American-inspired, Australian-built trailerable Caribbean 24FBSF

Published in September 2013
You’ve got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can’t hide
For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
POCKETGAMEFISHER
Words by John Eichelsheim Photos by Gareth Cooke
American-inspired, Australian-built trailerable
Caribbean 24FBSF sport fisher has a Thames
Coast couple hooked.
A
s trailer boats get bigger and
acquire more luxuries, it’s hard
to say exactly when they make
the transition to a launch – the
latest offering from veteran
Australian production boat
builder International Marine is a good
example.
The Melbourne-built, solid GRP
Caribbean 24FBSF (fly bridge sport fisher)
is really a launch, but it comes on a decent,
heavy-duty trailer which, with the addition
of electrically-activated brakes, can be
towed on the road. At around 3.3 tonnes in
weight (dry), and with a near-3m beam, it’s
a serious towing proposition, but within the
capabilities of a large 4WD vehicle.
The Caribbean 24FBSF is based on
the company’s popular C23FBSF and
replaces it as the smallest flybridge boat in
Caribbean24 09 13 A4.indd 52
its range. The hull has been expressly
designed with a low centre of gravity
to accommodate the flybridge and
a wide, 2.7m beam for stability at
rest. The deep-vee hull traces its
design pedigree back to Raymond C Hunt,
continuing a Caribbean tradition of solid
construction and excellent rough water
performance.
The Caribbean 24FBSF Walk the Line
is the first of the new Caribbean 24s
in New Zealand; the first 24FBSF with
factory diesel power, a Mercruiser VW TDI
265hp driving through a Bravo II leg; and
the first launch for its Thames owners.
They wanted something better suited to
game-fishing and overnighting than their
previous boat, a Fyran 600.
The owner says his wife loves boating.
“She’s at least fifty per cent of the reason
we bought a bigger boat,” he says. “She’s
looking forward to swimming, reading
and relaxing in a quiet bay somewhere.
I’m looking forward to taking her up to
Tutukaka game-fishing.”
They considered several small launches,
including secondhand Bertrams and
Caribbeans for their classic sportfishing
lines and legendary performance but most
were petrol-powered, lacked trailers or
were too large to launch at the boat ramp
near their home.
Walk the Line is supplied on a sturdy
Australian-built, Mackay multi-roller trailer.
It has over-ride brakes on both axles, but
28/08/2013 1:59:43 p.m.
The upholstery is practical, easy-clean vinyl with
simple varnished teak trim; a concept of practicality
that is exhibited throughout the boat
New Zealand Caribbean agent Scott White
says subsequent 24FBSFs will be equipped
with Sensa-brake. The owner will use a
Ford 10 tractor to tow his boat to and from
the boat ramp, so doesn’t require electric
brakes.
The couple prefers to keep their boat
at home to save on marina or mooring
fees, anti-fouling, haulout fees and
ongoing maintenance to the sternleg.
CLEAN AND SIMPLE
Walk the Line initially gives the impression
it is about function first. It’s handsome
enough, but International Marine has kept
it simple on the inside. It is adequately
equipped where it counts – engineering,
construction, storage space – but the
builders haven’t included luxury for the
sake of it. The upholstery is practical,
easy-clean white vinyl; trim is restricted
to simple varnished teak detailing and the
cabin interior is plainly furnished.
“It was important to me that the boat
was practical – it’s a fishing boat so it’s
going to get bait and blood and stuff in
it. I don’t want to be worrying about the
carpets or the upholstery,” says the owner.
Grey marine carpets attach to the
Caribbean24 09 13 A4.indd 53
non-slip moulded cockpit and cabin soles
with domes so they’re easily removed for
cleaning or beforehand when you know
the boat will get dirty.
In this respect, it is more like a trailer
boat than a launch – easy to hose down at
the end of the day, inside and out.
While the 24FBSF is practically
utilitarian, it has creature comforts
including a freshwater wash down/
shower in the cockpit, 100 litres of
freshwater and a toilet between the
v-berths in the cabin. The galley has a
two-burner spirit stove and generous
stowage, an insulated icebox under
the aft saloon seat and room for an
aftermarket fridge under the helm
seat – the owner’s eyeing up a 12V Waeco
from Burnsco. Cockpit, hardtop and
cabin lighting are LED for minimal power
consumption.
Inside the enclosed, grey Verticell-lined
cabin, vee-berths convert to a good-sized
double berth, reasonable storage and
an overhead hatch/skylight for light and
ventilation. While the cabin hatch opens,
access to the foredeck is best achieved
by sidling around the hardtop, which has
handholds and moulded non-slip on the
side decks. The Manson plough anchor
is attached to 40m of chain, raised and
lowered remotely by a Quick capstan.
MADE FOR FISHING
The cockpit is a decent size. With plenty
of beam and excellent freeboard, the boat
would feel safe and comfortable in most sea
conditions and there’s good toe-room in the
cockpit. Some of the cockpit real estate is
lost to the moulded engine box, but there’s
good access into the corners once the dropin seats are removed. A 300-litre fuel tank
occupies the space under the cockpit sole,
but the side pockets provide useful stowage.
A bait table, through-gunwale rod holders
and game poles are on the shopping list.
The saloon is slightly lower than the
cockpit so it will get wet when you hose out
the cockpit; both areas drain into the bilges
where a pump takes care of the water. Like
any trailer boat, there are bungs to drain the
hull on the trailer.
Access to the engine is good. The V6 is a
compact, lightweight design – no heavier
than the V8 petrol engine International
Marine normally fits to this model. With the
aft seat removed and the engine cover open,
hinged transom covers reveal the batteries,
28/08/2013 1:59:59 p.m.
