STABIMAG 05

STABIMAG ISSUE NUMBER FIVE

STABICRAFT MAGAZINE ISSUE 05 RE

ADVENITTHU

W NCE CONFIDE

S Y D N E Y M A R LIN S E S S I O N S A B O A R D D A NIE L C H E C C HIN ' S 24 0 0 S U P E R C A B W W W. S TA B I C R A F T. C O M

SUPERCAB SESSIONS DAN CHECCHIN SCORES A STRIPE ABOARD HIS NEW 2400 SUPERCAB

• NEW LAUNCH: ALL HAIL THE 1550 FRONTIER WEAPON

PLUS • MY STABI: COOL OWNER STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

• BUYERS' GUIDE: FACTS & FIGURES TO HELP PICK YOUR NEXT RIG

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STABICOVER BOAT SWEET SUPERCAB Strutting its stuff on the cover of this issue of Stabimag is Daniel “Checch” Checchin’s 2400 Supercab. She’s running a Simrad NSS16 evo3S through a S5100 sounder module and a transom-mounted TM275LH-W transducer.

Checch describes it as “the iPhone of the sounder world” — a big call from the product development manager of a major tech company. The Supercab also boasts a Halo20+ radar and full JL Audio system with four speakers and subwoofer in the vee berth in case the fishing gets too quiet.

At the business end of the boat sits a Yamaha F250 DES. Packing all the tech from the 425HP model into a much smaller package, it goes as good as it looks. “It’s got digitally integrated steering, stage two Helm Master and an autopilot kit — it’s bloody awesome,” he says.

Apart from superior performance, Checch also rates the fuel efficiency, averaging about 1.2km per litre on a full day out to the continental shelf, trolling and back. “I recently did a 160nm trip in the boat and we used 220L,” he says. “Yamaha definitely stepped it up with this model — it’s pretty impressive.”

STABICRAFT 2400 SUPERCAB Length: 7.3m (24ft) Beam: 2.3m (91”) Deadrise: 19° Max adults: 8 Dry-hull weight (approx): 1260kg (2778lb) Fuel capacity: 300L (79gal) Standard HP: 200HP Maximum HP: 300HP ELECTRONICS Display: Simrad NSS16 evo3S Module: Simrad S5100 Transducer: TM275LH-W Radar: Simrad Halo20+ Stereo: JL Audio system ENGINE SPECS Make: Yamaha Model: F250 DES Type: 24-valve DOHC V6 Displacement: 4.2L (1.1gal) Weight: 288kg (635lb)

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M A G A Z I N E

CONTENTS

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16 30 36 48 60 82

cover story

Daniel Checchin’s fresh-outof-the-box Stabicraft 2400 Supercab takes on a striped marlin off Sydney, NSW, Australia.

REGULARS

06

STABIBOSS

DESIGNER GENES

Stabimag reveals just what makes the design team tick and gives a sneak preview of some top-secret new models in the pipeline.

TWO TUBS

Stuart Buckingham and Jarrod May head off on a boys’ weekend adventure to their favourite camping spot, 1450 Explorers in tow.

GAWAINE’S WORLD This experienced sea dog now makes his living passing on his hard-won knowledge to others.

We’re aboard his black 1850 Fisher Profish.

Stabicraft CEO David Glen keeps calm and adapts.

08 STABISTAFF

Meet some of the crew behind your dream machine.

10 STABINEWS

Award-winning action, plus build your new boat online.

14 STABIGEAR

Look fresh on and off the water with official Stabi merch.

59 STABIPARTNER

Check out the latest and greatest gear from the Stabi partners.

solander ISLAND The South Seas Spearo crew saddle up and head south to Solander Island, NZ, for a spearing adventure among — but not into — the seals.

BUYERS’ GUIDE

All the facts and figures to help you pick your perfect Stabicraft rig.

72

STABIDEALERS

We catch up with a boatful of our awesome dealers.

96 STABIWORLD

Find your nearest Stabicraft — wherever you are in the world.

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STABIBOSS

THE EXPANDING FAMILY Keep calm and adapt

O

ver the past 12 months, we’ve learned to live with a wide range of disruptions here at Stabicraft — pandemic and global production shortages being the big ones.

Never one to stand still, Stabicraft adapted. After all, we had boats to build to meet the huge demand for all shapes and sizes of vessel across our worldwide dealer network. Perhaps you were one of the new owners who joined the Stabicraft family?

We came up with a few initiatives to get the job done. First, we recruited hard to enhance our building capacity and strategic thinking. Second, we outsourced with key partners to produce smaller Stabicraft boats. The Invercargill factory has grown in capability and capacity — its focus is now on mid-size and larger vessels.

The teams came through – with more than 1100 shiny new Stabicrafts delivered in 2021. An outstanding achievement, not just at HQ, but also across the dealership network, finding new homes for Stabicraft boats. A special shout-out to Kev & Ian’s

Marine in Wiri, Auckland — our Overall Dealer of the Year.

There were many other highlights, including several prestigious international and New Zealand design awards for Stabicraft — you can read all about it in this issue of Stabimag. These awards are a great acknowledgment of the quality of our design and manufacturing teams, who conceive and deliver innovative new products true to the Stabicraft DNA. Now, well into 2022, many challenges remain, most notably with supply shortages and logistics. Rest assured, Stabicraft will continue to innovate and enhance our family of boats and distributors. Take a sneak peek in Stabimag to check out some of the fresh metal that will shortly roll out the door, including the new 1550 Frontier (below), 1850 and 2050.

Cheers, David Glen

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STABICRAFT CEO DAVID GLEN PUBLISHING PARTNER MOBY DICK CONTENT

“PERHAPS YOU WERE ONE OF THE NEW OWNERS WHO JOINED THE STABICRAFT FAMILY?”

ADVENTURE ENGINEERS (THE CREW WHO HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN) THE CAPTAIN / COOL STORYTELLERS TANIA CASEY / STABI WHIPCRACKER SOUTH SEAS SPEAROS / SHARP SHOOTERS DANIEL CHECCHIN / 2400 SUPERCAB JARROD MAY / 1450 EXPLORER STU BUCKINGHAM / 1450 EXPLORER GAWAINE BLAKE / 1850 FISHER BRENDON GILLIES / 1450 FRONTIER PROFISH LUKE SLOBBE / 1450 FRONTIER PROFISH KADE THORNHILL / 1850 FISHER FRANK SICILIANO / 2400 SUPERCAB TROY MEEDER / 2750 ULTRA CENTRECAB LARRY HERNANDEZ JR / 2750 ULTRA CENTRECAB STABICRAFT DEALERS THE STABICRAFT TEAM ART DIRECTOR BRENDON WISE SUB EDITOR PAUL ROBINSON STABIMAG IS PUBLISHED BY MOBY DICK CONTENT ON BEHALF OF STABICRAFT. ALL MATERIAL IS PROTECTED

BY THE COMMONWEALTH COPYRIGHT ACT, 1968. NO PART OF STABIMAG MAY BE REPRODUCED, REPLICATED OR ADAPTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM STABICRAFT. PRINTED BY BRIGHTPRINT LTD. WHILE CARE IS TAKEN BY THE PUBLISHERS, THEY ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PUBLISHED MATERIAL, THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION IN THE COPY, ILLUSTRATION OR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN STABIMAG. THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT ONLY, IT IS NOT INTENDED AS ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS SUCH. THE READER SHOULD VERIFY ALL IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND SEEK INDEPENDENT ADVICE PRIOR TO MAKING ANY DECISIONS.

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STABISTAFF

MEET THE CREW

Get to know the people who help turn your Stabi dreams into reality.

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LEON LADBROOK “OUR BOATS WILL NOT SINK.” Started: July 2013 Length of service: Almost nine years Current position: Router operator Past positions: Press operator

Tell us about your job As a router operator, I work by myself, “placing sheets of alloy on the bed of the machine. Once cut, they’re moved on to the next stage in the process. I also lend a hand to other teams.

Best thing about working at Stabicraft?

The people — and the monthly bonuses for meeting targets.

Worst thing?

The heat on those summer days.

What’s changed over the years?

I started when there were around 60 staff — now there are well over 100.

Describe Stabicraft in five words?

Our boats will not sink.

What’s your favourite model?

2250 Ultracab WT What do you do in your spare time?

Meditate and spend time with family.

Peace.

BRENDON MORROW “MY JOB IS TO KEEP THE BUILDING OF BOATS ON SCHEDULE.” Started: February 2012 Length of service: 10 years Current position: Manufacturing supervisor Past positions: Team leader WC 2, welder

What’s your role entail?

As a manufacturing supervisor, my job is to keep the building of boats on schedule and overcome any issues that might come up.

What’s the best thing about working at Stabicraft?

I enjoy working with alloy and it’s a nice clean workshop.

What’s changed over the past 10 years?

The amazing development of all the new models.

Describe Stabicraft in five words?

Working in a great place.

What’s your favourite model?

The 1550 Fisher — she’s nice and nimble.

What do you do in your spare time?

Travel around country with the family, racing dirt bikes.

Ride on.

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MICHAEL HENDERSON “THE TEAM AND THE HOURS ARE GREAT.”

CHRISTINE GILBERT “MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME.”

Tell us about your role To oversee the team, assist and train where required. Ensure processes are followed through and on schedule.”

Best tip?

A nice clean surface and a good roller makes installation a lot easier.

What do you like about your job?

I like the variety of jobs in WC6. The problem-solving and passing on knowledge.

Best thing about working at Stabicraft?

The team — and the hours are great.

Worst thing?

It gets a little chilly in the workshop during winter.

What’s changed over the years?

The number of staff has nearly tripled.

Describe Stabicraft in five words?

Great team to work with.

What’s your favourite model?

2250UCC What do you do in your spare time?

Fishing, golf (poorly) and rugby.

Fore!

What does your role entail?

We support the manufacturing supervisor in a leadership capacity, ensuring all work completed is of a high quality and on time.

Best thing about working at Stabicraft?

Seeing that all the tasks have been met and the boats are rolling off the production line on time. I take a huge amount of pride knowing I’ve taken part in the process.

Worst thing?

If we miss a deadline — it rarely happens — and not actually owning a Stabi!

Describe Stabicraft in five words My home away from home (lol).

What’s your favourite model?

The 2500, a model prototyped when I first started. She’s even more beautiful today.

What do you do in your spare time?

I stay busy propagating, grafting and collecting seeds to create beautiful native bush in Bluff. And I always finish off my day with a Guinness or two.

Cheers!

Started: September 2013 Length of service: Nine years Current position: WC6 Manufacturing Coordinator

Started: August 2003 Length of service: 19 years Current position: Manufacturing coordinator Past positions: Production line, team leader

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STABINEWS

DESIGN GONGS FOR 2250 ULTRACAB WT

STABICRAFT’S DISTINCT WALK-THRU, FORWARD-RAKING PILOT HOUSE WINS BEST OF THE BEST RED DOT AWARD FOR GLOBAL PRODUCT DESIGN IN 2021.

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tabicraft’s 2250 Ultracab WT (Walk-Thru), with its distinct walk-through, forward-raking pilot house form, won a prestigious Best of the Best Red Dot Award for global product design in 2021.

A bit like the Oscars of product design, the Red Dot Awards is one of the world’s largest design competitions, where 20 international professionals judge thousands of submissions on innovation, feasibility and functionality. Stabicraft is in good company — the previous year, Best of the Best winners included the Ferrari SF90 Stradale and the Honda E Electric car.

Created for the American market in the Pacific Northwest, the Stabicraft 2250 Ultracab WT proved a winner for its unimpeded bow access. The WalkThru allows easy access to the foredeck, working in combination with the forward-leaning glass screen.

Not just a winner in the Pacific Northwest, the WalkThru model has introduced a new style of boating to

other markets. Resident Stabi visionary Paul Adams noted the model had been years in development.

“Being an iterative design process, it transformed over a four-year period into what it is today. This award is an excellent affirmation for the Stabicraft design team.”

KEY FEATURES • Walk-thru door feature combined with lean-forward windscreen (Ultracab) in 22.5ft size.

• Fully welded aluminium floor.

• Arrow Pontoons (life-ring) and Game Chaser transom as standard.

• Vee berth and convertible cabin berth capable of sleeping four adults (optional).

• WT and WT Offshore package options.

• Proven Stabicraft rough-water performance, strength and stability.

• Transom capable of receiving a single 30-inch outboard leg or twin 25-inch outboard legs.

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SPECS

Length: 6.9m (22.5ft) Beam: 2.55m (8.36ft) Deadrise: 19° Maximum adults: 8 Dry hull weight (approx): 2000kg (4409lb) BMT weight (approx): 2800kg (6172lb) Fuel capacity: 378L (100gal) Standard HP: 200HP Maximum HP: 300HP

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STABINEWS

Best Design Awards Winner 2021

Best Design Awards Finalist 2021

Best Design Awards Winner 2021

BEST DESIGN AWARDS

MORE DESIGN AWARDS FOR THE 2250 ULTRACAB WT, AS WELL AS THE 1450 RANGE.

T

he design gongs continue for Stabicraft with the Invercargill crew collecting three Designers Institute of NZ Best Design Awards for 2021. These include a gold in the overall Value of Design category, another gold in Product Design for the 2250 Ultracab WT, plus a bronze in Product Design for the 1450 range.

“A STRONG DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT GREAT DESIGN CAN DELIVER.” The Value of Design award is in recognition of 34 years of iterative development, with the judges commenting, “Stabicraft is a story of focus and determination. Since going through the Better by Design program in 2015, the business has stepped it up a gear. It’s introduced new products and significantly increased sales with the introduction of new and redesigned models. It simplified its manufacturing process and won Red Dot Awards. And from a value point of view it’s doubled the business and increased margins. A strong demonstration of what great design can deliver.”

GOOD DESIGN AWARD The 2250 Ultracab WT is now the most internationally awarded boat in Stabicraft history after claiming yet another gong — this one in the Good Design Awards.

Founded in Chicago, USA in 1950, the Good Design Awards is the world’s oldest design competition.

