Fishing Victoria Forum

frozenpod wrote:Based on those boats you must have plenty of storage space and height.

Cruise Crafts make decent boats but like the haines hunter they have a price premium beyond there value IMO. Just be aware that cruise crafts were called bruise crafts for good reason they are not know for being the best riding hulls.

I would also look at haines signature.

I am very fond of the whittley SL22. The new volvo motor setup is brilliant and the value for money is excellent.

Thanks mate. We will be putting a gate in the fence and storing it in the yard. Height won't be an issue which is good.

I've done a bit of research on them and haven't read bad comments yet...... which is why I'm asking here!

Any other suggestion's on lower cost hull's of the same vintage that might ride just as well?

I just sold my Haines sig 542rf(payment pending) it was an awesome boat beautiful ride eats up the chop could certinaly handle more rough water than I could haha, If the bigger Haines sig handle like mine did I'd have a serious look at them, it absolutely craps all over my previous Haines hunter

Caribbean. Melbourne built. Based off Bertram designs. Not flashy, not the absolute best in any department but very solid. (may have bias as I fish predominantly out of one)
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... um&index=0

Noosacat if you want twin hull
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium

Haines hunter (yeah you said narrow, but this is a list of one's I'd look at minus bruise crafts as you've clearly looked at them hard)
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium Same hull available new as the 575 profish, or older as the 570sf and also the 560 derivatives of the 90s.

Haines Signature
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium A model that Signature have produced since the mid 90s and still in production today. Model numbers are the size followed by F for cuddy cabin styled towards fishing. RF is a runabout. C is a half cabin styled more for cruising. SF is a side or centre console tournament boat setup and BR is a bowrider.

Northbank. My value choice. The bigger 600 can be found in your budget used, but like most decent small name boats they're not readily available. The 550C almost scrapes in brand new. TBH if I was in a similar position to you, I'd have a deposit on the 550R version right now.
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium

Seafarer
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium

Same as what chrisabout here has. Basically identical to the 550 Northbank just different builders. Still available new https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium

Tournament. Built by Signature for Atleast the last 5 years. Older brand is Mustang, same hulls unsure who owned them then
https://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for- ... ss=Premium


Just to throw more at you

Heaps of options.

From cobbys list I would pass on the Viking (very hard very wet boat), 580 breeze (good boat but under powered) and the Tournament (needs tandem trailer.

Cats are well worth a look as are caribbean boats they have lots of good options. Always a good all round fishing boat.

Bar crusher are faultless !

Gummysmasher wrote:Bar crusher are faultless !

But expensive for what you get tho

Probably a bit a bit big but ok for the price.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/253166530521

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/222679996865

Or plate boat
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/253168626954

Or something like this?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/292291656384

Gummysmasher wrote:Bar crusher are faultless !

Cough B_ll sh!t cough.

Gummysmasher wrote:Bar crusher are faultless !

Backcrushers? Maybe when you fill the ballast with concrete or weld it shut with a bung to hold the water in are they ok... Go north of the border, the ratio of backcrushers to other brands is a hell of a lot smaller than it is in Victoria. I will say this though, the build quality is good.

frozenpod wrote:Heaps of options.

From cobbys list I would pass on the Viking (very hard very wet boat), 580 breeze (good boat but under powered) and the Tournament (needs tandem trailer.

Cats are well worth a look as are caribbean boats they have lots of good options. Always a good all round fishing boat.

Viking completely different to the Victory then? Only been in a Victory. The 580 and Tournament faults I agree with, they were only examples I used. Allison 175/189/21 fisherman? They have their lovers out there but age is creeping up.