge electronics flush mounted, with extra room for your motor gauges. Whittley’s switches are a nice touch.
You can stash half-a-dozen rods up and out of the way in the rocket launchers. The LED lights are a nice touch with pre-dawn starts or for night ops.
The lid of the anchor well lifts up and away for cleaning and maintenance.
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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CRUISE CRAFT BOATS
Cruise Craft Celebrate 75th Anniversary with new factory
“and the order list goes well into next year.” Sounds like a problem with production, but in reality, Cruise Craft have never been more efficient at making craft locally that can compete with boats built anywhere in the world. And the team at Cruise Craft make sure that the new factory minimises wastage, emissions and lost time. Like most in the industry, lack of continuity
Little did I know that this would be the last story we got to work on before Brisbane’s latest COVID lockdown, but visiting the new Cruise Craft factory at Hemmant was a truly enlightening experience. With a boat building tradition spanning 75 years and visible team attitude of making the best boats possible, there’s no wonder that Cruise Craft boats are selling like hot cakes, keep their resale value like no other and have a waiting list to buy them that runs right into 2022. The company had a rich history of dealerships (Wynnum Marine), tragedy (the factory burned down in 1969), family ownership and a procession of award winning boats.
Main: Everything in the new factory has wheels on it and is positioned so that it’s as close as it can be to where it’s needed. Insert: The original Nichols Bros boat shed on Wynnum Creek. Above: Attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the boat building process.
The whole factory is set up for maximum efficiency and minimal wastage and emissions.
Fitting out a Cruise Craft is a labour of love for the loyal staff. With Nichols Brothers boat building established in August 1946, current Cruise Craft CEO, Nathan Nichols was proud to show us what a new workspace, team mentality and clever planning can achieve – even during COVID. As many of you may know, the fishing and boating industries have unwitting success stories of the pandemic. The ban on international travel and the inherent social distancing provided by fishing and boating meant that many people bought boats, use boats and enjoy boats to a level possibly not seen in recent history. “We have eight dealers nationally and about eight boats in stock,” said Nathan, 18 2021 Boating EXTRA
in supply chains occasionally make it hard to keep production running at 100%, although Nathan is proud of his association with local suppliers and distributors. “Every single thing that we put into a Cruise Craft boat is sourced through a local, Australian distributor or manufacturer. Some of them have been supplying us for
decades,” said Nathan, “but we have a saying here: if it’s going to be late, it has to be great. We don’t let any bottlenecks compromise the finished quality of the products.” Recently, Cruise Craft has partnered with Yamaha to supply 100% of outboards for the factory. Every single package that heads to a dealer is factory-fitted, factory tested and factory warranted to ensure that it delivers 100% for the customer. I’ll say it again. Every single boat is water tested and checked to ensure everything works. We assume that dealers like it as well, because they take delivery of a boat and there’s not much to do before turning it
around and passing it on to the customer. We won’t go into great details about the company’s boat building trade secrets – and
Preparing a boat mould for Gelcoat. Nathan wouldn’t let us look behind the R&D curtain – but we were allowed to take a few pics of the new workspace so you can get a small insight of what it all looks like. And yes, it all smells like fibreglass resin, although Nathan says that he stopped being able to smell it years ago… we were unsure if that’s a good or bad thing! W
The impressive new factory has all the bells and whistles.
cruisecraft.com.au cruisecraftboats cruisecraftboats
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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Stessl 440 Sportsman with Honda 50hp 4-stroke FMG
Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au
Bribie Island is a special place in Queensland. There is extensive shallow mangrove-lined estuaries where you can go to catch a feed of whiting, flathead, and mud crabs. The relatively protected waters of the Pumicestone Passage are abundant, and Dave O’Neal from Bribie Marine sells the boats to enjoy them. We got to test the Stessl Sportsman 440 matched with a Honda 50hp 4-stroke on the test day. He calls this build of Stessl a ‘Bribie Special’ and sells plenty of them to residents of the island. The rig is light enough to be supplied on a non-braked trailer, can be towed by any car and offers access to all of the shallow waters. Runabout style boats are popular because they offer shade, a large cockpit,
SPECIFICATIONS Length........................................4.45m Beam..........................................2.05m Depth..........................................1.05m Bottom.........................................3mm Sides.............................................3mm Hull weight.................................300kg Max HP........................................ 60HP Capacity...............................4 persons and enough comfort to spend hours on the water chasing a feed of fish. You can also take the family out in them and enjoy swimming and some light tubing. Families and retirees in particular find them popular because of their affordability and functionality. Stessl have made a few improvements to the existing 440 Sportsman by changing the aluminium dash for a moulded one and incorporating their Delta hull design with reverse chines and improved stability. Dave adds to the package by adding a
20 2021 Boating EXTRA
Main: The Stessl Sportsman 440 is a ridiculously easy rig to tow, launch and use and is an ideal sheltered watercraft. Above: With over 2m of beam, the rig is comfortable for a couple of anglers. bimini top and clears as well as a transom door. Dave is particularly impressed with the 50hp Honda strapped to the back. “Honda’s new 50 was only released a few years ago and offers best-in-class power-toweight and fuel economy,” Dave said. This hull is rated to 60hp but the 50 Honda does just fine. On the test day it returned a maximum speed of just under 50km an hour – although the weather was superb. There was no fuel metering available to measure economy, although the 50L underfloor fuel tank would offer sensational range for close fishing. The transom door allows easy access both on the water and when the boat is on the trailer. It is matched with a set of aluminium steps, which allows easy step up onto the duckboard. Given the short length of the boat, the Sportsman is quite spacious. Swivel the seats around and you have a large cockpit space to lay down a few fishing rods and wait for a bite. If you are travelling with
more than two persons on board, more passengers can sit on the fold down storage seat on the back starboard side. This compartment eats up a lot of gear and when folded over allows access to the batteries and pumps in the transom. Up for’ard the split windscreen opens and gives easy access to the anchor well, which holds enough rope and ground gear to keep you in place while fishing. Back at Bribie Marine we wash the boat down and discussed why this is such a popular boat in the area with Dave. “Nearly all of the rigs we sell come with the bimini and the transom door option. The locals just like it because it suits their style of fishing to a tee. We can’t get enough of them recently,” he concluded. For more information on the hull you can visit www.stessl.com.au or for more information about the Bribie Special version see Dave at Bribie Marine. Their website is www.bribieboatsales.com.au.