Together, these three independent design awards— Red Dot, Best Design and Good Design — represent a massive achievement for Stabicraft’s design ethos.

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BUILD YOUR OWN STABI DESIGN YOUR OWN 3D MASTERPIECE ON STABI’S NEW SUPER-COOL DESIGN TOOL.

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tabicraft’s latest offering is digital rather than alloy. We’re talking about the “Build Your Stabi” function on the new Stabicraft website. This cool new interactive 3D tool allows boat buyers to explore various Stabi model options in great detail.

“USERS CAN NAVIGATE 360 DEGREES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE EACH MODEL.” Users can navigate 360 degrees inside and outside of each model, explore features through animation, learn about different packages, then customise and visualise their dream boat. Finally, they can request a quote.

“It shows a level of detail usually only achieved on a dealership’s yard or in a design studio,” says Stabicraft CEO David Glen. “People can now experience this detail without having to leave their homes. It is completely game-changing the buying process.”

NO BUILDING PERMIT REQUIRED: This inter-creative 3D boat builder allows anyone with internet access to “walk through” every Stabicraft model.

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STABIGEAR

LOOK SHARP

WANT TO LOOK AS SHARP AS YOUR STABI? STYLE YOURSELF UP WITH THIS OFFICIAL STABICRAFT MERCHANDISE AT WWW.STABICRAFT.COM/SHOP

UFLEX PRO CAP WITH S LOGO $35.99

This five-panel snap-back cap is 98 per cent cotton for cool and two per cent spandex for added stretch factor. The pre-curved peak features the Stabi “S” logo and six rows of stitching — which has got to be better than one, right? This crown among caps comes in black or charcoal, one size fits all.

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STABICRAFT SKULL BEANIE $29.99

Out on the boat, a beanie is essential for cold mornings or under-theradar stealth missions. Fleece-lined and 100 per cent acrylic, this baby will keep your ears toasty and your temperature above freezing.

Available in a stealthy black or charcoal, one size fits all.

STABICRAFT MEN‘S CHINO SHORTS $79.99

Pre-washed for that lived-in feel, with a comfortable midrise fit, these chino shorts are 98 per cent cotton with two per cent elastane so you can get your stretch on if required. And because you need somewhere to stash your stuff, they have a flat front, two side angled pockets and two back pockets. Available in black.

STABICRAFT MEN’S MILANO V-NECK PULLOVER $119.99

With winter on the way, staying warm on the boat is a no-brainer. The Milano not only looks the goods with its contemporary V-neck style and ribbed side panel, but its 50 per cent wool/50 per cent acrylic construction will keep icy winds at bay. And because there will be dirty business, fortunately, it’s also machine-washable.

All prices are in NZD and exclude shipping. Please visit our website shop to purchase.

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COVER STORY 2400 SUPERCAB

TOUCH DOWN

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STABIMAG HEADS OUT WIDE CHASING STRIPED MARLIN ON DANIEL CHECCHIN’S FRESH-OUT-OF-THE-BOX STABICRAFT 2400 SUPERCAB. THIS BIG BUOY HAS ALL THE TRICKS, INCLUDING THE NEW YAMAHA F250 DES. SEE THE VIDEO AT YOUTUBE.COM/ STABICRAFTNZ

W O R D S & I M A GE S by Th e C a pt a i n

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COVER STORY 2400 SUPERCAB

Broken Bay, NSW, Australia

H

ail Mary (noun): a long forward pass in football, especially as a last-ditch attempt at the end of a game, where completion is considered unlikely.

The dictionary.com definition sums up our fishing strategy pretty well.

It’s November, the billfish season off Sydney has barely started, and we have one day to complete the mission. Better call in NFL quarterback Tom Brady to have any hope of finding the end zone on this one.

INSTA MATES

Where does one go when needing to hitch a ride to the continental shelf? Back in the day, you’d head to the local fishing club or maybe loiter around a boat ramp. These days, you can find pretty much anything you need on Instagram, whether that be love, a new T-shirt — or even a fishing trip. As luck would have it, we found two of those things when Daniel “Checch” Checchin slid into our DMs. “Ahoy fellas, I’ve got a brand-new Stabicraft 2400 Supercab and specialise in targeting tuna and marlin. Keen for a ride? We’ve got a oneday weather window three days from now and there’s a nice temp break off Broken Bay on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Meet me at the Bayview boat ramp at 4.30am sharp.”

Done deal.

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MEET THE CREW

Daniel Checchin

Nickname: Checch Role: Skipper Special skill: Driving a Stabicraft 2400 like a two-stroke go-kart Signature move: Getting angry at the crew while fighting fish

Jeremy Testa

Nickname: The Butcher Role: First mate Special skill: Removing a marlin’s head, guts and tail in under two minutes Signature move: Sticking fixed-head gaffs into green striped marlin

“AHOY FELLAS, I’VE GOT A BRANDNEW STABICRAFT 2400 SUPERCAB AND SPECIALISE IN TARGETING TUNA AND MARLIN. KEEN FOR A RIDE?”

Josh Dick

Nickname: Smooth Operator Role: Deckhand Special skill: Making every situation a positive one Signature move: Operating at a snail’s pace in high-pressure situations

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COVER STORY 2400 SUPERCAB

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

As instructed, it’s bang on 4.30am when we arrive at the ramp — actually on time for once with cameras at the ready.

Unfortunately, it’s a ghost town — no sign of life. By 5am, we’re wondering if we’ve been catfished.

Then Checch rolls in towing possibly the nicest Stabicraft 2400 we’ve ever seen. It’s love at first sight and well worth the wait. “Sorry we’re late boys, might’ve overslept a little,” he says. “Meet my mates, Jeremy Testa and Josh Dick.”

It’s definitely an interesting crew — Jeremy rocking a mullet and Chopper Read moustache, Josh more unassuming, but with a little smirk that screams premium boat banter.

The lads get to work rigging the Big Buoy in battle kit. On go the floodlights, up go the outriggers and out comes the Shimano reel bling. Bungs in, straps off and Jeremy smoothly backs the 2400 into the drink with the LandCruiser. Checch lowers the Yamaha F250 and kicks her into gear as the leg submerges. Meanwhile, Josh is fumbling his way down the dock, wrangling six bags of ice and four coffees. We load up and roll out.

LONG-DISTANCE RUNNER

With the temperature break sitting north-east of Broken Bay, we’re looking at a 45nm run to get to the grounds — plenty of time to chat to Checch about his Stabi. The sun pops the horizon as we round Barrenjoey Headland, the morning rays — matched with triple-shot 7/11 coffees — helping to get our lips moving.

“My last boat was a 5.6m AMM centre console,” he says.

“It was a super-versatile boat, but going out beyond the shelf meant you’d get wet — and you’d really have to watch the weather. I was getting more into the game-fishing scene, so decided to upgrade to this baby. I was looking at a 2100 at Webbe Marine, but they had a 2400 sitting next to it that caught my eye and I just had to have it. Next step was getting the tick of approval from the missus. She jumped in the 2400 and instantly forgot all about the 2100.”

As we head into the slop, everyone shimmies around to find the comfiest spot for the long ride. With five people aboard, the two upfront bolster seats are a hot commodity.

The 2400 also features two kick-down seat/steps in the rear of the cockpit, but they’re not an ideal option in sloppy seas. For additional seating, Checch runs a padded esky down the starboard side that half slides underneath the helm seat. With three blokes and a massive esky all sitting over on the starboard side, we voice the opinion that the trim tabs must be working overtime. But Checch tells us he didn’t even opt for tabs on his 2400. Those arrow pontoons never cease to amaze.

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“I WAS GETTING MORE INTO THE GAME-FISHING SCENE, SO DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO THIS BABY.”

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COVER STORY 2400 SUPERCAB

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“I LOVE THAT WHEN YOU’RE OUT HERE YOU CAN DISCONNECT FROM THE WORLD.”

Tabs aside, Checch certainly didn’t skimp in other areas of the build. He’s opted for double-stacked rocket launchers, a hardtop-mounted teaser reel, 20ft carbon fibre Precision outriggers sitting in Kraken bases, Exploding Fish rod holders, RGB underwater lights and, best of all, a pie oven custom-mounted underneath the port-side seat.

In terms of fishy electronics, Checch has done a pretty neat job with his Simrad fit-out. He’s running a Simrad NSS16 evo3S through a S5100 sounder module and transommounted TM275LH-W transducer. He reckons the Simrad kit was a cinch to set up, describing it as “the iPhone of the sounder world”. That’s a big call from a bloke who’s a product development manager at a big tech company. He’s also got a Halo20+ radar and full JL Audio system with four speakers and subwoofer in the vee berth — boom, boom, pow!

DISCONNECTING

“Being in the tech industry, always connected to laptops and phones, I love that when you’re out here you can disconnect from the world,” Checch says with a smile as we arrive at the continental shelf.

Josh and Jeremy send out the lures, shortly followed by the teaser dredge. Checch is running a combination of Tiagras and Talicas out of the 360-degree rotating Exploding Fish rod holders — an awesome little upgrade. Having not found the temp break, Checch keeps us moving north-east towards a set of deep-water canyons. Halfway there, the water temp starts to climb quickly and Checch notifies the crew there’s some bait starting to show on the NSS16.

The boys get to work on the bait jigs, but unfortunately it scatters quickly. We try unsuccessfully a few more times

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COVER STORY 2400 SUPERCAB

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COVER STORY 2400 SUPERCAB

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before opting to throw the lures back in the water.

“Shotgun in, long rigger in, short rigger in, long corner…”

Before we can even finish resetting the spread, the lure on the long rigger is inhaled. The Tiagra 50W comes to life, as do Jeremy and Josh, clearing the deck and driving the boat simultaneously. Checch grabs the rod as the 80kg striped marlin hits the surface. Its aggressive head shakes throw the heavy resin-headed lure violently from left to right, but luckily, it looks like we’ve got a good hook set — for now, anyway. The fish goes deep and the boys find their rhythm, Jeremy backing the 2400 down, while Checch works to steal back some line. Josh is on cheerleading duty, keeping morale high with “yee-haws!” and excited slaps on the back. He also keeps the gang hydrated throughout the fight.

After 30 minutes, we finally get our first shot at the striped bandit as he comes boatside. It’s the first marlin for the boat, and for the season — plus we’re hungry — so the decision is made to land the fish. With no flying gaff in sight, we debate how to bring him aboard. In the end, it becomes a bit of a debacle. Josh tries to throw on a bill rope, but with a “F#*k that!” Jeremy unsuccessfully tries to stick him with a fixed head gaff. In the end, Checch grabs the beast and drags it over the gunwales bare-handed, with a little assistance from the boys. Staunch.

Now it’s time for Jeremy — aka The Butcher — to step in. Considering most of his experience comes from filleting bream, we’re bloody surprised to see him lop off the marlin’s tail, head and remove its guts in under two minutes. This bloke would be right at home on a commercial longlining boat.

Guts plucked, he stows the big fish neatly in a kill bag packed with ice — yes, it is extremely surprising to see a marlin fit in one. It’s refreshing to see the team keep the fish in such good condition. All too often, standard practice is to drape a wet towel over the marlin and spray it intermittently with a deck hose until it resembles a steaming turd. It’s no surprise they don’t often get a good rap when it comes to the plate. But in this instance, fast-forward to sitting around a bonfire on the beach later that evening and we can confirm this particular sea monster tasted lip-smackingly delicious.

“IN THE END, CHECCH GRABS THE BEAST AND DRAGS IT OVER THE GUNWALES BAREHANDED.”

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COVER STORY 2400 SUPERCAB

IT MUST BE DES-TINY

Marlin box ticked, it’s back to the boat. Checch is running a 2021 Yamaha F250 DES. This donk packs all the awesome tech from the 425HP model into a much smaller package and Checch reckons it goes as good as it looks. “It’s got digitally integrated steering, stage two Helm Master and an autopilot kit — it’s bloody awesome,” he says.

We have to agree. The steering is next level, we’ve never driven a Stabi that’s so smooth and responsive. Checch even has her doing full 180-degree drifts at 22 knots, like a gokart. “It’s like floating on a cloud,” he says.

Economy-wise, Checch averages between 1.1–1.2km per litre on a full day out to the shelf, trolling and back. “I recently did a 160nm trip in the boat and we used 220L, so it’s pretty impressive,” he says. “Yamaha has definitely stepped it up with this model.”

CHECCH & CHONG

None of us can stop smiling after such an epic adventure aboard Checch’s 2400. Only having one day to bag a marlin and getting it done before 10.30am — you’ve got to be stoked with that. Checch has done an amazing job setting up a boat that suits his needs perfectly. This is also the first Stabi 2400 we’ve tested that isn’t fitted with twins and, to be honest, we can’t really tell the difference. Coming in at a modest tow weight of 2400kg, the 2400 might just be the ultimate trailerable game fisher. It’s great rig with an even better skipper — Checch’s passion for fishing is infectious.

“I’ve been running with the bulls, I’ve jumped out of a plane and I’d put game fishing in a similar category,” he says. “You get that massive adrenaline rush when you hook up a fish. I love that high you get.”

Damn right, mate. Keep living that blue-water dream.

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BOAT SPECS STABICRAFT 2400 SUPERCAB

“THIS DONK PACKS ALL THE AWESOME TECH FROM THE 425HP MODEL INTO A MUCH SMALLER PACKAGE.”

