Thoughts feed back on the bluefin barracuda / stessco renengade side console

[pegasus]

Hi folks,

Best of the season to all.

Am considering a slight change in boating direction. Wanting a bit more versatility- something more friendly to the fresh water impoundment scenario maybe an electric motor up front . E.g Barra- Monduran etc. Normally there s only myself or one other.

Currently have a 590 WR Lewis ( centre cab - fibreglass) 140 suzi- I have not been able to get the idea of a larger console aluminium out of my head. Budget would be what I would get from the sale of the 590. It is a great boat so I am a little up in the air about the change.

I am considering/like the look of the BF barracuda 4.8 .Recently noted that Stessco have a contender there also in their Renegade range. I have come up with these two as they seem good value compared to maybe bigger name competition.

Have been down the path of one bigger boat and one smaller boat but now a days I could not afford two rigs- initial outlay /maintenance/insurances/ rego s etc.

I am hoping to find something that would cover besides the impoundment trips- bay, near coastal use and on the good days out to Cape Moreton- I mainly lure/ soft plastic fish- cast/ troll. It s also a bit tempting to size down a little ( 4.5/ 4.6m) but I think if I stay with the 4.8m size would be happier on the wider trips.

Have a leaning towards the barracuda 4.8 , maybe a 70-75hp 4 stroke on the back but far from decided and just in the early days . This leaning is only from theory/research - nothing first hand.

Any thoughts/comments , from any who have been in / own these /similar rigs or in the know would be greatly appreciated.


Kind regards,

Lew

[bugsytwoshoes]

Hi Pegasus, I have been down that road a few times and am now waiting delivery of a Brooker Stealth 4.55m side console with a 60hp 4s Suzuki . I will be using the boat mainly freshwater dams and river fishing. There are so many brands of boat in this style that it makes it hard to choose one and they are all good boats . I think it comes down to what extras you can get in a particular brand at a good price. I chose the Brooker because I've had one before and liked it, mine comes with a full pod and bow mount plate,plumbed live bait well etc. You will find that one brand offers something the others have not got and so on e.g. the Stessco has two plumbed wells others only have one. I really liked the look of the Quintrex 4.6m but they are a bit dearer than the others. There's also the problem that sometimes the dealer has the hull you want but sells a motor that you don't want. You may have to buy the hull and have a motor fitted elsewhere. I think the 4.8m is a good choice for what you will be doing. My boat will set me back about $25.0000 painted and a few extras and I am buying it off North Coast Marine Centre down at Urunga and I live on the gold coast. Incidently this will be my twentieth boat and the missus said it will be the last.

[up the creek]

stessco dont even update there site when a new boat comes out i was looking for tinnies that were being sold at my dealer and they were not online for months, even my dealer said there really slack and hes had issues in the past with them being laxed in a few different ways.. they could be all up to date now but ones gotta wonder if you have issues will they be onto it. and when dropping big cash i would want good after sales response,this is just one problem i had and may not reflect on stessco as a whole but thought id put it out there..

[up the creek]

check out clark boats bro, they are good priced, well for my little tinnie they were not sure on bigger stuff.., they are fully welded not riveted, they are one of the few aussie made brands that have not sold out to bigger manufactures and old guys tell ya all the time there clark has been going for 30 years. they have a good choice of boats and one to start is a 4.49 rebel side console.

[bluefin59]

I would give a big tick for the bluefin as I have had my 4.5 mt predator since 04 and still love it mate . Matt

[pegasus]

Guys,

Thank you for comments and your feedback. Much appreciated.

Bugsy- yes - a popular configuration and it is interesting to see what is added in amongst the different brands- Had a chuckle on the boat count. I think we are peas in a pod there - I am not sure I d like to do a count .

UTC- interesting your comments ref stessco- I have a slight scarring from Stessco dealings in the past many years back - maybe little has changed there. I do like some of their models - shame. I saw a pristine Renegade 440 recently - coming up for sale- it may as well be brand new- hardly used- it was a nice job and so well kitted( eyes/ear motorguide bow mount plus) but I thought it was just tad on the small side.

Matt, Thats a good run - 2004. From recollection the Predator is very similar to the Barracuda hull of those times but no well I am up to see the Bluefin dealer - Redcliffe way today- taking up my rig and we will see where we go from there.

Thankyou.

All the best for the festive season

Lew

[Coontakinta]

I have no first hand experience with the boats you mention, but I do have with one of the more expensive brands you looked at. Mine is in the SC guise
Yes, they are probably over priced, but its not just me, its also the crew who say that its the best riding alloy hull they have been in. If your intention is to do some salt work where conditions might see you coming home into a bit of chop, your back will thank you eternally for buying one of them.
Dont discount them on price alone!

[Noelm]

Very hard boat to pick the "best" because there is just so many to choose from, starting at the mass produced, to the full custom with prices fitting the quality.