Dave O’Neal says the Honda 50hp is best-in-class for power-to-weight and economy.
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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Top: Stessl have changed from an aluminium dash
to a moulded dash for the Sportsman models. Above: A small glovebox with a couple of drink folders lets you stash some gear on the passenger side.
Top: There’s some underfloor storage under the cockpit floor. Above: The 50hp Honda pushes the rig along economically, but you won’t find it easy to break the 50km/h mark. The hull is rated to 60hp.
Top: There’s a split windscreen that allows you access to the anchor well.
Above: Looking for’ard from the windscreen, there’s a built in anchor well.
The ‘Bribie Special’ build comes with a canopy and front clears.
There’s comfortable seating for the driver and passenger. Others can sit on the folding storage bin at the back of the cockpit.
Top Left and Right: How cool is the Railblaza sliding mount system? You can adjust easily the position of your rod holders, cup holders and other accessories without drilling any holes. Left: You can fit plenty of gear in the folding, rear storage box. Right: Fold the box over and you have access to the battery and pumps, and such like, in the transom.
Top Left: The Sportsman is one of the easiet boats we’ve tested to get access to the anchor. Left: Folding aluminium stairs allow access for swimmers in the water or while the boat is on the trailer. Right: The transom door is another option that Bribie Boats had added.
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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Sea Jay 453 Territory with Yamaha 60hp 4-stroke FMG
Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au
We’ve tested a few of Sea Jay’s Territory hulls since release. The range, released at a Brisbane Boat Show (you remember when boat shows were a thing, right?) was unashamedly a response to consumer and dealer feedback that wanted a hull with a massive front deck and a flexible console option. Ever since, they’ve been a popular addition to the Sea Jay catalogue. The 453 is the smallest of the Territory line up, which also includes a 483, 503 and 533. All of the hulls are made from 3mm aluminium bottoms and sides in their Bundaberg factory in Queensland. The Elliott River, where we were testing the rig, is only a short drive from where they’re made. The test boat was fitted with a Yamaha F60 4-stroke, part of the 1L platform that includes their 50 and 70hp models. Performance-wise, it was brilliantly economical. Cruising at 4,000rpm the Yamaha delivered 3.9km/L at 35km/h
SPECIFICATIONS Length..........................................4.9m Beam.......................................... 2.12m Depth............................................1.2m Sides.............................................3mm Bottom.........................................3mm Capacity...............................5 persons Max HP............................................. 70 Floor Ribs........................................ 10 Hull Weight................................. 442kg while a wide open throttle (WOT) run saw 58km/h on the speedo and a reduced economy of 2.7km/L. With those numbers, expect around 250km of theoretical range from the 70L underfloor fuel tank. Remember that all Sea Jay boats are available on a factory-matched Sea Jay trailer and taking this option, whether it’s in aluminium I-Beam or galvanized steel, extends the hull warranty by a year. On the water, there’s a lot of usable space. The front casting deck is made even more usable by moving the usual bow anchor well from above the deck to under
Fuel economy in this rig is remarkable – 3.9km/L burned at 4,000rpm and 35km/h. Makes current fuel prices not sting as much. 22 2021 Boating EXTRA
Main: Sea Jay’s 453 Territory is all about maximising casting room in a package that you can use all over Australia. The test boat was fitted with a Yamaha F60 4-stroke outboard. Above: The Territory is available in several options. The rig tested has a side-console, but you can also get centre-console versions. it. There’s a concealed cleat under the gunwale and enough room under the deck compartment to hold all of your ground gear. It works in tandem with your electric motor – the design of the hull makes sure that they’re not in each other’s way. Because of the height of the casting deck, there’s a pile of storage room under it, although remember that it’s not dry storage if it rains. You can easily fit a large esky or a swag up there and then some. The console is fairly basic – a small compartment for your wallet and mobile phone and lots of room up on top for a bracket mounted sounder. The set up is pretty standard for sub 5m tinny. There is the option to order this hull in a centre console build. The two seats provided are comfortable and the test boat had options to move the passenger seat around, with several bases inbuilt into the deck.
You can expect a full transom on the Territory, with the extra gunwale height keeping water, and whatever other nasties swim in tropical areas, out. Each Territory comes with duckboards and a solid boarding ladder as standard. As tested, this rig came in around the mid $30,000 mark, although with a maximum of 70hp rating, I’d be ordering this rig with the 70. It’s the same platform engine with the same capacity. You can get more information about the Sea Jay Territory at www.seajayboats.com. au. Thanks to Bundaberg Marineland for supplying the test boat.
PERFORMANCE Best Economy: 4,000rpm at 35km/h with 3.9km/L Best Speed: 5,900rpm at 58km/h with 2.7km/L
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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Although the seats are offset here, there’s a mount further back if that’s where you want to travel. Also note the Territory’s full transom.
The Territory tested was fitted with an optional bait station on the transom.
Yamaha’s 1L 60HO is the same platform as their F70 and a 70hp is the maximum horsepower this hull is rated for.