Length: 7.3m (24ft) Beam: 2.3m (7.5ft) Deadrise: 19° Seating capacity: 8 Dry hull weight (approx): 1260kg (2778lb) Fuel capacity: 300L (79gal) Standard HP: 200HP Maximum HP: 250HP ENGINE SPECS Model: Yamaha F250 DES Type: 24-valve DOHC V6 Displacement: 4.16L Weight: 288kg (635lb)

SUPPLIED BY

Webbe Marine 17 Yalgar Road, Kirrawee NSW, Australia (02) 9521 7944; www.webbemarine.com.au

MORE INFORMATION

Stabicraft Marine 345 Bluff Road, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. +64 (3) 211 1828; www.stabicraft.com

THUMBS UP

• Big, wide and airy cabin • No trim tabs, no worries • Set and forget when travelling down sea • Massive vee berth • Yamaha digital steering blew our minds • Exploding Fish rod holders were a nice touch • JL Audio sound system pumps hard • Loved the lighting set-up — above and below the water

THUMBS DOWN

• Limited seating options for a 24ft boat • Struggle to see through the front windscreen with polaroid sunnies

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STABIDESIGN STABI DESIGN

SHAPE DESIGN TEAM

Paul Flett Design manager

Why the love of boats: “They are a balance between art, science and engineering.”

Agata Kaluzna Design engineer

Great design looks like: “The ornithopter design from Dune — it looks purposeful and utilitarian, but also beautiful.”

Ben Conway Design engineer

Thoughts on boats: “Boats give people a sense of freedom.”

Craig Johnstone Design engineer

Great design looks like: “A Ford GT40 monocoque chassis — it’s a work of art.”

Lori Comer Design engineer

Great design looks like: “My wedding rings, something I really cherish.”

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STABIMAG REVEALS JUST WHAT MAKES THE DESIGN TEAM TICK AND GIVES A SNEAK PREVIEW OF SOME TOP-SECRET NEW MODELS IN THE PIPELINE.

SHIFTERS Sam Milne Design engineer

Great design looks like: “A 1967 Shelby GT500.”

Scott Thomson Design engineer

Great design looks like: “A Porsche 911, from 1964 until now.”

Mike Whittaker Samantha Marshall Le New product Steininger Design development Design draughtsperson specialist engineer intern

Great design looks like: “A good axe — natural beauty that is 100 per cent functional, honed by thousands of years of minute perfections.”

Great design looks like: “The International Space Station. Good design should not only inspire but also make you want to have a part of it.”

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STABIDESIGN DESIGN DNA Great design has long been a hallmark of Stabicraft boats.

They’ve earned a reputation as the boat to get the job done — lots of jobs, in fact — safely and efficiently. The Stabi design crew is a big part of getting those herbs and spices right. The team boasts a blend of experience from all kinds of industries, including heavy equipment, mechanical engineering, automotive, tech, even medical. In previous lives they’ve designed suspension systems, racing cars, trailers, e-bikes, motorcycles, Americas Cup racing yachts, hydrofoils and jet boats, small satellite rockets, homes — even mannequins!

Design engineer Craig Johnstone reckons attitude is as vital as experience when it comes to his job. “An open mind and willingness to learn is just as important,” he says.

New product development specialist Mike Whittaker agrees. “There’s no qualification requirement as such, but everyone’s various experiences help to build a more rounded team,” he says. “Passion is the one key ingredient.”

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS Inspiration comes from exploring new markets and identifying trends or feedback from dealers and customers. Design manager Paul Flett says, “having the design team on site, seeing the trends live, is a huge advantage.” Even social media can offer up new ideas.

The automotive and RV industries are also good sources, especially for their modular, multi-use spaces and ability to embrace new technology.

Some Stabicraft models have a natural lifecycle and will evolve, or be retired to the honour wall. It’s not all about the boat — the manufacturing process can dictate the allowable design, and new technologies and techniques facilitate smarter manufacturing processes. Being responsive to these market changes is essential.

“For an existing model, the process starts the day the boat is built and never stops,” Mike says. “We constantly look at how we can do it better.”

New Stabicraft models start with an understanding of the market, the competition and the opportunity. That evolves into a document outlining the goals of the project and product requirements.

“We like to sketch and bounce ideas around in any format that communicates an idea effectively,” Mike says in relation to design concepts. “A sketch is not a drawing, it’s the conveying of an idea. We like to prototype early and test, or fail, fast.”

“There’s lots of market research and plenty of robust team discussion,” Scott adds. “Then there are rough-and-ready mock-ups and prototypes. We do what we can to find the holes in the design early and focus our energy there. After we have a good working prototype, it’s a lot of documenting for manufacturing.”

THE 1550 TAKES SHAPE: Computer-aided design (CAD) of the all-new 1550 Frontier.

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TOOLS OF THE (DESIGN) TRADE

• Pens/sharp pencils/crayons for sketches/whiteboards • CAD concepts • Cardboard/plastic/aluminium/wood for prototypes — whatever communicates the idea!

• Sheetmetal concepts are trialled and tested • Computer programs include Autodesk Inventor, KeyShot, AutoCad, Excel • On-water testing for performance, stability and safety

“FOR AN EXISTING MODEL, THE PROCESS STARTS THE DAY THE BOAT IS BUILT AND NEVER STOPS.”

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STABIDESIGN NEW TRENDS Over the course of the Stabicraft journey, the average size of the vessels has increased, but the recent move towards smaller and better-equipped boats hasn’t gone unnoticed. The price of fuel is likely to see this trend continue. Other trends include sharper lines, open-bow models and axe bows on smaller boats.

Mike says new technology has a significant bearing on design. “Recreational sounders are now as good if not better than the military equipment of a decade or two ago. Mapping the seafloor at 30 knots was once something only the Navy or NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) could do. Now we have automatically managed trim tabs, electric trolling motors with hands-off GPS control and plotting.”

Other tech advancements to challenge the design team have included electronic steering systems and joysticks, larger fuel tanks, expanding stereo systems, trick lighting systems and more energy-dense batteries.

HERE’S THE SCOOP Following the success of the 1450, the crew from Invercargill is launching a big brother — the 1550 Frontier. It’s bigger and carries more fuel, passengers and horsepower. The Stabi team reckons the development of the 1550 aligns production capacity with the 1550 Fisher, while its 4.8m length will have worldwide market appeal.

“The 1550 has a simple feature set while maintaining the ability to fully option up to a fishing weapon,” Mike says.

Features include more storage and deck space, a removable casting platform, a winch option, transom storage and a live bait tank, along with covered battery compartment.

1550 SPECS

Length: 4.8m (15.8ft) Beam: 2.01m (6.6ft) Deadrise: 15° Max adults: 5 Dry hull weight (approx): 550kg (1213lb) Fuel capacity: 60L (15.85gal) Standard HP: 50HP Maximum HP: 75HP

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FUTURE MODEL UPDATES

The 1850 and 2050 Supercab Stabis have also had a makeover.

More than 2500 design hours went into fine-tuning the hulls so that they would deliver an even drier ride, yet still maintain that famous Stabicraft DNA. The new Supercab models also feature a wider beam, larger cabin — more volume generally. The new models will be hitting the water in 2023 and are guaranteed to set a new standard in their class.

“FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE 1450, THE CREW FROM INVERCARGILL IS LAUNCHING A BIG BROTHER — THE 1550 FRONTIER.”

DESIGN MASTERCLASS: THE 2500 UC XL

Scott says the 2500 Ultracab XL was quite a design departure for the team, but now he reckons it defines Stabicraft. Since its launch, other models have followed its lead, adopting the lean-forward screen and interior seating/storage solutions.

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ADVENTURE TEST 1450 EXPLORER

TWO MEN AND THEIR TUBS STUART AND JARROD WERE LIVING PARALLEL LIVES, BUT DIDN’T KNOW IT. BOTH ARE FROM THE MELBOURNE BAYSIDE SUBURB OF SEAFORD, LIVING BARELY A TENNIS BALL THROW AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER, WITH KIDS AT THE SAME SCHOOL. BOTH FISH FOR THE SAME SPECIES AND BOTH ARE ROCKING BRAND-SPANKING-NEW 1450 STABICRAFT EXPLORERS. THEY EVENTUALLY HOOKED UP AND ORGANISED A BOYS’ TRIP TO ONE OF STU’S FAVOURITE SPOTS. W O R D S A ND I M A GE S by Th e C a pt a i n

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SEE THE VIDEO AT YOUTUBE.COM/ STABICRAFTNZ

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ADVENTURE TEST 1450 EXPLORER

R

attling along a narrow, well-worn road to a small coastal hideaway near the bottom tip of mainland Australia, farming properties give way to coastal shrub before opening up to a thin strip of camping ground known as Walkerville Foreshore Caravan Park. From here, on the shores of Waratah Bay, we peer across to Wilsons Promontory National Park and a rocky outcrop of islands known as the Glennie Group.

Adventure lives here.

The smell of deep-fried squid with a hint of chilli and lime leads us to our skippers. Stabicraft owners Stuart Buckingham and Jarrod May have settled in with a few mates, sharing beers and a feed of fresh seafood, recently plucked from the cool waters of Bass Strait.

We’re only a few hours from Melbourne, but as Stu points out, “we could be 100 miles from anywhere”. Stu’s been coming to Walkerville for years. He reckons it’s the perfect weekend escape. “It’s the place to get away with the boys, leave all your problems behind. If you’re into your fishing and diving you’ve got everything right here.”

Beer in hand, we join the bonding session, keen to hear more about this well-kept secret called Walkerville — and the waters beyond.

“It’s just unbelievable,” Stu continues. “On the low tides you can beach-launch. You’ve got these rocky outcrops that go along the coast, with big cliffs and the

limestone caves. It’s just unreal.”

The guys come up with a plan for the next day. We’ll beach-launch the Stabis at low tide, catch some squid and head 20 miles across to the Glennie Islands. These islands are often visited by larger boats seeking refuge from Bass Strait and feature huge granite boulders resembling giant dinosaur eggs, as well as prolific bird life, serious diving potential and maybe a giant kingfish, if we’re lucky. Everyone is sold on the plan, even as heavy surf beats against the rocky coastline in ominous warning. But more about that later — it’s time to find out about these pocket rockets called Stabicraft Explorers.

Waratah Bay

Bass Strait

Tasmania

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Explorer owners Stuart (above) and Jarrod (right).

“YOU’VE GOT THESE ROCKY OUTCROPS THAT GO ALONG THE COAST, WITH BIG CLIFFS AND THE LIMESTONE CAVES. IT’S JUST UNREAL.” OUT OF THE BOX: The 1450 Explorer features a casting deck, self-draining deck, copious storage, eight rod holders, four stubby holders and strategically placed handrails.

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ADVENTURE TEST 1450 EXPLORER

BULK CARRIER: The wide combings with bulk storage capability underneath are clutch for the boys. “You can stand or sit and underneath there’s tackle, safety gear, shotguns for duck hunting, I’ve got it all,” Jarrod says. “Everything has a place that’s easy to get to on my boat,” Stu adds.

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FIRST STABI OFF THE RANK

Jarrod’s 1450 Explorer was the very first sold and delivered into Australia. He bought it sight-unseen from MY Marine in Dromana. “I actually asked for a 1410,” says Jarrod. “But Tony Stama, the sales rep, told me Stabi doesn’t make them anymore — but they did make a 1450. I wanted to see one of those, but Tony said they’ve only just started building them. So I plonked down a deposit and told him to give me a call when it finally arrived. Five months later, here it is.”

Balls move, Jarrod.

His criteria for the new rig was: safety, stability, usability – and it had to be yellow. “Now, with the kids so involved in fishing, this is such a stable and safe platform, and it’s easy to handle on my own,” he says.

“It’s tough, but quiet — that foam-filled pontoon takes a lot of the banging out when you’re crashing into a head sea. But in a side-on or trailing sea, just open it up and go as hard as you want. You don’t feel it flexing or carrying on like other alloy boats. This thing barges through anything.”

I WANT ONE

Once Stu laid eyes on Jarrod’s Stabi, he wanted one.

Richardson Marine in Warrnambool was his shopping ground. “They’re fantastic — hassle-free, friendly, organised and easy to deal with,” Stu says. I’ve had quite a bit to do with them over the years through my business, Outboard Spares.”

He’s happy with alloy. “I’ve had glass boats, but the

thing I really like is you can knock it around — you don’t have to worry about gelcoat or chipping paint. Having that stability at rest is massive. I like casting lures, and when I’m diving I want a stable platform. And the performance is really good. I’ve been in a lot of boats and for an aluminium tiller steer, these are hard to beat.”

Stu reckons the safety virtues of the Stabicraft make it an easy sell for the missus. “If things get ugly and you capsize, it’s always going to float. That safety aspect is a big thing for me with a young family and going offshore.”

The self-draining deck — getting rid of the water through the duckbills — fits the bill, as well. “I just love those scuppers — two rubber flaps swinging like a spare doodle, basically,” Jarrod says. “If you cop a lot of water on a beach launch or in rough conditions, it just drains out the back while you’re motoring.”

These words would come back to haunt Jarrod later.

TILLER TIME

Both skippers chose tillers for the open space. Ever the practical one, Stu loves that he’s got “no rigging, no steering to fail or need servicing, no control cables to change. If you decide you want more horsepower, you literally undo four bolts, lift it off and put the next one on. You don’t need big horsepower, this 40HP Mercury pushes it along nicely at 27 knots. It’s easy to tow, easy to launch — and you can fish all the way to the nose and the stern, even with three guys on board.”

A bit more down to basics, Jarrod says, “I love driving down the back. I find it more comfortable, it’s just fun.”

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ADVENTURE TEST 1450 EXPLORER

BOLT-ONS

Stu reckons the 1450 Explorers don’t need many accessories to get amongst it. “Straight out of the box with four stubby holders and eight rod holders, these things are just equipped with everything you need,” he says. He’s taken the liberty of fitting a saltwater Minn Kota Terrova. “You get on a patch of fish and just spotlock and stay on them.”

He’s also got a full travel cover for security as well as tube matting to knock the glare off the floor and bit of comfort — he stole that idea from Jarrod.

The boys didn’t agree on paint. “I wanted maintenancefree, just let it do its thing, I love it,” Stu says. But paint was paramount for Jarrod. “Yellow is the only colour I’ll have on boats,” he says. “The old family boat was a yellow Sportscraft Intruder. I had a Haines Hunter V17L before this — yellow.”

Jarrod’s also gone the electric. “I love the Minn Kota,” he says. “I’ve never had one before, but I don’t reckon I’ll have another tinnie or open boat without one. The spot-lock feature is just the best. Doing a lot of squid and snapper fishing, it’s brilliant — and saves a lot of time pulling up the anchor.”

