Best platey 6-7m suggestions

[Blackened]

G'day

Ty, Have you had a look at the riptides? Speak with Dave.

They're moderate in the V, May be what you're after.

Dave

[lippa]

ya also got reefmaster (alliminium marine) and lightning (alloyworx) to consider.

[Gill]

Hi Ty
How's it going? Please tell me mate, what does this waasp system do?

Gill

[Deiter]

hi all,
Thanks guys for the input. Not really interested in a 2nd hand boat, i'd prefer to build new so i can have custom input into the design/layout, . I've had a look at noble,amm and fisher boats, however none interested me as there all more of a deep vee platey and as a result need more horse power. One of the main reasons for selling the cat would be for economy purposes, as the twin engines is alway going to cost more run/service/maintain than a single, Therefore i'm probably after a moderate vee platey that would carry the weight better, be more stable and easily powered. Will check out predator,stagg and tristar marine boats.

There is nothing wrong with the cat, it is an awesome boat well set up for extended trips and if i could keep it i would. However i would like to buy a waasp multibeam sonar and can only do this by building a cheaper boat. Also for ease of use towing around a smaller, lighter boat would relieve alot of stress, possibilty of taking it up the beach, alot more economical to run and service and i'll enjoy mapping the oceans.

I love me fishing, and although we allready return good catch rates i see the catch increasing massivley with a system like the waasp it'll take all the guess work out. So i am willing to sacrfice comfort for a couple of years if i can catch more/better quailty fish quicker and cheaper. In saying all that if i can't build the boat for the price i have allowed or i can't find one that i'll be happy with i won't be selling the cat.

ty

O.K. for those guys wondering, a WAASP is a multi beam sonar system that draws a much more detailed view of the bottom and everything in between including fish/ bait schools. You could call it a 3D sonar. I'll include a pic of just what it can do.

Now, to the subject at hand.
Ty, you stated your main priority as running costs, with a strong eye on seaworthiness (e.g.stability, self draining, predictable handling, hull integrity/strength,) and weight carrying-capacity. A plate mono in the 6-7m range will give you most of this, with the butt-end being a stiffer ride, but only YOU can decide if the associated compromises are really worth it.

I strongly suggest you do your sums and add up all related costs. As far as i can see, your main running cost by far is going to be fuel. Servicing costs will pale by comparison. Am I right????

With this in mind, another option might be a plate alloy cat. A plate cat in the 6m range is easily powered with twin 70 - 90hp engines. Yes, you will still have the service costs for 2 motors, but lets look at the whole picture. A pair of honda BF90's will cruise all day at 9l/h each. That's 18l/h total!!
Compare that to what you would need to push your 6-7m platey. Say a 140hp Suzi as minimum drinks roundabouts 14-16l/h, and that's best case scenario. Not much difference really, and I dare say that whatever you need (probably 150 - 175hp ) will drink more still, making the twin Honda's look even better.

Adding to that, I don't think I need to tell you the advantages of a twin hull with the sort fishing trips you do, and i am only thinking about the comfort factor. Do I need to even raise the safety aspect of twin everthing? It's about "piece of mind", particular when running wide and often.
You have run a mono b4, and I am sure that in your heart you would like to stay with a cat for obvious reasons.
I also think you would find the weight difference on trailer to be negligable between 6m cat and 6.5m mono, particular when compared to your current rig.
Add to that you still have the option of infinite customisation, not to mention being able to hang 5 ppl off the same side on a drift

more food for thought, I sincerely wish you best in your search.

Damo

[block]

TY
I have been watching this thread with great interest as I have been thinking a little the same way. I am very happy with my 6m Seafarer Victory with a 175hp d/I Evinrude, it rides will, dry and does not do anything silly when crossing the bar. It has done 237kms on 166l of fuel on an overnight stay out from the Wide Bay Bar. The only problem is it has a 150l tank so I carry three 20l j/cans just to be on the safe side. They take up room witch you never have enough of in a boat and can be a pain to put into the main tank if the sea is up a bit. So one thing I would do if and when I get another boat is go as big as possible on the fuel tank.
My mate has got the 6.2 Seafarer with a 250hp Suzie on the back and it does the same fuel economy as my boat but with more room, fuel, power and slightly better ride. A 7m Seafarer with a 300hp Suzie would be nice if they made one!! You would not be able to do a custom fit out.
I was told by Noble that they do not need big hp as a selling point when I dropped in there a few months ago!! They would of been one I would look at if this is the case.
Best of luck looking for what you want. I am keen to see what you end up with; it may be what I am looking for as well.
Regards
Dwane

[reef_king]

Deiter,
I comes down to cost. I just don't think i could build a plate cat for the price of a mono in a similar size......and to be honest i prefer fishing from monos while at rest. Twin engines are an option and the 90hondas would be my only choice, however, again it comes down to price and a big single is a fair bit cheaper, i'll just run a small auxzillary off the side. I will run twin tanks, seperate fuel lines, batterys,wiring ect..so the only thing that can go wrong would have to be the engine and there pretty reliable these days, with the auxaillary always there just in case. With fuel economy i'm currently using 2litres per 1 nm. With a platey i'll be trying to get it down to 1 to 1. say a 200hp engine using 20lph at 20knots. I don't need speed or big hp as i'm happy to cruise at 17-19knots all day as this i have found is a comfy speed and you cant use the speed most of the time. Also with the waasp system it can only be used at 10 sub knots so i'll be spending alot of time "looking" with my eyes glued to the screen. Will be checking out a few builders through the week and will let know what i find.

ty

[julian1]

there's also Alufarm based in SA i think, they make alot of commercial platey's

[finding_time]

Ty

I dont think a new boat is going to be an option for you mate!! With what you can get for your cat and the cost of the wassp system it's not going to leave room for a platey of any size( man there expensive atm) I know it's not going to have a paint job but just the coat of a hull with reasonable fittings will still be over buget i think. Better start looking for a well set up older boat that you can modify to your needs i think!

ian

[reef_king]

Ian you'll be surprised.... i've had a look at few now and i might be able to build a 7.5m boat.

[Dean1]

Hi Ty, just curious about your comment you made that youd rather fish out of a mono while at rest?? Cats are so much more stable?? Gee you will miss the comfy ride mate..

[Vitamin Sea]

Hi Ty, just curious about your comment you made that youd rather fish out of a mono while at rest?? Cats are so much more stable?? Gee you will miss the comfy ride mate..

Caught my eye to Dean

Cheers

[reef_king]

Dean, vitamin sea,
that comment was in relation to how they rock while drifting beam on to the waves. I prefer how a well built platey mono sits in the water while fishing instead of the slight rock from hull to hull in a cat in my cat, i know the stabilty is not the same
cheers

[Deiter]

Ty, if you can build and fitout a 7.5m platey, as well as fit a waasp sonar, for the same money you will get for the CC, I want in.

[poundalead]

Try Platemaster in Maryborough as another option. They build a pretty mean looking boat. A mates dad took one for a spin and was blown away by the handling of these hulls. Unfortunately it was 10k out of his price range. Just another builder to ponder on. Hope it all goes well for you.
Cheers Benny

[Nobites]

Just to add to the confusion, if you want the ultimate in fuel economy try a stern drive diesel. Common rail technology means you can get around 2 klms per litre therefore a 180 litre tank will get you 360 klms. (At recommended cruising speed)

To buy the engines and install not cheap though, thought I would throw that in.

No_Bites