I need your help with boat choice...

[ChrisAbout]

So I've been looking at and inspecting various boats over the past month. I mainly fish WP Bay and at times I like to venture out offshore around Phillip Island.
Also very keen to take it proper offshore fishing for tuna, marlin and the rest.

Requirements are:

- sub $30,000
- off-shore worthy
- fiberglass
- covered space to accommodate two toddlers and a petite woman
- under hull fuel tank
- high freeboard for kids safety
- comfy fishing space for up to 3 adults
- 4 stroke engine
- Year 2000+


What boats should I pick, there are so many. So far I've seen:
- Allison 189
- Revival 525
- Savage Mako
- HH Breeze 530
- Hains Signature series
- Kingfisher Eclipse
- Cruise Craft Reef Finder


And I like the Revival and Allison the most.

[Boonanza]

Are you looking at taking it offshore?

[ChrisAbout]

Are you looking at taking it offshore?

Absolutely

[chris srsc]

water test them all, pick your favourite.... what ever you get you will love it..

[ducky]

The revivals are those jv marine specials aren't they? I'd be very careful with them. They look cheap to my untrained eye.

It's a fairly tough set of requirements there. You'll need to have your finances sorted so you can jump on a bargain whenever it pops up.

I'd also consider older hulls and replace the old outboard with a newer motor.

[ducky]

Have a close look at the hh breeze 530. I Only just googled them then. Never paid much attention to those haines. However it looks a helluva lot like the old v17ls which everyone raves about their offshore performance. They look like the best bang for buck out of that selection.

[frozenpod]

Given your offshore requirements I would be looking for a bigger boat.

But the best of your current list is the haines hunter and signatures.

Tandem trailers are advisable for glass boats 17ft plus.

[mr plow]

theirs a savage savayour on gumtree looks the goods has everything u are after n they are a good boat

[blacklab99]

with a 30k budget, for a second hand boat, opens up quite a few options.
I agree with F.P, go bigger!!!! specially with toddlers and wifey and your off shore aspirations.
I have the cruise craft reef finder, I tossed up going bigger, but it does all I want. Its only a 5.4 but very wide beam and actual fishing room,
much bigger than haines of the same size. your welcome to look at mine ( minus motor ) in a few weeks when its back from the fibre glasser.
Its not the best hull in every catagorie, but its a compromise on overall performance, its fishable space is what I like.
But 30k is going to get you something with all your requirements...........

[ChrisAbout]

Revival Boats are in Bayswater and are made by Sam Cantanese. I am not aware of any affiliation between them and jv marine.
http://www.revivalboats.com.au/about_us.html

Actually they are a nice boat ...