Vickers Easyriders

[Coontakinta]

Seems that a local builder in Adelaide has the moulds to the Vickers Easyrider 4.8m and my Old man is interested in getting one. Thing is I dont know much about them and I'm assuming there may have been a few more getting around in the East than there were / are here in the South.

So my question for all of you is; Have u had much experience with these hulls and how do they rate? As this a small builder a wet test looks like it would be impossible, especially as he has no access to motors. He's simply a builder, well a fibreglasser really!

They look too ski boatish to be a practical fishing boat in anything over half a metre of sea.

I have no doubts over the glass thickness as it sounds as sturdy as a house, apparently there is a full drum of resin below the floor, but the fact that he couldnt tell me how much the hull weighed and suggested outboard ratings for the transom had me thinking.

So if u had one of these in the past or have some experiences with them please let me know about them.

Regards Coonta

[GrahameA]

Coonta

A somewhat belated reply.

I owned an Easyrider 146 25 years ago.

As a boat I was extremely happy with it and have zero complaints about it. It was a great fishing boat in the days when most glass boats lefdt a bit to be dsired from a fishing viewpoint. I rigged mine with two bucket seats and then it was all clear space to the stern. The only reason I sold it was I was moving.

The best recommendation I could give it is that I would buy another today if I was in the market for that size boat.

Its bigger brother the 166 Fisherman is still one of my favourite boats of all time. There is a test report on the 166 in Australian Angler/Fishing World from around 1978/80. I will see if I can the issue number for you.

[Coontakinta]

GrahameA, thanks for the reply.

I convinced the oldman that spending a few more pennies on a 490C Northbank would be a worthwhile investment and since taking delivery of the new rig a few months ago, I think he agrees! ;)