Boat Mags

Transcription

Boat Mags
The Only Outboard Prices & Specs Database
Boa
oatt Boat
The
T he
Mag
For Tinnies, Platies, GRP,
Imports, New, Pre-Loved, Retro,
Monos, Cats & Tris!
Beneteau’s Intriguing 7.0m
Walkaround
Mag
TBM October #191 2012 $11.95
ISSN 2200 - 0623
We All Learn From
Robbie Newcombe’s
Tinnie Fit-Out
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The Story Behind
Mark Hookham’s
Whalers & Rangers
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The Full Details:
The NEW 2013 QUINTREX!
Nautic Star’s New RHIB Takes On The Kiwis
2 STROKE & 4 STROKE OUTBOARDS
CONTACT YOUR
PARSUN DEALER
-MORE CHOICE,
BUNDABERG sQLD
MIDTOWN MARINAS
River End of Targo St Bundaberg 4670
SYDNEY s NSW
PHONE 07 4152 9633
PARSUN OUTBOARDS
www.midtownm.com
5/800 Old Illawarra Road
MARYBOROUGH sQLD
Menai NSW 2234
MARY RIVER MARINE
PHONE 02 9532 0002
71 Wharf Street Maryborough QLD 4650
www.islandinflatables.com.au
PHONE 07 4122 4008
WEST GOSFORD sNSW
ROCKHAMPTON sQLD
ADVANCED MARINE REPAIRS
ROCKHAMPTON MARINE
3/5 Yandina Road, West Gosford 2250
Shop 2 / 199 Musgrave st
PHONE 02 4325 1011
Rockhampton QLD 4701
www.advancedmarine.com.au
PHONE 07 4819 1181
GRAFTON sNSW
EMU PARK sQLD
SKINNER MARINE
JEFF BIANCHI MARINE SERVICES
95 Bent Street, Grafton NSW 2460
3265 Emu Park Rd Emu Park 4710
PHONE 02 6643 3353
PHONE 07 4939 7144
THORNLANDS sQLD
AIRLIE BEACH sQLD
T.M.C. OUTBOARDS & SMALL ENGINES WHITSUNDAY OCEAN SERVICES
94 Beveridge Rd, Thornlands Qld 4164
17 Loop Road, Jubilee Pocket
PHONE 07 3207 0697
Airlie Beach QLD 4802
www.tmcoutboards.com.au
PHONE 07 4948 1366
SPRINGWOOD sQLD
HAMILTON ISLAND sQLD
THE INFLATABLE BOAT CENTRE
ISLAND INFLATABLE BOATS
Baker st (Next to Bob Jane T-mart)
Hamilton Island Chandlery
Springwood, QLD 4127
Front Street Hamilton Island QLD 4803
PHONE 07 3209-2977
PHONE 0409 052 499
www.iboat.com.au
www.scottsmarine.com.au
GOLDCOAST sQLD
STAFFORD sQLD
SLADES PARADISE POINT MARINE
DAVE’S BOAT YARD
16 Paradies Parade Paradise Pt 4216
477 Greenbank Rd Stratford QLD 4870
PHONE 07 5577 1011
PHONE 07 4058 1335
ALTONA sVIC
GET WET MARINE
353 Kororoit Creek Rd, Altona 3018
PHONE 03 9369 0122
www.getwetmarine.com.au
GOLDEN SQUARE sVIC
GOLDEN SQUARE MARINE
221 Woodward Rd
Golden Square, Victoria 3555
PHONE 03 54432818
WARRNAMBOOL sVIC
RUSSELL CAIRNS MARINE
1117 Raglan Pde
Warrnambool VIC 3280
PHONE 03 5561 4354
HINDMARSH s SA s FITCH
2 George St Hindmarsh SA 5007
PHONE 08 8346 5193
www.fitchtherubberman.com.au
GOOLWA s SA
SOUTH COAST MARINE
23 Hutchinson st Goolwa SA 5214
PHONE 08 8555 2211
MOOROOK s SA
MOOROOK MARINE
388 Gogel Rd Moorook SA 5332
PHONE 08 8583 9185
BURNIE sTAS
BURNIE MARINE SERVICE
29 Bass Hwy Burnie TAS 7320
PHONE 03 6431 3082
MOONAH sTAS
MAYNES MARINE
6 Effingham st
Moonah Tasmania 7009
PHONE 03 6214 9999
www.maynesmarine.com.au
OSBORNE PARK sWA
SEABREEZE BOATING
2 / 100 Frobisher St WA 6217
PHONE 08 6361 1086
www.seabreezeboating.com
MANDURAH sWA
OCEANWATER MARINE SERVICES
Unit 8 / 6 Tindale Street
Mandurah WA 6210
PHONE 08 9581 3232
www.oceanwatermarine.com.au
JOONDALUP sWA
COMBINED MARINE
Royce Court
Joondalup WA 6027
PHONE 08 9300 3100
O’CONNOR sWA
BOATING HARDWARE
Unit 6 / 1 Zeta Cresent
O’Connor WA 6163
PHONE 08 9337 9900
DEALERSHIP
ENQUIRIES
WELCOME
Island Marine Enterprises
(02) 9532 0002
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 02 9532 0002 OR VISIT
www.parsun.com.au
www.islandinflatables.com.au
MORE VALUE
www.parsun.com.au
Parsun Outboards bring the price of
outboards down to where they should
be, and with a 2 year manufacturer’s
warranty you can’t go wrong!
‡ 2.5hp to 40hp
‡ 2 stroke to 4 stroke options
‡ long shaft or short shaft
DEALERS
Island Marine Enterpr
ises
Enterprises
i
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(02) 9532 0002
www.islandinflatables.com.au
l es.com.au
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Boatt
T he
Mag
CONTENTS October 2012 #191
SMALL CRAFT
FEATURES
Robalo Range for OZ ....................24
Lake Tyers Vic Recovers Well
Frank Milito looks into the postdrought resurgence of estuarine
activity on this pretty lake................40
Nautic Star 7.6m RHIB (Above)
This is another fascinating bit ‘o gear
from SA’s ally master boat builder par
excellence........ ...............................74
Why I Love Boating: Botany Bay
One of our long term readers presents
a compelling rationale behind his
love of boating & fishing ...............14
Special Consumer Report:
NEW BOATS FOR 2013
Summary of the latest, newest, and
most interesting boats destined for us
in 2013......................................18-39
Quintrex Renegade & Trident..........18
4 The Boat Mag
Beneteau Barracuda 7 ...................28
Shearwater 38 ...............................34
Riviera 53 Enclosed Flybridge......38
Robbie’s Amazing Tinnie Fit-Out
Rob Newcombe knows a thing or two
about setting up a really well sorted
tinnie................................................46
The Only Outboard Prices & Specs Database
Boat
The
For Tinnies, Platies, GRP,
Imports, New, Pre-Loved, Retro,
Monos, Cats & Tris!
Beneteau’s Intriguing 7.0m
Walkaround
Mag
TBM October #191 2012 $11.95
ISSN 2200 - 0623
As we are such a small team, we are
often tied up on the ʻphone - but
please donʼt waste the opportunity to
communicate - leave a message on
the phone system, or send us an email
- and weʼll get back to you ASAP.
We All Learn From
Robbie Newcombe’s
Tinnie Fit-Out
The Story Behind
Mark Hookham’s
Whalers & Rangers
The Full Details:
The NEW 2013 QUINTREX!
DIY Sea Strike $4K Challenge
Here’s part of the answer to those
ever tightening budgets - Do it
Yourself!.........................................54
Nautic Star’s New RHIB Takes On The Kiwis
Cover: Adelaideʼs Nautic Starʼs latest
creation, the RHIB search and rescue
vessel being put through its paces last
month - as yet another Aussie boat
builder gets very serious about taking
on the Kiwis in the world of cylinder
craft.
Comment / Peter Webster
The Markham Whaler, Ranger &
Dominator Story
He’s just retired after a 50 year career
building hundreds of boats - Mark
Hookham explains.........................64
REGULAR
RETRO: ‘82 Riviera 30 Flybridge
Terrific value diesel flybridge now in
the broker’s market..........................80
Media Changes..............................6
Letters / Your Say
Mixed Comment ..........................10
Off the Wall / Tony Ravenscroft
..................................................H/O
Around The Place.......................61
Trailers & Towing / PW............H/O
Outboard Database Prices and
Latest Specs.......................90
Ebb & Flow / Neil Dunstan.........86
SPINDRIFT / PR / TBM Team
Section Starts ..............................96
TBM’s Web Site
www.boatmags.com.au
Subscription Inquiries
(07) 5564 2562
Reader or Editorial email
[email protected]
SUBSCRIPTION email
[email protected]
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Reader Postal Service &
Office Address:
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Hollywell, Queensland 4216
Publisher
Boatmags Pty Ltd
ABN 26 154 713 943
Administration
Ruth Cunningham
(07) 5564 2562
Editor
Peter Webster
Accounts: Tracey
Subscriptions: Helen
Sub Edit & Proof Reading: Mary
Regular TBM Contributors:
Neil Dunstan
Tony Ravenscroft
Gary Fooks
Andrew Hestelow
Frank Milito
Sally Jones
Di Ross & John Batty (SA)
TBM
The Boat Mag 5
Comment
with Peter Webster
Take One Tablet,
After Each Meal . . .
think we have created the
incentive several thousand
readers needed to cross over to
ʻthe dark sideʼ and start reading
The Boat Mag on an iPad, a
tablet, laptop or personal
computer at home.
All this talk about “tablets” or
ʻonlineʼ and ʻofflineʼ is enough to give
a bloke a headache! I can assure
readers they are not alone with their
sense of resignation, if not outright
annoyance, at our decision to make
The Boat Mag an online production,
as distinct from the traditionally
printed magazine weʼve produced
over the last 20 years.
Over the last couple of weeks,
Ruth Cunningham and I have talked
to several hundred readers and first
up, weʼd like to express our gratitude
that just about everyone is willing to
make the change, albeit given there
really isnʼt any alternative beyond not
reading their professed favourite
magazine at all.
We have been delighted with the
realisation that all but a handful of
readers do have computers. Even
our most conservative older blokes,
have embraced online activities in
their lives, notably with banking,
travel and quite in-depth research for
products they need to purchase,
whether itʼs furniture for the home,
equipment for the farm, tools for the
shed, whatever.
I think we are all embracing this
new online world because – bluntly –
we have to!
That said, it still leaves us grateful
for your willingness to embrace the
new technology; your positive
response is driving us to produce a
bigger and better product for you in
the future.
I
From the writerʼs perspective,
going into exclusively ʻonlineʼ
6 The Boat Mag
production is a fascinating
challenge after decades of
making ʻtraditionalʼ printed
magazines.
The writer started work with his
first boating magazine back in the
days of hot lead type in the early
1970s. Then we had the period when
we ʻgluedʼ down galleys of computer
printed paper on art sheets with hot
wax, and agonised how we could
best use our precious “square edged
trannies” colour slides in the layout.
At $90 each, weʼd think very
carefully about the virtues of any
colour pictures! But we survived the
galleys, scissors and wax, and
ultimately moved right through to
todayʼs online, digital production.
What an amazing journey itʼs been.
I suspect weʼre only seeing the
beginning of the production
revolution in our magazine world as
we move into online territory.
Thereʼs no doubt weʼre going to
merge with quasi-TV production, as
the line between video production
and online digital magazine
production is becoming very blurred
in the near future.
Donʼt think so - check out the
videos in this issue on Pages 21, 29,
and 78 - how good is that ? Already we are asking ourselves
all sorts of interesting questions.
“Why would we type out a story like
that, Ruth, when we can put it on
video, and let the reader see it for
themselves. They donʼt have to read
about it, at all . . .”
This is just a tiny example of the
challenges and opportunities that lie
ahead. Picking our way through it is
going to be both challenging and
exciting but we can promise you that
the core values that Ruth and I
espoused over the last 20 years
arenʼt going to change – weʼre just
going to show them in a more
interesting, more descriptive way in
the future.
That said, weʼd also like to make it
clear that our traditional
responsibilities in terms of gathering
accurate data and applying it through
an experienced perspective, is not
going to change.
There are some things where
video production is absolutely
awesome – how a boat runs, for
instance. Or how stable it is (or isnʼt)
can now be shown in moving
pictures - and let me tell you, the
video camera can be a very powerful
editorial tool!
However, we canʼt put sheets of
needed data into a video or TV
production, because it just gets too
boring. So the need for our spec
sheets and data blocks will continue
in the magazine medium as it has
done for the last 20 years or so,
because this is one of the primary
roles of a boating magazine.
However, readers can now have
the best of both worlds, with the
video ʼembeddedʼ in the story,
accessed by just a click of a mouse.
. . . yes, it does sound a bit weird!
With all the publicity about the
ʻsuper-trawlerʼ and the latest flipflop by the Gillard Government in
terms of their decision making
processes, Iʼm really worried that
the main point in all that debate
has been almost completely lost.
Without commenting on the
veracity of the proposed activities for
the ʻsuper-trawlerʼ, Iʼd like to suggest
that the fact that Federal Minister
Tony Bourke, wearing his
Environmental department hat, could
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Comment..
simply revoke a 7-year approval
process conducted by other
government departments (yes, from
his own government!) is an awful
outcome for good governance - and
common sense.
The wider commercial fishing
community had worked very carefully
and methodically to assess, analyse,
process and finally approve this big
processing and refrigeration trawlerʼs
activities on the basis of extremely
good scientific input and research
from the government appointed
umpire, the Australian Fisheries
Management Authority (AFMA).
When the Greens and PEW (yes,
them again) organised an email and
Twitter campaign in the last days of
the approval process, Bourke
chickened out, openly admitting that
heʼd reversed the approval process,
and confirming he was going to
create a new Act of Parliament on
the spot to deny the operation of the
super-trawler . . . as a result of
social media pressure that heʼd
received in the previous days.
Given that most of the so called
social media “pressure” was from
automated emails sent from
overseas, and bleating Twitter
accounts on auto dial, this surely
represents one of the darkest hours
in our parliamentary process.
Regardless of whether it is about a
super trawler, or marine parks, cattle
exports. . . where is it going to end?
Are we to believe that Australiaʼs
federal legislative process is now
captive to the one percent of
Australians with a Twitter account?
And that decisions to enact
legislation are going to be made
within 48 hours and slammed
through parliament to appease an
offshore Green lobby group?
By any measure, this is truly
appalling governance, and a blight
on our cherished (and envied)
Westminster systems of government.
Apart from the foregoing
political issues, what the
recreational fishing lobby should
have done was taken the science
involved in this super trawler
proposal and jammed it where the
sun shines with Mr. Bourke.
After banging away, year after
8
The Boat Mag
year, that we should have all
decisions on matters such as fishing
quotas, marine parks, fish sizes and
catch assessments, seasonal
closures, etc, based on “good
science” from independent umpires,
here was the classic situation where
that is exactly what happened – and
the process was still overturned as
the result of the highly orchestrated
Green lobby.
Where does that leave everything
now? How do we fight unreasonable
Marine Park proposals? What are we
going to do if the Green lobby
decides you shouldnʼt go flathead
fishing along that sandbank youʼve
been using for the last 20 or 30
years? Weʼve got to think about the
long term implications and
ramifications of these decisions.
