My editor recently asked me to write a story about the top ten Australian trailerable boats. The mere thought made my mind scramble and shiver down my backbone. What a way to make friends and influence people—NOT! I can just see the abuse I’ll cop from the myriad of fishing and boating-related web forums and blogs when this all gets out, let alone some manufacturers. Luckily, I have broad shoulders, I guess.

Let's clarify from the start that this is my personal selection of boats. You may see them any day of the week at any boat ramp. I have tried to consider several key factors, such as entry and cut-off points, and the question of just how big trailerable is. A 26' Caribbean FBSF is just about the limit of trailer reality. I realise there are bigger boats on trailers; however, they are certainly not within the realm of normality.

I am also drawing on my years of experience as a second-hand boat dealer and the resale demand for old and new models. After all, the best fishing boat in the world is the one you are catching fish in right now, and I have often said that the amount of fun you have in a boat is not directly linked to the amount of money it costs.

Fishing is the most significant reason people buy a boat, and there is a diverse range of fishing styles and methods, and a boat to suit them all. A top-end barra chaser will not appeal to an offshore specialist, and a tournament-style sportsfisher will not appeal to a bayside snapper fisho. We are all different, and we expect many people to disagree with the results. That’s what it's all about – bring on the feedback and let's discuss. That way, we all get to learn a little.

I am a Victorian-based angler and dealer, and I admit that location may have suggested a slight bias toward popular boats down this way. Times are also changing. Fully kitted sportsfishing rigs such as the Quintrex Hornets, Stacer Barra Pro, and even plastic boats such as the Polycrafts may well be the great boats of the future. Time will tell.

The only rule is that this is my article, so I get to decide! (And wear the consequences!) So, let's open the can of worms. After quite some public consultation on websites, I started with the following list.

 A List of Champions (In No Particular Order)

  • Allison Ocean Angler 244, Fisherman 5

  • Barcrusher - almost all of them!

  • Caribbean Belmont, Concord, Reef Runner, Bia Mar, Bertram 25,26, Crestcutter, 2400,  23 and Crusader, Reef Runner.

  • Clark Abalone

  • Cruisecraft Reef Finder, Reef Raider, Rogue, 625 Outsider

  • Flightcraft 475 Sports Cuddy.

  • Formula 15, 21

  • Haines Hunter V17L, 600R, 19R,  565, 635L, Formula 233, 560F, 580SL, 680 Patriot or SF, Seawasp

  • Hydrofield Jaguar 5.6

  • Kevla Cat 6.2

  • Quintrex Fishmaster, Cruiseabout, Hornet, Bayhunter, Dory, Lazeabout

  • Savage Bluefin, Osprey, Marlin, Tasman, Atlantic, Ensign, Mako

  • Seafarer VSea, Victory

  • Shark Cat 18, 23

  • Signature 650F, 575

  • Southwind SF20,

  • Sportsman/Vickers Easyrider Offshore

  • Streaker 585,4.58

  • Stessl Yellowfin

  • Stacer Baymaster 475

  • Steber 475DF

  • Swiftcraft Seagull, Dominator

  • Whittley SL22, Cruisemaster

What a list! How on earth can I pull a top 10 out of that group? The glowing feature is this country's range of great boats and manufacturers. Firstly, it is clear that I needed to separate the ski boats for a later comparison. There were some excellent nominations, such as the Ramsay, Stephens, Gilflite, Hallett, Camero, Flightcraft, Bullet and Everingham; however, the numbers sold don’t stack up against the fishing/family categories.

 We often ignore the bread and butter boats. I tried to include the good old Savage Snipe, the Stacer Rivera, the Quintrex Dory and Hornet into the mix. What ripper boats! They are produced in their thousands and loved by all. However, they just didn’t fit! Maybe another day, Mr Editor.

 There are some real standouts, as well as some individual favourites in the nominations. They say “Imitation is the highest form of flattery”, and the early Haines Hunter V17, V19, 565 and 233 Formula’s would have to be the most imitated hulls in the country. There are many variations on these hulls. While I acknowledge that American predecessors greatly influenced the original designs, the early Haines Hunters have stood the test of time, and second-hand examples are in hot demand.

