I have noticed all over australia that there are a lot of bar crusher boats for sale second hand, seemingly more commen than many other brands second hand on the market.
They usually have done low hours also.
Why are there so many for sale, they look like a good boat or are they not ?
Anyone who owns one or has owned one, can you tell me what you like and dont like.
Cheers
Now Surtees have hit the market in a higher profile perhaps everyone is upgrading?
Nice one, Crunchy! I think you must be right, now that people are seeing the originals (Surtees), they no longer want to be seen in a copy! LOL!
Nuthinsuss: being serious for a moment, think it might be just one of those coincidences where more than usual numbers of one brand hits the market at the same time. I haven't heard of any issues with the BC's, the fact that there is quite a waiting list for new orders to be built suggests that is the case too.
Both BC and the original Surtees are pure fishing machines. No unnecessary frills and pretty stuff just for the sake of it. Sometimes I think blokes buy boats without consulting "The Admiral" who then says she wants more of a pretty thing with nice carpet, cushioning everywhere etc. So, that could be one reason why some come up for sale so early in their lives.
Need to define the purpose you want from your boat, and the criteria it has to meet. Get that approved by the Admiral! Then buy a boat that meets as many of those requirements as possible.
I am very happy with my Surtees. Punches well above its size from a ride and performance perspective, and has every fishing feature that I could ask for. Doesn't have any nasty handling characteristics, is predictable and everything is placed just nicely so it falls easily to hand.
Note to self: Don't argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience....
Come for a run with me bud, see what you think.
Love mine! Just wish I got the 680
Moonlighter a bit off track here, but is that the same as cats ? I have one of the originals, heaps of copies and so called improvements around but one huge name has just shut its doors and GOOOONE. Is that due to lack of sales meaning no one wants them or they just aren't as good as the original concept of a cat. Now that will throw a CAT amongst the pigeons. LOL...
By the way have been looking at the Surtees and think they are an awesome bit of kit. One brand that would swing me back to a mono.
Cheers Mick
May as well awnser it.
I've had mine now about 5 months, have just over 150 hours on it, so it's fair to say I've put more hours on it than what some people do a year.
I own a 610HT with a 150 etec, I drive it hard, and it loves it!
The boat is a pleasure to fish out of, heaps off storage, just a well thought out design without the crap.
I've had it in 25 knott winds, coped a few waves on the bow, and as scary as it was, didn't once feel like the boat was struggling.
Usually always sit on around 25 knotts outside, and the only time it bangs is when it doesn't come down flat and lands on a side.
I'm fitting trim tabs this week, so I will have a lot more control on those days the wind isn't playing the game.
It's no different to the whole plate vs glass argument, some boats arnt for everyone,
There are boats out there that are much better family boats than bar crushers,
But for me, and the Kind of fishing I do I love it!!!
When I upgrade it will be to a bigger Barcrusher!!
Everyone's different but,
Cheers Matt
Hi MickOriginally Posted by wave dancer
Don't want to derail the original post, but i think the Surtees/BC copy issue was a bit more than just the concept being copied, whereas I think the cats copied tH concept and made at least some subtle changes. The BCs, especially up until their latest series hulls, were pretty well identical to the Surtees.
Matty nailed it nicely with his post, they are both very effective fishing machines, which Surtees reinforce with their company motto "Built to fish".
I havent heard of anyone breaking either boat (except one BC that someone managed to wreck after being smashed on a bar crossing, but tha wasnt a construction fault,it was driver error), or having any kind of manufacturing related failure.
They seem to hold resale velue very well, too.
I am also in agreement with Matty even though mine is 5.5 vs his 6.1, they should all be fitted with trim tabs. They are a fairly deep V hull with high sides, so they do what all such ddep V hulls do, and thatis, they lean over into cross winds when underway. Tabs solves this issue. At the moment, i jusr move weight/crew members around to balance things up and get he riding flat, but I too am thinking seriously about retrofitting tabs to mine.
Note to self: Don't argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience....
bloop bloop friggin plop ploppity plop bloop
Hey nothinsuss, I owned a bc 560c which I think is the 610c now. I had it for 2 years and put over 350 hours on it before buying 6.5m glass boat. The sound that deckie has described when the boat was at rest was the only thing I didn't like. They are a wonderful fishing platform.
Matty and Moonlighter, thanks for your comments and input. I have no doubt that both boats are a great piece of kit. As Matty said everyone is different and the thing that I like and am looking for is something with a hardtop and fully enclosed cab.
Cheers Mick
Thanks for the replies there fellas. Yeah next boat will be over the 640 mark, so a big bc or surtees is an option. Current boat is a 6m ocean cylinder cc, so I'm going to be hard to impress.
The BC and Surtees range appear to be good value for money, especially second hand. Will have to take one for a run to suss it out.
Cheers NS
Saw a Surtees 6.7 centre consul with a 300HP on the back at Tanga's on Sunday....looked like a total speed weapon I tell ya! Must be build like a brick SH to be able to put that size motor on the back?? The strange thing was that it didn't look like a 6.7M boat, mine is 5.8 and it looked about the same length, does their numbering equate to the actual length???
NuthinSuss - I've heard those OC's run pretty good??
I pulled up next to a 670 bar crusher last year when i owned a 6m cc poly at the ramp and even my boat made his look small, both had 175 suzukis. Not sure how they measure them...
mick a sharkcat and kevlacat is chalk and cheese,totally different designed boats....maybe you can tell me who had there doors open for the longest time sharkcat or kevlacat not including when sharkcat changed to noosacat..kevlacat had there doors open for nearly 30 yrs not sure on sharkcat maybe around the 20 years.. maybe that's saying something...If I was you maybe get a mono, you might have an idea of how to drive it properly then
Im not sure how they are measured but they do seem small when you put them beside other boats formosa 52 mclay 55.jpg 5.2M Formosa beside a 5.5m Mclay which is a very similar design to the Surtees and the Bar Crusher I believe.
Cheers Axl
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