All rounder boat

[garfield28]

Hi all, 

Looking for some advice on a good all rounder aluminium boat in the 4.75 - 5.00 mark that can fish inside the local bay, but also do some outside fishing on a good day. 

Something easy to launch and retrieve alone, but something that can handle at least 80 to 90 HP on the back. 

 

I have a 5.2 savage escort right now, she's a great boat for getting outside and fishing inside the deeper parts of the bay, but I used to go a lot with my young fella who is 19 years old, but he now has a girlfriend and as you would, he has brushed me and I cannot launch the boat I have now that easily on my own and seeing my son won't come with me as much I might fish the bay more than I go outside, but would still like to have a boat that can when I want to. 

 

I'm hoping to get something to meet this criteria for between $14,000 to $19,00 there about a would be awesome. 

 

Any suggestions and advice as always greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks 

Geoff 

Edited May 7, 2018 by garfield28

[Berleyguts]

That’s a very wide budget - $4k to $19k. You may have to buy 2nd hand. It’s hard to beat a tinny for solo launching - you can drag them up on the beach with no worries. Lighter to tow and move around by yourself. You may not need as big a motor either. ? I like my side console Stacer 449 Outlaw. 4.49 metres with a 60hp Evinrude ETEC - it gets along alright at 26-27 knots in the Bay and I often cruise at 19-20 knots outside, sometimes faster. Have a look at the 479 or 489 models or similar sizes in the Quintrex Renegade range.

Edited May 7, 2018 by Berleyguts

[garfield28]

Thanks Baz, was a misprint mate. I meant between $14,000 I have fixed that price up

Edited May 7, 2018 by garfield28

[PaddyT]

If you like your current boat, get a trailer set up for drive on/drive off- makes single person usage easy- 

[Berleyguts]

2 hours ago, PaddyT said:

If you like your current boat, get a trailer set up for drive on/drive off- makes single person usage easy- 

That might work, too.

[antonywardle]

Just be around when I come up. I can help you launch!

 

Would you consider keeping it and getting a little tinny if you have the room to store it?

Possibly join a fishing club and find a deckie. I bet @Scratchie knows a few ;-)

 

[garfield28]

4 hours ago, PaddyT said:

If you like your current boat, get a trailer set up for drive on/drive off- makes single person usage easy- 

Mate, I should add more. I do like my boat but at the same time its too big for me. I don't go right offshore, I'm happy to stick around Broughton Island and fish within that type of area and I'm sick of towing such a big heavy boat with my Mrs 4 cylinder car. 

I originally brought it thinking my brothers would come up here regularly and I'd have the space to take a few out but it hasn't panned out that way. 

I'm more looking to downsize and would really like a Aluminium boat as I'm over towing a tank! I'd really love to get a 4 stroke also, and cut down on my fuel cost, not real cost effective even if I were to go out on the big girl by myself for the day.

38 minutes ago, antonywardle said:

Just be around when I come up. I can help you launch!

 

Would you consider keeping it and getting a little tinny if you have the room to store it?

Possibly join a fishing club and find a deckie. I bet @Scratchie knows a few ;-)

 

HaHa will more than likely still have her by then mate. 

When are you looking at coming up next? 

[campr]

If launching by yourself I wouldn't consider anything other than a tinnie as they are much more forgiving should you have any problems with your launch or retrieve. 

I am 72yo and not as fit as I woud like to be, fish a lot by myself and have no problems handling my 5.6 meter Quinnie Classic with 90hp Honda and don't even get my feet wet.  I  can winch it on myself no worries but am currently learning to drive onto trailer which can be scarier than it looks but feels great when you get it right.  The main thing is to get a good trailer and set it up right. 

The best tips I can give are  1. Replace gal roller axles with homemade stainless ones as it makes boat go on and off so much easier and they never stick.  2 Try a 2 or 3 speed winch as I can get my big tinnie 2/3 on very quicly on 1 to 1 setting then go down a gear for last hard bit.  3. If trailer doesn't have a centre walkway, make a timber one and attach. Fit some kind of centering system if none on trailer.  4. Don't put trailer too far into water so boat doesn't float to side and let rollers do what they were designed 

If you want to go out to sea I recommend something between 4.5 and 5 meters at least.  My former boat was a 4.5meter Quintrex Lazeabout and I used to go to Sydneys Peak and 12 mile reafs for kingfish no worries.  Caught a few yellowfin and even managed a 60lb marlin besides the usual eating fish.

Finally.  If you find what you want try to get a ride in one before getting one and be prepared to travel to get one.  I had to go to Surfers to get my current boat.

Good luck.  Ron

 

[Berleyguts]

1 hour ago, garfield28 said:

Mate, I should add more. I do like my boat but at the same time its too big for me. I don't go right offshore, I'm happy to stick around Broughton Island and fish within that type of area and I'm sick of towing such a big heavy boat with my Mrs 4 cylinder car. ...

I'm more looking to downsize and would really like a Aluminium boat as I'm over towing a tank! I'd really love to get a 4 stroke also, and cut down on my fuel cost, not real cost effective even if I were to go out on the big girl by myself for the day.

If you live in the Bay, would you like to come out with me in my Outlaw one day to see how she goes? I’m off to Perth later in the week but have the week after next free before I go back to work. Not a 4 stroke but the ETECs are pretty good. ?