More of Jarrod’s favourite additions came courtesy

6 REASONS WHY TILLERS ARE TOPS 1/ More space for fishing 2/ Less things to go wrong 3/ Cheaper to buy and operate 4/ Easy to upgrade gear 5/ Easy to tow and fits in the garage 6/ Softest driving position

“LESS WIRING AND SWITCHES WILL PROVE A WINNER WHEN HE LATER DUNKS HIS BOAT IN THE DRINK.” of Steve’s Custom Welding in Carrum Downs, Victoria, including the removable snapper racks and a custom Minn Kota mount that lets the electric motor sit inside the line of the boat and out of the way. Other additions include Railblaza mounts for the bait boards and batteryoperated navigation lights. Less wiring and switches will prove a winner when he later dunks his boat in the drink.

He’s also running side-mounted rod racks and a keel guard for beach launching and retrieval. That would come in handy, as well.

OFF TO THE GLENNIE GROUP

The next morning, we launch early, removing the trailers from their hitches then dunking them in the water. We deploy the Minn Kotas, load up on squid and head for the Glennies.

The Stabis maintain a steady pace in the large rolling swell, nursing Stu’s bad back along the 20-mile route. On arrival, the boys troll and pop for kings that appear on the sounder, but annoyingly don’t snatch the bait. After a few hours of fruitless effort, our attention turns to brekkie beers and we get comfortable, enjoying the view of Wilsons Prom — its huge granite boulders and islands in the foreground.

Back at Waratah Bay, Stu sums up the day. “It wasn’t the best conditions. No boat likes a head sea, but on the way back we were going with it — just unreal.

Fully loaded, with two blokes and all the gear – you couldn’t broach these things if you tried. They just love a following sea.”

That may be true, but not so much when the trailing sea is coming over your transom on the loading zone, as Jarrod finds out when he tries to turn his Stabi into a jacuzzi. “We managed to put about 500L of water in the boat, maybe more,” he says. “The fuel tank, battery, the

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BOAT SPECS STABICRAFT 1450 EXPLORER Length: 4.42m (14.5ft) Beam: 1.89m (6.2ft) Deadrise: 15º Max adults: 4 Dry hull weight (approx): 265kg (584lb) Hull thickness: 3mm (1/8inch) Standard HP: 25HP Maximum HP: 40HP

ENGINE SPECS Make: Mercury/Yamaha Model: 40 EFI/F40 Type: 4-Stroke, SOHC In-line 3 Displacement: 747cc Weight: 98kg (216lb)

STU’S STABI SUPPLIED BY

Richardson Marine 1056–1058 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia (03) 5562 6373; www.richardsonmarine.com.au

JARROD’S STABI SUPPLIED BY

MY Marine Cnr Nepean Highway & Ponderosa Place, Dromana, Victoria, Australia (03) 5987 0900; www.mymarine.com.au

MORE INFORMATION

Stabicraft Marine 345 Bluff Highway, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand +64 3 211 1828; www.stabicraft.com

THUMBS UP

• A tinnie without the tinny acoustics • Swiss Army fishing tool — kit it up or down • Easy sell to the family • Welded fixtures, that is, cleats • Low-speed planing and general efficiency • Stability and safety is a given • Amazing storage that’s also part of the superstructure

THUMBS DOWN

• Low and open transom at the rear lets water in — and out, which is helpful • A bigger sump/bilge area would remove water sloshing on the deck • Stubby bowsprit and smallish hole on the bow eye • Live bait tank not built in — it comes as an option • Hard bench seats

JACUZZICRAFT: Obviously, Jarrod had been watching too many Stabicraft safety videos. He thought he’d turn his into a spa bath.

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ADVENTURE TEST 1450 EXPLORER

whole lot was underwater. But hey, that’s the fun of beach launching. All the boys were there, so we dragged it up on the beach, turned the bilges on and had another beer. I wasn’t too stressed. It’s just water.”

Back at the ramp the boats get a thorough clean plus half a can of Inox lube, ready for another day. Jarrod admits he’s decided to relocate a few of the electronics after his embarrassing underwater excursion.

POWER PLANTS

Stuart is running a 40HP, three-cylinder EFI Mercury tiller four-stroke. “It performs fantastic. Going out to the Glennies today, we used only 26L of fuel in sloppy conditions, which is unbelievable for that trip.”

Jarrod is running a F40 Yamaha tiller, which moves him in many ways. “I’Il never have another outboard,” he says. “It’s quiet and smooth. I love the tiller arm, it’s very comfortable with the tilt and trim on the throttle,

plus the troll mode. It’s a brilliant outboard, very refined with that Yamaha reliability. I’ve gone through a couple of props to get it where I want it. Today, loaded up with three guys, fishing gear, ice, and a few beers, we were still pushing 25 knots through pretty ordinary conditions. We did the best part of 60km and used less than 30L of fuel.

That was giving it a fair hiding through the swell, on and off the throttle. Fuel economy is pretty unbelievable.”

Rack up another tick for the tiller — and the boys’ ecoboating mode.

Although the fishing hasn’t been electric, the Explorers have lived up to their name. The final word goes to Stu. “The idea came up to go to the Glennies and chase big kings,” he says. Who wouldn’t want to try that? Who doesn’t want to look back and go, remember that time we went to the Glennies punching into that huge swell? Man, that’s priceless. We got these boats so you can do these sorts of trips — you’ll always get there and back in one piece.”

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BEACH-LAUNCHING & RETRIEVAL TIPS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

PREPARATION IS KEY: Have things ready — motors primed, lifejackets on, snatch straps ready — in case things turn to custard.

SPEED IS ESSENTIAL: Clear the danger zone quickly —trailers sink quickly in the sand.

POINTY BIT FIRST: Keep the bow facing toward the sea whenever possible — that includes launching and waiting to retrieve. Transoms don’t like waves over the back. Water can be bilged out, but sand is hard to remove on the shoreline.

WORK THE ANGLES: When retrieving, try to break each tyre suction one at a time rather than driving them out together.

TIME TO DISCONNECT: If the surf is dumping on the beach, don’t muck around with the trailers. Connect a snatch strap to the bow eye of the boat and skull drag it out to a safe zone, then disconnect the trailer and winch it under the boat.

TIMING: Know your tides for the region. Low tide is generally a safer time to launch and retrieve when the sand is packed hard.

BEACH-LAUNCHING TOOLS: A swing-down stub-axle assembly/ beach wheel is essential if removing the trailer from the tow vehicle. Try to keep the trailer plug up high if possible. Stu’s has a magnet to attach it to the winch post. A snatch strap and 4WD is a must. Deflating tyres will help, too. Use large D-shackles for fitting snatch straps, but check they can fit through your bow eye first.

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ADVENTURE TEST 1850 FISHER

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SEE THE VIDEO AT YOUTUBE.COM/ STABICRAFTNZ

GAWAINE’S WORLD SOMETIMES YOU’VE GOT TO KNOCK YOUR HEAD AGAINST A BRICK WALL A FEW TIMES BEFORE YOU REALISE YOU’LL GET A LOT MORE OUT OF LIFE — AND FISHING — IF YOU CHILL OUT AND TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THE RIDE. THIS EXPERIENCED SEA DOG NOW MAKES HIS LIVING PASSING ON HIS HARD-WON KNOWLEDGE TO OTHERS. W O R D S A ND I M A GE S by Th e C a pt a i n

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ADVENTURE TEST 1850 FISHER

G

awaine Blake cut his teeth on commercial vessels in the days when skippers ruled over seals and pesky sharks with double-barrelled shotguns.

It was a time when disputes were settled in pubs with fists. Gawaine won a few, but lost plenty. The experience hardened him, but when he hit his 30s, the bloke looking back at him from the mirror was a broken man.

So today, he rolls at a more gentle pace. Slow-trolling live baits and squid strips along the coast of Far East Gippsland, Victoria, with kings as the quarry, this complex captain opens up to reveal a salty skipper with soul, a deep love of the ocean and an uncanny ability to haul up its secrets.

GET THE MEAT ON THE DECK

Gawaine has done almost every kind of professional fishing you can think of in Victorian waters. At the age of 17, he bought and ran his own 500HP steel cray boat in the Port Phillip Bay rip. He lead-lined kingfish in the ’90s, and has skippered long-liners and snapper charter boats and been a deckhand on scallop dredges and purse seiners. He’s worked 10-hour night shifts in driving rain lifting squid jigs from the belly of Bass Strait — but the love for recreational fishing passed on by his dad has never left him.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned about my commercial fishing is you don’t spout off about what you’re doing,” Gawaine says. “You get the job done and the meat on the deck before calling people in. When you’re on a boat, you concentrate on that bite, you don’t lose your cool, you take your time to keep the fish up, then start looking after the other boys on the water.”

These days, Gawaine’s regular gig is guiding boat owners around southern Victoria on their own vessels, helping them set up their rigs and digital gear at the same time.

“I’ll jump on your boat and teach you everything about fishing,” he says.

After spending the day with Gawaine on board his Stabicraft 1850 Fisher, anyone would be well and truly sold on his guiding capabilities. The knowledge shared is certainly more than you’d learn in 10 years watching Strikezone DVDs. Gummies and snapper are customer favourites, but Gawaine’s specialty is kingfish. “All my fishing has come down to this one style of fishing, which is chasing kings,” he says. “Everything else is in between. There are a lot things that make it more appealing — during kingie season, the weather is beautiful, we’re not getting bashed around and it’s just a good laugh with mates. We’re relaxing while actively targeting sportfish — and when you do hook up, everything goes absolutely wild, chasing the fish, clearing the rods. Then you turn around to look at your mates and they’re just shaking.”

FOLLOW YOUR COMPASS Gawaine has a subtle compass tattoo inked on his

forearm. “This is to find my way home from the pub,” he chuckles, before getting much more serious.

“From the age of 34, I struggled with depression.

I got this tat to keep me focused — to remember there’s an easier way out in things, to enjoy life, to go where it leads you — to go with your compass.”

In the cabin of the Stabi rolling down sea, the mood gets heavier as Gawaine opens up about some close friends. “I had a mate whose dad died two years ago and he inherited the house — so he was basically a millionaire. But then right before Xmas, he decided to take his own life. You talk to other people, and he had everything going for him, but in his mind, he had nothing. It’s just so sad.”

He has a bit of advice for blokes who are struggling. “You’ve got to have good mates and you’ve got to talk about it. Take a step back and look at it another way. Another mate of mine, Reece Claxton (the boat is named after him) recently died of cancer — and he would’ve done anything to live.

Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. You’ve got your health, you’re still alive and tomorrow’s another day. Things go wrong, but you can always fix it.”

He reckons a key to managing depression is to know the trigger points and look after yourself.

“Getting overly tired, eating shit and excessive drinking are no good. Look after your body, boys, and it’ll look after you.”

MALLACOOTA

MARLO

CONRAN CALLING

We hit the water at first light at Cape Conran, near Marlo.

It’s a narrow ocean ramp at the end of track winding down through coastal heathlands. The water rises and falls with the swell. On one side of the ramp is a narrow jetty, its rusty bolts waiting to savage the unwary. On the other side is a row of immovable bomboras, sporting scars from unsuspecting propellers.

We load up Gawaine’s new Stabi with camera gear. It’s an 1850, but this model has the width of a 2400. It’s built

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SALT GUIDE: Salt Guide is separate from Gawaine’s personal guiding business. He co-owns this information site with Aaron Habgood. “It’s $2.50 a week for a predictive report where we think the fish are going to be — with GPS points. But it’s mainly about the video information on how to rig a squid — that sort of stuff.”

“ALL MY FISHING HAS COME DOWN TO THIS ONE STYLE OF FISHING, WHICH IS CHASING KINGS.”

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ADVENTURE TEST 1850 FISHER

A DOZEN KINGSLINGIN’ TIPS

1/ There are big fish under the wash rocks 2/ Use the shadow of the boat to work the fish out 3/ When hooked up, keep the boat in gear 4/ Use a hooked-up fish as a teaser 5/ Keep the rod in the rod holder and clear the gear 6/ Keep driving when hooked up for more bites 7/ On glass-offs, go into the bays where reef meets sand 8/ Put in the time. I can spend 10 hours on the water for one bite.

9/ For bigger kings, get away from the small ones — go shallower 10/ Run multiple rods, you never know when the bite is going to come on 11/ Don’t pump erratically — go nice and smooth on the lift, but fast on the downstroke 12/ If you go hard and erratic, the fish will, too

“IT’S EASY TO TOW AND WE CAN PUSH THE THING UP ON THE BEACH IF WE WANT TO. THIS BOAT TICKS ALL THE BOXES.”

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for stability and has an XOS fishing deck. We’re curious, as all that experience would normally lead a skipper to favour a glass hardtop with a moderate or deep vee and twins, or maybe a Noosa Cat. Gawaine reckons he gets asked this question more than any other. “My last boat was a Haines Hunter V17L. It’s a beautiful-riding boat, but what it comes down to — and I realise this as I get older — is the stability at rest and enjoyment in fishing. It might take me a little bit longer to get there, I might cop a few knocks on the way, but once we’re there, on that stable platform we can fish across the back of the boat easily. It’s my style of fishing and we’re getting some amazing fish. It’s easy to tow and we can push the thing up on the beach if we want to. This boat ticks all the boxes.”

We glide north to Tamboon Reef, Gawaine sitting well forward like an Uber minibus driver, gazing through a huge windscreen that wouldn’t look out of place on the Starship Enterprise, looking for bait on the surface.

There’s a light nor’easterly and the 16-degree Stabi skips along the surface, pushed by a 135HP Mercury fourstroke. There’s none of the banging of a traditional tinnie, just a light thudding. Gawaine puts it down to the arrow pontoons and foam filling. “There are waves that come at you, and you’re like, here we go — but it just doesn’t happen,” he says.