A great many Caribbean boats have similar pedigrees. Of the vast range of classics, the sheer volume of Belmonts, Crestcutters, Concords, Reef Runners, Bhia Mar (20’ hull), and the ever-popular Bertram 25/Caribbean 26 has been outstanding.

There have been many other outstanding Australian fibreglass boat builders. Some are Seafarer, Whittley, Streaker, Signature, Savage, Cruisecraft and Swiftcraft. Without these iconic brands, all other boat sales would fall into insignificance over the decades.

Often considered the “budget” boats of the past, Swiftcraft have stood the test of time. This Victorian-based boatbuilder produced a couple of real standouts. The ever-faithful 18’ Dominator Cuddy and 16’6’ Seagull half cabin are absolute legends of their time. The Dominator was also very popular as a work/safety boat for yacht clubs and rescue craft, and I know many fishos who cut their teeth in offshore fishing in the good old 5 metre Seagull.

The Cruisecraft range has always been a premium selection. I have a soft spot for many of their offerings, in particular the Reef Raider Cuddy, Explorer 570 and its Bowrider alternative, the Hustler; as well as the Reef Ranger and its runabout sister, the V166 Raider. However, the boat that set the pace in the eighties and nineties was the smooth-sided cuddy, the “533 Reef Finder.” I also recognise that the later model 585 Outsider is one sensational boat, as is the entire Outsider range.

Who can forget the early duck-billed Seafarer VSea? This simple cuddy had exceptional seakeeping abilities. (Except perhaps when you dipped its nose into the chop, and the wave ran straight up the cuddy and dumped in your face.) Its slightly larger brother, the Viking, was also a great package. However, the 6.0-metre Victory was and still is a classic of modern boat design that is currently in great demand after over 25 years of manufacture.

The other industry giant is Signature Boats. The Haines family built signature and became a heavyweight in the industry from its very first models. The 1750, 1850, and 1950 took the revolutionary mid-eighties market by storm, as did the ever-popular 1900 and 2100s in the high-power sport/ski department. However, more recent models, including the 650F and 575F, were truly the benchmarks, in my view. Their beautiful, rounded lines and appealing finish attract the female side of the equation with some real design flair.

Who could ever forget the heyday of the Shark Cat 18 and 23? In the seventies, it seemed that the Shark Cat was the mark of the macho! They were big, tough, seaworthy boats, and there was a time when there was little other than Shark Cats at every abalone port, such as Victoria’s Mallacoota. They were used as rescue, safety and Coast Guard boats, Police patrols and many commercial applications. Of course, the recreational fishos just loved them – those that could afford to run big twin carburetted two-strokes that is!

Savage boats are one of the oldest brands in Australian boatbuilding, having celebrated their 100th Anniversary in 1998. They have produced some absolute classics in both Aluminium and Fibreglass. The trailerable fibreglass models that spring to mind are the Bluefin, Marlin, Tasman, Atlantic, Ensign and the later Mako. If quantity were the only criterion, then the original 15’ Savage Tasman half cabin would take the field. However, the original Tasman had one significant shortfall: its anchoring setup was downright lousy! My nomination is the good old, classic clinker-sided, tough as nails, family-friendly Savage Atlantic 18’ half cabin.

Always Popular Aluminium Boats

Aluminium boats are always a popular choice! Whilst there have been, and still are, some terrific plate aluminium manufacturers over the years, probably led by the Stessl Yellowfin or the DeHavilland Trojan, I don’t believe anyone could argue that the flared bow Quintrex has topped the aluminium boat market. The Stacer 444, 474 and 525, the Savage Ranger, Lancer, Osprey and Gannett were/are all very serious contenders; however, the humble “Quinny” beat them all for overall popularity. I owned a Quintrex Fishmaster myself for many years, as did the late great Malcolm Douglas. I still miss my Fishmaster, and last time I was at South West Rocks, I saw Malcolm's original boat, easily recognisable by the Ampol stickers down the sides, and still out fishing each day. However, the Cruiseabout was the more popular of the two 5-metre configurations. These ugly ducklings had fibreglass decks, usually in squashed pea green, and they still very rarely come up for resale as their owners won’t part with them, some forty years on.

