Haines hunter v133

[olpol]

Hi all,

Has anyone had any experience with Haines hunter v133's still in the runabout configuration. Im wondering if they're big enough for 3 blokes fishing (probably standing up), as otherwise they look pretty cool. How stable are they at rest, and what sort of horsepower would they suit. Cheers

[Hoods]

I have a V17R - it is big enough for 3 standing up. I would not want to stand up in a v133 (3.95 metres). It is too low profile. It will have a max horsepower rating on the hull - do not exceed it as you wil have insurance issues & Waterways issues.

The hulls are well known for performance whilst underway. I can attest to the rougher ride whilst at rest out at sea. I can live with that as I know the ride home is much superior.

Choose a bigger boat for 3 blokes who want to stand up. Even a V16 will be a big step up.

Good luck.

[noelm]

All those old Haines were skinny and had a deep V, both traits create instability at rest, and only being 13’ will get “interesting” with three adults on one side fishing. They were a good little boat, how old is it?

[olpol]

36 minutes ago, noelm said:

All those old Haines were skinny and had a deep V, both traits create instability at rest, and only being 13’ will get “interesting” with three adults on one side fishing. They were a good little boat, how old is it?

It's a 1982 and has a late 2000s 40hp  mercury 2 stroke. Looks to be in reasonable condition with the original bench seats and gel coat. In an ideal world where mony and time weren't a problem, I would strip it and convert it into a little centre console. I know Haines make the seawasp which is based off the v133 and has the same reverse chine hull, but I would have a slightly different layout to what they offer. Anyhow that would be another 5 or 6 grand at least so I would need to factor that in. I saw a guy on the Gold coast who converted his to tiller steer and did some serious offshore work with his going out to islands in the Whitsundays and going through numerous bars. They seem to be capable but perhaps lacking the size I need.

Edited September 17 by olpol

[Hoods]

Don't forget anything under 4.8 metres needs a lifejacket (just saying).

Talking to the Bois today before they went to check their crab traps about older glass boats. Discussion was about the maximum hp shown on the boats. The older boatds ie like my V17 had hp ratings pre 4 stroke motors - which are much heavier than the 2 strokes.

Wonder if the power rating needs to be adjusted for the wight & torque of the new motors??

FYI - Mid north coast mudcrabs are "empty" & fishing is slow.

Thank gawd for the Coopernook Hotel!!

[JonD]

Not sure about that hull but I had a Haines sea wasp for a few years which punched well above its size. I used mine as far out as the shelf on a good day but mostly for fishing Montague and snapper grounds out from Narooma bar. The boat was great in that it could be used on shallow rivers and easy to tow all around the coast. When I started scuba diving I found entry over the back could get some water entering in due to the weight of my dive buddies and all our gear, which was ok if anyone in the boat moved forward when someone tried to get in at the back. It was very impressive for a boat under 4m, same hull as the 'little ram' built by Cootcraft which push offshore well beyond the shelf down here on the south coast chasing tuna.

 

 

Edited September 18 by JonD

[olpol]

On 9/18/2024 at 7:50 PM, Hoods said:

Don't forget anything under 4.8 metres needs a lifejacket (just saying).

Talking to the Bois today before they went to check their crab traps about older glass boats. Discussion was about the maximum hp shown on the boats. The older boatds ie like my V17 had hp ratings pre 4 stroke motors - which are much heavier than the 2 strokes.

Wonder if the power rating needs to be adjusted for the wight & torque of the new motors??

FYI - Mid north coast mudcrabs are "empty" & fishing is slow.

Thank gawd for the Coopernook Hotel!!

Lifejackets don't bother me much, a good thing to have if things go south. The other thing about older 2 strokes is HP was measured at the crank and not at the prop, so they tended to have a couple hp less than what was actually said! Great motors though..

[olpol]

21 hours ago, JonD said:

Not sure about that hull but I had a Haines sea wasp for a few years which punched well above its size. I used mine as far out as the shelf on a good day but mostly for fishing Montague and snapper grounds out from Narooma bar. The boat was great in that it could be used on shallow rivers and easy to tow all around the coast. When I started scuba diving I found entry over the back could get some water entering in due to the weight of my dive buddies and all our gear, which was ok if anyone in the boat moved forward when someone tried to get in at the back. It was very impressive for a boat under 4m, same hull as the 'little ram' built by Cootcraft which push offshore well beyond the shelf down here on the south coast chasing tuna.

 

 

Cheers Jon,

Did you find the 25 to be enough power, or were you left craving for a bit more!?

[JonD]

11 hours ago, olpol said:

Cheers Jon,

Did you find the 25 to be enough power, or were you left craving for a bit more!?

I don't remember the exact prop I ended up putting on it but I did mess around with with a few to handle the loads I carried. Heading out for a dive with two other friends, tanks and weights etc it did ok, however due to the small prop pitch my top end speed was only 33-37kh depending on the load. We used the boat when my three kids were young to do trips to the NT, so a family of five of us onboard. In narrow river systems 33-37kh seemed very fast but on open water it felt a bit slow, however it did feel safe. More power and more weight on the back when tiller steering could be a bit challenging, though I do have a friend with a 40hp on his which he uses to fish out of Mallacoota. Some people power them way more than that though, which in my opinion is crazy as its nots just the power but the weight.

For most people who start off with smaller boats, the first thing they notice when going to a bigger boat is how they use them less. My little wasp and a little quintrex 385 were so easy to just hook up and head out somewhere for a fish what ever the weekend weather through at us. If it was blowing we would explore rivers and back creeks, if the water became too shallow we could trim up the engine and walk the boat over the shallows in many areas. Strong offshore winds allowed us to fish shallow extremely productive reefs when we would often be the only vehicle at the boat trailer carpark. We had days when we were fishing out from Narooma bar in 65kh westerly winds using the protection from land to be able to fish flat inshore conditions. 

I bought that boat for $1700 sold it for $2500 to a friend who sold it for $7000 and now they are often up around 15k. Buying into bigger boats you will rarely sell them after a few years of enjoyment for more than you paid for them. Ive owned many boats since then one and now back down to a small one again, a little Formula 15 which is the same hull as the Haines 445 and 146. I can still head into the shallows and offshore but with an added level of safety being a touch bigger. Im also able to power the one I have now for a more thrilling ride.

There's a 445 centre console for sale in Mallacoota that was owned by a local legend top fella from down that way, who unfortunately recently passed away at a very young age. I believe it's on the Haines hunter Facebook site. Also there's a Haines sea wasp 133 Facebook site recently started up which might be worth you looking at. I would advice not taking advice from those recommendations of powering one with 90hp though!!!!!!