The hooting and triumphant yelling
that has accompanied the Bourke
decision from the recreational fishing
groups who, unbelievably, supported
the Greenʼs emotional clap-trap
about the impact of the super-trawler,
is very disturbing, to say the least.
Theirs is a very shallow, myopic
view of life, politics and fisheries
management.
Ron Boswell To Bow Out
his is probably an appropriate
segue into recording that one of
recreational and commercial
fishermenʼs genuine friends and
easily its most singularly effective
political force, Senator Ron
Boswell, has announced his
retirement, and confirmed he will
not be standing for the 2013
Queensland Senate ticket again.
At age 71, and following a
distinguished and highly respected 30
years in the Senate for the
Queensland Nationals, Boswell
deserves all the accolades we can
muster and our sincere gratitude for
his selfless years of service beavering
away in the Canberra parliament on
behalf of commercial and recreational
fishermen.
Over and over again, his has been
one of the very rare voices of
commonsense and reason in the
parliamentary sphere, and heʼll be
sorely missed – much more so than
people realise.
Men with the knowledge, the life
T
experience, the understanding of the
parliamentary procedures and more
importantly, how the Canberra
“system” works, are very, very rare.
Weʼll miss you Mr. Boswell, but you
should retire with great pride and
dignity after an outstanding political life
and a job very well done.
On behalf of all of our readers, we
say ʻthank youʼ for your service to our
community – and wish you good
health and tight lines in the years
ahead.
Hookham Retires Too
nother retirement of interest to
boating folk all over Australia,
is the recent confirmation by Mark
Hookham that he is retiring, too.
Hundreds of readers have had their
lives embellished by the use and joy
of one of Mark Hookhamʼs Markham
Whalers, Dominators, and Ranger
cruisers, so for the 72 yr old Hookham
to finally hang up his torture boards
and retire is quite significant.
Mark Hookham has had an
extraordinary career and impact on
the Australian boating industry.
He has had a significant influence
on our standards of boating safety,
especially in the use of positive foam
floatation which heʼs been promoting
since the mid-1970s, and long before
“unsinkable” ratings became
fashionable.
Hookham has shown exceptional
resourcefulness and patience in
working through many issues of
complex boatbuilding technology,
design matters and ever-changing
boat building “standards” (from here
and overseas) over the best part of 50
years of boat building in Australia.
This in itself is an exceptional
achievement, and weʼre very proud to
present a tribute to Mark in this issue.
Interestingly, it started out as a
series of notes in answer to questions
I had raised with Mark about an
interview and story Iʼd planned
acknowledging his career. But as he
took the time and trouble to write
answers to my questions, I realised he
was actually writing a very interesting
history of an important era in
recreational boating.
As we continued working on the
project together, apart from the normal
editing process, I decided that weʼd
A
leave it as a first person summary of
the life and times of his work in this
complex and difficult industry.
I think youʼll find it a very interesting
and historically significant assessment
of this manʼs very considerable impact
on small craft standards in Australia
over an impressive 50 year
boatbuilding career.
Retro Tests . .
here has been quite a bit of
debate, if not outright dissention
about our decision to publish the
“Retro Tests” in F&B initially, and
TBM in 2012.
However, all of the flak has come
from manufacturers who believe we
should be concentrating on the
promotion of new craft, not boats that
might have been made 30 or even 40
years ago.
It is an interesting point, and on the
surface, is quite a fair reaction from
their singular viewpoint.
However, we believe there is
considerably more consumer interest
in secondhand larger (or moored craft)
today than there is in the new
fibreglass models currently available in
Australia.
On the other hand, in trailerboat
land, we have already tested about
95% of the current models (or their
clones) in these pages over the years
– and these tests – hundreds of them
– are still available through our
marvellous SEA Library (go to
www.boatmags.com.au)
From the tradeʼs point of view, at the
very least, the Retro tests are
encouraging a higher level of turnover
in their trade-ins from the used boat
market, because there is no doubt that
we are bringing to the boating publicʼs
attention boats that might otherwise
have ʻslipped under their radarʼ as
boats to consider next time around.
From said consumersʼ point of view,
Retro tests are just about all good
news. The hardest thing to find out
about some of these secondhand craft
are the original facts and figures – not
so much what they cost (this has very
little relevance today) but what sort of
engines (and horsepower) they were
designed to use, and the performance
they achieved with the original
outboards and sterndrives.
T
tempted to think your eyes are
deceiving you - or youʼve picked up
the wrong glasses.
Not so on either account, but if you
think the type faces are changing as
you go through the magazine, rest
assured it is nothing to do with your
eyes (as such) but in fact how we all
react to different type faces (or fonts)
in this online environment.
Obviously, some type fonts are
easier to read on screen than others,
and we are running a series of
controlled tests to learn more about
this vital issue.
Yes, weʼd greatly appreciate your
input, and further, weʼll be contacting a
sample of readers to get their
reaction(s). So if you do notice that
one type face stands out - literally more than another, keep it in mind in
case we contact you about it.
And by all means, drop us a brief
email when you can, to let us know
which article or section of the
magazine you found the easiest, most
comfortable to read.
As ever, we greatly appreciate your
input and back-up.
- PW, TBM
Do Us All A Favour . . . .
Shout your mate
Boat
The
Mag
And help us spread the word about The Boat Mag
going online . . and getting bigger, more technically
savvy, and very reader friendly.
And weʼd like you to do that - as often as you
like, to as many friends and rellos you think
would enjoy reading The Boat Mag.
Thanks!
Click here to send a complimentary copy of The Boat
Mag to a friend or relative, here or overseas.
The Eyes Have It . . I Think!
s you go through the pages of
this edition, you might be
A
The Boat Mag
9
Letters to 24 Walter Raleigh Crescent
Hollywell, Qld 4216
or email to: [email protected]
Unsettling, Fuel Fittings Failure
Dear Peter and TBM team,
Recently, I decided to retire my old
Hartley ply Gadabout 16 (complete
with the Honda 4-stroke, plastic fuel
drum, built in ʻ75) and purchased
another boat. A Quintrex 475 Coast
Runner, 60 Yamaha 4-stroke, 9 hours
on the clock, 2005 build. But thanks to
the insane weather and other things, I
have used it very little so far. Because
of this, Iʼm still alive as the boat was a
time bomb.
I bought it from a Brisbane dealer
some months ago (before they closed
down) and noticed straight off that
everything was different and not easy
to get at. I received a folder of books –
including a manual for the motor, but
not for the boat.
I really needed to drain the
underfloor tank. What was in it? Stale
fuel? Old? EID? Water? I was keen to
start clean and fresh. I was determined
to do it, even if I had to rip all the
flooring out to see what was under
there, and where the plumbing was.
First panel up was a 6 footer right
next to the fuel entry. I just about had a
heart attack when I looked inside.
The vent hose (big size about
18mm) was disconnected and with a
full tank, any slight wave action – let
alone crossing a bar or other extreme,
would have litres of petrol leaking into
the boat under the floor unseen.
Iʼm talking about 4 ½ inches of gap
10 The Boat Mag
(no hose) here, attaching onto a 90
degree angle connector in the centre
of the 95 model tank.
I have taken photos. More by luck
than good judgement, leaving the fuel
level at approximately a quarter of the
capacity, has probably saved my life.
The clamp is still in place and you
can see the flare in the end of the
hose. It seems to be quite pedigreed,
so how many experts do you need to
know to find out whereʼs the missing 4
½ inches (over 100mm)?
It suggests the hose has contracted
over a few years and pulled itself off
the fitting. The line to the boat side is
dead straight. It cannot in any way be
connected as it sits. Will the hose
(Trident B1 5/8 inside OB duel hose.
DSCO type B-SAE-J1527-1/93 150
8469-B1-94E NMMA type accepted
309 5/8 16mm Canada CE) be fitted to
hundreds of similar Quintrexʼs out
there? How many time bombs?
Iʼve fixed mine with an 8 inch
extension of 5/8 stainless tube and 3
clamps. I went down to the dealer, but
they didnʼt seem too
interested in what other
people do in secondhand
boats.
Itʼs a pity Quintrex didnʼt
fit a 6 inch extra bit to stop
this sort of thing every boat
with underfloor
tankshappening even if it
lay on top of the tank like a
snake. An exact drawing of
the boat tank shows what I
found and the gap distance.
How many more tanks
We elected NOT to use the readerʼs
photos as nothing could be served by
showing a hose that has clearly come
off. The real issue here is something
we have campaigned to have, over
and over again: EVERY boat should
have a spin out, hatch, or fuel tank top
lid that can be taken off or up for this
very reason: Boatowners must
regularly check the integrity of the fuel
and breather lines! Show here is our
reaction to wanting see under our
Trailcraft 560ʼs sealed deck for this
very reason: we couldnʼt stand NOT
knowing what was hidden underneath.
As it transpired, it is a very good job but nevertheless, every boat should
be checked at least every 100 hours or
so to make sure it all stays secure.
are out there ready to melt foam and
blow up?
(Name withheld; photographs
supplied - PW)
Happy Online
All the best Ruth and Peter for the
future, I have just browsed through
No 190 and found it very
acceptable.
I look forward to reading the future
electronic versions.
I especially like the fact that I can
use some of the photos as wallpaper
on the computer.
I have attached my favourite. It was
taken at Broadhurst reef off Ayr.
Kind regards
Graeme Frakes
Townsville.
Be Sure:
Noosacat
6 Production St,
Noosaville QLD 4556
Phone: (07) 5449 8888
Fax: (07) 5449 9480 Email:
[email protected]
Web: www.noosacat.com.au
peered over the side of the
dinghy as daddy rowed it
towards the old timber
boat. I could see sea
grasses, sand, schools of
small fish moving beneath
me. Everything was
different. I was ON the
water, floating, like I was
flying.
The world looked
different. It smelt different.
The air tasted different –
sort of salty. There were
sounds of seagulls and little
bells on the masts of the
yachts as they swung like
an upside-down pendulum.
I felt naked and
vulnerable, in a small
bathtub, surrounded by
water that was deep, over
my head. But I was
overflowing with
excitement. I was on
another planet.
The dinghy bumped the
Kid
side of the wooden boat. I
was lifted on board by
daddy and I froze with
excitement. Look at this
place. Itʼs a BOAT ! Look at
the steering wheel and all
the other boat things. I was
given a box of hand lines
and some fish-heads inside
some discarded stockings.
Tied to the line, they were
cast overboard. Some old
bits of bread and cheese
were thrown into a thing
called a burley bucket and
squashed up.
“Tony, the smella the
bread bringa the feesh”.
Joe had a Spanish accent.
“Nice-a silver brims,
sinappa, yellow-tailer,
everyting here”. He
encouraged me to start
fishing, but I hardly heard a
word.
The crab line started
turning backwards so I was
asked to slowly pull it in. A
large blue swimmer crab
was rising in the water,
flippers wriggling as we
played tug-of-war with the
stocking. It was amazing to
see. The net appeared and
went under it, scooped it
out of the water and it was
dropped into a fish box. I
was staring in awe at the
writhing crab, as the 15lb
line in my hands pulled
tight. A flash of silver
appeared in the water in
the early morning light. I
pulled in the fish so quickly
that no-one noticed until it
hit the deck. A nice fat
bream that seemed a
meter long to a 5 year old
flopped on the floor.
“Ay Arthur, Tony catcha
the nice breem.”. I finally
spoke up for the morning.
“Daaaaad ! Look at that
whopper !” My excitement
came out a little loud. My
voice had a strange echo
effect on the water around
the other boats. Even my
voice sounded different on
this planet.
It was at that point, that
no matter how different
everything seemed, I felt
right at home on the boat.
The sea had welcomed me
and given me a present.
The boat had accepted me
as a friend. I had found a
world, strange but beautiful,
scary but exciting. This is
where I belong…..
Forty two years later, I
am still the blond 5-year old
I was in 1970. The hair is
now light brown with grey
streaks on the sides. And I
often get accused of
behaving like a 5 year old –
to which I just respond with
a ʻThanksʼ.
Every Friday, my good
Introducing a heart warming, unashamedly nostalgic feature
by a bloke weʼll just call Tony. He discovered the boating
world back in the 1970s when he was but a young lad aged
seven. . . . Now, many years later, he recounts the days gone
by, and looks forward to helping his own little youngster(s)
appreciate the fishing and boating world which has given him
so much pleasure over the years . . .
The Boat Mag 13
peered over the side of the
dinghy as daddy rowed it
towards the old timber
boat. I could see sea
grasses, sand, schools of
small fish moving beneath
me. Everything was
different. I was ON the
water, floating, like I was
flying.
The world looked
different. It smelt different.
The air tasted different –
sort of salty. There were
sounds of seagulls and little
bells on the masts of the
yachts as they swung like
an upside-down pendulum.
I felt naked and
vulnerable, in a small
bathtub, surrounded by
water that was deep, over
my head. But I was
overflowing with
excitement. I was on
another planet.
The dinghy bumped the
Kid
side of the wooden boat. I
was lifted on board by
daddy and I froze with
excitement. Look at this
place. Itʼs a BOAT ! Look at
the steering wheel and all
the other boat things. I was
given a box of hand lines
and some fish-heads inside
some discarded stockings.
Tied to the line, they were
cast overboard. Some old
bits of bread and cheese
were thrown into a thing
called a burley bucket and
squashed up.
“Tony, the smella the
bread bringa the feesh”.
Joe had a Spanish accent.
“Nice-a silver brims,
sinappa, yellow-tailer,
everyting here”. He
encouraged me to start
fishing, but I hardly heard a
word.
The crab line started
turning backwards so I was
asked to slowly pull it in. A
large blue swimmer crab
was rising in the water,
flippers wriggling as we
played tug-of-war with the
stocking. It was amazing to
see. The net appeared and
went under it, scooped it
out of the water and it was
dropped into a fish box. I
was staring in awe at the
writhing crab, as the 15lb
line in my hands pulled
tight. A flash of silver
appeared in the water in
the early morning light. I
pulled in the fish so quickly
that no-one noticed until it
hit the deck. A nice fat
bream that seemed a
meter long to a 5 year old
flopped on the floor.
“Ay Arthur, Tony catcha
the nice breem.”. I finally
spoke up for the morning.
“Daaaaad ! Look at that
whopper !” My excitement
came out a little loud. My
voice had a strange echo
effect on the water around
the other boats. Even my
voice sounded different on
this planet.
It was at that point, that
no matter how different
everything seemed, I felt
right at home on the boat.
The sea had welcomed me
and given me a present.
The boat had accepted me
as a friend. I had found a
world, strange but beautiful,
scary but exciting. This is
where I belong…..
Forty two years later, I
am still the blond 5-year old
I was in 1970. The hair is
now light brown with grey
streaks on the sides. And I
often get accused of
behaving like a 5 year old –
to which I just respond with
a ʻThanksʼ.
Every Friday, my good
Introducing a heart warming, unashamedly nostalgic feature
by a bloke weʼll just call Tony. He discovered the boating
world back in the 1970s when he was but a young lad aged
seven. . . . Now, many years later, he recounts the days gone
by, and looks forward to helping his own little youngster(s)
appreciate the fishing and boating world which has given him
so much pleasure over the years . . .
