Post
by blacklab99 » Thu Sep 13, 2018 9:10 pm
Hi Kimtown,
The 550c looks like a great boat, very capable.
Cobby is right, comfort and your ability come into it.
Mine is just under 5.4, but it's a beamy boat for its size, good pedigree, good size gunnels with a cuddy and a very high front screen for protection, plus it's very beamy for its size. Ideally, would I like a larger boat closer to 6 mtrs, yeah, but I do lakes, the bay, fish on my own a loy, do the horse shoe out of Portland on good days, Eden out wide. So it's an all rounder. I've had guys in my boat that have 6 mtr set up's and they all comment how much room there is in it, no problem 4 up in the bay, or 3 up out wide. Yes, it's all about weather conditions obviously, but if my mates near 6 mtr boat goes, mine did as well. I have owned boats since I was 17, for near 40 years, had a 6 mtr plus boat back home, so experience of what I used to do in that comes into it, and that's a learning curve which I have no doubt you would master. Unless you were specifically using it for going out wide only, there's nothing wrong with a smaller boat with good pedigree, that will cover more bases. I'm not saying a 6mtr plus cant do lakes and smaller water ways, but you then look into costs associated with towing a bigger unit around, maintenance service costs etc etc. The north banks have a great pedigree and I would have no issues owning one of them and it wouldn't restrict me in any way compared to a larger 6 mtr boat. I suppose when you mean a "big" offshore trip, we could differ there, for me a day out at the horse shoe trawling around and back is a big enough trip now days in my books, from memory, 60 km out there, with a modern 4 stroke, and around 170 ltrs you would do that comfortably, or out from Eden to the shelf, again, with obliging weather. Would a 6 mtr Haines be a more comfortable ride than mine, Yeah, but I or any of my decky's never had an issue.
I recon it's just as well you've got to sell your house first, cause your going to mull over this for quite a while, here from specific brand boaters and get some good advice from those with types that you will consider.
Take your time, let the emotive feelings about your other half approving your purchase pass, LOL
And as I previously mentioned, be anal with regards to due diligence,
And you'll make the right decision mate......
Very exciting times for you I'm sure
Col