Sea Jay’s consoles are typically wide, although there’s no room to flush mount a sounder in them. You need to bracket-mount on top.
The Territory is all about the enormous deck up front. And it’s elevated from the hull enough to give you massive storage underneath.
A traditional ganged switch panel operates all of your pimps and lights.
The 453 boasts 10 floor ribs and there is room for horizontal rod holders on some of the exposed ribs here.
With a full transom (and no transom door), duckboards like this are essential for boarding. The port side has fold down fishbone stairs.
There’s no anchor well intrusion into fishing space, just a hidden cleat and the rope storage under the deck.
The Sea Jay NexGen hull features reverse chines and a moderate vee.
A single axle trailer is all that’s needed to tote this rig around. The dry weight of the hull-only is under half a tonne.
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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NEW
TERRITORY 4.53m 4.83m 5.03m 5.33m
• • • • • • • • •
NexGen Hull Centre or Side Console Concealed Anchor Well Mega Casting Deck Extra Ribs for Extra Strength Ultimate Edge 2 Transom Live Bait Tank Deeper Sides Reverse Chines
NEW RELEASE • • • •
Aluminium or Steel Braked or Un-Braked Quality Components 100% Australian Made
• Extra 12 Month Warranty of Sea Jay Boat / Trailer Combo
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for the app) is a device that gets in between your ignition switch and your motor and can take control if your motor runs or not. There’s a black box that is called a ‘brain’ that can mount under the console or out of the way. Ours is mounted in a hatch in front of the console.
AN THE
We haven’t had a good run of luck on my local waterways. Three people have recently lost their lives on Moreton Bay, South East Queensland. Each one is a tragedy. And after each one, we consider what we can do to make sure that we don’t end up the same way. There are the tried and true methods. Wear your PFD, wear your kill switch, tell someone where you’re going and when you are expected to return home, log on and log off with your local VMR. All of these things help when things get nasty out on the water. Often when incidents happen, though, things happen too quickly to send out the call for help, radio the VMR or even grab anything. You hit an unexpected wave or object or encounter a mechanical issue that throws you overboard. Now, you can add some technology into the mix of ways you can protect yourself while enjoying your time on the water. Mercury has introduced their 1st Mate system and we have installed one on the Fishing Monthly boat to give it a try. As usual, we have made a video on how it works on the Fishing Monthly YouTube Channel and you can scan the QR code hereby to watch it. Essentially, the 1st Mate system (note that it’s 1st Mate, not First Mate if you’re searching
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It’s coupled with a primary ‘Captain’ fob, which is a wearable token that communicates with the system and up to seven more ‘Passenger’ fobs that you can give to all of the people you have on your boat. You can wear them as a wristband or you can attach them with a clip to your body. They’re housed in silicone. The system does three things. It acts as a digital kill switch, you can use it as an engine immobilizer and, best of all, it can be used to send a message when you go
overboard to whoever you want to know the location of where you have gone in. You can set it so there’s a delay in the delivery of that message, in case you set off the system accidentally. Let’s have a look at the components separately. MAN OVERBOARD The best way to explain this is that it acts like a wireless version of a safety switch from the outboard that can be linked to everyone. Usually the driver of the boat is the one tethered to the physical kill switch and moving a certain distance from the helm pulls out the cord and the engine shut down is triggered. You all wear your kill switches, don’t you? Fishing Monthly’s sister company, Australian Bass Tournaments added it to the tournament rules in 1999, so I at least know there’s a cohort of anglers out there who, like me, feel that something is wrong if they’re not wearing the red cord. It’s a good habit to get into. There’s a lot to say about boats stopping when you fall out of them. We’ve all heard the stories of
boats circling until they’ve run out of fuel. Sometimes they come back and hit the people thrown out. It’s not a fun situation. With the Man Overboard function, if any of the activated fobs go overboard, the boat cuts its power. That’s powerful if you have many people on board – no matter whether it’s a tinny or a cruiser. When the MOB is activates, there’s an alarm that sounds, power is cut and instructions are sent to the mobile phones of all passengers with instructions on how to get back to the MOB. THEFT DETERRENT The best way to think of this feature is to assume it works like a secret immobilising switch in a car. I’m old enough to have had car with a secret switch wired in that kills the ignition. If you don’t know where it is, there’s not much chance of getting the engine started. The system gives you that functionality. The captain can essentially ‘lock’ the engines with a press of the button on the Captain Fob or you can do it via the associated app. Either way, there’s little chance that a thief will be able to start you engines if you don’t want them to. We have tested this on the FM boat and it’s actually quite useful for shutting down engines remotely. Imagine loading your boat by yourself and being able to turn off the engines remotely. DISTRESS MESSAGING For me, this is the most powerful part of the system, especially for times I am boating alone. I immediately think of events where I’m travelling across Moreton Bay in a solid breeze. I wear my kill switch and PFD, but if I have an incident where I’m knocked out and floating around in Moreton Bay, where and when do people start to look for me? I can set up the 1st Mate system to send
a text message to anyone I choose that alerts them that I’ve gone overboard and, most importantly, where I’ve done it. That means that immediately, friends and family can contact the authorities or start searching. They don’t have to wait for an overdue return and they know where to start looking. That is powerful.
I can set a delay in the message, too. If I stack it and get back in the boat and can make my own way home, I can set a delay for a few minutes so I’m not sending out false alarms. Handy. As a constant user of current safety systems and protocols, I see the 1st Mate as an excellent addition to my current system. Currently, it’s available for Mercury motors, but an all-brands system is soon to be available as well. Pricing for systems starts from $1,000 SRP. – Steve Morgan W
mercurymarine.com.au mercurymarine mercurymarine
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
Other brands find it hard to compete – especially for the price. So if you haven’t owned a Stacer yet, maybe it’s time to say hello to your local dealer. And get ready to have a Stacer in your life for the next 50 years. AFMSta50 001
For 50 years Stacer has been helping Aussies have fun on the water. Whether it’s with family and friends or a bunch of fishing mates. Everybody loves our quality fit-outs, unbeatable build strength and ultra reliability.