BEST BAITS FOR KINGS

We ask Gawaine about his preferred kingie bait. “The choice of bait depends on the location, but fishing deeper reefs down at Tamboon or Marlo, I prefer arrow squid,” he says. “You’ll find them offshore where you find whitebait or pilchards. There will be a school of red, but underneath will be some blue blobs — that’s the squid — and you drop the jigs down through that. I use Japanese lead-based jigs covered in cloth as my sinkers. We have a paternoster above that, then above that a prawn-style Yo-Zuri jig. Drop that down the bottom then work it up and down through the bait.”

Closer to Gawaine’s home, around Phillip Island and The Rip, slimies and yakkas are his favourite king baits.

“I can get them right down on the bottom, either drifting or on the down-rigger. They don’t get attacked by the wrasse, whereas the live squid bait get knocked around.

But every day is different. We’ve caught them on dead garfish with chin weights under their nose.”

Gawaine’s preferred kingie country is around headlands and under the wash rocks. He reckons the smaller school fish tend to sit on the outer reefs, or on the edge of the reef where it meets sand. But here’s his first trade secret: “On calmer days that glass out, I don’t mind going into bays where there’s no structure at all. The kings will be in those bays, mooching around looking for gars and squid — then they sunbake and digest their food. You might only find five or six, but they’ll be genuine 10kg–15kg fish.”

Slow-trolling, with the teaser out behind the boat is Gawaine’s most productive technique, working the edges of reef and sand. “The kings will hang over the reef, but you’ll find they’ll raid into the sand holes,” he says.

MASTER BAITER

Gawaine uses Gamakatsu 7/0 live bait hooks for squid strips. “I like a J-style hook when we’re running twin hooks,” he says. His experience fishing in Western Port Bay’s hard-running current serves him well when trolling strip baits, and he takes time to trim every bait nice and straight, pin the hooks exactly in the centreline and then test them at the side of the boat with his rod tip

underwater. He runs two down-riggers set 5m down and 3m back from the lead weight. Off the bait board, he runs a Pakula dredge bar that looks a bit like a dress out of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Its job is to replicate a bait ball, while the baits are mimicking injured fish sitting just off the ball.

“It’s not a really big one, but is easy to get out of the way,” Gawaine says. “I put it on the 200g Catch Squidwing weights on the front, which keeps it down. We run that about eight or nine metres behind the boat and about two metres under the water — just close enough that I can see it. The kings will actually swim up to it — and sometimes in it. If that happens, we can switch bait or throw a plastic right next to the teaser. Everything is designed to operate two-up or three-up, as quickly as possible.”

Snug in the Stabi’s custom rod racks sits a healthy selection of seemingly undersized Shimano reels. “We fish heavy enough to stop a big king, but still enjoy a small fish,” Gawaine explains. “The thing about the overhead is that I know exactly where my drag is, so when we hook up, I can actually notice where the drag is. Three turns on a threadline reel and I’ve got no idea where the drag is.

We’ve tried the Ocea jiggers. They’re a beautifully smooth reel, great for jigging, but with the boat banging around, I couldn’t hear the drag. I’d turn around and half the spool would be empty. I use a few Stellas for my casting side of things, but I really love the Talicas with their nice heavy ratchets. We’re even running them on the barrels, using the small 20s — the smallest you can get with the fighting lugs.”

As far as drag goes, strike sits at about 7kg. “At the early stages of the fight, I might come back to 2kg or 3 kg. I let the fish dictate a little bit what it’s doing to me before I go full-bore and spook that fish.”

We’re just in gear and there’s 300g of drag. When the king takes the bait, he’ll burn the elastic off and the pressure of the band will be enough to hook the fish. Each of the rods is matched to Samurai Osprey overhead rods.

We’ve put a Shimano Twin Power XD 4000 with Anthem

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ADVENTURE TEST 1850 FISHER

SW 7’6” rod into the spread and are pretty keen to see if Gawaine can empty a spool of braid, but he nonchalantly rigs a squid strip and sends it out on the shotgun, noting that it’s not power that subdues kings, but technique and timing.

“One of the biggest mistakes with kings is going too hard,” he says. “If you’ve got a fish going for structure, the best thing to do is back your drag off.”

Sure enough, he catches a legal-sized kingie to prove his point. Words are never wasted in Gawaine’s world, and gear is not for show, but to get the job done. To stay connected with the fish, he runs 780m of 80lb Tasline, but he’ll never use it all up on kingfish. “They’re going to take a max 30m of line,” he says. “If they take any more than that, we’re done.”

FROM MARLO TO MALLACOOTA

At Tamboon Reef we spot free-swimming kings and Gawaine gets dusted by a bigger model in the shallows.

It sends the crew into the doldrums, but Gawaine stays upbeat. “Yeah, they dust you off, but I don’t take it to heart anymore. I learn from it.” This is a man who has experienced far harder lessons in life.

The water turns overly green, so Gawaine looks for local intel. “Give Gutsy a call,” he says. “Ask him where the clean water is.”

In minutes, a new plan is hatched as we decide to head to the Marlo pub, then leave at 6am the next day for Mallacoota. The trip through the mountainous Lind National Park is effortless in Gawaine’s Nissan Pathfinder, and after briefly stopping in at Cann River for fuel and a pie, we make it to Mallacoota. The nifty Stabicraft rig is all part of Gawaine’s modus operandi. “That’s the thing with kings, you’ve got to be so reactive,” he says. “This thing lets me zip around the coast anywhere I want to and still folds down and fits in my garage at home.”

In the afternoon we find several schools of kings not far from Sandpatch Point, 12 miles down the coast from the Bastion Point boat ramp. We snag about 10 fish from 14 bites. A few of those are undersized, but kings are kings and we’re all smiles.

THE WATER TURNS OVERLY GREEN, SO GAWAINE LOOKS FOR LOCAL INTEL. “GIVE GUTSY A CALL,” HE SAYS. “ASK HIM WHERE THE CLEAN WATER IS.”

FAT STABI

With a few fish coming over the XL gunwale, Gawaine is now in his groove, working back over the reef edges. It’s the perfect time to pick his brain, as we’re intrigued about the extra-wide deck on the Stabi 1850.

“I’ve got 25 per cent more floor space over the old 1850 and more fuel storage with 150L,” he says. “That gives me an honest range of nearly 300km, so I can basically fish anywhere I want”.

“Honest range” has got to be preferable to the “ballpark” range most skippers quote.

However, the Stabi’s big selling point for him is its stability. “I’m confident we’ll never get pushed up onto rocks,” he says. “We’re not going to get knocked around — it changes the way you fish. There’s no way anyone is getting scared. This morning, off Gabo Island, we were 3m from the edge of the island in 4m deep water — and not even in gear.”

For proof, we just have to glance back at Kyle Dicecco’s V17 Dirty Deeds, which has come along for the ride and is rocking and rolling in the slop behind us. “I’m not going to win the battle of the deep vee, that’s for sure, but it suits my style of fishing.”

Speaking of deep vees, while we were bobbing out of Mallacoota, local Jack Durham rocked up in his backyardbuilt Haines Hunter V17 mutant with its Cootacraft Gun Shot top deck, sporting a 175 Mercury Verado. Naturally,

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BOAT SPECS STABICRAFT 1850 PROFISH Length 5.69m (18.7ft) Beam 2.3m (7.54ft) Dry hull weight 748kg (1651lb) Deadrise 16-degree Passengers 6 Recommended HP 90HP Maximum HP 140HP Fuel capacity 150L (39.6gal)

ENGINE SPECS Model: Mercury 135HP Type: SOHC Inline 4 Displacement: 3L Weight: 206kg (545lb)

SUPPLIED BY:

MY Marine Cnr. Nepean Hwy & Ponderosa Place, Dromana, Victoria, Australia (03) 5987 0900. www.mymarine.com.au

MORE INFORMATION:

Stabicraft Marine 345 Bluff Highway, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. +64 3 211 1828. www.stabicraft.com

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ADVENTURE TEST 1850 FISHER

FOR THE RECORD • Biggest king on rod and reel: • Biggest king on leadline: • Biggest king in Victoria: • Most kings in a day: • Fave spot:

34kg 28.6kg 18.7kg at Phillip Island 90+ at Green Cape, NSW Back of Western Port Bay

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this called for a race. With his 135HP Mercury, Gawaine was never going to be in the hunt for straight-line speed — unless the race was in reverse — but Jack and co-pilot Grant “Gutsy” Shorland are up for the challenge. As the flag drops, Jack is out to an early lead, but then things get a little unstable on the V17 and the bilge pumps are called into action, leaving the 1850 with a narrow victory thanks its to game chaser transom.

“For a little boat, I can back up hard on fish or seals,” Gawaine says.

After his victory, Gawaine shares a few more choice Stabi features. “The gunwales are so wide, there’s always somewhere to sit, and the storage throughout the boat, in every nook and cranny, is well thought out — you can stuff gear everywhere and it’s still easy to find. The work station on the back is unbelievable. I didn’t get the transom door because when you’re slow-trolling it can vibrate from the motor and become quite annoying.”

Gawaine also modified the bait overflow holes for the bait tanks, restricting the water flow that was leaving his live baits, not so, er, live.

He’s a fan of the fold-down bimini. “This thing is so rigid, I’ve bolted my outriggers to it — it just doesn’t

go anywhere,” he says. “The Fisher model has a flip-up windscreen that makes launching solo so much easier, especially in winter when you don’t want to get your feet wet. We do a bit of beach launching and I can literally drive the boat up the beach so the guys can jump out.”

GUIDE ME

Gawaine’s day job is guiding, which includes dialling in the customer’s digital equipment. “When you buy a unit, it’s like buying an iPhone,” he says. “You need to set up the unit for your style of fishing. I generally go into my settings and bring down the sensitivity so I’m only running medium CHIRP, and leave it in auto. Then I go into my colour ranges. I push mine up to plus-four, which means I can back my sensitivity down, but when I see a hard object it will show red. When we fish Western Port Bay, there’s a lot of weed and jellyfish, so if you can back your gain off, when you hit a hard object it’ll come through in a nice dark red colour.”

Gawaine then dispenses sound advice about sounders.

“Your sounder is like a stereo. You want to see the heaviest things, like the bass on the stereo. I don’t want to see — or hear — all the treble, so turn your gain/volume down.”

“GAWAINE’S DAY JOB IS GUIDING, WHICH INCLUDES DIALLING IN THE CUSTOMER’S DIGITAL EQUIPMENT.”

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ADVENTURE TEST 1850 FISHER

GAWAINE’S TOP 10 FEATURES ON CLAXTON • The new bait board with inset lid and lip that won’t crimp line • Fold-down seats for cruising with kids and an elevated casting position • Gunwales are so wide there’s always somewhere to sit.

The dog even sleeps up there • Unbelievable stowage that’s easy to get to. Everything has a home • “Honest” range of 300km • Work station at the transom is awesome • Standard rod holder set-up is exceptional — six rods off the side and shotgun off the top is all you need • Stability and deck width for three at the back • Fits in the garage • Arrow pontoon and foam-filled hull

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STABIPARTNER SIMRAD

SWITCH HIT

TAKE TOTAL CONTROL OF YOUR BOATING OPERATION WITH SIMRAD’S NEW DIGITAL SWITCHING SOLUTIONS. It’s a relatively new concept for trailer boats, but with the trend towards cleaner helms, digital switching is becoming more accessible — and more popular.

Digital switching sets you free as the Simrad Command system integrates with your physical switches. This allows you to take control of every facet of the operation from Simrad’s multi-function display (MFD), which delivers vessel-wide monitoring, digital switching and control capabilities via a digital switching box. You’ll be able to control not only your autopilot from the MFD, but everything else from lights and music to bait tank and bilge pump. And you can see it all in high definition, a major plus in the early morning or evening when the light isn’t so great.

WHAT’S THE DIAGNOSIS? Simrad Command also offers advanced vessel diagnostics. If you have the misfortune to blow a fuse, you can pretty quickly and easily identify which fuse is the issue on your MFD display and swap it out.

You’ll also have control via the Sidebar on your Simrad MFD, which is available whatever screen you’re on, be it sonar, chart or radar. Set it to show all the time, or swipe it away for when you need it — your call.

Another big plus is that this system can now be fitted at the Stabicraft factory, making it one less thing to worry about. Just ask your local Stabi dealer about Simrad Command systems and take control of the whole vessel from the safety of the helm.

For more details, check out www.simrad-yachting.com/ integration-solutions

Take control.

TAKE CONTROL

If you can control your autopilot and music from If you can control your autopilot and music from you your MFD, why can’t you control your lights, bait MFD, why can’t you control your tank or tank or bilge pump?

Now you canlights, – withbait Simrad bilge pump?

Now you can - withof Simrad® Command Command you have full control your switches with a touch of the screen. you have full control of your switches with a touch of the screen.

SEE CLEARLY See clearly.

Having trouble reading which switch controls Struggle readingno which switch controls what? Struggle longer – with Simradwhat?

Command Struggle no longer, with Simrad® Command you in you can clearly see your switches on your MFD, highclearly definition. can see your switches on your MFD, in high definition.

DIAGNOSE WITH Diagnose withEASE ease.

With a full-page diagnostics, easily identify which With a full diagnostics, easilyinstantly identify which switch haspage blown and understand which switch has blown and understand instantly which one to replace. one to replace.

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ADVENTURE TEST SOLANDER ISLAND

SEE THE VIDEO VIDEO AT YOUTUBE OUTUBE.C .COM/ OM/ STABICRAFTN ST ABICRAFTNZZ

W O RD S AN D I M A GE S by S O U TH S E A S S P E A R O

SOLANDER’S

SECRETS

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THE SOUTH SEAS SPEARO CREW SADDLE UP AND HEAD SOUTH TO SOLANDER ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND, FOR A SPEARING ADVENTURE AMONG — BUT NOT INTO — THE SEALS.

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ADVENTURE TEST SOLANDER ISLAND

S

olander Island, aka Hautere, is actually a trio of rocky islets rising more than 300m out of Foveaux Strait, off the south-western tip of the South Island.