Personally, I would love to include the Webster 4.9 as I believe it to be a true contender; however, its numbers are nowhere near as great as those mentioned.

It seems a pity that so many plate aluminium manufacturers have come and gone, but not so the industry leader with the Kiwi background, the Barcrushers. Unfortunately, their big opposition, the Stabicrafts, Surtees and now the Extremes cannot be rated, as they are fully imported. To quote Barcrushers' website, “Bar Crusher's stalwart 560C is considered by many as the perfect all-round boat for Australian conditions...” If we can claim the Finn Brothers, Russel Crowe, Keith Urban and Jane Campion as our own, then fully Australian-owned Barcrusher has to be accepted.

Streaker boats have also been a constant performer with a 50-plus-year family tradition. Their original V15S and V17S eventually evolved into the 485 and 520; every one is a great boat in its class. However, the Streaker 585 Tournament fills the bill in design, quality, performance, and resale popularity. They have recently morphed into the 6100 and are particularly popular in southern Australia, as this Melbourne-based company deals directly with customers.

The rest of the contenders are all great boats in their own way; however, they have been outdone in popularity, sheer numbers or resale ability. Boats like the Steber 475DF are timeless; the Alison Ocean Angler 244 and the Fisherman 5 hold terrific appeal. The tinnie brigade will argue tooth and nail that Stacer is better than Quintrex, or Savage is their boat of choice, or vice versa. I personally have an old (1979) DeHavilland 5.5 metre centre console as a work boat, and I swear by it – but it can’t be rated amongst the best of all time!

The big muscle boats, such as the Cootacraft, Clayton Marine, Edencraft, Bass Strait and Formula, are certainly some of the best of the tough Australians; however, their comparative sales numbers and limited appeal to the general boating public leave them behind. This is all about mums and dads, the whole family, and fishing, the greatest marine passion of all. We are looking for the boats that you will see any day of the week, at any boat ramp, and as a matter of interest, most of the photos were taken in under an hour at the Altona boat ramp!

The relative newcomers and latest models, such as the Evolutions and Barcrushers, may well become the best of all time in a few more years. However, they really haven’t been around long enough to be true contenders.

My Final Top 10 Contenders

Again, in no particular order!

Haines Hunter 565L

Haines Hunter 565 and its many hybrids, including 560F, 580SL and many more from this great hull. I must say that I found it extremely difficult to eliminate the V17 & 19 and the 635, 680, and Formula!

Caribbean Belmont

Caribbean Belmont, for sheer weight of numbers and ongoing popularity. Getting a good one on the second-hand market is like having money in your pocket. A great all-round family/fishing runabout that just piped the Crestcutter at the post.

Swiftcraft Dominator

Swiftcraft Dominator is a utility boat with broad appeal for fishers and divers. It has an enormous deck room.

Cruisecraft 533 Reef Finder

Cruisecraft “533 Reef Finder.” A great-looking, well-built. and an extremely popular boat.

Seafarer Victory

Seafarer Victory – Virtually the same model produced in the mid-eighties is still popular today.

Signature 650F

Signature 650F Style, looks, quality and ability dominated the 6.5 metre field for over 10 years.

Shark Cat 18

The Shark Cat 18 is tough, strong, seaworthy and stable.

Savage Atlantic

Savage Atlantic – A great traditional half cabin loved by all.

Quintrex Cruiseabout

Quintrex Cruiseabout – the ugly duckling, but ever-popular 5-metre flared bow Quintrex runabout.

Streaker 585

Streaker 585 with its many models and hybrids, including the new 6100.

 

And the Winner Is? 

The editor also wanted me to pick a clear winner. I’m not that stupid! I’ll leave that up to you.

 

Ready to Set Sail? 

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