Go to stacer.com.au to find your nearest dealer.
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Stabicraft 1450 Frontier with Yamaha F50hp
that holds a bracket mounted sounder, helm and a gauge or two. Sitting behind it, you feel that you’re not right behind it, but it matters little as it’s an easy boat to drive. Passengers will sit on the front deck or deck extentions looking backwards or on the padded ice box that’s movable around the floor. There’s some decent shelves each side, however, dry storage is limited. As tested, this kitted-our rig came in at $46,995 with plenty of options boxes ticked, but I suggest you call the team at Northside Marine to get them to quote you on your ideal rig and options. Packages for the 1450 hull start at around $27,500.
FMG
Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au
There’s something about Stabicraft boats that people just love. We’ve tested quite a few over the years, right up to the head-turning 2250 Centra Cab that’s broken all sorts of houserecords for YouTube views on the test video. If you’re unaware, we do video tests for all of the boat tests we publish in the magazine, they’re available on our YouTube channel or by scanning the QR code above. This time, however, it’s from the smaller end of the range. It’s a new model, the 1450, which is 4.42m long and comes in versions from a basic, unpainted tiller-steer right through to the decked out model we’re testing for Brisbane dealer, Northside Marine. Northside Marine import the hull from New Zealand and then add a locally built trailer, and a Yamaha outboard. In this case, a 50hp model, which is the largest size rated for this hull. Like all Stabicraft boats, it features their lifering construction. This is nearly 1000L of air sealed inside the aluminium pontoons. It acts to make the boat positively buoyant if it is ever submerged and the reverse chines help to smooth the ride and deflect spray. It’s always handy to know that if you ever get into trouble, the hull is basically unsinkable. Northside’s Mark Golden reckons that this hull is incredibly popular. “It’s because you can get into a hull that you can take offshore on a good day and do it in safety. You can do it in this hull without having to buy a 6m boat,” he said. Overall, though, this is a hull that will be
PERFORMANCE RPM..............km/h............. km/L 700...................... 4................ 4.8 1000.................... 6................ 3.3 2000.................... 9................ 2.5 3000...................12................ 1.9 3500.................. 24................ 3.5 4000.................. 31................ 3.9 4500.................. 38................ 3.5 5000.................. 42................ 3.4 5900.................. 50................ 2.5
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Main: Here’s the fully kitted out version of the 1450 Stabicraft – it’s called the Frontier Profish and is the top of the line in 1450. Above: Built in New Zealand, Brisbane’s Northside Marine imported the test craft and added a 50hp Yamaha outboard and a locally built trailer. able to do anything from crabbing up the creeks to chasing pelagics, and is ridiculously economically. It’s kind of strange to have a boat of this size fitted with remote fuel tanks, but when you consider that you get nearly 100km out of a tank, then you realise that you don’t need a 100L of fuel to get the job done. Best economy was at 4000rpm, where the Yamaha returned 3.9km/L economy at 31km/h. Wide open throttle yielded inferior economy (2.5km/L) but a top speed of 50km/L at 5,900 rpm. It was running an 11” Yamaha aluminium propeller. Out on the bay, the boat rode flat. And that’s not just because it was a glass-calm overcast day. It turns flat, there’s no banking into corners like you may have to do in your current boat. And in tight turns, the 15° of transom deadrise helps it hold on. Internally, my initial impressions was that it’s not spacious – that’s the other side of the lifering equation. The beam of this hull is 1.89m that decreases to 1.35m internally. The upside, though, is that all of that space is 100% usable. You never feel uncomfortable in this boat. It keeps you inside the chine lines and the gunwales are high enough for this to be easily fished in in a sea. Move up to the front casting deck and you’ll find it’s a workable size without being huge. The whole deck is covered in a foam flooring material that makes it very pleasant underfoot,
and I assume, easy to keep clean. There’s a very solid electric motor bracket that welded (not just screwed on) and a tray for the accompanying battery up the front as well. Juggling people around inside the boat on the test day and we came to the conclusion that the extra weight up front will actually help the ride. In the cockpit, there’s a small side console
SPECIFICATIONS Length........................................4.42m Beam..........................................1.89m Dry tow weight.......................... 720kg Max HP............................................. 50 Max engine weight................... 165kg Transom Deadrise.........................15° Hull/sides.....................................3mm Pontoon volume......................... 960L Capacity...............................6 persons
Stabicraft have always sported a futuristic design, regardless of what they’re photographed next to.
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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The Yamaha F50 is the maximum horsepower this rig is rated to. It got to 50km/h at 5,900rpm and 2.5km/L. The most economical speed was 31km/h.
In addition to the gunwale mounted rod holders, there’s some vertical rod storage near the front deck. The front deck is workable if not large.
You can get the 1450 hull unpainted, but the Frontier ProFish model comes painted.
The ice box serves a dual purpose keeping stuff cold and for passenger seating. Something you don’t see often, a handy side bait board.
Some buyers will be surprised that there’s no inbuilt fuel tanks for this rig, yet the 25L remote tank gives nearly 100km of range.
All Stabicraft hulls feature a solid reverse chine, and a vee deep enough to take the sting out of the landing on the rougher days.
This livewell sat on the port side transom step.
Rather than inbuilt passenger seating, there’s a padded chilly-bin (that’s NZ for esky) lid to sit on.