The ancient volcanic rocks are shrouded in thick vegetation, nesting birds and a layer of fog — it could be a scene from King Kong. But no giant apes live here. Solander is home to thousands of vociferous Buller’s albatross, a colony of well-fed fur seals and a hell of a lot of fish.

In the surging waters below the cliffs lie huge boulders where large paua and crayfish lurk. Schools of blue cod and other underwater beasties cruise by the 35m drop-offs. It’s one of those places where pretty much anything could turn up, including sharks and 100kg-plus tuna.

THE MISSION

South Seas Spearo crew member Dwane Herbert is a staunch southern man. He’s been chewing the ears off anyone who’ll listen about the leviathans that dwell in these virgin waters for quite some time. While commercially diving for paua and kina (abalone and urchin), he spotted a big tuna — and possibly a marlin, or a swordfish, he didn’t get a great look at it. Since then, Solander had been calling him, and he was keen to discover more of their secrets.

With a fickle weather forecast, there was no guarantee we’d even get there. We launched from Bluff and headed across the Foveaux Strait to dive the waters of Stewart Island/Rakiura. We would overnight at Codfish Island and make the call on running to Solander the next morning. Steaming from Codfish rather than Bluff or Oban would cut a good 40 minutes off the run, which in heavy seas could make all the difference in terms of fuel. It was touch and go, but in the end we trusted the big Stabicraft 2500 Ultracab XL would get us there safely and efficiently.

THE SOLANDER CREW DAVE SHAW — South Seas Spearo cameraman and producer, his job was to capture the action above the water.

Launch the drone!

SAM WILD — Underwater cameraman Sam was tasked with showcasing the underwater environment — and keeping up with slippery Dwane.

DWANE HERBERT — The quarterback for our Solander adventure, Dwane read the play and put the crew — and spear tips — in all the right places.

DAVE STRUDWICK — The 2500 Ultracab XL owner, based in Wanaka, was skippering his most extreme offshore mission yet. Steady on the helm, Captain!

STORM — The job of this 19-year-old Stewart Island local was to keep the excitement levels high — an easy task for this fizzing frog in a sock.

KIERAN ANDREWS — A South Seas Spearo regular, Kieran was determined to nail a monster blue cod at Solander.

He ended up wrestling a big buck crayfish.

SOUTH SEAS STEED: Our trusty steed for the Solander Island mission was Dave’s Stabicraft 2500 Ultracab XL.

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX: xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx

SEAL OF DISAPPROVAL Solander has a colourful history. In the early 1800s, a group of sealers spent five years marooned on the remote islands. When they were eventually rescued by a passing ship, its cunning skipper demanded all the seal pelts they’d accumulated over that period as payment to return them to the mainland. Fair exchange.

SOLANDER ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

DWANE HERBERT IS A NEW ZEALAND

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ADVENTURE TEST SOLANDER ISLAND

SOLANDER SPECIES: Solander gave up some big crayfish, paua, blue cod (right), trumpeter (far right) and warehou (opening spread).

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ON THE HUNT

The best capture of the trip was Kieran’s warehou — a cagey species that easily spooks. You stalk them by swimming into the current, finding their poo then slowly and stealthily swimming into the school with minimal movement. Hopefully, they come in for a look, you pick one and spear — but it’s easier said than done. Blue cod are easier prey because of their inquisitive nature. Just dive to the bottom and wait for them to swim up to you. Trumpeter are also curious and will come up to your grille. It’s less about skill and more about finding these tasty and great-looking fish.

However, the local crayfish are aggressive. Given half a chance, they’ll clamp down on your hand and try to take your finger off.

The size of the paua made them perfect for creamed paua, a simple but bloody tasty dish. Just sauté some crushed garlic, onion and butter in a hot fry pan, then add sliced paua. When browned off, add some cream and let it reduce, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Delicious!

“JUST DIVE TO THE BOTTOM AND WAIT FOR THEM TO SWIM UP TO YOU. TRUMPETER ARE ALSO CURIOUS AND WILL COME UP TO YOUR GRILLE. IT’S LESS ABOUT SKILL AND MORE ABOUT FINDING THESE TASTY AND GREATLOOKING FISH.”

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ADVENTURE TEST SOLANDER ISLAND

BOAT SPECS STABICRAFT 2500 ULTRACAB XL Length: 7.62m (25ft) Beam: 2.56m (8.4ft) Deadrise: 19° Max adults: 9 Dry hull weight (approx): 1630kg (3593lb) BMT weight (approx): 3500kg (7716lb) Fuel capacity: 378L (100gal) Standard HP: Twin 150HP Maximum HP: 400HP

ENGINE SPECS Make: Yamaha Model: F300 Type: 24-valve DOHC V6 Displacement: 4.2L Weight: 288kg (635lb)

MORE INFORMATION

Stabicraft Marine 345 Bluff Highway, Invercargill, Southland NZ +64 3 211 1828; www.stabicraft.com

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“WITH SIX CREW ON BOARD, THE STABICRAFT PROVED A COSY, YET COMFORTABLE LIVEABOARD, AND WAS IDEAL FOR GETTING INTO THE SWEET SPOTS.”

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ADVENTURE TEST SOLANDER ISLAND

2500 REPORTING FOR DUTY

The Stabicraft 2500 Ultracab XL was our floating mobile base for the trip. It proved safe, stable and big enough for six crew to camp in, but small enough to get into the premium locations. Land-based is not really an option on Solander, unless you want to live with the fur seals.

The cab was a winning feature — being able to get in out of the chilly weather was a major plus. Having bulk deck space to gear up was also pretty handy on this dive mission. About the only thing the team reckoned they’d change on the Stabi was to add a speargun rack at the stern near the bait board.

At the business end, a 300HP Yamaha powered the Stabi to Solander, burning through 350L on the trip. We carried spare fuel in jerry cans on the roof. The steam out was a bit bumpy, averaging 16 knots, but the 100km home run home to Bluff was a breeze at 25 knots. The Stabi delivered us home safely, we filleted the catch and sat down for a beer, just as the sou’wester started blowing on our necks. Job done.

“AT THE BUSINESS END, A 300HP YAMAHA POWERED THE STABI TO SOLANDER, BURNING THROUGH 350L ON THE TRIP. WE CARRIED SPARE FUEL IN JERRY CANS ON THE ROOF.”

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STABIPARTNER WAKEFIELD METALS

PRECIOUS METAL

THE CREW FROM WAKEFIELD HAS BEEN SUPPLYING THE SHINY STUFF — ALLOY, THAT IS — TO STABICRAFT FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. HOWEVER, IT HASN’T BEEN WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES. The world sure has changed. In early 2020, aluminium traded on the London Metals Exchange at US$1450 m/t and a 40ft container packed with the stuff arrived on our shores from China at a cost of around US$2000.

Fast-forward to right now and aluminium is trading between US$3000–$3500 m/t and a container from China can cost up to US$12,000. The price of alloy has more than doubled and the cost of shipping has grown sixfold!

Despite that, everyone still wants a shiny new Stabicraft. Sales have nearly doubled, putting even more pressure on the distribution channel, specifically shipping to that lonely country at the bottom of the South Pacific called Aotearoa New Zealand.

Working closely with Stabicraft, Wakefield has ensured the precious metal continues to arrive on time and in in the right quantities to keep those new Stabis pumping out of the factory.

WHY THE ALLOY OBSESSION? Simple. Alloy is lightweight, easily workable, strong in all temperatures, non-magnetic, and non-toxic.

The surface of aluminium quickly oxidises to form an invisible barrier to corrosion. It’s also 100 per cent recyclable. That’s the reason it’s bloody good stuff to build boats out of.

But like all metals, aluminium is “alive” — in the sense that it reacts to its environment. The more severe the environment, the more corrosion — and

it doesn’t get much more severe than saltwater. This means you always need to give it a little love — a freshwater clean after you’ve been offshore is always a good idea — and avoid any cleaners high in acid.

Your Stabicraft will also need an anode to protect the alloy from corrosion, especially in a marina, where many different metals are busily reacting to the saltwater.

For more details, check out www.wakefieldmetals.co.nz

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NEVER BEFORE SEEN ON A SINGLE OUTBOARD THE NEXT GENERATION IN DIGITAL BOAT CONTROL

FISHPOINT ®

Automatic position holding

DRIF TPOINT ®

Heading control when drifting

AUTOPILOT Navigation system

/YamahaMarineNZ yamaha-motor.co.nz

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STABIDEALER

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DEALER GUIDE

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE STABI DEALER NETWORK

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STABIDEALER

NEW DEALER IN NORTHLAND

Northland is a subtropical region at the top of New Zealand’s North Island, framed by the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. It’s a haven for recreational boating on both east and west coasts with game fishing in the summer and amazing snapper and kingfish fisheries in the Bay of Islands — which also offers also world-class cruising, as does the Cavalli Islands and Whangaroa Harbour. We reckon it’s the perfect spot for a new Stabicraft dealership.

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T

win Coast Marine will open its doors in mid 2022. The new dealership is part of the Kiwi Yachting group of companies owned

by Richard and Isabel Macalister and Dean Barker. Twin Coast came about when Blair Gerrard — a long-time employee of the group — moved to the Kerikeri/Waipapa region.

The dealership is on the main road north to Whangaroa, Doubtless Bay and the Far North. It features a large front yard displaying new and used boats, as well as storage and an adjacent showroom.

It also offers a three-bay service workshop and fitout area. Currently supplying Suzuki outboards, Twin Coast plans to expand its engine offerings. Electronic fit-outs include Garmin and Raymarine.

WHY STABICRAFT? Stabicraft was a logical choice for the new crew, who pride themselves on stocking the best brands. The Walk-Around and Walk-Thru models are seen as ideal configurations for the treacherous bar crossings on the west coast as well as their cruising potential in the Bay of Islands. As a testament to the people behind the new dealership — and Stabicraft boats — Twin Coast Marine has already sold its first boat, a 2250 Ultra Cab Walk-Thru.

CONTACT

TWIN COAST MARINE 1899 SH10, Waipapa, Northland, New Zealand 027 551 5061; www.twincoastmarine.co.nz

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STABIDEALER

CANADA CALLING

Gibbons Motor Toys (GMT) is a family-owned marine retailer and service centre with two locations in western Canada. The team has more than 40 years’ experience in fresh and saltwater boating.

GMT WITH THE LOT GMT distributes KingFisher and Coyote boats, Mercury outboards, EZ Loader trailers, Simrad and Lowrance electronics, Burnewiin and Scotty accessories — and now Stabicraft boats.

CONTACT

GIBBONS MOTOR TOYS 5009 50 Avenue, Gibbons, Alberta, Canada 780 923 3796 630 Ross Street NE, Salmon Arm, British Columbia 250 833 0058 www.gibbonsmotortoys.com

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G

ibbons Motor Toys opened its doors in June 1981. Originally it was an automotive repair centre, but the focus gradually transitioned to marine and power sports. The crew at Gibbons say they’re all expert outdoor enthusiasts — so fish and game beware!

GMT HQ is in Alberta and features an expansive shop with an 11,000 sq ft indoor showroom, so there’s plenty of space to display the big Stabicraft beasts coming their way. The second GMT dealership is located on Shuswap lake in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, and features nearly an acre of outdoor showroom space and two full-sized service bays.

Both locations have ready access to water to test drive boats. Alberta has some of the best river boating in the world, while British Columbia with its iconic mountain backdrops, has an abundance of lakes, rivers and the Pacific Northwest coast. Importantly for Stabi owners, both locations offer world-class fishing for the likes of salmon, lake trout, rainbow, Arctic grayling, walleye and more.

WHY STABICRAFT? The Canadian west is rugged and remote, but Stabicraft boats are built for the job, being tough, durable, safe and reliable. Getting home in one piece is a prerequisite for GMT customers, but it’s not just fishing and touring duties. The GMT team expects their Stabis will be used for transportation of people and materials to the water access-only homes common on Canadian lakes.

It’s early days for the GMT and Stabicraft partnership, but the Stabi’s unique lines and features have already got tongues wagging. New customers can expect their Stabicraft to take about three months to build in the Kiwi factory. After the six-week journey to Canada, it will be transported by truck to a GMT locations and rigged with engines, controls and electronics. It will then be water-tested with the customer before arriving at its new home.

ADVENTURE THIS WAY Local waters lead to spectacular remote locations including Haida Gwaii, Skeena River, Quesnel Lake and Fraser River in British Columbia, and Great Slave Lake and Lake Athabasca in Alberta.

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STABIDEALER

STAY SHARP

Luke Sharp from Kev and Ian’s Marine discusses their recent Dealer of the Year award, and how the boat business has changed in recent years.

F

resh from their Dealer of the Year win, Kev & Ian’s Marine is not taking its hand off the throttle any time soon. A long-time dealer of Stabicraft boats, the crew from Manukau, Auckland experienced growth across the whole Stabicraft range to earn the award, but particularly with the new 1450 range.

“We’ve seen 1450s fitted with electronic packages that historically were only seen on much larger vessels — electronic trolling motors, winches, LED lighting, lighting, audio, lithium batteries and the like,” Kev & Ian’s managing director Luke Sharp says, adding that family boaters have also come back to boating. “I love delivering

someone’s first boat or dream boat — I feed off their experience. It’s been great sitting down with the families and working with them to find a boat that really suits their requirements.”

It’s pretty easy when you live at the heart of Kiwi boating, near the Waikato River, with the east and west coasts not too far away. “There are endless opportunities to explore and you don’t have to travel far,” Luke says.

“Popular spots are the mussel farms in the Firth of Thames or the bottom end of Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf.”

Like a lot of boat dealerships, Kev and Ian started as

The crew has just delivered a pair of 2500 Ultracab XL Stabis into the market. Both featured more than 200 hours of fit-up time.

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outboard technicians who serviced and repaired boats, then expanded into boat sales. Today, they have a highly skilled and dedicated team who go the extra mile to deliver a premium product.

