cheers guys, all very sound suggestions. Im starting to think the perfect vessel for what I'm chasing would be on the longer end of 5.5m I don't want to be conjested of fishing room.
Being over 5m, does the seafarer 5.2m operate similarly to the vsea but with more deck space?
Was that heading into the sea, or running down a wave coming in? I've never had an issue running downwind, unlike people I've seen with stuff like 595 Haines's who can come in soaked from burying the bow running down wind in our very short steep southerly slop. I have put the bow under a few times , heading directly into a large sharp sea, to the extent of some water running up the screen and coming under the edge of the vinyl top and landing on the dash, but conditions really were horrendous. It will be interesting to see how it goes now I have an anchor winch and a bit more weight forward. I know it has definitely improved the ride, and I run one-two bars more of trim out than I did before the mods.With the fine entry and broad deck at the bow. It was easy to bury the bow and scoop water over the top of the boat. Did it a few times and got very wet.
We don't have your ocean bars here, thank God. I have horrible memories of them from my younger days, grew up in NSW. We do have a river mouth which some people regard as notorious, but I've been running it on a regular basis for over thirty years without incident.
I have a Seafarer V-Sea (2000 model). My mate and I fish Botany Bay, Port Hacking, South Coast (NSW) and up to about 10kms offshore. I find we have ample room fishing with several rods out and hand lines over the side. Plenty of room for supplies, bait, fishing gear etc. have never come home thinking we were cramped for room. Boat is great in a sea and stable at rest.Originally Posted by poonabayking
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I have a Cruise Craft Reef Raider 16ft and have done plenty of trips in the bay and offshore in it. had it for about 5 years now. 85 model and last year had the floor professionally done as an insurance job. All dodgy stringers were replaced at the time and good ones glassed in again. At the time we thoroughly checked the transom and it was still A ok after 32 years!!
Comments by Noelm and others about the floors and transom's are so true. Cruise Crafts are one of the better built boats from back in the 80's and yet mine had a masonite floor with barely any glass cover underneath! According to my boat builder that is pretty much par for the course and Mitch (Moreton Bay Marine - Clontarf) does these older boats all the time.
I have had my boat out 40ks offshore many times and in seas up to 2 metres. I have crossed many bars and been in up to 20 knot winds and it is a very sea worthy boat. Having said that although quite stable at rest it does not cut through the waves as much as I'd like and you need to take it easy at around 4000 RPM's often coming home in 15 knots and even then it can be uncomfortable.
I often have boats flying past me on the return trip when the wind is up and I would imagine this is mainly due to not having enough deadrise. The tradeoff for this though is that my boat is great at rest and 2 guys can fish on the one side if needed (though in a swell and big chop this is not a good idea).
The Cuddy Cabin on the Reef Raider is 'such a good idea'. I have been caught out a few times when southerly busters have come up and as long as I get the bow up and go slowly she has rarely ever taken a greeny over the front (though I have on occasion).
I would not consider the windscreen version for this reason and I love the dry storage factor the cuddy provides yet it does not take up much fishing room (as I run her minus the Bimini 90% of the time for space and casting reasons). In fact its a very dry ride all round which is a real bonus!
I have upgraded the original motor to a 2004 90 2 stroke merc (3 cylinder) which is 'very' full efficient and gets 2km per litre.
All up very happy with my rig and kitted it out to the max!! Live bait tank, deck wash, pneumatic seats etc etc.
Had my way over and could afford it I would go for a slightly longer boat (5.5-5.7) and hold out or save up and get a 4 stroke. Quieter and more fuel efficient and taking mates out who get sea sick the 2 stroke fumes sets them off quickly. Not an issue for me though - just them.
Re what boat to get to improve on what I have I will be interested in your post to see if any others who actually own these boats or have done have got to say.
For about 70-80% of what I do I am very happy with mine but would say its best with just 2 fishing. 3 is a crowd. Cheers.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....I have owned two old Haines hulls..a V16C which was a little small and a 565L originally a Stern drive ,which has been needed a lot of work.But I have had it for over ten years and enjoy nearly every moment in it..
If your thinking of an older hull ..allow for the cost of some repairs...and things like the fuel tank which was sprayed in foam and develops pit corrosion more than likely should be looked at, as Noelm said Haines hulls vary in build quality ....mostly the problems are obvious at that age if they havent been repaired.
Fibreglass is a great material..there are plenty of yachts from the 1960s still floating! So a trailered power boat from the 80s can be ok...often it depends less on how its been used than how its stored.....more boats are ruined by rainwater than by saltwater...
Personally from the time and cost perspective...you should be absolutely sure what boat will suit.. before you buy it...from the repair rebuild repower point of view..you will want to own the boat for a long time to make it all worthwhile...good luck!!
redirected this posting to correct thread, sorry for the confusion
Last edited by Andy56; 01-05-2017 at 04:05 PM. Reason: wrong thread
Always like the old Yalta Odessa 615 , best of all you can still buy one new now the Yalta 2200 fisherman. no bells and whistles but they are good honest sea going rigs.
BigE
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As you can see my Stylecraft is a beautiful hull that cuts chop and swell like hot knife through butter. Might be a bit like a Haines hull.
Attachments don't work
sorry, tried again but can't seem to get pics to stay up there.
You need to use the "Go Advanced" button, manage attachments and then import the images onto AF first and then attach to your post...
Remember to always log on before heading offshore.
thanks mate I'll try again later!
Try this one I guess, can't get the pics to stick. Hope it's ook to put that up?
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-fo...-Huntsman-V16/
Thanks for the replies guys, plenty of good ideas and advice! Can't wait to cruise in relative comfort again! Getting soaked to the bone at 4am getting bait has its toll 😂
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