Stabicraft’s folding seating is very comfortable and definitely looks the part.
A single axle trailer is all that this rig needs and you can tow it behind nearly anything.
Yamaha’s remote control box is pretty basic for the 50hp, but it’s positioned well and comfortable to drive.
The side console feels a little like you sitting beside it and not behind it, but you can bracket-mount a decent sized fishfinder on top of it, behind the windscreen.
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Surtees 610 Game Fisher with Yamaha 150hp FMG
Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au
I must admit I’ve only ever been in one Surtees before. We tested the bigger brother of this rig, the 650 Game Fisher, a couple of years ago in the same location. It was Clontarf in Moreton Bay, Queensland. That day was glassy calm, hot and sunny, which is perfect for fishing, yet frustrating when you want to see how the water ballast system that this brand is famous for, rides. Fast forward a couple of years and we have a forecast for a 20 knot northerly. This time in winter. Everyone knows a stinkin’ nor-wester sucks, so we could finally fill the ballast tanks and bust some chop. Day dawns glassy. Insert facepalm emoji! So if Surtees claim to actually flatten the sea instead of taking the edge off a rough ride, I’m all for that. Seems like it does to me. Regardless, we met the team from Northside Marine at the ramp, led by Bill Hull, their appropriately named head salesman. “We’ve been doing Surtees boats for 11 years now and from day one, we had sold the first shipment before it even landed and have never looked back. We’ve enjoyed this product immensely,” he said. But let’s backtrack a little. Surtees is a New Zealand built, plate aluminium hull that features a ‘water ballast system’. This means
that at rest and with the ballast door open, it taken in over 340L of water. This drops the chines lower in the water and makes the hull more stable at rest by doing so. And although the water can drain out in just a few seconds after you power on, you can choose to retain the water in there to add mass to the boat and to have it ride like a heavier hull. And we all know that a heavy hull with a steep V will cut through chop better
SPECIFICATIONS Length..........................................6.1m Beam..........................................2.26m Bottom.........................................5mm Sides.............................................4mm Fuel...............................................200L Transom deadrise..........................19° Capacity...............................6 persons Max HP....................................... 150hp Tow weight............................. 1,450kg than a light, flat-bottomed rig. That’s the theory anyway. FYI, it rode beautifully on the glassed-out bay. Like everything. That aside, the Surtees is a beautifully finished boat that’s fitted onto a locally built trailer. Northside then adds a locally sourced Yamaha and you’re ready to go. They’ll back the 10 year hull warranty 100%.
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Main: This is how all of your Surtees dreams start – inky calm water, sun rising and headed out to your favourite fishing spot. The Surtees sure does make this comfortable. Above: With a 200L fuel tank, and peak economy of 1.9km/L, the 610 Game Fisher has a potential range of well over 350km at 36km/h. There’s also a 10 year warranty on the hull. The test rig was fitted with the maximum sized outboard, an F150 Yamaha 4-stroke, that delivered a top speed on 70km/h at 5,900rpm while achieving 1.2km for each litre of fuel burned. The rig was most efficient at 3,500rpm where that economy jumped by around 50% and delivered 1.9km/L at 36km/h. With a 200L fuel tank, that’s well over 350km of theoretical range and appropriate for a hull that’s named a ‘Game Fisher’. The boat features an innovative bait station that has both inbuilt sliding trays and the ability to securely hold standard sized plastic tackle trays in easy reach. Under it, there’s dry storage space and isolation switches behind a cupboard door. Under that, there’s easy access to the batteries under a false floor. All of the deck is covered with EVA foam that looks the part and feels great underfoot. The cockpit also features wide gunwales with rod holders and shelves underneath to hold your gear that needs to be readily accessed. Moving forward, the helm seats are comfortable with storage options underneath. In the test boat’s case, these are a cooler box and some additional tackle storage. The Surtees’ helm has evolved to a point that’s functional and capable of holding all of the electronics you’d be likely to fit your rig out with.The cabin isn’t the biggest in its class but does offer a balance between cockpit
space and shelter. It’s separated with a zipup canvas door and, when locked in, the infill bunks complete an area to get away from the elements. Supplied on a twin axle trailer, this rig will tow easily with any dual cab ute. As tested, you’ll be looking at $115,687 with all of the options fitted, although BMT package prices start from around the $88,000 mark. Give Bill and the team at Northside Marine a call if you want to organise a test ride or to get a quote for a version that will suit your style of fishing. Also, make sure you check out the video version of this boat test by scanning the QR code hereby. Subscribers to the channel may well have already seen it.
PERFORMANCE RPM..............km/h............. km/L 600...................... 5................ 2.8 1000.................... 7................ 2.5 2000...................11................ 1.8 3000.................. 20................ 1.5 3500.................. 36................ 1.9 4000.................. 44................ 1.8 4500.................. 50 ............... 1.7 5000.................. 58 ............... 1.6 6100.................. 70................ 1.2
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The trailer features a simple auto catch system for launching and retrieving, powered by gravity.
You can see the water ballast system at the apex of the transom. There’s a cover that you can deploy to keep the water in there to soften the ride when conditions get rough.
The live tank is cleverly located under the transom doorstep and the door itself slides up and down rather than inwards.
The folding boarding ladder is a standard inclusion and is built to last forever.
The batteries live under the removable floor in the console under the bait station. Sounds like they’re buried, but they’re actually easily accessible.
What the cabin loses in overall length it makes up for in usable space with the infills added. It’s not lockable but has a canvas screen that zips closed for privacy.
The 2.7L Yamaha 150hp 4-stroke has well over a decade of reliable boating under its belt. The test boat was fitted with standard hydraulic steering.
Surtees’ helm seating is comfortable and boasts clever combinations of storage options.