Luke reckons Stabicraft makes it pretty easy to do his job. “This is the company that pioneered the chambered hull design and continues to dominate their market through innovative design and performance,” he says.

“A key to Kev & Ian’s success is being able to stock a full range of boats that cater for everyone from the firsttime boat buyer through to the hardened fishermen.”

Kev & Ian’s stocks Mercury outboards and its rigs are fitted to DMW, GFAB and Futura trailers. The electronics are supplied by ENL and Navico.

MARKETING THROUGH GREAT STORIES Kev & Ian’s recently released a series of videos titled Breaking the Barrier. They feature an assortment of Stabicraft boats on a five-day adventure from Maraetai out to Great Barrier Island.

CONTACT Kev & Ian’s Marine

71 Druces Road, Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand +64 9 267 4999; www.kev.co.nz

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© 2020 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

STABIPARTNER ULTRALON

THE ULTRALON FAMILY: U-Dek (below) is a durable, lightweight, closed-cell foam that’s soft underfoot, easy to maintain and looks damn fine.

U-Tread (above) is ideal for hard-wearing surfaces requiring that extra grip.

U-LIKE?

U-DEK FLOORING HAS BECOME SO POPULAR WITH STABICRAFT BOATS, THE ONLY QUESTION THAT REMAINS IS, WHAT COLOUR? Made by Ultralon, U-Dek decking material is a durable, lightweight, closed-cell foam that’s soft underfoot, easy to maintain and looks great. It’s also cost-effective relative to other boat flooring finishes and requires little ongoing maintenance.

The U-Dek panelwork is created by CNC routing the top layer of foam, exposing the layer underneath, with the edges bevelled to a clean, crisp finish ready for application.

U-Dek products include a 3M peel-and-stick marinegrade adhesive backing for easy installation — or they can put you touch with a growing number of authorised installers. For smaller areas, you can purchase packs of

U-Dek in various sizes, styles and colours for your own easy DIY installation. Colour options include teak, black and a range of grey shades.

FOR AN ULTRA-TOUGH FINISH U-Dek’s cousin, known as U-Tread, is a pressed dot pattern for hard-wearing surfaces requiring that extra grip. It offers exceptional traction on floors, gunwales, trailers and general wet areas. It also protects surfaces against sun and abrasion, while being easy to clean.

For more details, check out www.udek.com

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jj551192

© 2020 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

FORCE ™ TROLLING MOTOR | POWERFUL . EFFICIENT. QUIET.

STABp080_PARTNER and- Resize.indd GARMIN.indd1 81 jj551192 - Garmin ForceULTRALON Trolling Motor

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STABISHOWROOM

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BUYER’S GUIDE

FACTS AND FIGURES TO HELP YOU PICK YOUR PERFECT STABI

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Rec HP

Max engine weight

Max HP

Max persons

Dry tow weight

Dry hull weight

EXPLORER

Height on trailer

Length on trailer

Length

Boat model

STABISHOWROOM

4

40

30

125kg (276lb)

4 5

50 75

40 50

165kg (364lb) 264kg (582lb)

EXPLORER The 1450 Explorer is designed to be a safe, low-maintenance option for small boat buyers 14.5ft (4.42m)

1450

5.7m (18.7ft)

1.44m (4.72ft)

265kg (584lb)

655kg (1444lb)

FRONTIER The 1450 Frontier side console comes in a Sportfish or Profish configuration The new 1550 is bigger and carries more fuel, passengers and horsepower than the 1450 14.5ft (4.42m) 15.8ft (4.8m)

1450 1550

5.7m (18.7ft) 6.1 (20.01ft)

1.81m (5.93ft) 1.92m (6.29ft)

290kg (639lb) 550kg (1212lb)

720kg (1587lb) 985kg (2171lb)

#

MYSTABI

OWNER: BRENDON GILLIES LIVES: ARKLES BAY, WHANGAPARAOA, NEW ZEALAND BOAT: 1450 FRONTIER PROFISH BOAT NAME: FISHA SAS SIN ENGINE: MERCURY 50HP ELECTRONICS: HUMMINBIRD SOLIX 10 FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOUR 1450?

“The safety, stability and the space available for a 4.5m boat. Snorkelling gear, towels, warm clothes, a day’s food, life jackets, fishing rods, a 70L cooler, spare fuel — it all fits! If you asked the kids, they’d say jumping off the wide gunwales, relaxing on the bean bags at the bow, snorkelling, wakeboarding and waterskiing.”

WHAT BOLT-ONS HAS SHE GOT? “The Mercury is set up with VesselView paired to my iPhone app. A Minn Kota Terrova is paired with a Humminbird Solix 10, which is mounted at the helm on a RAM swing arm to enable better screen vision around the boat. Of course, there’s also a Fusion portable speaker to pump up the vibe.”

HOW’S THE FISHING OVER YOUR WAY: “With the Hauraki Gulf right on the doorstep, expect great snapper fishing, plenty of kahawai work-ups and the everpresent kingfish. Exploring the surrounding areas of Kawau and Tiritiri Matangi Islands — or creeping along the coastline casting into the wash — they’re all perfect locations for shallow-water soft-baiting on light gear.”

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g (364lb) kg (582lb)

Fuel tank volume

Total sealed volume

Hull thickness

Tube thickness

Deadrise (degrees)

Internal beam

External beam

Leg length

g (276lb)

FRONTIER

20”

N/A

960L (253.6gal)

Easily towed and handled, weighing as little as 655kg (1444lb) 1.89m (74.4”)

1.35m (53.14”)

15°

3mm (1/8”)

3mm (1/8”)

The Sportfish comes with a side console and upholstered seat as standard as well as an Icey-Tek chillybin (esky) The Profish features stainless steel rod holders, dash windscreen and dual boarding platforms as standard 1.89m (74.4”) 2.01m (79.1”)

1.35m (53.14”) 1.35m (53.14”)

15° 15°

3mm (1/8”) 3mm (1/8”)

3mm (1/8”) 4mm (5/32”)

20” 20”

N/A Optional 60L (15.85gal)

960L (253.6gal) 984L (260gal)

Recommended HP and maximum engine weight ratings are indicative only. Please consult with an authorised dealer for correct figures and weights

#

MYSTABI

OWNER: LUKE SLOBBE OCCUPATION: ELECTRICIAN LIVES: WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND BOAT: 1450 FRONTIER PROFISH BOAT NAME: CREEPING DEATH ENGINE: YAMAHA F50 ELECTRONICS: SIMRAD NSS EVO3 HOW IS LIFE IN WELLINGTON? “When the weather is good, Wellington has some amazing fishing on offer. We have access to a nice sheltered harbour with the east, south and west coasts of the lower North Island all pretty near. Deep drop-offs and canyons are in relatively close and there are species like snapper, kingfish, blue cod, terakihi, gurnard, bluenose, bass and hapuka to hook into.”

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM FISH? “The dream would have to be bagging a broadbill out of the 1450!”

WHY A STABICRAFT? “The boat is used for fishing 99 per cent of the time, so stability at rest was a big factor for me — plus the ease of walking around and the usable space. Safety features, such as the positive buoyancy chambers, ensure I can get home to the kids. It’s also easy to beach launch and retrieve solo because of the shallow draught, and the fuel efficiency is fantastic.”

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Max engine weight

Rec HP

Max HP

Max persons

Dry tow weight

Dry hull weight

Height on trailer

Length on trailer

Length

Boat model

STABISHOWROOM

FISHER Measuring 15.5ft (4.72m) the 1550 Fisher is an easy-to-handle boat, no matter the occasion The 1850 Fisher features the innovative Game Chaser transom, Arrow pontoons and rear fold-up seats as standard 15.5ft (4.72m) 18.7ft (5.7m)

1550 1850

6m (19.68ft) 7.4m (24.47ft)

1.92m (6.29ft) 2.2m (7.21ft)

415kg (915lb) 775kg (1708lb)

850kg (1873lb) 1357kg (2991lb)

5 6

75 140

50 90

235kg (518lb) 322kg (710lb)

#

MYSTABI

OWNERS: KADE THORNHILL (AND HIS FATHER) OCCUPATION: STUDENT LIVES: MORNINGTON PENINSULA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA BOAT: 1850 FISHER ENGINE: MERCURY 115 PRO XS ELECTRONICS: GARMIN ECHOMAP ULTRA 125SV WHY A STABI? “Dad and I picked a Stabicraft because of the fishing room, stability at rest and, most importantly, the safety. You can just send it — it’s more capable than you think. We also looked at Surtees, but as soon as we went in the Stabi, we knew it was the one.”

WHAT’S BITING ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA? “We catch King George whiting, snapper, squid and gummy sharks, but you can also catch kingfish and bluefin tuna when they come around.”

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Total sealed volume

Leg length

Hull thickness

Tube thickness

Deadrise (degrees)

Internal beam

External beam

Fuel tank volume

kg (518lb) g (710lb)

FISHER

Optional 60L (15.85gal) 150L (39.6gal)

984L (260gal) 1496L (395.2gal)

Built-in tackle trays, a purpose-built cooler and a full walk-through windscreen The 1850 is available in standard, sportfish, profish or offshore configurations 2.02m (79.5”) 2.3m (90.5”)

1.46m (57.48”) 1.72m (67.71”)

15° 16°

3mm (1/8”) 3mm (1/8”)

4mm (5/32”) 4mm (5/32”)

20” 25”

Recommended HP and maximum engine weight ratings are indicative only. Please consult with an authorised dealer for correct figures and weights

DREAM TRIP? “Heading to Port Welshpool, catching kingfish and then going into a little bay at night and sleeping on the boat.”

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Max persons

Max HP

Rec HP

Max engine weight

Dry tow weight

Dry hull weight

Height on trailer

Length on trailer

Length

Boat model

STABISHOWROOM

6 7 7 8

140 175 225 250

90 115 130 200

322kg (710lb) 289kg (637lb) 289kg (637lb) 528kg (1164lb)

SUPERCAB The new 1850 and 2050 models feature bigger beams and larger cabins The big brother to the 1850 Supercab, the 2050 Supercab has a longer deck and cabin 18.6ft (5.69m) 20.8ft (6.3m) 21ft (6.4m) 24.1ft (7.35m)

1850 2050 2100 2400

7.3m (23.95ft) 7.9m (22.91ft) 8.1m (26.57ft) 9m (29.52ft)

2.77m (9.08ft) 2.81m (9.21ft) 2.87m (9.41ft) 2.91m (9.54ft)

740kg (1631lb) 925kg (2039lb) 960kg (2116lb) 1287kg (2837lb)

1362kg (3002lb) 1549kg (3414lb) 1684kg (3712lb) 2250kg (4960lb)

BEST FISHING TRIP? “Where do I start? We’ve done Eden on the South Coast of NSW twice. We caught eight striped marlin live-baiting one day. The next day went one from seven, but hey, that’s fishing. A few weeks ago, we were at Port MacDonnell in South Australia.

It was a calm day and I steered away to follow some birds, landing a school bluefin shortly after. On the next pass, three 24kg outfits screamed to life at once. With only two crew, we left one rod in the holder and fought and landed the other bluefin barrels. We estimated they weighed between 135kg– 140kg. The other fish got away, but we weren’t complaining.”

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g (710lb) g (637lb) g (637lb) g (1164lb)

Total sealed volume

Fuel tank volume

Leg length

Hull thickness

Tube thickness

Deadrise (degrees)

Internal beam

External beam

SUPERCAB

Designed with the serious fisherman and explorer in mind, the Stabicraft 2100 Supercab is the “compact large boat” The 2400 is the big brother to the Stabicraft 2100 Supercab with almost one metre (3ft) extra in length 2.29m (90.1”) 2.29m (90.1”) 2.3m (90.5”) 2.3m (90.5”)

1.72m (67.87”) 1.72m (67.87”) 1.8m (70.86”) 1.8m (70.86”)

16° 18° 20° 19°

3mm (1/8”) 3mm (1/8”) 4mm (5/32”) 4mm (5/32”)

4mm (5/32”) 5mm (13/64”) 5mm (13/64”) 6mm (15/64”)

25” 25” 25” 20”/25”/20”

150L (39.6gal) 200L (52.83gal) 250L (66.04gal) 300L (79.25gal)

1496L (395.2gal) 1838L (485.5gal) 1720L (454.3gal) 1833L (484.2gal)

Recommended HP and maximum engine weight ratings are indicative only. Please consult with an authorised dealer for correct figures and weights

#

MYSTABI

OWNERS: FRANK & DOM SICILIANO OCCUPATION: SELF-EMPLOYED AT DMF CONCRETE LIVE: BERWICK, VICTORIA BOAT: 2400 SUPERCAB BOAT NAME: R-RATED ENGINE: MERCURY VERADO 300HP ELECTRONICS: FURUNO 295 AND GARMIN SOUNDER/PLOTTER WHAT BOATS HAVE YOU OWNED? “I’ve owned them all, including a Formula 233, Haines Hunter 600R, Haines V17 and Cootacraft Gunshot.

Because I’m coming from deep-vee fibreglass boats, a lot of people ask about the ride of the Stabi. They have a perception it will bang, but can’t believe the ride when they get in. You can drive it as hard as you want. It’s a battleship that drives straight and true — even in the 30-knot winds and two to three-metre swells we regularly game-fish in. You can’t beat the stability and you can’t do anything wrong to it — I even let my granddaughter drive it!”

WHAT ABOUT THE BOLT-ONS? “She’s fully optioned by the boys at MY Marine, with a diesel heater, cooking station, 12V Engel fridge and Kraken outrigger bases.

They have the precision of a Swiss watch.”