The Boat Mag 13
wife asks me which day Iʼm
fishing this weekend, so
she can plan the other day
for family stuff and
housework. I choose the
fishing day and prepare the
boat the night before. I still
feel that same excitement
every weekend.
My garage is 15m long,
8m wide and has an
opening 3.2m wide. Why
did I build a garage the size
of a house for my boat and
the familyʼs cars? Because
I love my boat. The blonde
5 year old boy bought an
old house 300m from a
boat ramp and re-built the
house and garage
specifically so he can have
a wide driveway to a big
garage, all near a boat
ramp so he can take his
boat out fishing every
weekend.
The sweet childhood
14 The Boat Mag
“The air tasted different – sort of salty. There
were sounds of seagulls and little bells on the
masts of the yachts as they swung like an upsidedown pendulum. I felt naked and vulnerable, in
a small bathtub, surrounded by water that was
deep, over my head. But I was overflowing with
excitement. I was on another planet. . . .”
memories had inspired him.
They showed him how
beautiful life can be when
he can get out on the water
in the early morning. The
boat is the medium by
which the door can be
opened. The door to the
other world.
I arrive at the boat ramp
hours before the summer
sunrise. The launching
routine has been practiced
countless times over.
Alone, I drive the boat
through the winding Oatley
Bay, sometimes the water
is less than half a metre
below the transducer.
Only the silhouette of the
portside channel markers
can be seen as I pass it on
the starboard side. The
speed limit is 8 knots and
itʼs a no-wash zone.
Passing the Oatley Bay
entrance marker, the
seabed drops to 4m and I
open the throttle. With
adrenalin pumping the bow
shoots skywards, towards
the still twinkling stars and
she climbs onto the plane.
The tacho indicates
4,200rpm as the boat
glides through the mill pond
of the Georges River. The
hard-top protects me from
the wind rush and nocturnal
insects that abound.
Rounding Baldface Point, I
drive over the deep hole.
The sounder drops to 13m
and shows some baitfish
scattered on the edge. No
time to stop – my quarry
awaits me further down the
river at Towra Point.
On arrival the boat is
eased off the plane, the
bow-wave overtakes me
and gives me a gentle
push, as if I need
encouragement, but I need
none. I slowly motor
towards my spot in 1.0m of
water, close to the
mangrove trees.
The blazing lights of the
container terminal at
Brotherson dock dominate
the northern horizon. That
monster never sleeps. The
gentle lights of the Sydney
CBD linger to the
northwest. The 5 knot
breeze creates a tiny wave,
lapping at the starboard
hull as the tide falls.
Iʼm alone with the bay.
My only companions are
the stars, the trees and the
bats flying silently
overhead. I have an inner
peace that no-one can
describe and that few
people ever experience. A
burley trail is started, just
like the one in 1970 on
Joeʼs old wooden boat.
I shine a light in the
water, eager to see the
shadows lurking there.
Instead, millions of
whitebait appear at the
stern, darting and
swimming in a way I have
never seen. They swim for
10cm, and dart at right
angles for another 10cm,
then at right angles again.
This unusual dance has me
staring into the water and I
am once again that 5 year
old blond kid. A ratchet
goes off in the dark.
The rod in the bow rod
holder yields line to an
unseen shadow. Itʼs an
easy matter of walking over
to the rod to take the strike.
The boat is a 5.7m Island
Cab hardtop, designed by
Adam Schwetz with 1.6
million modifications by the
blond kid. Adam was a
good listener as I
painstakingly described my
drawings to him for the
design. I hold the man in
very high regard because
he made my dream a
reality. He created the DNA
of my boat. The builder
assembled her. Now she
takes me to places few
people go.
As I reel in the line, the
fish comes to the surface
and thrashes, trying to get
a look at me. The sun is
starting to rise and the fish
is revealed as a big
bronze-coloured bream – a
resident fish over the thick
weed beds Iʼm fishing. At
46cm, itʼs a thumper, just
like the one I caught
yesterday on that old
timber boat in Rose Bay.
The sun is now rising out
of the ocean. It is
spectacular to behold.
Tendrils of light shoot out in
all directions above the
sea. Seagulls replace the
bats and the cormorants
stretch their wings, ready to
dive for their breakfast.
I sit back and take a
deep breath, eyes closed
and I am one with the sea.
Iʼm blessed that I have
discovered this secret
world. A world I can escape
to every weekend.
On quiet days, we have
time to reflect on our lives
and ask ourselves the deep
questions. Who are we?
Where is our past and
where is our future? Are we
happy? We think of all the
good things we have in our
lives and smile.
There is the answer – the
smile tells us so. You have
unlocked a part of you that
you never knew existed.
You find a peace and
serenity that has been lost
by many in todayʼs world.
I have seen things and
experienced wonders few
will see.
The Boat Mag 15
I have seen a full moon
rise out of the ocean, in its
eerie splendor, behind the
silhouette of the Caltex oil
refinery.
Those goose bumps
revisit my neck every time I
remember. I have seen
waterspouts on the ocean
and mini whirlwinds in the
bay caused by jet
downdrafts. I have seen the
fury of the sea from the
safety of a cliff top, knowing
full well my boat frequents
that place.
I have seen some
amazing animals. I once
spoke to a turtle that came
aboard after becoming
entangled in my line.
Beautiful creatures that
can outlive a human if we
let them be. Eagle rays
often glide over the
shallows near the
mangrove roots of Quibray
16 The Boat Mag
“The sun is now rising out of the ocean. It is
spectacular to behold. Tendrils of light shoot out
in all directions above the sea. Seagulls replace
the bats and the cormorants stretch their wings,
ready to dive for their breakfast.
I sit back and take a deep breath, eyes closed and
I am one with the sea. I’m blessed that I have
discovered this secret world . . .”
Bay.
I have seen blue-ringed
octopus up close and
personal, squid, octopus
and cuttlefish. They all live
just under your boat.
These are not far-away
places – they are in Botany
Bay, the backyard of
hundreds of thousands of
people. The key to this
world is my boat. Without
her I would have missed
out on so much of my life.
Soon my daughter (thatʼs
her, on the right) will turn 5
and I have already
promised her I will take her
on my boat, to catch a crab
and a bream. (Mission
partly accomplished! - ed)
She will soon join the 5
year old blonde boy on the
boat. He will share his
secret world with her and
keep the passion alive.
And when Iʼm gone, I hope
she will pass on the
passion for future
generations.
I hope she will show her
children the secret world of
the blonde kid.
TBM
This is the first in what we
hope will be an enduring
series. Next month, we join
a father and son team off
Gladstone, Qld . . . .
The Boat Mag 17
The Boat Mag: NEW FOR 2013
Quintrex Takes Aim For
Opposite Ends Of The
Market
ccording to the
Quintrex people,
you will be the ʻking of
the oceanʼ in Quintrexʼs
brand new release the
Trident, the fishing
focused model made to
handle what can
become harsh
conditions in open
water fishing grounds.
With so many fishos
trying out the exciting new
SBT (southern bluefin
tuna) grounds off south
western Victoriaʼs
Warnambool to Portland
strip, the ʻbig waterʼ
offshore conditions
commonly experienced
along this wild stretch of
coast, have provided a
wake-up call for many
recreational fishermen.
For literally hundreds of
fishermen and boatowners,
A
18 The Boat Mag
the
reasoning
behind bluewater fishing
boats needing proper self
draining cockpits, minimum
levels of freeboard inside
and outside the boat; the
stability for a couple of big
blokes to haul a 75kg SBT
over the side and into the
boat - have all suddenly
taken on new meaning.
Due to a big surge in
customers wanting to
upgrade into bigger,
bluewater trailerboats,
Quintrex has released the
new Trident
Range currently
available in the 610,
650 and 690 models,
built to meet the needs of
these keen offshore
fishermen, not just in
souʼwestern Victoria, but
for fishermen travelling
further and ʻwiderʼ offshore
in pursuit of their passion.
All models feature the
renowned Millennium
Blade Hull, created with
new
stretch forming technology
to create a sleeker,
sharper shape allowing the
Trident to work through
rough water with a better
ride than the big Quinnies
have had before, thanks to
the much finer entry in the
forefoot area of the ʻBlade”
hull regime.
420 Renegade TS
440 Renegade SC
Length Maximum:
4.38m
Length Maximum:
4.60m
Length of Hull:
4.26m
Length of Hull:
4.46m
Beam:
2.06m
Beam:
2.11m
Depth:
0.96m
Depth:
0.96m
Length on Trailer:
5.50m
Length on Trailer:
5.65m
Height on Trailer:
1.60m
Height on Trailer:
1.70m
Bottomsides:
3.00mm
Bottomsides:
3.00mm
Topsides:
3.00mm
Topsides:
3.00mm
Transom Material:
3mm
Transom Material:
3mm
Transom Shaft Length:
L/S
Transom Shaft Length:
L/S
Weight (boat only):
300kg
Weight (boat only):
370kg
Min. HP:
30hp
Min. HP:
40hp
Max. HP:
50hp
Max. HP:
50hp
Main Motor Weight:
120kg
Main Motor Weight:
120kg
Number of People (Basic):
4
Number of People (Basic):
4
Number of People (Level):
N/A
Number of People (Level):
N/A
The Boat Mag 19
460 Renegade SC
490 Renegade CC
Length Maximum:
4.88m
Length Maximum:
4.90m
Length of Hull:
4.65m
Length of Hull:
4.90m
Beam:
2.22m
Beam:
2.25m
Depth:
1.05m
Depth:
1.12m
Length on Trailer:
6.16m
Length on Trailer:
6.60m
Height on Trailer:
1.70m
Height on Trailer:
2.03m
Bottomsides:
3.00mm
Bottomsides:
3.00mm
Topsides:
3.00mm
Topsides:
3.00mm
Transom Material:
3mm
Transom Material:
3mm
Transom Shaft Length:
L/S
Transom Shaft Length:
L/S
Weight (boat only):
405kg
Weight (boat only):
435kg
Min. HP:
50hp
Min. HP:
60hp
Max. HP:
60hp
Max. HP:
90hp
Main Motor Weight:
121kg
Main Motor Weight:
184kg
Number of People (Basic):
5
Number of People (Basic):
5
Number of People (Level):
N/A
Number of People (Level):
N/A
520 Renegade SC
610 Trident (Half Cab)
Length Maximum:
5.48m
Length Maximum:
6.16m
Length of Hull:
5.23m
Length of Hull:
6.08m
Beam:
2.25m
Beam:
2.40m
Depth:
1.05m
Depth:
1.40m
Length on Trailer:
6.85m
Length on Trailer:
7.18m
Height on Trailer:
2.03m
Height on Trailer:
2.60m
Bottomsides:
3.00mm
Bottomsides:
4.00mm
Topsides:
3.00mm
Topsides:
3.00mm
Transom Material:
3mm
Transom Material:
4.00mm
Transom Shaft Length:
L/S
Transom Shaft Length:
EXLS
Weight (boat only):
460kg
Weight (boat only):
860kg
Min. HP:
60hp
Min. HP:
115hp
Max. HP:
90hp
Max. HP:
175hp
Main Motor Weight:
184kg
Main Motor Weight:
256kg
Number of People (Basic):
5
Number of People (Basic):
8
Number of People (Level):
N/A
Number of People (Level):
N/A
20 The Boat Mag
F&B TV(Tablet/Phone users: If video does not play, press here to change formats)
New Quintrex For 2013 . .
This regime also
recognises the
improvements a softer,
swept back stem line
allows, as the ally sheet
can be tucked around the
shoulders and down to the
forefoot more easily,
creating a more natural
overhang or ʻflareʼ in the
forefoot region for a
significantly dryer ride, and
less tendency for the
forefoot to hold-on in
steep-to conditions found
(for instance) in short,
following seas. (Our West
Aussie Rotto readers and
Moreton Bay, Qld readers
know all about that one!)
In truth, the Kiwi plate
builders have been
building with the ʻsoft stemʼ
regime for years, and
Telwater (Quintrex
manufacturer) have been
developing it themselves in
their Yellowfin and Archer
ranges.
Interestingly, as TBMʼs
Neil Dunstanʼs 1974 ʻsoft
stemʼ Dehavilland Trojan
clearly demonstrates, the
idea is not new. The 6.4m
Trojan was designed by
renowned naval architect,
Alan Payne, for the Army,
way back in the early
1970s, to deal with exactly
the same situation –
although he didnʼt have
Telwaterʼs superb stretch
former to work with. Then,
the shape was more
All of the big Quinnies, including the new Trident series, are
now based on the Millenium ʻBladeʼ hull. This video reveals
how it works on the more family oriented Spirit range.
crudely ʻdevelopedʼ with
mallets and clamps, a far
cry from Telwaterʼs
sophisticated hydraulics.
Self Draining Floor
Also featuring on the
Trident range is the selfdraining tread plate floor
with an automatic, nonreturn scupper draining
system, offering extra
safety for peace of mind.
The Trident is built tough
with up to 3mm topsides
and 5mm bottomsides. An
ʻegg crateʼ rib structure
below the floor has
longitudinal and latitudinal
ribs for additional strength.
The Trident is designed
to include all the fishing
essentials as standard
giving fishermen the ability
to choose the more
personal options such as
colours and electronics.
This fishing machine
includes a live bait tank,
alloy cutting board, drink
holders, 135ltr plumbed kill
tank and rocket launcher
with an extra four rod
holders and fuel tank all as
standard features.
With a windscreen and
walk-through cabin hatch
the Trident offers
protection from the
elements while still
enabling easy access to
the anchorwell and
retaining ample storage
space.
The Boat Mag 21
The Boat Mag: NEW FOR 2013 Quintrex . . . .
The Trident incorporates
plenty of storage with large
side pockets, an
anchorwell and seats with
storage boxes.
Quintrex National
Account Manager
Cameron Wood said the
Trident was a big step for
Quintrex into the market of
offshore fishing boats.
ʻWith so many standard
inclusions - such as the
live bait tank and tackle
tray - the entire Trident
range will fill a gap in the
market.
The Trident is available
to option up with a variety
of extras to choose from
including cabin cushions,
anchor winch plate, radio,
rear lounge, deck wash,
two tone painted hull and a
bimini and envelope for
extra protection.
The Trident is available
as a Quintrex Instant
Boating Package with
boat, specially designed
Quintrex trailer and engine.
22 The Boat Mag
Typical examples
(subject to freight charges,
engine type and fit-out in
the options department)
ranging from a start point
of $51,325 for a 610
Trident with 150hp
Evinrude and Quinnie
trailer. At the top of the
line, the 690 Trident, a
250hp Evinrude and trailer
starts at around $66K, and
moves through to $70K
pretty smartly as canopies,
electronics, coms gear,
etc, is added.
Nevertheless, even with
all the ʻtoysʼ – including
very good electronics and
even an integrated
autopilot, for (say) $75$80K, this is an extremely
competitive package, and
puts the welter of imported
secondhand American
boats into a badly
needed
perspective. This price
structure is for a brand
new, hand-built rig from
Australiaʼs biggest volume
boatbuilder, with
warranties and reliability
virtually guaranteed for the
next 2-3 years depending
on the warranty involved.
Take the time to study the
many extra good qualities of
this handsome rig - theyʼve
not wasted an inch of space,
minimising the cabin in favour
of the fishing cockpit, with an
excellent transom set-up.