The bait station has its own drawers and a clever space that lets you store standard sized aftermarket tackle boxes.
The rocket launchers aren’t the easiest to get rods in and out from with the optional sunshade extension added, as you’ll need to climb up on the gunwale to get them in and out.
Surtees have the helm design well refined after years of experience.
2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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GEKI: PARTING SEAS
A REVOLUTION IN INNOVATION Our award-winning flagship GEKI series of outboards boast advanced 4.4L DOHC VVT 4-Stroke powerheads, the largest displacement V6 outboard range ever produced. Loaded with innovative Suzuki technology to deliver the perfect balance of power and thrust, with outstanding Lean Burn fuel-efficiency and trusted reliability, all in a lightweight and stylish package.
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Anglapro Bandit 484Pro with Yamaha F70hp FMG
Yamaha’s F70 4-stroke is legendary for its efficiency. It’s a 1.0L engine that gets 53km/h at wide open throttle and 6,100rpm. At that speed it gets 2.3km/L. Drop the throttle back to 4,000rpm and you get much better
Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au
When I was a teenager mucking around in tinnies, the next boat I thought I wanted to progress to was a centre console tinny. After all, at the time (and this was 30 years ago) all you needed was a ton of gas, plenty of oil to mix it with, and a couple of MBSS (Moreton Bay Spin Sticks) with Shimano TSS4s on them, and there was virtually nothing you couldn’t catch. I did get distracted along the way and ended up making a boat with a bow mounted electric motor… but that’s beside the point. The centre console tinny is still where it’s at when it comes to stretching your legs into water where you just wouldn’t go to in a 12ft tinny. And the thing is, nowadays, you can do it with a bow mounted motor, casting deck, sweet electronics and all of the things my homemade boat had back in the day. And you can tow it all with the family car. Anglapro’s Bandit centre consoles are aimed squarely at anglers at this end of the market. Ones that want more range when they can pick their days, but haven’t got $100K to spend on their ultimate bay boat. In fact, you can pick up one of these boats and a trailer for just over $20,000 and add whatever motor you like (up to 75hp) and that’s definitely affordable for many anglers wanting to step up. The other thing with the Bandit is that you can fold down the bimini and the console to slip it into a garage, if your place suits that.
PERFORMANCE RPM..............km/h............. km/L 1000.................... 7................ 5.4 2000...................11................ 4.0 3000...................16................ 2.2 3500.................. 24................ 2.7 4000.................. 32................ 3.1 4500.................. 37................ 2.8 5000.................. 43................ 2.6 6000.................. 52................ 2.3 6100.................. 53................ 2.3 * Yamaha GP AlloySDS Prop 14”
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SPECIFICATIONS Length..........................................4.8m Beam..........................................2.27m Max hp............................................. 75 Fuel................................................. 85L Capacity...............................5 persons Hull................................................3mm Sides.............................................3mm
Main: Here’s what $31,300 worth of ally Anglapro centre console looks like. For that, you get the bimini, the electric motor and Yamaha’s F70 34-stroke, and a 5-year boat warranty. Above: Even on a day of white capping westerlies, safe harbours like the southern bay’s Peel Island are an easy trip. And being on a single-axled Dunbier trailer makes manoeuvring easy. While we’re talking about trailers, you’d be crazy not to pick up your Bandit on a factorysupplied and fitted trailer. If you do, it extends the warranty to five years. That’s pretty big for a tinny. Like most sub-5m aluminium boats, you’d still have to pick your days to have a comfortable day’s fishing. A white capping cross breeze means that you’ll need to drive clever to stay dry. They like it straight into and downwind, but quarter anything rough and you’ll need a spray jacket. That aside, you have a garage-able boat that has a casting deck, shade, rear cockpit for fishing and a centred helm. There’s not many inshore species that you can’t chase in it. And there’s plenty of storage in this rig. You have a massive area under the helm seat that will swallow a lot of your safety gear and there’s even more space under the casting deck that will hold a mid-sized esky. Just remember that this isn’t dry storage if it buckets down rain. The rear lounge seat folds out of the way when you want to fish from the cockpit. Plus,
it is an added luxury to have a place to sit while travelling. There’s dry storage under the console and plenty of options to store the keys, wallet and phone. It’s not the fastest rig on the water, but you sure do get bang-for-buck at the bowser.
economy at 32km/h. At that speed, you’ll get 3.1km/L and your 85L underfloor fuel tank will get you a theoretical 250-ish kilometres. You can see the Bandit in action on the video-test of this rig – just scan the QR code hereby to get taken straight to our video. If you want to be notified of all of our video boat tests, just subscribe to the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube Channel and you’ll get notifications when they go live. Otherwise, see your local Anglapro dealer or connect with the company on their socials (search Anglapro on Instagram or Facebook). As tested, this rig weighed in at $31,300.
You won’t win many on-water drag races, but the economy of the Bandit is exceptional. The 85L tank will give you well over 200km of range.
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The console is quite narrow, but it does allow easy access to the front casting deck. It also folds down to get it into a garage.
Rob Gaden seemed to enjoy driving the test boat while we captured the moment. It’s a tough job.
You can run with the bimini extended for shade or you can fold it away for easier 360o casting – your choice. Some will order it without the top at all.
The rear bait station is simple and removable for days you don’t need it or want to tow the kids around on a tube.
The handrail design chews into your sounder flush-mounting space a little, but there is plenty of dry storage underneath the console.
You’re covered for both options when anchoring with a MotorGuide Xi5 fitted GPS locking and traditional anchoring. This rig fits both.
There’s plenty of room up front for lure casting – either in calm water or offshore.
The rear lounge looks like it will get in the way while fishing, but it folds away neatly under the transom.