The head is tucked under the vee berth; there are pilot berths either side, but it’s cosy. The Caribbean
features easy-care, indoor-outdoor flow throughout, as a practical weekender
There’s a sense of retro meets Kiwi bach in the simple design
of the steering wheel
Practical but plain decor and gas cooker, with small galley sink, surrounded by natural light
power trim pump, sea strainer water-fuel
separator and power steering gear. The
batteries are slightly below the level of
the cockpit sole and I’m surprised they’re
not in boxes. Twin batteries are an option
chosen by the owner.
DIESEL HOTROD
I can’t categorically say that the diesel
version of this boat gives nothing away to
petrol in terms of performance, but that’s
the official line and my experience seems
to bear that out. The VW-based diesel
is beguilingly smooth and quiet at idle,
but push the throttle forward and the big
propeller takes a large bite from the water,
launching the boat onto the plane. The hole
Caribbean24 09 13 A4.indd 54
The cockpit is a decent size, with plenty of beam, excellent freeboard
and good toe room at the sides
shot is impressive, with no noticeable turbo
lag and linear acceleration through the rev
range. The boat really gets up and goes.
“Caribbean has tried diesels in some
of their smaller models,” says White, “but
the results were disappointing. Throttle
response and hole-shots were poor and the
boat’s balance was affected by the engines’
extra weight.”
Although larger Caribbeans are dieselpowered, the manufacturer has stuck with
petrol for its smaller inboard models.
“In Australia they have no difficulty
selling petrol V8s,” says White, “but we can’t
move them in New Zealand and the resale is
even worse.”
That may be about to change, judging
by the factory’s enthusiasm for Walk the
Line’s performance. We kept the engine
revs within the running-in limits set by
Mercury Marine, but the boat certainly
felt nimble and responsive. Factory figures
indicate a top speed of almost 35 knots
and we enjoyed a relaxed 23-knot cruising
speed.
“It’s at least as quick as the V8 petrol
version out of the hole and faster at the
top end,” says Scott, adding that it’s also
cheaper to run.
Since the pre-delivery trials,
International Marine has had good enquiry
from Australia for diesel 24s, and White has
ordered a second boat for New Zealand.
28/08/2013 2:00:25 p.m.
“The Volkswagen-based diesel is smooth...
and the big propeller takes a large bite from the water”
FIZZ-BOAT HANDLING
Walk the Line’s main helmstation is on
the flybridge, accessed by a ladder from
the cockpit. Without the optional clears,
it’s a little exposed up there, but with the
bimini up and clears fitted it should be
comfortable enough. There’s a full suite
of instruments on the flybridge, including
a Lowrance HDS8 combination display
and Volkswagen analogue and digital
instruments. The simple bench seat is
comfortable, though you sit pretty much
on the hardtop roof with a moulded
footrest to accommodate your feet.
The second helmstation in the saloon
has a low-backed bench seat, a freestanding HDS8 display on the dashboard,
a rev counter, sternleg trim lever, VW
PERFORMANCE
Fuel data M45 Cummins 480hp
Figures supplied by International Marine
See also http://www.youtube.com watch?v=MaqzAjDvdTc
RPM Speed (knots) Fuel (lph)
1000
5.1
1200
6.1
1400
6.7
1600
7.3
1800
7.6
20009.4
2200
12.6
2400
16.0
2600
18.7
2800
21.3
3000
23.5
3200
25.3
3400
27.3
3600
28.7
3800
30.2
4000 (WOT) 31.6
4250 (trim out) 34.5
2.2
4.5
7.3
9.1
13.0
17.0
19.7
21.5
24.1
27.0
31.2
35.5
40.5
44.6
48.1
54.4
57.3
diagnostic panel and the usual controls for
the anchor, lights and pumps. No trim tabs
were fitted, but they would be useful in a
crosswind.
The Caribbean 24FBSF handles like a
large trailer boat, which it is, but feels like
a launch, especially in choppy seas. The
hull is stiff, solid and capable. Tauranga
provided the usual steep, short seas in the
channels, which the Caribbean hardly
noticed. These are like the conditions the
boat will regularly encounter in the Firth of
Thames. The hull is a smooth, quiet runner,
though there is quite a bit of induction
noise at the transom around the back of
the engine box where the V6 draws air, and
like all deep-vee hulls, it heels over in sharp
turns.
CONCLUSION
At 7.2m overall, plus bowsprit and
swim platform, and weighing in at 2.4
tonnes (dry), the Caribbean 24FBSF
is no bigger than many of the current
crop of aluminium and fibreglass maxi
trailer boats, but take this scaled down
bluewater sportfisher for a run and you
quickly realise she’s fair-dinkum like her
big sisters. Diesel power only reinforces
that impression.
Caribbean
24 Fly Bridge Sport Fisher
➤ loa 7.2m
(plus swim platform and bowsprit
)
➤ beam 2.7m
➤ draft approx 0.9m
➤w
eigh approx 3300kg on
trailer
➤ construction solid GRP
➤ e ngine Mercruiser VW TDI
265hp diesel
➤ p ropeller 19¾ by 19-inch
three-bladed aluminium
➤ deadrise 21° at transom
➤ fuel 500 litres
➤ water 100 litres
➤ cruising speed 20-25kt
➤ max speed 34.5kt
➤ p rice as tested $225,00
0
with trailer
➤m
anufacturer
International Marine PTY Ltd,
web www.caribbeanboats.com
caribbeanboats.co.nz email:
[email protected]
phone 027 279 6664
subscribe online at www.mags4gifts.co.nz/boating-nz
Caribbean24 09 13 A4.indd 55
28/08/2013 2:00:32 p.m.