Best of all? Itʼs made in
Australia (right here on the
Gold Coast in the Marine
Precinct) and is still better
priced and better built than
anything coming in from
you know where.
New Renegade Range
The Renegade is
Quintrexʼs latest release
and is expected to quickly
become a favourite among
keen fishermen looking for
a NEW, affordable, no-fuss
fishing vessel for the same
or less cost than many
secondhand rigs with a, er,
ʻdubiousʼ history!
The new Renegade
range has expanded to
include the 420, 440, 460,
490 and 520 models. Each
model is available in tiller
steer, centre console and
side console
configurations.
These beamy and stable
fishing machines have all
the essentials, complete
with carpeted floors, front
and rear casting platforms
allowing plenty of room for
fishing gear and with large
side pockets, they are
ready to be loaded up for
your next fishing
adventure.
All models are built with
the renowned Millennium
Hull; with its innovative
concave shape to create a
sharper entry point while
the variable deadrise curls
water away from the boat
for a smooth, dry ride
every time.
The Renegade is built
with tough plate look 2mm
topsides and 3mm bottom
sheets and incorporates
high sides for safety.
National Quintrex
Account Manager Tony
Kokolis said Quintrex have
gone back to providing
customers with simple,
effective fishing boats.
ʻThe Renegade really
impresses with a sizable
beam and lots of internal
space, plus with the
inclusion of essential
fishing equipment youʼre
really getting value for your
dollars.
ʻWith such a wide range
of boats and options on
offer, there is something to
suit every fisherman.ʼ
Fitted with a rear casting
platform complete with live
bait tank and tackle tray,
four rod holders and a
transom step, the
Renegades are built to
handle reefs, estuaries,
rivers and impounds.
These no frills, no fuss
fishing machines have all
the fishing essentials but
give fishermen the flexibility
to option up their boat with
a variety of options to suit
their fishing needs.
Options for the
Renegade Range include a
painted hull, vinyl wrap,
Mark-5X Fishfinder, bow
mount thruster plate, bimini
and envelope and drink
holders.
All Renegade models are
available as a Quintrex
ʻInstant Boating Packageʼ,
with everything you need
to get you straight out on
the water including
Quintrex trailer, engine and
a three year warranty for
peace of mind.
The packages are
competitively priced, too.
Typical examples (subject
to freight charges, engine
type and fit-out in the
options department)
started from a 420
Renegade TS package
with an electric start 40hp
Vortex, Quinnie trailer, from
$10,810 and moved up
through to the biggest
Renegade, the 520 Side
Console (SC), 90hp
Evinrude and the trailer for
a very competitive
$29,460.
For more information on
the new Trident or
Renegade series, or the
entire Quintrex range visit
www.quintrex.com.au
TBM
The Boat Mag 23
The Boat Mag: NEW FOR 2013
Robalo Release Their
Range In Australia
R305
haparral Australia
has signed up with
its sister company to
begin importing the
respected Robalo
fishing boat range to
Australia.
The Robalo centre
consoles, walkaround and
crossover ski/fish
bowriders are built
alongside their Chaparral
siblings sharing the
C
24 The Boat Mag
legendary saltwater tough
DNA synonymous with the
Chaparral brand.
Rated among the most
respected names in the
fish boat business, the
Robalo story dates back to
1968 and the company's
first 19-foot fishing boat.
Robalo was acquired by
Chaparral in 2001 with a
strong emphasis on R&D
fuelled by Chaparral
Robalo's top of the line R305 walkaround flagship is the
perfect mix of innovative cockpit design, spacious cabin
appointments and premium workmanship. Stainless steel
cockpit toe rails, Diamond Lustre non-skid, a polished stainless
steel anchor roller and a recessed windlass are top notch. The
deluxe helm seat is more supportive than rivals and features a
flip up front bolster. Key options include a bow thruster, gas
generator, underwater lights and an array of high tech
electronics.
All new for 2012, the amazing R180 brings Robalo style,
performance and quality to first time boat buyers at No Haggle
Reel Deal pricing that can't be beat. Fishermen will appreciate
the dry-riding freeboard, convertible casting platforms, extensive
rod storage, 15-gallon livewell and high quality leaning post
seating. Rare on an 18-footer, the R180 with an enclosed head
allows family boaters to cast off on long distance adventures
without concern. Primed for waterways around the world, the
R180 packs a powerful punch for an 18-foot fishing boat.
Robalo R305
Robalo R180
LOA: ..............................................8.89 m
Beam: ............................................3.20 m
Bridge Clearance: ..........................2.13 m
Bridge Clearance with Hardtop: ....2.95 m
Deadrise: ..............................................21°
Fuel Capacity: ................................1136 L
Holding Tank Capacity: ......................45 L
Water Capacity: ................................151 L
Draft Down: ....................................81 cm
Draft Up: ..........................................53 cm
Max HP: ........................................522 kW
Sleeping Capacity: ..................6 Persons
LOA: ................................................5.59 m
Beam: ..............................................2.44 m
Bridge Clearance:............................1.93 m
Bridge Clearance with T-Top: ..........2.39 m
Deadrise: ..............................................18°
Fuel Capacity: ..................................189 L
Draft Down: ......................................69 cm
Draft Up: ..........................................28 cm
Max HP:..........................................112 kW
Dry Weight w/ Engines: ................1179 kg
Passenger Capacity (NMMA):
..................................8 Persons/1200 lbs
R180
The Boat Mag 25
R227
founder Buck Pegg's
lifelong passion for
bluewater fishing.
“We have been working
on introducing Robalo for
some time”, says Scott
OʼHare from Chaparral
Australia, “there was never
any doubt about the
quality and performance of
these amazing boats but,
we wanted to make sure
that our point of difference
was enough to carve out a
niche in a highly
competitive Australian
market”
“We sought advice from
some of Australiaʼs most
celebrated and
knowledgeable fishos who
whole heartedly endorse
the product and assisted in
the initial ordering
process”, says OʼHare.
“Robalo has always
26 The Boat Mag
built premier quality,
performance-minded
fishing boats with a
primary focus on the family
fishermen who take their
sport seriously. These
guys have always been
innovative and can be
credited with a number of
firsts - including taking the
widely popular T-Top to the
market.”
“The Hydro Lift deep vee
hull design is a recent
performance breakthrough
that sets Robalo apart
from other fishing boat
brands; providing a soft,
dry and economical ride in
even the worst conditions”
“These are impressive
boats and we look forward
to showing the Aussie
fishing market how well
they perform in blue water
conditions. ”
In what other 22-footer can you fish at sunrise, wakeboard all
day and cruise under the moonlight? As a fishing machine, the
R227 includes secure rod storage, a raw water wash down, a
self bailing cockpit and a 20-gallon livewell. Up front, the bow
area easily converts from a casting platform to wraparound
seating. Aft, an optional transom bench adds to the onboard
seating capacity or folds for full access aft. Stainless steel
hardware including flush pull latches and electro-plated thru hull
fittings are exactly what you'd expect from Robalo.
Robalo R227
LOA: ................................................6.55 m
Beam: ..............................................2.59 m
Bridge Clearance:............................1.57 m
Bridge Clearance (incl Tower) ........2.54 m
Deadrise: ..............................................21°
Fuel Capacity: ..................................405 L
Holding Tank Capacity: ......................23 L
Water Capacity: ..................................34 L
Draft Down: ......................................86 cm
Draft Up: ..........................................46 cm
Max HP: ........................................186 kW
Dry Weight w/ Engines: ................1792 kg
Passenger Capacity (NMMA): 10 Persons
R247
Robalo's versatile R247 is in a class by itself. There simply
isn't a 24-footer that compares. Kevlar reinforcement and
stainless steel hardware are all a cut above. A have-it-your-way
options list is accented with three multi-purpose seating layouts,
a clever wet bar, custom tackle centre, livewell, special
electronics and an assortment of custom tops and towers. We
defy you to find a dual console with more storage. Everywhere
you look there's room for cargo...under all the seats, in the
starboard console, in the floor and at the bow.
Robalo R247
LOA: ................................................7.32 m
Beam: ............................................ 2.67 m
Bridge Clearance:............................1.57 m
Bridge Clearance with Hardtop: ......2.54 m
Deadrise: ..............................................22°
Fuel Capacity: ..................................473 L
Holding Tank Capacity: ......................23 L
Water Capacity:.................................. 83 L
Draft Down: ......................................94 cm
Draft Up: ..........................................51 cm
Max HP: ..........................................298kW
Dry Weight w/ Engines: ................2268 kg
Passenger Cap (NMMA): ........10 Persons
Offering outboard
powered, single and twin
engine hulls, Robalo has
recently entered the entry
level market with its R180
and R200 centre console
models, starting from
around $55,000 for BMT
packages.
The popular R227 and
R247 crossover ski/fish
and the flagship R305
fish/cruise are designed to
keep everyone happy and
most importantly, get the
entire family out on the
water.
For more information on
the Robalo range of boats
go to www.robalo.com or
contact Chaparral Australia
on (03) 9397-6977
TBM
The Boat Mag 27
The Boat Mag: NEW FOR 2013
Beneteau’s Barracuda 7
Breathes Fresh Life Into
Powerboat Design
hen they launched
the new Barracuda
range a year ago,
Beneteau markedly
changed the standards
of sport fishing.
By bringing versatility
to this type of boat,
which is also a
wonderfully comfortable
outboard for quick trips,
Beneteau brought
immediate success to
the Barracuda 9, as
much in the fjords of
Northern Europe as on
the Mediterranean,
American and Pacific
coasts. This boat has
been received
enthusiastically all over
W
28 The Boat Mag
F&B TV
(Tablet/Phone users: If video does not play, press here to change formats)
The Boat Mag 29
BARRACUDA 7
(Provisional
specifications)
Architect - Designer:
Patrick Tableau
Interior layout and
design:
Sarrazin Design
LOA
7.14m 23ʼ5ʼʼ
Hull length 6.44m 21ʼ2ʼʼ
Beam
2.68m 8ʼ10ʼʼ
Max berths
Two
Light displacement:
2050kg 4,518 lbs
Draft 0.7-0.8m 2ʼ4ʼʼ-2ʼ7ʼʼ
Air draft
2.81m 9ʼ3ʼʼ
Maximum engine power
200 hp
Fuel capacity
200L
Water capacity
100L
CE certification C8 / D8
the world, and the
Barracuda 7 with its
unique style and
features, now extends
this winning range even
further.
Architect Design
With a naval architect
designed planing hull
designed specifically for
this model, with its tulipshaped bow, stylish and
spacious wheelhouse,
and an extremely well
thought out deck plan,
this new single-engined
150 to 200 HP outboard,
flies along at a top speed
of up to 35 knots,
30 The Boat Mag
depending of course on
load, fuel and water
carried, crew and fishing
tackle.
Nothing could be
better for following the
shoals of fish as they
change spots, or getting
away for a few hours to
explore untamed creeks.
Depending on your
requirements, there is a
choice of a fishing pack,
or a 'well-being' pack, for
a quick comfortable
commuting boat.
Clever and seaworthy
for “fishing events”
Experts in trolling will
particularly appreciate
the general design of the
hull, which makes the
Barracuda 7 a highly
stable, seaworthy boat in
all weather. Profiled and
tulip-shaped, the bow
safely cuts through the
waves promoting an
unusually dry, soft ride.
Casting with lures is
carried out with great
freedom of movement
from the huge,
uncluttered cockpit.
Equipped with three
lockers which can be
converted into fish bins,
it also has stowage to
the starboard rear which
can be used as an
anchor locker or fish
tank (on option),
depending on your
needs.
The search for an
optimal beam, with a
span of 2.75 m exceptional on a 6.5 m
outboard motorboat makes it easy to walk
around with large and
deep catwalks and
exceedingly protective
60 cm freeboards.
As for locating areas
full of fish, the fisherman
is in for a treat with the
10-inch screen on the
instrument panel and the
Barracuda 7's Lowrance
electronics equipment.
This includes the new
“Scan Structure” depth
sounder system, by
which you can enjoy the
incomparable accuracy
of sea floor vision.
in particular, a sliding
roof panel, bathes the
interior in light,
increasing the feeling of
space and providing
pleasant ventilation.
The astonishing
modularity of the
Barracuda 7 allows for
an extra galley with sink,
a site for the stove, a
refrigerator and storage.
The presence of a fore
cabin (double berth and
separate toilet), which is
remarkable on a 6.5 m
boat, offers a real resting
place.
Heating and airconditioning of the
wheelhouse are available
on option.
Original And Adaptable:
Central wheelhouse
can be entered on both
sides by sliding doors
and the “walk around”.
Very open cockpit
which can hold up to
seven people seated.
Easier access to the
rear, opening onto the
cockpit.
A bathing platform
(on option) can be added
“Getting away to
untamed creeks”
Entered by two lateral
sliding doors, the
wheelhouse is
comfortable both for the
pilot and his passengers.
The importance attached
to glazed surfaces, with,
The Boat Mag 31
to the rear, for
greater comfort
and easier
bathing.
n Cockpit bench
is removable to
increase space.
n Large forward
space where a
lounging space
can be fitted with
sun bath (on
option), and
cushions to lean
back on.
n There is a
large anchor
locker forward,
with 2 means of
access, as well as
an open pushpit.
Footnote:
At presstime
(late September)
the final details
about this very
new Barracuda 7
were still being
confirmed, as it
has only just been
released in
France. However,
it is definitely on
its way to
Australia; it is
expected to go on
sale in the ($90$95K range) and
will be distributed,
along with several
other very
interesting
models, through
the Australian
Beneteau
powerboat agent,
JWMarine,
Lower Deck,
Suite 90,
26-32 Pirrama Rd,
Pyrmont, Sydney
NSW
Tel (02) 9518 6977
E-mail:
info@jwmarine.
com.au
TBM
32 The Boat Mag
Put Your Toe In the Water . . . and enjoy the
benefits of the Gold Coastʼs top Honda service
and sales facility. Re-powers a speciality, new
installations, portables and mid-sizes (all in
stock) and ready to go. Let Geoff ʼs team take
care of your boating needs with old fashioned
service values, competitive prices . . and care.
Factory 2, 247 Bayview St
Runaway Bay Qld 4216
Phone (07) 5577 4411
Email: [email protected]
The Boat Mag: NEW FOR 2013
The Wooden Boatshop’s
‘Shearwater 38’
atching
shearwaters
effortlessly glide across
the waves when
cruising Bass Strait, it
is hard to believe that
these birds migrate
from Tasmania to as far
north as the Arctic.
They often cover over
one million kilometres in a
lifetime, a beautiful
example of natural design,
a true master of its own
environment.
Our Shearwater draws
inspiration from nature in
her styling and functional
design, a boat that will
W
34 The Boat Mag
allow you also to
effortlessly glide across the
waves in ultimate comfort,
safety and efficiency.
Designed and built “The
Wooden Boat Shop Way”.
Based on a fundamental
chain of knowledge that
has been passed down
from men who in locally
built Couta boats took on
the open sea with wood,
copper, iron and canvass,
this “way” is the key to the
success of our iconic
Couta boat, Nepean and
Cheviot launches.
Built to last generations,
wood and bronze features
throughout the Shearwater.