Yamaha’s F70 is an in-line 1.0L 4-stroke outboard that has fans all over the world.
The traditional anchor well holds plenty of bottom gear.
There’s two hatches under the front casting deck. The main one will hold a mid-sized esky when needed. The smaller one gives access to the electric motor battery.
Imagine what you can shove in here! Anything from easily accessible safety gear to a pile of camping gear for a weekend getaway.
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Stessco Bowrider 520 with Yamaha F115hp
trailer and the hull together is that you get a 5-year warranty on the hull by buying the combination. “A factory trailer means that it’s fitted right and that’s how we can extend the warranty in this way,” said Jones. As tested, the 520 came in at $53,550, but with no options and a 90hp, you can start at $46,000 for this package. The smaller 490 Bowrider begins at around $42,000. You can tow any of them with a standard, family car and manoeuvre it easily with the single axle trailer. Search for more information at your local Stessco dealer or by visiting www.stessco. com.au online.
FMG
Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au
If you’re an active angler, the bowrider platform is probably your best compromise boat when it comes to picking something that is family friendly as well as fishing friendly. They have a front deck full of casual seating that can be converted to a full front deck by adding a deck infill and removing the cushions. Head aft and the situation is the same – this Stessco has a removable ski-pole and you can drop in a bait station into the same hole to complete the change, while still having a bimini top amidships that offers shade for the helm seats. Stessco have been making bowriders for a while now, but this is the first we’ve seen with a new pearl-white Yamaha 115hp bolted on the back. In the afternoon sun at Redcliffe, the metallic paint matched nicely and the photo shoot drew a few spectators. Not bad for a rig built a short drive north at Narangba, north of Brisbane. Stessco’s Owen Jones joined us for the test, which you can also watch on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel. Since y’all are COVID check-in trained, you can watch it just by scanning the QR code above on your smartphone camera. “This boat is the type of rig that a family would buy as their first comfortable boat,” Owen said, “They’ll usually come from owning a tinny and be looking to spend around the $50K mark for something with more range and comfort.”
PERFORMANCE RPM..............km/h............. km/L 700...................... 3................ 3.1 1000.................... 7................ 2.9 2000...................12................ 2.2 3000.................. 27................ 2.7 3500.................. 36................ 3.0 4000.................. 42................ 2.8 4500.................. 50................ 2.6 5000.................. 57................ 2.4 6300.................. 71................ 1.7
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Main: In the afternoon, winter sun, the Stessco Bowrider looked great with the new pearl white Yamaha 115hp. Above: With the front deck infill, you can use the front casting deck as a fishing platform as well as the rear cockpit space. Fitted with the maximum sized outboard, a Yamaha F15 4-stroke, the Bowrider got up and moved with a top speed on 71km/h at 6,300rpm. At that speed, it got 1.7km/L. Drop down to the most economical cruising speed of 36km/h and that economy rises to a neat 3km/L. That’s a range of over 300km with a 110L underfloor fuel tank. The new, white Yamahas are proving popular with local builders and customers alike and, at the time of testing, they’d just released the colour in engines down to 50hp. The hull liked a little trim as well and when you get a little air under it, the mechanical steering lightens and you really feel like you’re driving a speedboat. The transom door and heavy duty, folding boarding steps are standard, as is the folding rear storage compartment that doubles as a bench seat for a couple of passengers. It takes a little room from the cockpit, but adds a lot of storage. Folded, it offers access to the transom hatches, and batteries and isolators. The helm is simple and effective and able to hold a mid-sized sounder, flush-mounted,
and the passenger side has a glove box for valuables. The test boat is supplied on a factory-fitted Stessco trailer. The advantage of buying the
SPECIFICATIONS Length........................................5.29m Beam..........................................2.29m Depth..........................................1.20m Max. hp...........................................115 Bottom.........................................3mm Sides.............................................3mm Capacity...............................5 persons Fuel................................................110L
Wide open, the Yamaha 115 delivered 71km/L at 1.7km/L. Drop back to 3,500rpm and 36km/h and the economy rises to 3km/L. There’s 110L of fuel underfloor.
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Here’s the front deck with the infill fitted and the cushions on. You can remove the middle section to turn the deck into bowrider-style seating.
Couple the transom door with the rugged, folding boarding steps and there’s solutions for getting on-board, on the trailer or in the water.
There are two main helm seats behind the windscreen and a starboard skewed storage box for extra seating.
Looking for’ard, you can access the bow area through the folding windscreen section.
The rear seat box folds over to give access to the sealed transom hatches.
There’s a clear-doored glove compartment for the passenger as well as an indented section to stop your valuables from sliding off the dash.
The helm is simple and can hold a mid-sized sounder flush-mounted.
Stessco boasts a rib-count higher than in standard plate aluminium boats.
The bimini top on the test rig was an optional extra but a necessity in most places in Australia.
Here’s what it looks like with the seat infill listed. Plenty of room for socialising.