[garfield28]

1 hour ago, campr said:

If launching by yourself I wouldn't consider anything other than a tinnie as they are much more forgiving should you have any problems with your launch or retrieve. 

I am 72yo and not as fit as I woud like to be, fish a lot by myself and have no problems handling my 5.6 meter Quinnie Classic with 90hp Honda and don't even get my feet wet.  I  can winch it on myself no worries but am currently learning to drive onto trailer which can be scarier than it looks but feels great when you get it right.  The main thing is to get a good trailer and set it up right. 

The best tips I can give are  1. Replace gal roller axles with homemade stainless ones as it makes boat go on and off so much easier and they never stick.  2 Try a 2 or 3 speed winch as I can get my big tinnie 2/3 on very quicly on 1 to 1 setting then go down a gear for last hard bit.  3. If trailer doesn't have a centre walkway, make a timber one and attach. Fit some kind of centering system if none on trailer.  4. Don't put trailer too far into water so boat doesn't float to side and let rollers do what they were designed 

If you want to go out to sea I recommend something between 4.5 and 5 meters at least.  My former boat was a 4.5meter Quintrex Lazeabout and I used to go to Sydneys Peak and 12 mile reafs for kingfish no worries.  Caught a few yellowfin and even managed a 60lb marlin besides the usual eating fish.

Finally.  If you find what you want try to get a ride in one before getting one and be prepared to travel to get one.  I had to go to Surfers to get my current boat.

Good luck.  Ron

 

Thanks for the write up and tips Ron. My boat takes a few Weetbix to wind her up when I'm retrieving after a day out. 

57 minutes ago, Berleyguts said:

If you live in the Bay, would you like to come out with me in my Outlaw one day to see how she goes? I’m off to Perth later in the week but have the week after next free before I go back to work. Not a 4 stroke but the ETECs are pretty good. ?

Thanks Baz, I don't live in the bay, I live in Medowie, but that would be great to get out with you and feel how that model goes. 

[Berleyguts]

5 minutes ago, garfield28 said:

Thanks Baz, I don't live in the bay, I live in Medowie, but that would be great to get out with you and feel how that model goes. 

Medowie’s close enough... you just have to leave real early to meet at the ramp at 5! ? I generally don’t fish on weekends. I’ll message you when I get back from Perth and we’ll see what happens.

[garfield28]

Not really early, just a half hour it's no drama do it all the time. 

Sounds good mate.

[garfield28]

Still looking for other boats if anyone has any I should run my eye over. 

 

Thanks 

[blaxland]

Hi, I have a seaway 430 with 40HP suzie 4 stroke 50 Ltr underfloor tank plumbed bait tank bought it new  and Im looking to upgrade is some sort of swap possible? I am a bit fussy but willing to tow the boat up to you for a days fishing and check yours out I have wed thurs and friday off except for next week I work thursday

[garfield28]

2 hours ago, blaxland said:

Hi, I have a seaway 430 with 40HP suzie 4 stroke 50 Ltr underfloor tank plumbed bait tank bought it new  and Im looking to upgrade is some sort of swap possible? I am a bit fussy but willing to tow the boat up to you for a days fishing and check yours out I have wed thurs and friday off except for next week I work thursday

Thanks for the offer blaxland but I'd be looking for a bit bigger than that myself and a bigger outboard mate. 

[Pauafritta]

I have a Quintrex bowrider which i think is great all round . Its 5m, light and I drive it on the trailer and just lean over the front to hook it on. It's great with the family in the bay and get offshore when it's not too rough.  

[garfield28]

Thanks Pauafritta... mate something about those bowriders I just don't like, but so many people who have them say they're great. Just looks like the back of them are really short for space because of the seats up front. 

[PaddyT]

2 hours ago, garfield28 said:

Thanks Pauafritta... mate something about those bowriders I just don't like, but so many people who have them say they're great. Just looks like the back of them are really short for space because of the seats up front. 

If its purely a fishing boat - and by that i mean one that the wife and kids only get on a couple of times a year then dont buy the boat for their occasional use- buy it for what it gets used for 95% of the time- from the sounds of what you are after then have a look on the 2nd hand market for a tricked up 4.5 M center console or even tiller steer- get an electric/decnet sounder etc for under 20 K without too many probs at all I reckon

[garfield28]

Thanks for the reply Paddy.

Yeah mate that's sort of where I'm at, at the moment. I really like the idea of a center console boat, but just worry about not having cover and whether I'll really like if if I get one... I'd really like my next boat more than anything to be lighter than my current one, and I'd also like a 4 stroke outboard on it, I'd also really like the boat and not regret what I buy and be stuck with it for a while. 

[PaddyT]

Its doable , just keep your eye out- get on a couple of !@#$book buy and sell sites and keep watching them

[JonD]

A nice looking little outfit has just popped up on Narooma buy swap sell, even has an ellectric anchor winch. I know the owner who's a good bloke so I doubt you would be disappointed if you were to head down here for a look. It's not a 4 stroke but the 2010 Yam 70 is a very cheap outboard to run and simple to maintain. If you are interested and have any issues joining the site let me know and I can get his details for you.

[garfield28]

Thanks for the thought Jon, but I need to sell my boat first mate before I can buy anything else, and I'm still debating on what I should do and what I should ideally go for.

Looks a nice rig, but the 70 HP would probably turn me off it anyway, I really want a 4 stroke and even if I did stick with a 2 banger I'd be wanting 100 HP+ I would imagine. 

 

Cheers 

Geoff