These quality base
materials resist the harsh
marine environment and
develop patina that will
compliment the boatʼs style
through the decades.
The planked,
mechanically fastened,
epoxy sheathed hull,
combined with our
traditional solid cabin
construction and laid
decks, are unique qualities
that distinguish our boats
from the ever growing sea
of stainless and plastic.
Upon critical inspection
you will see that our boats
are not produced from the
pages of the general
marine chandlery
catalogue. Unlike all other
similar contemporaries,
common stainless steel
fittings will not be
encountered throughout
our vessel. Every fitting is
purpose built in bronze or
brass complimenting the
wood, producing a unique
ambiance and charm, a
key feature of the Wooden
Boat Shop way.
Wooden Boat Myths
Time and time again we
hear the expression that
Wooden Boat ownership is
maintenance intensive,
these views based on old
fashioned principles and
bad experience have been
busted wide open by the
Wooden Boat Shop and
affordable boat ownership
enjoyed by many who
have followed our way.
Our experience in
maintaining the largest
collective fleet of wooden
boats in our part of the
world, has led us to
formulate a new approach
to wooden boat
construction, finishing and
system installation.
All of the timber in our
boats is durability #1
rating, such as the
beautiful African Teak
decks and soles.
Every timber component
including the bronze
fastenings are all backed
of with epoxy glue or high
quality polyurethane
sealant keeping the water
out.
Our pioneering of 2 pack
paint systems have
extended the time between
repaints 10 fold. They
require only annual
polishing to look like new
again. The configuration of
the clear finish areas is
limited to the broad
surfaces that allow
maximum visual impact,
they are easy to recoat
and maintain.
Our special Ablative
antifouling works the best
of any antifoul on the
market, and never requires
total removal between
coats.
The WBS electrical
system is so efficient it
allows the 240v umbilical
cord to be detached
permanently.
Leave the fridge on
through the year, every
light LED, the only major
power consumption being
the 240v inverter which if
used wisely, can be
operated without daily
engine usage. With
sensible management the
batteries will give long
trouble free service.
The Yanmar global
network of dealers and
service agents will ensure
the engine is kept in
service according
manufacturers
specifications at all times,
support is available from
any major port worldwide.
Shearwater can be
The Boat Mag 35
launched and retrieved at
Sorrento ramp on the
WBS trailer, enabling
winter storage at WBS and
avoiding winter marina
expenses and increased
maintenance costs due to
wear and tear.
A Collaboration With
Industry
Shearwaterʼs hydrostatic
and system design is
leading edge, thanks to
our business associates
and their commitment to
providing world class
products and ongoing
service.
The naval architecture is
from renowned award
winning designer Andrew
Dovell ME (NA), working
with suppliers like Yanmar
whoʼs new 8LV 370HP V8
diesel engine is a
technological leap in
efficient, quiet, smooth
operation.
Our suppliers/partners
including, Yanmar, Veem,
Simrad, Muir and
Norglass, are all
outstanding industry
leaders in their fields.
Locally Influenced
Design To Suit
Imaginable Uses
The biannual migration
from Port Phillip to Hobart
for the Australian wooden
boat festival has been a
popular journey for several
of our boats. Nepeanʼs,
Cheviots, and the
36 The Boat Mag
Tideways launch have all
completed this voyage.
Stops have included
Deal island, an easy dayʼs
run. A Cheviot launch once
returned from Hobart to
Port Phillip non stop
overnight. Efficient has
completed a return trip
from Sydney. Murray Pass
(a Cheviot) is currently
working its way from Perth
around the top of Australia
to Darwin. The capabilities
of these boats are only
limited only to sensible trip
planning and your own
imagination.
Shearwater can be
comfortably used overnight
by five with the flying
bridge lounge table
lowered to form a double
bed. For entertaining, a
group of six can sit at the
table in the cockpit on
deck chairs, enjoying cold
drinks from the large
capacity fridge
complimented by meals
served from the full
function gourmet galley
complete with oven, cook
top and BBQ.
We have considered the
possible usage of the boat
and decided to offer
Shearwater with two
options for the focsle
layout.
(See plans page 35)
Option One has an
open plan, a double berth
forward with a single pilot
berth opposite the head.
Option two has a full
Shearwater Outline Specifications
Length Overall ....................................................38ʼ
Beam ..............................................................12ʼ1”
Draft .................................................................3ʼ3”
Displacement .................................................5950
Engine ..........................................Yanmar 8LV370
Hp Max .......................................370 @ 3800RPM
Speed (Max) ............................................ 23 Knots
Cruise ......................................................15 Knots
The Wooden Boatshop P/L,
ACN 053 387 661
129 Hotham Road Sorrento, Vic 3943
Tel: (03) 59 844 333
www.woodenboatshop.com.au
[email protected]
bulkhead division and a
door separating the
accommodations.
Swimming and diving or
even just accessing the
boat from the marina has
been carefully considered
in the design of
Shearwater.
A large swim platform
and a sliding ladder with
opening, walk-through
transom gives easy access
to the sea.
Those looking for more
seating on board can
option at no extra cost, for
an upholstered lounge
seat across the transom in
lieu of the door.
TBM
Readerʼs Note: Wooden
boat enthusiasts who are
seeing this material from
The Wooden Boatshop in
Sorrento, Vic for the first
time should be aware there
is a beautifully detailed
story on the building of the
Cheviot 32 (above) now in
the SEA Library under
ʻBoatbuildingʼ. It is
inspirational reading, and a
must for students of naval
architecture and devotees
of wooden boats.
NEW GENERATION
TRAILCRAFT
P L AT E A L L O Y B O AT S
NOW BETTER PRICED THAN MANY PRESSED TINNIES
- Now That’s A FACT!
1. Fully sealed self-draining deck, making your Trailcraft virtually unsinkable.
4. Wide body for extra fishing room
5. Easy clean deck - just hose down
8. Legendary Trailcraft toughness
9. 5 Year Warranty on the hull
2. Easy access door and dive ladder. 3. 4-5mm plate alloy hull for added strength
6. Smooth ride from heavy duty hull
7. Choice of 22 (+) models
10. You pay no more for all of Trailcraftʼs built-in features.
t Trailcraft we have listened to the Australian boating public. We
A
4-5mm
understand that in these hard economic times your dollars are
PLATE ALLOY
more precious than ever – but your expectations of QUALITY,
PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN – remain the same. That’s why the
New Generation Trailcraft Boats offer the same tried and proven
benchmarks of boat building quality at a reduced price you may find
hard to believe. Open your range of possibilities and call one of our
The positive buoyancy
created by the sealed deck
gives you complete safety
and it’s easy to clean.
Trailcraft hulls give you
positive feel and a smooth
ride.
For added strength and
stability in all boating
conditions.
All models feature the
exclusive door and ladder
system for easy rear access.
CONTACT YOUR NEAREST DEALER FOR A FREE
CATALOGUE, OR VISIT OUR WEB SITE TODAY
Trailcraft national dealers today to see what all the fuss is about.
Remember, only Trailcraft can offer you all of these exclusive features
in a range of boats from 4.80 metres to 8.00 metres.
www.trailcraft.com.au
The Boat Mag 37
The Boat Mag: NEW FOR 2013
Riviera’s New 53’
Enclosed Flybridge
ustraliaʼs most
awarded pleasure
boat builder, Riviera,
has just announced
details of its latest
innovative model, the
53 Enclosed Flybridge,
a new generation of
luxury, technology and
personal customisation.
A
“The new 53 flybridge retains
the distinctive Riviera styling
but incorporates a new
generation of technology and
comfort,” says concept design
manager Neil McCabe. “The
53 combines contemporary
thinking with traditional
elements. There is a lot of boat
for its length. For instance, the
new Riviera 53 offers more
cockpit length and beam than a
Riviera 61”.
The new 53 is the first
Riviera Flybridge in the 50 foot
range to offer a full-beam
38 The Boat Mag
master stateroom, with kingsize bed and large ensuite.
The 53 is the first Riviera in this
size bracket to offer an
enclosed flybridge with
spacious seating for a party of
10. Flybridge access is via an
internal staircase.
“The Riviera 53 is close to
being the perfect flybridge
boat, for its size,” notes
Rivieraʼs Director of Brand and
Communication, Stephen
Milne. “It is the sum total of
extensive feedback from
experienced boaters all over
the world.”
“It creates a very strong
presence on the water,”
explains concept design
manager Neil McCabe. “The
53 feels like a big boat yet will
be easily handled by two
people.”
Generous sidedecks and
easy-feed hawse holes
(another customer-inspired
innovation) make berthing a
breeze, while a dedicated
docking station on the
starboard side of the flybridge
gives the skipper clear vision
aft.
Moulded window casings
create style and function,
bringing 360 degrees of light
into the interior and offering
water views from every saloon
seating position.
Galley Design
The U-shaped galley design
is positioned aft and therefore
central to the massive saloon
entertainment space and the
cockpit. The galley is located to
the port side and separated
from fore and aft passing
traffic.
The Riviera 53 offers the
latest in European appliances
showcased in high gloss timber
and solid surface bench top.
Central to the galley is a Miele
combination oven, featuring an
induction cooktop, with
microwave oven and electric
grill. Proven Vitrifrigo drawer
fridge and freezer along with
Fisher and Paykel drawer
dishwasher are all standard.
Opposite the galley, to
starboard, is a wet bar
featuring options for ice maker,
drawer fridge and freezer, and
a floor to ceiling pull-out Hafele
pantry. All galley drawers
operate on soft close runners.
Also opposite the galley is a
stylish internal staircase
leading to the enclosed
flybridge. Its floating teak
treads mounted on solid
stainless steel rails
complements what will be a
beautiful interior.
Forward of the galley is a Cshape dinette to port, that can
convert into a double berth with
a drop-down table. This
arrangement faces a C-Shape
settee on the starboard side
creating a spacious social
setting for up to 10 in sheer
cruising comfort. All of the
lounges on the 53 are plush
and luxurious, with a generous
depth of padding.
An option for a massive wide
screen 50” TV on electric lift
rises from the dash forward on
the port side bringing sport and
entertainment to the entire
living area.
proven Volvo Penta IPS
system. There is the option to
choose twin IPS 1200 units or
three IPS 600 units.
A further propulsion option is
available using the ZF 4000
pod drive system, with twin
counter-rotating Nibral (Nickel,
Bronze, Aluminium) propellers
facing aft, instead of forward as
they are on the IPS system.
Either way, the opposing
blades – the forward blade
pitched differently to its aft
Flybridge Options
The flybridge is available in
two options, with helm forward
for long-distance cruising or
helm aft, which many skippers
prefer when sportsfishing. In
either option, skipper and mate
are seated on swivel pedestal
chairs for maximum visibility.
A dinette table set amidst a
C-Shape settee on the port
side of the flybridge seats six
comfortably, and a separate
lounge to starboard
complements the seating
arrangement. A wet bar with
drawer fridges and handbasin
serves to refresh while
underway. Prepared food is
easily brought up to the
flybridge from the galley
directly below via the internal
staircase. At rest or underway,
the staircase can be secured
for privacy or as a safety
precaution via a folding,
lockable hatch that disappears
when open into varnished
cabinetry.
The roof of the flybridge
boasts a sliding electric sun
roof creating a sky-lounge,
typical of much larger vessels.
Side-opening windows and
surround visibility will add to
the light, airy atmosphere
The vesselʼs massive engine
room allows for flexibility of
power plant choice, with the
option for crew quarters or
workshop isolated from the
main living space. And the
propulsion arrangement allows
for maximum amidships space,
which is used to deliver the
most luxurious master
stateroom for a vessel of this
size.
When the party is over, there
is nothing as comfortable as
retiring to the full beam master
stateroom, with king-size bed
set amidships, and ample
space either side. Port and
starboard alarmed opening port
holes bring light and fresh air
below. A separate ensuite with
solid surface non-slip tiled floor
is set slightly below the level of
the main cabin to contain
water. A vanity unit with
surface-mounted porcelain
sink, typical of those found on
much larger vessels, and a
vacu-flush toilet complete the
amenity.
A large cedar-lined walk-in
robe complements the master
stateroom, which features a
multitude of storage set behind
high quality gloss woodwork –
a feature of all Riviera boats.
Air Conditioning
There is a massive 96,000
BTU capacity air conditioning
on the new 53 reflecting the
increasing use of Riviera boats
in harsh tropical conditions. All
venting and ducting is
discretely hidden behind the
stylish cabinetry.
Forward of the master
stateroom is a guest
stateroom, with a queen-size
bed and wardrobe, and a third
cabin with two single berths. A
separate ensuite serves the
guest accommodation and
doubles as the day head,
making this vessel perfect for
larger families, or holidays
involving two couples with
children.
Engine Room.
When it comes to propulsion,
Riviera designers have settled
on new-generation, fuel
efficient pod drives to propel
the 53 to a top speed of
around 35 knots and a cruise
speed between 25-28 knots
delivering a range of 400
nautical miles depending on
engine options on a 3500 litre
fuel tank.
However, there are a
number of propulsion options
on the new 53.
Up to 30 per cent efficiency
gains are the hallmark of the
partner - make optimum use of
wash and water movement to
deliver a smooth, quiet ride.
With all major engineering
positioned well aft, enormous
gains are made with beamwidth space amidships, and
that translates into better living.
Mid-ship fuel tanks from keel to
saloon sole double as a sound
barrier between master
bedroom and engine room and
help deliver better trim to the
vessel when cruising.
With the option of ZF drives,
a customer can choose
between Caterpillar or MTU
power plants, with the option of
twin 1015 hp C18 engines to
achieve higher top speeds.
The 53ʼs hull is laminated
using vacuum infusion to
deliver an exceptionally sound
structure that incorporates
areas of solid GRP and various
core materials, depending on
engineering requirements.
“Each Riviera vessel is an
evolution on the last,” says
Rivieraʼs new products design
manager, Alan Dowd. “After
launching nearly 4,800 Riviera
over the past 30 years, the
new 53 is clearly our best boat
yet.”
For more information, please
go to www.riviera.com.au
TBM
The Boat Mag 39
Go
Fishing, Australia
Lake Tyers
EasternVictoria
with Frank Milito
T
he removal of commercial
netting over a decade ago
from Lake Tyers in Eastern
Victoria has seen the creation
of a sport fishing paradise.
During its commercial netting
history, up to 70 tonnes of
mature fish a year were removed
from this pristine estuary
system. It’s been over 10 years
since the netting ban in the Lake
with a clearly expected result:
fish populations have boomed,
which in turn has transformed
the system into what can only be
described as a lure fishing
paradise.
Interestingly, most lure fishers
40 The Boat Mag
I know who frequent Tyers,
report catches of up to and in
excess of 30 bream a session
(catch & release) aside from
countless flathead and other
species with a high percentage
of the bream measuring a very
healthy 39-45cm.
This is a very interesting
statistic considering that most of
these bream would have been
just under commercially legal
size around the time of the
netting ban.
Aside from incredibly strong
recruitment of black bream over
the past decade, the abundance
of other species within this
system is inspiring. The Lake is
alive with giant sea mullet,
massive luderick, schools of
yellow eye mullet, trevally to
2kg and some of the biggest
tailor I’ve ever seen - aside from
the odd school of big yellow fin
bream, the occasional snapper,
salmon, dusky flathead, etc!
