She said yes, but...............

[fish-n-dive]

My darling has finally relented and is happy for me to buy a boat as long as its not a C/C or open tinny. I'm not keen on cabin boats so in my mind, that leaves bow riders. Does anyone have fishing experience with this style of boat? I'm thinking of an aluminium 6mtr. more or less. How would the fishability be, what about going off shore? Any comments would be appriciated.

[brisvegasjack]

Hi There
I used to own a 1999 Quintrex Freedomsport 500 bowrider with 70 Johnson. It was the first of the Millenium hull. Awesome allround family boat. Mine had cover over the bow and full canopy and clears which were great for camping on the boat. With the bow section the kids were up the front and isolated by the windscreen access but in full view and we had fishing room down the back without falling over them. When fishing by myself I would put the cover over the front and fished from time to time some pretty ordinary seas in the bay. When myself and my wife went out she would sit up the front relaxing with a bottle of wine and I would fish from the back. Skiing behind would be no problem, though we never did. I would probably go for 90 horses for extra power. Very stable as a dive or fishing platform and good extended pod to step on at back. Quintrex prior to 2000 had drop down floor so I could also stand at the helm if required. Could not fault this combination. I believe the later Quinnies have had some quality control issues. Maybe other members could expand on this.

Cheers Jack

[Swerve]

Hi,

We have recently purchased a Quintrex 480 Freedom Sport with a Yama 70. It has the folding rear lounge which I take out for fishing and we sit on the wide gunwales or the transom with the large rear maxi transom. Up front the cushions can be taken out and it would be easy to make a ply floor for a casting platform. Donmt like the idea of fish guts on the cushion.

For the family it works well as the girls sit up front and the boys back and we can have separte conversations. Next time I would go larger then teh 480 as a little more space between the rear lounge and drivers/ co pilot seats would be nice. But otherwise is a great boat. Go the maxium size engine you can have. with 5 people on board its a slow ride to get planning. With 2 half throttle complared to flat throttle and waiting !

Also, the front bow seats are always dry as the milenium hull works wonders! Means you actually use them
Steve

[snappa]

go for it....

[chemmy]

we have a 5 mtr coast runner and a 90hp yammy on the back we love the combination but as has een said the quality of some of the crafts-man-ship isn't the best, nothing that spoils the performance just some funny looking welds on the deck and side of the transom.

[Jack_Montana]

You need permission from the Mrs to buy a boat

[catchy_fishy]

I know all about permission - I got permission, after a very hard sell - it was buying the boat or redoing the kitchen.

And oh yes it was permission all right. She helped choose it, fit it out, chose the font for the name, etc so it would be perfect for her - which I was cool about, after all I was getting the boat.

You think she uses it now ?? Lost interest totally.

The bow rider is a nice boat, but be careful about letting her choose evrything at the expense of your fishing pleasure - you may be the one who suffers, and then the boat becomes an unnecessary cause for bitterness. Get her to make some compromises, and don't sacrifice the fishing stuff at all. Especially if this is your first boat.

Thats what I did anyway, and today we have a great arrangement - once a year for approx two days she'll come out on the boat for a whale watching / dolphin viewing outing.

For the rest it's mine !

Good Luck

Catchy

[stork71]

Yep, great setup if your keeping mum and the family keen and interested..I had exactly the same choice. (NO C/C or tinney) Ended up with a 480 Freedom Sport /Mercury 75hp combo. and have had nothing but fun since. Great alrounder...Go for it

[Blackened]

G'day
Well... if you arent allowed an open boat, or c/c. You dont like cabin boats.... how about a centre cab. You get her our of the elements(hence no c/c or opens) and you still get near c/c fishability.
Dave

[Geoff_Atkinson]

HeHe,

My Monster in Law allowed my Father in Law to buy a new boat a couple of years ago.

My input was to convince him to get a Trailcraft (they live in WA), which, after seeing what Malcom Douglas does to his, he was keen to buy.

We looked at Trailblazers, Centre Cabs and Sportscabs, all brilliant fishing boats. For a while, it looked like either the Trailblazer or the Sportscab, and a visit to the Perth Boat Show was to settle which to go for.

Big mistake

Once she spotted the bowrideron the Trailcraft stand, the cogs started ticking like only a females can (they go in all directions) . She stood there like a spoilt kid in a supermarket and said "I want that one and if we are buying a boat, only that one".

The poor bugger had to give in, it was either the bowrider or no new boat!

Now, there is nothing wrong with the Trailcraft, it's a fine boat, but the front bit is only any good for when you are actually stopped. If the sea is just a little choppy, the people in the front get wet when under way. As yet, I am yet to see a canopy that is any good for the front bit. The absolute worst thing about it is that it reduces fishing room. My old 5.8 Quinnie Cuddy Cab has way more fishing room than the 6.0 bowrider.

If you want to fish, buy a fishing boat, not a toy, dont take any s@$t from she who must be obeyed!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck

[fish-n-dive]

Thanks for all the posts so far. It sounds like a bow rider may be an option if I want a boat. Yes, I could buy a C/C or tinny but then I'd have to sleep with the chooks. If I keep her happy, who knows what else I might get!!!

Cheers

[caloundra]

what about a runabout??
more deck space to fish and fill with fishing gear
and the kids are closer incase they take the leap of faith over side


if you like quintrex
http://www.quintrex.com.au/runabouts.aspx

[Tunzafun]

Hi Fish-n-Dive,

I am the happy owner of a 5.3M Trailcraft Bowrider . It is fitted with a 115 Merc 2 stroke and goes outside without a problem. I have full storm covers and yes you do cop a bit of spray over the front in lumpy stuff but she does it easy. It will pull 2 skiers and as a family boat is everything we could have asked for .

I also had a board made up for the front so that the bow can be a fishing platform. It works well. I guess the best bit is that the family are only interested during holiday periods and the rest of the time it is mine to play with. It can be fitted with all kinds of extras but I found them a bit pricy. The boats aren't cheap either but, you get what you pay for I guess. It has thicker hull and sides than Quintrex and they guarantee their welds for 5 years. I have come home from Cape Moreton in a 2m sea and although it was uncomfortable and slow (took 3.5 hours to Bribie) we did it easy.

But if you are serious and you want to try one out, I am on the Northside of Brissy and am happy to take you out for a day. PM me if interested.

I guess I should tell you how I got the boat. My wife is English. We were swimming up at Bribie one day and a couple of boats went past. We were meant to be heading to England the following Xmas for her to catch up with friends and relatives etc when out of the blue she said "Do you want to buy another boat" (we had owned a half cab previously). She then suggested we get another boat instead of going to England. I looked for the catch.... coudn't find one and the rest is history.

Ross

[Geoff_Atkinson]

Hang on a sec,

This is a site about FISHING, not bloody stuffing around with the missus and kids.

Buy a real boat!!!! Buy a FISHING boat, no exceptions, make her make the sacrifices, not you.

Cheers

[d-man]

I was in the same boat as you . We settled for a Quinnie 510 bowrider and it does all the stuff right. Nice and dry offshore and enough comfort for the sheilas. Did a bucket load of research and felt the extra bucks for the Quintrex was worth it. Hund a 90 Yam 4 stroke on it and am more than happy with the rig.