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Max engine weight

Rec HP

Max HP

Max persons

Dry tow weight

Dry hull weight

ULTRACAB

Height on trailer

Length on trailer

Length

Boat model

STABISHOWROOM

ULTRACAB The 2500 Ultracab is an innovative approach to the forward-raking windscreens commonly found on traditional pilothouses Incorporates a unique aesthetic that is unmistakably Stabicraft while housing multiple interior design innovations 2500 XL

25ft (7.62m)

9.6m (31.5ft)

2.99m (9.80ft)

1630kg (3593lbs)

3500kg (7716lbs)

9

400

150 x 2

635kg (1400lb)

300

200

575kg (1268lb)

ULTRACAB WALK-THRU The 2250 Ultracab Walk-Thru features a full-height walk-through in the forward-leaning cabin The ideal boat for island-hopping or coastal exploring, as well as undertaking fishing excursions 2250

22.5ft (6.86m)

8.6m (28.21ft)

2.98m (9.77ft)

1467.5kg (3235lb)

2477.5kg (5461lb)

8

#

MYSTABI OWNER: TROY MEEDER OCCUPATION: CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF CRYSTAL PEAKS YOUTH RANCH, A LOCAL CHARITY FOR KIDS, FAMILIES AND HORSES. ALSO A LICENSED FISHING AND HUNTING GUIDE IN OREGON. LIVES: 1100M ABOVE SEA LEVEL IN BEND, USA. ALSO HAS A HOME IN BANDON, OREGON. BOAT: 2750 STABICRAFT ULTRA CENTRECAB BOAT NAME: THE BEAST ENGINE: TWIN 200HP YAMAHA OUTBOARDS WITH A 9.9HP YAMAHA HIGH-THRUST KICKER ELECTRONICS: SIMRAD BEST THING ABOUT YOUR HOME TOWN? “Bend has everything — great people, the mountains and incredible fly-fishing rivers for trout, kokanee salmon, steelhead and bass.

Our other home, Bandon, has world-class coldwater sea fishing for salmon, ling cod, halibut and rockfish. Chinook salmon are the soughtafter prize.”

BEST THING ABOUT YOUR 2750 ULTRA CENTRECAB? “She looks like a beast on the water — a predator. Safe and secure, I know she will get us home.”

BEST BOATING TIP? “Trust the engineering that went into the boat — it will handle far more than you think. Never take the ocean for granted.”

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Leg length

Hull thickness

Tube thickness

Deadrise (degrees)

Internal beam

External beam

Total sealed volume

kg (1268lb)

Fuel tank volume

kg (1400lb)

ULTRACAB WT

378L (99.85gal)

2096L (553.7gal)

378L (99.85gal)

2051L (541.8gal)

Designed for a US customer and one of the most successful vessels sold into the region

2.56m/2.5m (101”/98.4”)

1.97m (77.55”)

19°

4mm (5/32”)

6mm (15/64”)

25”/30”/25”

Red Dot 2021 design award winner for best of the best Award winner in NZ Best Design Awards and Good Design Awards for 2021 2.54m/2.5m (100”/98.4”)

1.97m (77.55”)

17°

4mm (5/32”)

6mm (15/64”)

25”/30”/25”

Recommended HP and maximum engine weight ratings are indicative only. Please consult with an authorised dealer for correct figures and weights 2.5m (98.4”) external beam on all Australian-delivered models

BEST ADVENTURE IN YOUR STABI? “The Coquille River bar has sent many boats to the bottom and taken many lives.

The report for the day was borderline — four to five-foot steep swells, seven-foot sets. It was foggy and cold and I was impatient. Idling out to the bar, I could see significant waves with white froth on the tops — not the best time to go, but I saw an opening and throttled all 400 horsepower towards the gap. The 2750 handled the first two swells beautifully, then a solid eight-footer rose up quickly and powerfully right at our bow. It was a boat killer, but I had no choice other than to throttle directly into the oncoming green monster. Going almost vertical, our Stabi ploughed through the oncoming wave, going airborne before crashing violently back down. There were people, coffee, gear, dogs and food everywhere!

I was shaken, but the boat wasn’t. She absorbed all the ocean threw at her in that bar crossing, seeming to snarl, ‘No big deal, mate, let’s go fishing.’ So we did.”

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Max engine weight

Rec HP

Max HP

Max persons

Dry tow weight

Dry hull weight

CENTRECAB Height on trailer

Length on trailer

Length

Boat model

STABISHOWROOM

CENTRECAB The market asked for a smaller version of the 2750 Centrecab and Stabicraft responded with the 2250 Centrecab Wide walk-around up to the forward deck gives the 2250 a fully utilised fishing area 2250

22.5ft (6.86m)

8.6m (28.21ft)

2.9m (9.51ft)

1611kg (3551lb)

2451kg (5403lb)

8

300

200

405kg (893lb)

200 300

405kg (893lb) 575kg (1268lb)

ULTRA CENTRECAB The 2250 Ultra Centrecab has become an instant classic in the Stabicraft fleet Lean-forward glass and immense cabin space accompanied by 360 degrees of access to every usable space 2250 2750

22.5ft (6.86m) 27.5ft (8.38m)

8.6m (28.21ft) 10.2m (33.46ft)

2.9m (9.51ft) 3.12m (10.23ft)

1611kg (3551lb) 1990kg (4387lb)

2451kg (5403lb) 3010kg (6635lb)

8 9

300 500

#

MYSTABI OWNER: LARRY “THE HAMMAH” HERNANDEZ JR OCCUPATION: VICE-PRESIDENT OF DO IT BEST HARDWARE STORE LIVES: MAJURO, REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS BOAT: 2750 STABICRAFT ULTRA CENTRECAB BOAT NAME: HANG LOOSE ENGINE: TWIN 200HP HONDA ELECTRONICS: GARMIN BEST THING ABOUT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS? “The Marshall Islands sit just north of the equator. They consist of two chains of coral atolls, together with more than 1000 islets.

The atolls are coral deposits on the crater rims of submerged volcanoes. The islands were occupied by the US for several decades after World War II. The long-isolated people of the Marshalls boast a proud culture called manit, which revolves around family, cooperation and warm hospitality. Some Marshallese have American, German or Japanese ancestry in addition to their own indigenous culture.”

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Total sealed volume

Fuel tank volume

Leg length

Hull thickness

Tube thickness

Deadrise (degrees)

Internal beam

External beam

ULTRA CENTRECAB

The Centrecab is the brainchild of New Zealand fishing prodigy Matt Watson

g (893lb)

2.54m/2.5m (100”/98.4”)

1.97m (77.55”)

17°

4mm (5/32”)

6mm (15/64”)

25”

300L (79.25gal)

2051L (541.8gal)

The 2750 Ultra Centrecab is an aggressive and spacious version based on the popular 2750 walk-around platform Complete walk-around, allowing water to drain off the side walkways and not back into the cockpit (893lb) (1268lb)

2.54m/2.5m (100”/98.4”) 2.54m/2.5m (100”/98.4”)

1.97m (77.55”) 2.01m (79.13”)

17° 21.5°

4mm (5/32”) 4mm (5/32”)

6mm (15/64”) 6mm (15/64”)

25” 25”/30”/25”

300L (79.25gal) 500L (132.08gal)

2051L (541.8gal) 2909L (768.4gal)

Recommended HP and maximum engine weight ratings are indicative only. Please consult with an authorised dealer for correct figures and weights 2.5m (98.4”) external beam on all Australian-delivered models

BEST BITS ON YOUR STABI? “She’s stable and tough with a great range and spacious fishing cockpit. Hang Loose is running twin Honda 200HP counterrotating motors, Garmin gear — GPSmap, VHF 115i radio and Reactor 40 autopilot system — Oceanblue T-top outriggers, 17ft carbon telescopic rods, Fusion Apollo Marine stereo and speakers, Lenco trim tabs, rear boarding ladder, Maxwell Marine roof hatch, dual Hella Sea Hawk light bars, underwater lights, rear canvas canopy and frame, Mudgway alloy I-beam roller trailer, foam-injected pontoons, Sarca anchor, and potty.”

BEST THING ABOUT THE FISHING? “Having so many untouched remote atolls and endless blue water to explore, there is no limit to what you can do in the Marshall Islands. There are millions of fish, lobsters, giant clams and sharks.

It’s the ultimate for fishing, free diving or scuba diving — or even picnics, which we often do in the Stabicraft.”

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STABIPARTNER ROYANS STANDARD GLOSS

PAINT & GRAPHIC OPTIONS PAINT: GRAPHICS:

WHITE BLACK

PAINT: GRAPHICS:

RED BLACK

PAINT: GRAPHICS:

ORANGE BLACK

PAINT: GRAPHICS:

YELLOW BLACK

PAINT: GRAPHICS:

DARK BLUE TITANIUM

PAINT: GRAPHICS:

LIGHT BLUE TITANIUM

PAINT: GRAPHICS:

DARK GREY TITANIUM

PAINT: GRAPHICS:

LIGHT GREY BLACK

PAINT OPTIONS: 80% of boats currently on order will be painted. Of the unpainted 20%, half of those are 1450 models.

UPDATED:

10/11/21

FAB 4

The Top 4 Stabicraft paint colours: 1. METALLIC GUNMETAL 2. GLOSS WHITE 3. GLOSS RED 4. LIGHT GREY

THE ROYANS TREATMENT ROYANS IS THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING YOUR STABI SPARKLE. Royans was founded in Sydney in 1944, and since then it’s been painting the house down. The original focus of the business was smash repairs, particularly heavy vehicle accident repair and refurbishment, including structural repair, sandblasting and painting.

However, recent acquisitions have allowed the company to diversify into a wide range of services — from the manufacture of car transporter trailers and bus and coach builds, to powder coating and now marine coating (hello Stabicraft!).

Today, the two companies, Royans and Stabicraft, share an impressive record of growth and innovation across the globe. That’s set to continue as the most recent acquisition for Royans is Sievwright Marine Coating and Powderline in Invercargill, which will become the 28th Royans branch.

This powder was especially developed to allow Stabicraft boats to handle a harsh saltwater environment. The neutral colour complements the Stabicraft standard boat colour range and its slight matte finish resists fingerprints and smudges, while also providing a non-slip surface.

When it comes to maintaining that factory-fresh finish, the Royans guys recommend treating your boat like a prized hot rod — because it has the same quality of paint applied. Think about it: if you sat a heavy object on your car panels, you’d expect scratches. Your cherished Stabicraft is no different. So stop bashing those sinkers against the side of the boat!

For more details, check out www.royans.com.au

BACK END SORTED, WHAT CAN STABI OWNERS EXPECT? By ticking the paint option on your new Stabi, you’ll get several layers of PPG Protec. Powder-coating options include Dulux Spica Pearl or Black.

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TRAILERS UNAFRAID OF WATER.

Futura marine trailers build on more than 50 years of heritage in trailer design and manufacturing.

Featuring high-strength and lowmaintenance anodised aluminium frames, torsion axle suspension for stability and reduced wear and tear, weld-free construction, integrated wiring and alloy wheels - our trailers are engineered for the long haul.

Register your interest NZ +64 9 415 2563 USA +1 855 744 3877

@futuratrailers.marine

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STABIWORLD

INTERNATIONAL DEALERS STABICRAFT SCANDINAVIA

Location Mariestad, Sweden Website www.stabicraft.se

QUALITY BOATS

Location Mont Dore, New Caledonia Website www.qualityboats.nc

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RON’S HONDA CENTER Location Soldotna, Alaska, USA Website www.ronshonda.com

RON’S HONDA CENTER Location Wasilla, Alaska, USA Website www.ronshonda.com

GALLEON MARINE

Location British Columbia, Canada Website www.galleonmarine.com

GIBBONS MOTOR TOYS

Location Alberta, Canada Website www.gibbonsmotortoys.com

CLEMENS MARINA Location Eugene, Oregon, USA Website www.clemensmarina.com

Location Salmon Arm, BC, Canada Website www.gibbonsmotortoys.com

CLEMENS MARINA Location Portland, Oregon Website www.clemensmarina.com

Location Everett, Washington, USA Website www.boatcountry.com

CLEMENS MARINA Location Gladstone, Oregon, USA Website www.clemensmarina.com

GIBBONS MOTOR TOYS

BOAT COUNTRY

Y MARINA

Location Coos Bay, Oregon, USA Website www.ymarinaboats.com

Y MARINA

Location Florence, Oregon, USA Website www.ymarinaboats.com

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STABIWORLD

NEW ZEALAND DEALERS

WHITIANGA MARINE

TWIN COAST MARINE

Location Waipapa Website www.twincoastmarine.co.nz

Location Whitianga Website www.whitiangamarine.co.nz

GULFLAND MARINE

Location Whangaparaoa Website www.gulflandmarine.co.nz

KEV & IAN’S MARINE

MASTERTECH MARINE

Location Auckland Website www.kev.co.nz

Location Tauranga Website www.mastertech.co.nz

WOODBINE MARINE

Location Hamilton Website www.woodbinemarinehamilton. co.nz

OCEANSPORTS MARINE

Location Whakatane Website www.facebook.com/Ocean-SportsMarine-Ltd-391330454383168

TREV TERRY MARINE

Location Taupo Website www.trevterrymarine.co.nz

BAYS BOATING

Location Motueka Website www.baysboating.co.nz

KP MARINE

Location Plimmerton Website www.kpmarine.co.nz

MARINE & OUTDOORS

Location Blenheim Website www.marineandoutdoors.co.nz

STABICRAFT SOUTHERN

Location Invercargill Website www.stabicraftsouthern.co.nz

POWERBOAT CENTRE CHRISTCHURCH

Location Christchurch Website www.powerboatcentre.co.nz

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AUSTRALIAN DEALERS IN & OUTBOARD MARINE Location Darwin, NT Website www.iomarine.com.au

NORTHSIDE MARINE

Location Brisbane, QLD Website www.northsidemarine.com.au

HI-TECH MARINE

Location Wangara, WA Website www.hitechmarine.com.au

CHRISTIES BEACH MARINE

Location Lonsdale, SA Website www.christiesbeachmarine.com.au

RICHARDSON MARINE

Location Warrnambool, VIC Website www.richardsonmarine.com.au

WEBBE MARINE

Location Sydney, NSW Website www.webbemarine.com.au

MY MARINE

Location Dromana, VIC Website www.mymarine.com.au

DEEGAN MARINE

Location Ulverstone, TAS Website www.deeganmarine.com.au

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