Traditionally Lake Tyers is a
land locked system that receives
entrance openings during high
rainfall flood events, on average
every 28 months or so.
However, Tyers had gone
through a great deal of
environmental change during an
extended period of drought and
Above: Facilities in the area are very good - and this one (Number 2 at Lake Tyers Beach) is typical of the formal launch
ramp structures in the Gippsland, where successive governments, councils (and locals) have worked up an enviable
standard of facilities for the boating and fishing communities. Below: When these estuaries are opened, the estuarine water
is refreshed, the local prawns return to normal - and these artificials are so effective youʼll be spoilt for evermore!
The Boat Mag 41
remained closed for almost 5
years. This produced extreme
saline conditions during the heat
of summer as a consequence of
evaporation, and little if no fresh
water inflow.
These conditions spawned an
infestation of a parasitic
copepod that had a major impact
on bream health in the lake for
two consecutive seasons.
Cosmetically, due to secondary
infections caused by the
infestation, the bream looked
very ill, with bleeding fins, skin
lesions and callused eyes.
It was thought the resident
populations would collapse, but
due to their extreme resilience,
there was little if no mortality, as
the fish seemingly co-existed
with this nasty exso-parasite,
and still were surprisingly
aggressive toward lures.
The onset of regular rain and a
colder than average winter eased
the infestation to the point of
where it is not noticeable at
present. The bream really
dodged a bullet during the
drought and there’s still much
speculation as to the long term
effect on bream populations if
the drought had continued for
any longer.
Another interesting fact is that
the bream were the only species
in the Lake to show serious
signs of the infestation, with
most other fish showing very
few symptoms. It’s a well
documented fact that this
particular parasite is present
right across Australian estuaries
but will only reach plague
proportions in land locked
estuaries stricken by drought.
Navigating Lake Tyers
Geographically, the lake has
two main feeder arms: the
Toorloo and Nowa Nowa arms
that weave their way down
through the Lake Tyers State
42 The Boat Mag
Park that provides considerable
bank access as they join into one
main lake system where the
current entrance is located right
beside the coastal township of
Lake Tyers Beach.
With the amount of
opportunities available to the
lure angler you need to start
early to maximise your day’s
fishing either arm of the lake
system. During summer, the heat
can rise very quickly, reaching
40 degrees around midday in a
lot of the sheltered areas – this
can be stifling to fish in.
The Nowa Nowa arm is the
larger and more popular of the
two main arms. It winds its way
over 12 nautical miles to the
location called Mingling Water
where the estuary meet the fresh
water influence of Boggy. At
this point, there is a small vessel
boat ramp situated in the sleepy
township of Nowa Nowa
approximately 25 minutes east
of Lakes Entrance.
Signage at the boat ramp
facility clearly indicates
submerged rocks and structure
adjacent to the boat ramp, so
proceed with caution for the first
500 metres heading downstream,
staying in the middle. After this
distance providing you keep to
the middle, the Nowa Nowa is
easily navigated in daylight
hours right through to the main
lake region. Remembering also
that The Nowa Nowa arm is a 5
knot zone with strictly no skiing,
so it’s a really nice 2 hour cruise
to get to the open water zone
with some beautiful wild
animals, bird life and scenery to
enjoy - so make sure you have
the camera handy.
The Toorloo arm is much more
difficult to navigate as once you
reach the 5 knot zone heading
upstream from the main lake
access ramp, there are vast
expanses of shallow mud flats in
the mid-section of the arm
making it very difficult to
navigate to the higher reaches
without local knowledge.
If you are unfortunate enough
to get stuck on one of the
shallow mud flats you will have
to try and physically push the
boat out of it so be warned the
mud can be over waist deep in
places, so you will need to
proceed with caution.
The higher reaches of the
Toorloo can be accessed via sign
posted bush access drives
exiting the Princess Highway a
short distance east from Lakes
Entrance; this is a perfect
location to have a picnic and
launch a canoe for some
excellent fishing.
Fishing the Lake
Lake Tyers has become a very
popular destination for
Melbourne anglers as it’s only a
3 hour drive to some of the best
bream and dusky flathead
fishing in the state. The fishing
activity in the lake between the
months of June through to
October is fairly slow, but the
summer months are excellent. If
you’re planning on making a
visit, February is the peak
month.
Fishing soft plastics for flattie
in the lake is very productive
during the summer months. As
most anglers are aware, there’s a
wide range of lures that will
catch flathead, but for Lake
Tyers there are some absolute
stand out performers. My DOA
range of soft plastics work an
absolute treat in this far eastern
corner of Victoria, from Lakes
Entrance right through to
Mallacoota. DOA has a lure
style and colour to suit all
occasions when fishing this
region from the iconic 3” prerigged shrimp, to the Cal series
of curl tails and shads.
Regularly during entrance
opening events, Lake Tyers fills
with eastern king prawns which
becomes a main part of the food
chain during summer and it’s
then the DOA 3” shrimp with its
amazing life like action and
effortless retrieve can produce
some serious catch and release
cricket scores on the dusky
flathead.
But long time local anglers
have noticed a decline in the
number of large female dusky
flathead over 750mm length
being caught in the lake, and it’s
agreed that the introduction of
artificial technologies such as
soft plastic has taken its toll on
these big female breeders, as
they are highly aggressive
towards lures especially during
their spawning time.
The duskies are present in
large numbers right through the
lake system during summer and
can be a very tasty bi-catch
when targeting black bream on
lures, but a noticeable decrease
in size has occurred over the last
5 years.
Local knowledge combined
with fisheries research
documentation collating this
data has identified these issues
which need addressing, as the
larger female flathead needs
better protection now – and the
Above: ʻVibeʼ fishing the lake is
extremely productive - but like so
many new rigs these days, it takes a
bit of practice to get the right ʻvibeʼ
and the pun is intended.
Below: Opening the lake to the sea
periodically really gets the prawn
stocks aʼflickinʼ in the estuary!
best way is through appropriate
regulation.
Sometime in the future a
proposed size wedge of 33cm55cm will be introduced for
Victorian bays and inlets on
dusky flathead; this will allow
strong populations of small
males and big females to be
protected for a better long term
recruitment which is a great
outcome for future populations
of this very popular sport fish.
The black bream are the real
attraction in the lake as there are
schools of fish between 30-45
cm cruising the shallow sand
banks and rocky drop offs round
daylight that are very accepting
of small bibbed diving lures and
vibes.
The bream can be a little
difficult to entice on really flat
calm days, especially if the
water is clear, but the afternoon
sea breeze during summer really
triggers feeding and has a
cooling effect, so it’s usually
when I have my best sessions.
The sea breeze creates a ripple
on the water that makes it easier
to sneak up on the bream whilst
targeting them and it also creates
a wind tide (when the lake is
closed off to the ocean) that
inspires feeding to occur. This is
a general rule for most of our
Eastern estuaries from Lake
Tyers right through to Mallacoota
The Boat Mag 43
in the far east as they all experience
open and closed entrance periods
pending yearly rainfall.
The abundance of other species
are also a lot of fun to target, with
my personal favourite the giant sea
mullet a very worthy contender as
they are extremely challenging to
consistently entice on artificial
technology.
Fishing the higher reaches of the
Nowa Nowa arm during the peak
of summer, the giant sea mullet
take cover around the submerged
logs and structure in mass numbers
which makes it the perfect location
to target them. I’ve spent a lot of
time researching these fish and the
one technique I have discovered
that produces moderate success is
fishing a 2” DOA shrimp or 2”
Berkley sand worm on a 1/32oz
size 4 jig head cast directly at the
head of the school - combined with
a really slow rattling retrieve. This
will entice the odd one to feed, but
you need to be prepared as the
“One of the elders
welcomed my business
to this country and
offered to perform a
traditional smoking
ceremony in
recognition of the steps
my business had
undertaken for good
environmental
management and
teaching the art of
catch and release...”
are purely filter feeders and the
only reason I’ve had any success is
because on “several occasions”
one swam past with its mouth open
and the lure fell in it!
Pelagic like silver trevally, tailor
and Australian salmon also appear
in good populations during the
summer months and as most
anglers know a 3kg model of either
species is an awesome adversary on
light tackle.
If they become land locked after
an entrance closure, they just keep
growing with reports of tailor to
7kg not uncommon. These fish all
accept a range of lures and are a
welcome addition to your day’s
fishing enjoyment.
second challenge is trying to stop
them running back into the
structure once the hook is set –
and it’s not uncommon to see
specimens larger than 5kg!
There are still a lot of sceptics
that believe these estuary monsters
Cultural Heritage
For East Gippsland Monaro
Croajingalong Aboriginal people,
Lake Tyers is a culturally
significant area. There are Koori
middens and burial sites located
all along this wilderness coast line
THE STUFF OF LEGENDS
Why Choose Mako Craft?
Mako Craft has a proud tradition of building a range of quality aluminium boats with
cutting edge design, strength and value. The Stessl Families’ passion and integrity
continues with the opening of their new factory in Victoria.
Since the inception of Mako Craft in 2005 it has fast become highly regarded in the
boating industry and is renowned for its innovation created through over thirty years
of experience and input from many of our customers. Mako Craft are built for boaties,
fisherman and families never compromising on materials or build and we pride
ourselves in delivering value for money boats. Mako Craft are designed with safety of
your family and friends of paramount importance.
Little did Alf Stessl realise when he was about to embark on his first dealer delivery
run in 1975 that it would be the beginning of what has become an integral part of
Australian boat manufacturing history. In the early nineties Alf designed the Edge
Tracker System that is the signature of The Stessl Family Company and the design in
which many other boat manufacturer have attempted to copy but never succeeded.
makocraft
craft
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The Stessl Family Company
Ph: 03 5223 1044
w w w. m a k o c r a f t .c o m . a u
Fa x: 03 5222 3324
Email: [email protected]
Addre s s : 28 - 32 Boswell Ave, New town, VIC 3220. ( G e e long ) ACN : 145 564 834 ABN : 76 145 564 834
behind the umic adjacent to the
high water mark of the estuary in
many key locations.
Parks Victoria through
consultation with local indigenous
representatives and other key
organisations, are working towards
protecting these historic culturally
sensitive areas by still allowing
properly managed access zones for
camping and fishing along the
foreshores, based on a strict
environmental and cultural
protection outcome to preserve
these important areas through
erosion minimisation, waste
collection, and to divert vehicle
traffic according to each specific
location.
East Gippsland Charters was
privileged to host far East
Gippsland Monaro Croajingalong
aboriginal elders for the day as
they explained the cultural
significance of all the estuaries
along the wilderness coast with
Mako Canyon Runner
respect to seasonal food gathering
requirements as they believe this
was a shared zone where different
tribes from all around the state
could journey to access plentiful
foods and the adjacent drinking
water resource.
A very interesting piece of their
history that they shared with me
on the day was when the lake was
very high, it back-flooded into
gullies that would remain filled
with estuary water. Once an
entrance opening occurred, and
the lake returned to its normal
level, these “hidden lakes” were a
key location for food harvesting,
as the native fish were trapped in
these small farm dam size lakes
and were easy picking compared
to the main lake.
This was an interesting piece of
indigenous history I was
fascinated to learn about.
One of the elders welcomed my
business to this country and
Estuary Tracker Tournament
Mako Runabout
offered to perform a traditional
smoking ceremony in recognition
of the steps my business had
undertaken for good
environmental management and
teaching the art of catch and
release.
This was truly a great day in the
history of East Gippsland
Charters.
For any further information
about Lake Tyers or any of these
beautiful far east Gippsland
destination you can contact East
Gippsland Charters at
www.australianfishingcharters.co
m/eastgippsland we would be
more than happy to assist your
enquiry.
TBM
Mako Truck
ESTUARY TRACKER
makocraft
craft
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The Stessl Family Company
390, 420, 440, 480, 520
The Mako Craft Estuary Tracker Tournament (ETT) series are very special
craft designed for very special fisherman. Fisherman who do not want to
comprise on their personal demands for excellence in their entire approach to
fishing. In a word, they know exactly what they want. They want the live bait
tank to be the right volume, to have the correct flow rate, and the right shape to
ensure the carriage of the capture back to the weigh-in. They want the casting
platform to be set at the right height; the skipper’s seat in exactly the right
position at the right height; and they want the ETT to perform like a champion.
The Mako Craft ETT series is available with a vast array of options and
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with kids one day, and the fish the tournament trail the next.
Check out our web site today for the full facts and specs on the Frenzy range.
Robbie’s
Up-Scale
Tinnie
46 The Boat Mag
We all know there are
more ways to fit-out a
tinnie than David Warner
can hit runs in 20/20, but
Sydney fisho Robbie
Newcombe might have
set a new course record
in detail and onboard
efficiency. In this beaut
report, he explains how
and why he did it . . .
ike a lot of people, my love of tinnies
started out early on in my life. I still
L
have fond memories of dad taking my
mum, my brother and I out in the old 12ʼ
Brooker that sat atop of a box trailer he
had modified to double as a boat trailer.
When I think back on it, to us little kids, a
tinny seemed huge, but I dare say it felt the
opposite for mum who has the swimming
ability of a house brick.
It is thanks to dad that I am so at home
modifying and tinkering on boats. This whole
caper started back when I was in Year 7, and
dad helped me do up my first boat - an 8ʼ
tender I bought off a kid at school.
It was probably better suited to becoming a
big flower bed than being restored, but dad got
it up and ship shape again and then he would
drop me down the lake each morning most
weekends after it was done, help me launch,
then watch me chugging off into the distance
with the little two horse power outboard he got
me for it. Then heʼd pick me up in the arvo,
mostly with a less than impressive catch, but
plenty of good memories and a growing level
of experience in small boats.
Then in Year 12 for my woodwork project, I
converted an old Flying Ant sail boat to a
dinghy with a cast deck and storage galore.
We built a trailer to suit (read: as I spent the
The Boat Mag 47
bulk of the year talking
crap with my mates in
class, I had to take the
project home and get dad
to help me finish it, so I
didnʼt fail wood work).
I hope to do the same
sort of thing when my kids
get old enough, but by that
time there will be some
sort of App for
father/daughter and/or son
bonding, I expect . . . .
Anyway, a few years
back after a work trip up to
far north QLD to Weipa
and experiencing the land
based fishing up there and
seeing how the little tinnies
that made their way up
there on the top of camper
trailers were in the thick of
the action, I got to thinking
I wouldnʼt mind getting a
tinny myself and doing the
48 The Boat Mag
same.
Shortly after returning
from Weipa, my boat at the
time (an old Savage 14ʻ
glass boat, AKA lemon of
the sea) finalised the
decision when the motor
went atomic, and a conrod
made its break for freedom
via the side of the engine
block.
So I gave her an eBay
send off, keeping the
trailer, and started my
research into my new rig.
I decided I needed the
following from the boat:
It couldnʼt be overly
heavy, must have strong
build, have no gunwale
protrusions to catch when
going up on the racks;
have good freeboard, able
to take a long shaft motor
(donʼt want to give those
pesky crocs too easy a
feed!) and most important
of all, I didnʼt want to sell
my first born child to afford
it.