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WHITTLEY MARINE GROUP
Whittley expands to Newcastle Australia’s largest trailerable fibreglass boat builder, Whittley Marine Group, have announced Whittley New South Wales Sales Newcastle as the Group’s new boat retail sales and service facility in Northern NSW. The new facility is conveniently located in the central transport hub of Beresfield, in between Australia’s largest inland waterways of Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens in the Newcastle region. The new dealership strengthens the Whittley Family’s commitment to the NSW market and builds on the success of the factory-owned Sydney based dealership, launched early last year. Unlike many boats built overseas, every new Whittley boat is legally trailerable without over-width towing restrictions, enabling customers to tow virtually anywhere, anytime with a suitable set up tow vehicle in Australia. Whittley Boats are sold through the Whittley Family and the company’s own retail dealerships and offer new and existing customers a complete boat buying experience, from the build to ongoing service and warranty support, which is unique to the industry. The Newcastle and surrounding waterways are widely regarded as one of New South Wales’s premier trailer boat destinations, both offshore and through the lakes’ systems. The establishment of the new Newcastle-based dealership, ensures
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Whittley will have an increased presence in a focal boating destination. Neville Whittley, Managing Director at Whittley Marine Group, had this to say about the establishment of the new dealership: “Buying from Whittley NSW Sales Newcastle ensures that customers in Northern NSW can enjoy a close link with the product and the factory in Melbourne. Long time industry identity, John Cohen, will be overseeing the centre and he brings a wealth of marine industry experience in both trailer boat sales and service. “John will be joining his two sons, Damon and Brock, who head up the Whittley NSW Sales and Service team across two great
locations in Sydney and Newcastle. We look forward to continuing to grow and expand the Whittley brand in the Northern NSW market. With twelve new boats already sold prior to the new yard officially opening, we are very excited with what Whittley NSW Sales Newcastle will offer to customers in 2021 and beyond.” As we always do at Fishing Monthly, we decided to dig a little deeper into the Newcastle Whittley operation, so Peter Jung caught up with Brock Cohen (NSW General Manager) to ask a few questions about this Whittley Marine Group expansion:
So why did you pick Newcastle for Whittley NSW’s new service and sales centre? As soon as we opened the Sydney site in August 2020, we had tremendous interest from the Newcastle region for our cruising and fishing range of boats. There was an existing close link to the Whittley brands and products, so it made sense to give the region a family-owned Whittley sales outlet. What can people expect from the Newcastle showroom? We offer a positive experience to our customers. The showroom will house 10+ boating packages at any one time. John Cohen runs the site and he possesses an in depth knowledge of the Whittley product range, as well as over 35 years in the marine industry behind him. He also has extensive experience on how to meet and exceed our customers’ needs when they purchase a boat from us. Chandlery, full service, used consignment boat sales, in-house finance and your insurance needs are all catered for at the one place. Tell me more about the boating packages? The new Newcastle facility stocks a large display of new Whittley packages ranging in price from $53,000 to over $250,000. Exclusively supplied with the Group’s premier partners: Volvo Penta stern drives, Mercury outboards, Mackay trailers and Garmin and Fusion electronics. On site finance and insurance are available through Mercury Financial Services, as well as post purchase service facilities. In these uncertain times, what if I can’t get to the showroom? Customers can also enjoy an in-dealership
experience online, via the Whittley website where potential buyers are able to build a boat, choose colours and options, see dealership stock boats, apply for finance and see each Whittley model onscreen via the unique virtual tour feature. The way consumers buy boats has changed, and either through a dealership or online experience, Whittley is at the forefront of the new boat buying experience. What’s the edge you hope to bring over other dealerships in the area? The Whittley Company have been building high quality, handcrafted Australian-made boats for over 65 years, designed specifically for Australian boating conditions. The new business will sell the complete range of Australianmade Whittley turn key boat-motor-trailer (BMT) packages and offer onsite boat maintenance and service, chandlery, used boat sales and Mercury Finance and Insurance. What are the hours of operation? The current opening hours are 9am – 5pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through to Saturday. We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday. What is the best way to contact the Newcastle showroom? Drop in and see John at Unit 4, 1 Kullara Close in Beresfield. He is always happy to show people through the range and discuss their on water needs. He can also be contacted on 0421 922 650 or via email johnc@whittley.com.au. W
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2021 NEW RELEASES • BOATING • MARINE • ELECTRONICS • ACCESSORIES • KAYAKS
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OLD COAST SYDNEY Whittley NSW is family owned and operated 8/9, 1 Boatworks Drive, U 2, 2 by the Whittley Marine Group &Waterways Family, theCourt, omera, QLD, 4209 Rozelle, NSW, 2039 ST SYDNEY actual builders of the boats. WithCohen two factory urie Jackson Brock ks Drive, U 2, 2 Waterways Court, dealerships across NSW, the753 brand has a 409 078 0478 834 4209830owned Rozelle, NSW, 2039 urie@whittley.com.au brock@whittley.com.au growing reputation both sales and service. Brockfor Cohen
com.au
0478 834 753 brock@whittley.com.au
NEWCASTLE GOLD COAST U 4,F 18/9, Kullara 1 Boatworks Close Beresfield, Drive, Newcastle, Coomera, NSW, QLD,2322 4209 NEWCASTLE John Laurie Cohen Jackson U 4, 1 Kullara Close Beresfield, 0421 0409 922 830 650 078 Newcastle, NSW, 2322 johnc@whittley.com.au laurie@whittley.com.au John Cohen
0421 922 650 johnc@whittley.com.au
MELBOURNE SYDNEY 12 U& 2,14 2 Waterways Somerton Park Court, Drive, Campbellfield, Rozelle, NSW, VIC, 20393061 MELBOURNE Brock Whittley Cohen Park Drive, 12 & Alan 14 Somerton 0421 0478 170 834 192 753 Campbellfield, VIC, 3061 alan@whittley.com.au brock@whittley.com.au Alan Whittley
0421 170 192 alan@whittley.com.au
THE ULTIMATE MID RANGE PACKAGE 75-115HP FOURSTROKE Mercury’s 75-115hp FourStrokes offer 2.1 litre displacement providing superior mid-range fuel economy, quick acceleration with smooth overall operation and sound quality... along with the lightest weight 115hp available. • Unbelievable Power and Torque • Lightweight and Compact Design • Outstanding Reliability • Low Maintenance For more information go on-line or see your nearest Mercury dealer. mercurymarine.com.au