The Allycraft Cody 375
ticked all the boxes, boat
wise, but the engine
decision was still to be
made. As the memory of
my last vintage motor
letting go on me was still
fresh in my mind, I wanted
a new one with a good
warranty; it would be very
untidy if a motor went on
the fritz in some remote
area.
I ended up going with a
15 hp Mercury. The dealer
gave me choice of the
USA made and Japanese
made version, so I went
with the Japanese as I
couldnʼt justify the extra
cost of the USA model, I
got the pair for $4,000 so
not too pricey.
When I got them home I
re-jigged the trailer to suit
the boat and added a self
centring roller at the rear
which minimises stuffing
about at the boat ramp.
Once the trailer was
done, the fit out began……
Everything on the boat
has been fitted with the
idea of it being quickly
removed to enable it to be
loaded on racks, but it all
could be left on the boat if
sitting on the boat trailer
when not used for
travelling.
So everything down to
the oars has been
developed on this idea.
The oars are two piece
design, the rowlocks for
them had to be half sized
to be used (they were too
long initially). Two piece
oars are great as they
stow out of the way under
the seat.
I then used the stem that
was cut off the rowlock to
weld on a flat T-piece to
attach a bimini mount, then
I gave it a coat of cold gal
and secured it using
stainless clips so the
bimini can be removed in a
flash.
The seats and
removable bases were
found on eBay. These
were quickly put in and
taken along for a test run
on the Hawkesbury with
my wife.
Whilst we were hooting
about exploring, I called
out ”Figure 8” but it turned
out Figure 8 is not
translated by the average
person as “hold on tight - I
am about to act a goose”.
Anyhow, the first hard
yank on the tiller, and my
wife and the seat had
dislodged themselves from
their original position, and
were unceremoniously
dumped in a tangled mess
on the floor,
HHhhhmmmmn! Not
good, that little mishap
made me about as
popular as missing an
episode of Rafters with the
missus.
Needless to say shortly
after this I secured the
seats down with saddles
in the corner of each
bracket (see pics).
This made the seats not
so quickly removed, but all
was not lost as I worked
out if I knocked out the
hinge pins and replaced
them with stainless bolts
and wing nuts, with the
backrest removed, the
seat base would sit below
the gunwale level. As an
added bonus, now I only
have to store the seat
backrests when travelling,
as apposed to 2 seats and
their bases.
After the fruitless
journey to the Hawkesbury
I decided to fit a fish
finder. Obviously, it must
have been the lack of fish
finder, not my lack of
fishing skills, keeping the
esky empty. . . well, that
was my story, anyway.
Again it needed to be
removable, so I ended up
fitting the transducer to a
dent puller I got from
Super Cheap Auto for less
than $10. I sprayed the
inside workings with Innox
spray and Bobʼs your
uncle – we had a
removable transducer
mount. Each time I use it,
I wet the face and stick it
on, and itʼs never let go,
so it must work okay.
The screen is mounted
on an offcut of aluminium
bent in the vice and
backed with tyre tube
rubber so it snugs tight on
to the gunwale.
For the battery box I use
a tinnie storage box and
“pimped it “ by installing a
lid made again from
aluminium off cut.
If you were planning to
do this yourself and your
The Boat Mag 49
uncle hadnʼt worked at an
aluminium place and
scored free off cuts, you
could use a plastic
chopping board trimmed
down to size.
On the underside of the
lid I fitted a LED swivel
light for night fishing and
inside the box I secured
the sealed 7.2ah battery
and wiring. Most
importantly, I then put
folding drink holders at
each end to help stop
dehydration of the crew.
After getting into different
types of fishing the boat
changed too, when soft
plastics fishing caught my
eye, I decided that an
electric motor was my
ticket to endless feeds of
flathead .
With some research
there was soon a Jarvis
Marine 55lb Water Snake
remote control bow mount
on its way. In hindsight, I
probably didnʼt need to get
the remote model as I am
always misplacing the little
remotes.
Bang for your buck wise,
itʼs hard to beat the Water
50 The Boat Mag
Snake and itʼs pretty silent.
To give you an idea, there
is an area I use it to slow
troll in a shallow bay with
my brother for flatties and
bream in around a metre
of water and it doesnʼt
seem to spook them at all.
The install was quite
tricky since I wanted to
have it close to the centre
line of the boat as I could
and when it was stowed I
still wanted room to seat
two at the front.
To accomplish this I
ended up using another
thick alloy off cut and using
washers to plumb it up
level before fitting the
bracket to that, the battery
ended up getting mounted
forward of the front seat.
I soon got sick of getting
my toes and gear wet so I
fitted the floor made from a
salvaged sheet of form ply.
I painted it to seal it, then
carpeted it.
The new floor sits higher
than most, but is where I
like it, because it gives a
lot of flat deck space and
in a pinch could have a
snooze on it, if I laid
diagonally.
The floor can be
removed when I want to
use it for travelling still, so
it is a win-win.
Poor mans Stabicraft?
The boat lacked the
stability I wanted and after
reading up on them in
F&B, a set of Air-o-Floats
was ordered.
The install was
interesting, but easy, itʼs
just that little voice in the
back of your mind asking
“is this hole really in the
right spot ??“ when you
are sinking the drill through
the hull each time. This
was definitely the hardest
part of the Air-O-Float
install, but thatʼs probably
ʻcause I have an aversion
about drilling any holes in
the boat!
I would have to say that
the difference to the boatʼs
stability and the confidence
that comes hand in hand
with that, is more than
worth the money spent on
them.
There came a time when
the wet sock style fight of
the old flattie wasnʼt doing
it for me anymore and I
decided to try and bag
some kingies and have
some real fun.
The Boat Mag 51
The downrigger is
definitely my favourite
fishing accessory.
I have had crazy daysʼ
fishing where I will hook up
every few passes using
down-rigged livies, whilst
guys in bigger boats tow
their expensive lures right
past me, with no success
at all.
I now get all my down
rigging gear from Andy and
if you want to get on to
some awesome fish you
are probably just driving
clean over the top of now,
give him a call. And
remember, I wouldnʼt do
this commercial . . . if Andy
hadnʼt promised me a
special mateʼs rates deal
on those new jigs heʼs got!
After some trolling on the
internet I came across the
Downrigger Shop, so I
called up Andy and he
gave me a bit of info about
his wares and I ended up
going with his downriggers.
Not just because they
looked cool because they
really are built tough: my
brother accidentally used
mine to try and move a
wharf pylon to a better
spot (!) so they can take a
bump and then some, with
no damage to show for it.
The ʻriggerʼs long arm
was a bit of a pain, but it
was also very good as I
can just pull it out of my
boat and slip it into my
mateʼs big plate boat when
I go fishing with him, but in
the end I got the arm
shortened and got a new
long one off Andy at
mateʼs rates.
(Sʼokay Robin, Andyʼs
everybodyʼs mate around
here! However, for readers
who donʼt know who we
are talking about, they will
find Andy and all his
special tackle on this live
link
[email protected]
and its worth checking out
the rigs and gear on his
site, thatʼs for sure
- PW)
Setting Up The
Downrigger
Setting up for tiller steer
down rigging is a bit tricky,
especially if you are using
one of Andyʼs downrigger
models that actually sit in a
rod holder.
Thatʼs a terrific idea,
ʻcause they are then so
easily removed, or as
noted, taken from boat to
boat.
BUT . . . youʼve gotta
think about some of the
operational aspects of this
very carefully in tinnies
and other small craft.
First of all, I had
previously installed four 30
degree rod holders in the
boat, but being plastic,
they just werenʼt up to the
task. So the rear two were
upgraded to stainless steel
jobbies, but this is where I
nearly made a very
expensive mistake when I
found out the difference
between heavy duty and
standard.
Standard stainless steel
are spot welded and
pressed, and not up to the
task of down rigging. I
52 The Boat Mag
realised this the hard way
when I was heading back
to the launch ramp and
happened to just glance
around and see my rod
and downrigger about to
exit the boat because the
spot welds had given way.
The moral is this: the
$15 I saved on inferior
quality rod holders nearly
cost me big $$$ in the
end.
Another thing that helps
in the downrigging
department, is to have
bungee cord across the
back with a loop in it, that I
slip over the tiller to help
keep it running forward in
a straight line when the
sea is a bit lumpy, while I
set up and lower the bomb
down to depth. Trust me
on this - you just canʼt get
enough tension on the
outboardʼs steering tension
screw. I had to get mine
repaired when I just gave it
that “one final turn” with
the spanner and stripped
the thread.
Another thing I added
was a live bait bucket. It
attaches with the dent
puller as well. I will send
the plans along to The
Boat Mag if you are
interested - I am sure PW
will send it out to you if you
email him.
I recently made a burley
bucket that attaches the
same way so use your
imagination as to what you
could mount this way.
The biggest thing with
fitting out a small boat is
storage, and effectively
using the room given.
I try to have all the
safety gear and always try
and get the least bulky
version, such as inflatable
life jackets - they are
awesome and take up no
room. All the gear I have
up front is secured behind
an elastic net made for
motor bike helmets, but
works a treat.
I also use water tight dry
bags to store the rest of
my stuff. Still, the deck
area can get quite
cluttered.
Another space saver is
an insulated fish bag for
the big fish so you just
need an esky big enough
for ice and food and drinks
and for other bits and
pieces.
I have another tinnie box
on the gunwale next to me
where I put things I need
quickly like GPS,
sunscreen, camera and
things like that.
Rod storage is a
problem, because in a
tinny in chop, they get
soaked in the outside rod
holders. I now have a rack
of four upright holders
attached to the front bench
seat that keeps them dry
and out of harmʼs way.
Another thing I have
done is to tidy and protect
wires. I have run them
inside of ¾” clear flexible
pvc pipe - this keeps them
dry and not running all
over the place like
spaghetti.
Another couple of things
I have been using lately
that I think are worth a
mention are a LED Lenser
H14R head torch. The
amount of punch this little
head torch has is amazing,
and along with a Kaiser
Baas helmet camera
attached to a cap, this
gear does an awesome
job when you head out by
yourself, and want to share
your escapades later on.
An anchor well and a
name are on the To Do list,
not to mention Iʼd love to
get a rail around the edge
with a step at the rear,
among a few other things
fabricated up - but they are
all dreams at the moment.
Looking back if I was to
do it all again I would have
done a few things
differently. Iʼd probably
have gone to a 20hp
outboard, set the Air-OFloats a little higher, and
used a lighter ply for the
floor.
But I have few regrets
with this boat, I have got
lots out of it. Weʼve had
plenty of adventures
fishing with my brother, my
mates and family, and I
expect to have more
adventures to come as I
look to be moving up to
Newcastle for work - so a
big tuna is not off the cards
by the look of some landbased game reports from
Port Stephens I have
come across.
I will definitely keep TBM
readers informed. If I have
inspired at least one
person out there to do a bit
of “tinnie pimping” I will be
happy and my time spent
slaving away at the
computer one finger typing
will have been for a good
cause.
TBM
The Boat Mag 53
Introducing A Superb New DIY Opportunity
The Sea Strike
Challenge
Itʼs common knowledge Editor Peter Webster is a wooden boat aficionado, and further, that
heʼs been exploring the development of various plywood projects for some time - but always
ending up in a very dry gulch. Until now. Last month, PW met a kindred soul, and what will
surely be to the (gasp! horror!) of many production plate and GRP boat builders, the kindred
soul just happens to be a very, very skilful naval architect who also loves DIY composite boat
design and building. His name is Mark Bowdidge, and if PW has anything to do with it, weʼre
going to hear a helluva lot more from this bloke about his excellent range of modern, 2012
boats people can actually afford . . . . Mark himself starts off this month with the rationale and
background to one of his most popular designs . . . take it away, Mark!
hatever you have
in mind for the
weekend, whether it be
fishing outside the
heads chasing kingies,
or fishing the reef for
snapper, the Sea Strike
16 can handle it.
With her aggressive
lines that tout an elevated
level of confidence, if
fishing is a passion you
live for, then the Sea Strike
16 comes with more
W
54 The Boat Mag
standard equipment and
unique, pro-level fishing
features than any boat in
its class. And it all comes
down to your imagination!!
While there are many
other outfits that will build
you a boat, most of these
simply construct the same
design over and over, but
with different “lids”.
Production builders
obviously build the same
boat repeatedly, but even
when a new model is
introduced, it often runs on
the same bottom their
owners were running on
20 years ago. Not so with
the Sea Strike 16. We start
with a fresh piece of paper
and listen to what our
clients want. Whether it be
amateur or professional,
what they want in a
design, we design
specifically for that
purpose.
The most common
comment we hear is,
“Weʼre looking for a deep
“Vee” hull that can provide
a smooth ride and comfort,
without ripping my spine
out through the roof of my
mouth like my tinnie does!”
Well, with our
tournament-proven 21
degree deep “Vee”
deadrise hull design, the
http://bowdidgemarinedesigns.com/
The Sea Strike 16 is an outstanding Aussie design for a multi-purpose fishing boat (love the flat coamings!) and
offers a really good chance for people to either step up to an affordable bigger boat, or down-size to one thatʼs
more easily managed single-handed - in a size that can be used inshore and offshore, plus dams, creeks and
rivers. Plans cost $281 (incl p&p) and hull materials cost in the order of $2,800-$3,500 - and thatʼs it. The rest is
all your labour, the garage and ordinary tools (jig saw and angle grinder) you most likely already own.
The Boat Mag 55
Adam is pretty excited about his new Sea Strike - heʼs started training for the big strike already! This is his boat weʼve
thrown the spotlight on in the lead photos - love your work, mate - a top job.
Sea Strike 16 delivers topend speeds and great
handling through a variety
of conditions and a ride
unlike any other. Whether
youʼre cruising a blue sky
day or punching through
the grey horizons, the Sea
Strike 16 is designed for
serious offshore fishing.
Packed with features you
might not have thought
you needed, the best thing
is, if you want to change or
create features to suit what
you want in a design, go
for it. Itʼs that easy!
In the end, however,
youʼve got two choices,
bite the bullet, mortgage
the house, buy a boat and
get slammed every month
with repayments (only to
realise after the fact that
the boat doesnʼt really suit
at all …sound familiar?) or
Choice Two: BUILD YOUR
OWN for a fraction of the
cost, OWN IT from the
beginning and still be
Australian Builders Plate
compliant.
The Interior
The Sea Strike 16
includes a large, two
person centre console for
extensive electronics and
load of storage within. She
includes kill tanks, bait
tank, ice box facilites,
56 The Boat Mag
under floor storage, walk
through transom and up to
a 100 litre optional fuel
capacity for those long
offshore runs. Also the Sea
Strike 16ʼs boat
arrangement means that
when it comes to fishing
out back, the cockpit area
allows for all round
fishability, even around
your motor with no snags !
Typically with normal
fishing boat arrangements,
the outboard gets in the
way as you fight your way
from side to side, but not
so with the Sea Strike 16.
Itʼs all within rods length.
And we havenʼt even
looked at the casting deck
up front.
So if your passion is
fishing, whether you are
trolling the shallows for
some GT action, or racing
to your favorite offshore
fishing grounds,
experience the ultimate in
sport fishing performance.
The Sea Strike 16…The
“Reel Deal”
Performance
Freed of the constraints
of an assembly line, BMD
designs lightweight,
rigorously-engineered
boats that deliver speeds
in the high 30-knot range,
with emphasis on safety
and ride .
This speed capability
gives you the time and
flexibility to do more
boating, more fishing, not
to mention the pride that
comes from building your
own boat. The weight
ratios of our designs
deliver outstanding range
too, so you can cruise
further and faster with
better fuel economy. This
maximizes your time
aboard - giving you more
options for any given trip,
more ability to go and
more money in your
pocket.
In regards to
performance, there are
many factors that
contribute to a boatʼs
speed and efficiency.
Primary among them is the
weight-to-horsepower ratio.
Our build method not only
produces a stronger boat,
but also one thatʼs as
much as 30-50 percent
lighter than other fiberglass
/ alloy boats, giving you
the speed required to
enjoy the boating life to its
fullest.
Overall, our hull designs
are a refinement of shapes
and lifting surfaces,
optimized to enhance that
stellar power-to-weight
ratio, and ensure you can
maximize your time on the
water.
Construction
Built from marine or
boatbuilding plywood and
completely fibreglassed in
an epoxy matrix both inside
and outside, the Sea Strike
16 is engineered as a
composite design to ABS
classification standards.
Designed for easy
building with no compound
curves, no unnecessary
complications, ease of
construction and long life,
the 1/4” (6mm) panels, cut
flat from our expanded
plates dimensioned
drawings, are bent around
the 3/8” (9mm) frames and
fastened to the transom
and bow with stitches –
well cable ties actually!
Then the hull is glassed,
rolled over and glassed
inside. Now the fun begins
fitting out the boat, naturally
by following the plans, but
also adding your own
wants and needs as well.
Once finished, itʼs simply a
matter of bog/ fair/ paint,
throw in some fuel and an
outboard and youʼre off. Itʼs
that simple.
(Time Out: I just lurve
the way Mark reckons the
hull “is glassed, rolled over
and glassed inside” then
itʼs “simply a matter of
bog/fair/paint . . .” when in
practice, this part of the
build program can take as
long, or longer than
building the boat . . I donʼt
want to rain on Markʼs
parade, because I love this
DIY building procedure,
BUT . . I think itʼs
important readers new to
DIY boatbuilding keep this
in perspective: glassing the
boat IS pretty simple, and
prepping the hull
afterwards (thatʼs the bog
and ʻfairʼ bit) is also quite
straight forward, and well
within the scope of the
amateur boatbuilder – BUT
the labour involved rolling
out the glass, rubbing it
back and prepping it for the
finishing coats can be
fiercesome. Itʼs not really
an issue of cost or skill –
just plain old fashioned
hard yakka. And donʼt have
any illusions about it - the
elbow grease involved will
be measured in weeks for
the amateur, not days. Is it
worth it? Absolutely! But
remember, the main
reason you are saving so
much money is that YOU
are replacing the pro labour
component, and your
garage is replacing the pro
builderʼs shed, his rental,
tool costs, insurance and
overheads. The material
cost difference is negligible.
– PW, Ed)
The plans show all
dimensions needed for
each method: accurate
expanded plates
dimensions and all
bulkheads and transom
dimensions with spacing
for building on the
strongback. With no lofting,
beveling or scarfing
required, the sides and
bottom panels are cut from
standard plywood (1.2m x
2.4m) and joined with a
simple fibreglass butt block.
As glassing is done with
epoxy resins and 450 gm
Double Bias, these epoxy
joins are much stronger
than the plywood and the
assembled hull is then
completely fibreglassed for
extra strength and easy
maintenance, resulting in a
boat with less maintenance
and a better finish than a
production fibreglass hull.
Overall, you canʼt get any
simpler than that.
Also, BMDʼs design and
construction method results
in speed and efficiency that
only the rare custom boat,
perhaps, can ever hope to
match.
So next time youʼre
scanning the horizon
looking at the all the boats
heading out, or walking the
boats yards looking at all
the boats that are just out
of reach for your wallet,
why not consider building
your own.
Itʼs that easy.
- Mark Bowdidge
Builder’s Comments:
Steve:
In Sept/Oct 2011 I went
searching the internet for
plans of ply/fibreglass
composite boats to build in
the 16 to 17 foot range. I
knew of a couple of brand
names that have been
around for decades but I
was searching for
something a bit more
modern looking.
The Boat Mag 57
Love this pic from Steveʼs
trio of pics - this is a first
class example of the age
old ʻstitch and glueʼ
technique, circa 2012,
complete with todayʼs
universal cable ties! Surely
they were invented to
facilitate this simple but
dramatically effective boat
building technique!
Mark Bowdidge has done a
good job here, keeping the
curves simple and avoiding
the need to get into tricky
strip plank curvature
building (and the like)
which brings it all back
firmly into the DIY
enthusiastʼs capabilities.
This is when I ran across
Bowdidge Marine Designs.
At that stage, Mark
Bowdidge the designer,
had what he called the
Gulf Explorer 16 which had
the features of what I was
looking for but I felt the
deadrise angle was a bit
shallow for what I needed.
I contacted Mark shortly
after and asked if he could
increase the deadrise on
this style of hull.
To my surprise Mark was
more than willing to assist
with my request, so Mark
then designed the Sea
Strike 16 and the plans
were ready for purchase in
early Jan 2012.
I immediately purchased
the plans and started
building the boat in early
April 2012.
The Sea Strike 16 hull
is a ply/fibreglass
composite design where
the outside and inside of
the hull are covered with
epoxy resin and fibreglass,
making for a very strong
and durable boat.
The build process is
simple and fast with Mark,
offering unheard of 24/7
assistance with any aspect
of the build process.
Markʼs plans are very
well detailed, and with free
24/7 assistance from the
designer himself.
People often ask me,
ʻWhy Iʼm building a boat
instead of just buying
one?ʼ
Well, there are a few
reasons for this, besides
just money savings.
Having built a boat many
years ago I believe Iʼm
qualified to speak with
some clarity in this regard.
There is a certain sense
of personal achievement
and pride that you gain
from building your own
boat and many onlookers
are astonished by what
you can achieve with very
little or even any prior
knowledge of the subject.
Another very important
part of the build process is
being able to customise
the boat with all the things
that you believe you
require.
Then of course there is
the cost, for the Sea Strike
16 hull it is probably
around one third the
cost of a similar sized
production hull.
Mark Bowdidge is in my
opinion, designing boats
“Shogun” is For Sale
Due to serious illness by its owner, one of Australiaʼs best loved plate sportfishing boats is
for sale, as is, where it is, on a farm near Bermagui, NSW. Originally built for Peter
Webster in 1982, this 25ʼ Star is powered by a Volvo 155hp diesel sterndrive, and has
worked and fished from Port Lincoln SA to the North coast of NSW. Superb deep sea rig,
great cockpit. Weighed approx 3.3 tonnes BMT on a gal steel trailer. Hasnʼt been used for
some years, and needs a great deal of work & TLC, but the makings are outstanding.
PW happy to discuss its history during business hours (07) 5564 2562.
Enquiries to John, PO Box 32 Waramanga ACT 2611.
For Sale: Gordon & Ruth’s Whittley Voyager 580
Whittley Voyager 580 - this is an unusual boat which we chose
as it was powered by the beaut Yamaha 115hp 4-stroke which has
just had its annual service. Fantastic fuel consumption of just 21
L/ph at 24 knots – a Sunday on the Broadwater normally costs us
$20 fuel. WOT 32 knots. Navman colour GPS/sounder with engine
instruments & fuel monitoring. We added Bennett trim tabs which
transformed the boatʼs performance. It now rides great in choppy
water, even with 5 people, the esky and Dug the dog. GME stereo
with iPod capability, 27meg radio, nav lights, interior lights, dual
batteries, plough anchor, etc. Brand new smart black bimini and
camper covers which provide full length cockpit rain protection or
can be removed or folded back easily for fishing.Full length bunks,
chemical toilet (behind curtain) built in sink with fresh water tap plus
FW shower at stern. The boat has been used nearly every
weekend. Kept under cover at Horizon Shores. No trailer, but one
can easily be arranged thru trade. Any inspection; perfect nick.
Much loved, but a bigger boat is calling to cope with Dug the
Retriever, big teenagers and friends . . $37K ono**
*** Full details of options, extras & fittings on request to [email protected] or call Ruth (07) 5564 2562
Three pics from Paulʼs Sea Strike project, but the above pic
is particularly interesting as it clearly shows the principle
engineering and how Paul has filled the underfloor voids
with foam floatation for safety and a even quieter ride.
which are modern looking
and are meeting the
requirements of boaties in
this day and age. Anyone
considering building a
power boat would be hard
pressed to find a better
deal than what Bowdidge
Marine Designs offers.
Regards
Steve Shanks
Mackay. Qld.
Paulʼs Comments:
After owning many
tinnies and plate boats
during the last 30 years it
was time for a change.
Aluminum boats do have
their pros and cons, but
after looking at mass
produced and custom plate
boats, I was surprised at
the lack of standard
inclusions for the amount
of money they were
asking.
So with two very keen
teenage sons, it was put to
a vote and building one
ourselves was the only
way to end up with exactly
what we needed.
With “Timber boat plans”
typed into the search bar,
Bowdidge Marine Designs
caught our eye with a great
looking home page and
different forums you can
easily browse through.
With so many to choose
60 The Boat Mag
from, one around 5 metres
would be perfect as my two
boys could handle it by
themselves and, offshore
trips as well as reef trips
will be possible.
The Sea Strike 16
looked perfect, with various
sheets of ply, epoxy resin
and some fibreglass… how
hard could it be?
Plans were purchased
off Mark, and two days
later we were marking and
cutting out the bulkheads.
The plans are a great
size, very detailed and a
breeze to read and
understand, with the added
bonus that Mark is only a
phone call away, with any
help or advice if needed.
The Sea Strike 16 is a
“big volume” boat for its
size, a great centre
console design and
enough storage
compartments to stow
everything plus the kitchen
sink!
With so much great
storage under casting
deck, in front of console,
under the seat and a big
kill tank/esky compartment
at the rear, building the
Sea Strike 16 has been
very rewarding for myself
and my two sonʼs.
We have always said
“lets build a boat” and we
finally are. Overall, great
design, great plans, easy
to follow and understand,
which all comes back to
the designer.
Adamʼs Comments:
Coming from a boat
building background with a
lot of the work I have done
being on traditional craft
(steam bending, copper
bolts, shaping planks etc)
building the Sea Strike 16
has been the easiest boat
building project that I have
attempted.
The plans are large and
very easy to understand,
construction methods are
simple and the all round
service that Mark provides
is like no other.
I look forward to finishing
the boat soon and getting
her on the water!
TBM
Mark Bowdidge is a
“Member” of the Royal
Institute of Naval
Architects (MRINA), a
professional member of
the ABYC and a graduate
of Westlawn (Hons).
Mark Bowdidge
(MRINA) previously
worked at Tom Fexas
Yacht designs, working as
a part of the design team,
designing new luxury
power boat designs for
companies such as
Kadey Krogen, Morgan
Yachts, Carmargue,
Palmer Johnson, Cheoy
Lee, American Marine,
Burger, Derecktor, Royal
Denship, Knight and
Carver, Mikelson Yachts
and others, where the
designs often varied from
55 ft (17 m) to 200 ft
(61m).
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www.australianffiishingch
ishin
ar ters.com/eastgippsland
The Boat Mag 61
...snapshots of some very
interesting projects around and about...
TBM team: Grant Bennett
here - thought Iʼd send you a
some pics of a couple of
snapper I caught on Sunday
on my annual trip into
northern NSW. Kicked off with
a 6 kg plus snapper on the
same rig as below, then
followed up with this beast:
Species: Snapper
Weight: 11.0kg on the scales
at the local Fishing Tackle
shop
Rod: Shimano Jewel 6-10kg
spin stick, 2 piece
Reel: Shimano Saragosa
4000
Line: 20lb Power-Pro braid,
30lb flourocarbon leader
Jighead: TT 1 oz, 7/0
SP: Berkley gulp 7" in Sweet
n sour Chicken.
A PB by a country mile, and
unlikely to beat this one
unless I go to Sth Aussie and
chase a big one down there!
Right: Check this out - first
pics of a new platey weʼve
been keenly following over
in Perth - itʼs Brad & Carol
Tindaleʼs new 8.2m Air
Rider, powered by a pair of
the new Honda V-6ʼs and
destined to fish-cruise the
waters from Karratha WA
to the Kimberley. Weʼll be
there at the launching!
Hey GB, thatʼs a beaut reddy youʼve nailed - north
of Coffs Harbour we hear ??? Youʼre going to
have those fishos down in Whyalla positively
jealous!
62 The Boat Mag
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D E S I G N & B O AT B U I L D I N G
The Hookham
Cat Principle
Very few designers and boatbuilders can actually claim to have created a unique design, but the
recently retired Port Macquarie NSW based boatbuilder, designer and shipwright Mark Hookham
is one of the handful that can. Creator of the ubiquitous Markham Whalers, and later, his family
of Dominator powered cats, Hookham has had a profound impact on Australian recreational
boatbuilding standards. In this special look back at how it all began, in his own words, he
explains the history and motivation behind his exceptional 50 year boatbuilding career.
by Mark Hookham
n the beginning there
was a very serious 16
year old surfer / board
rider / Newport Surf Club
lifesaver, who hated
school, could not wait to
finish the Intermediate
and had no plans for any
future career.
Fresh out of Manly Boys
High School (of which we
were in the very first intake
of the then brand new
school opened in 1958) and
looking for pocket money
for the holidays, I talked
Bruce Steber, a local boat
builder, clinker dinghy
specialist and one man
business, into giving me a
part time job over the
Christmas - New Year
period. Bruce operated
from a shed at the rear of
his house in Ocean St
Narrabeen. At that stage of
my life, I had absolutely no
knowledge of boats or any
interest in becoming a boat
builder.
During my short initial
period with Bruce,
witnessing a truly talented
craftsman and the sheer
beauty of watching a boat,
plank by plank, being
created by an outstanding
I
64 The Boat Mag
Left: This is the production
GRP version of the unique
3.8m multi-purpose family
cat Hookham designed,
which won the 1976
Chrysler Outboards design
competition in Australian
Boating magazine. Heaps
of fun, stable, safe and
sailed surprisingly well.
Right: So near, yet so far.
The single engined Whaler
promised much but never
delivered, despite the
Chrysler 90 being rigged on
the transom every way
possible with every prop
available. At this point,
Hookham was ready to give
the whole project away, as
weeks had been spent on
three versions trying to get
it sorted.
wooden boat builder, I
became infatuated with the
whole process.
After the top plank went
on, we would fit steamed
ribs, stringers, seats, tea
tree knees and finally,
prepare for the painting or
finishing process.
Within two weeks, we
had a finished, traditional,
beautiful looking dinghy. I
was hooked.
I talked Bruce into a full
time apprenticeship and
became his first employee.
Bruce was a master
craftsman and an expert in
his field. I never tired of the
work and I have never
regretted the decision to
become a Shipwright / Boat
Builder. I still get an
adrenaline rush when I
think back to those early
days in the back yard of
Ocean St. Narrabeen.
A bit of trivia that may
appeal to those who know
us. Allan, Bruceʼs son, and
now head honcho of the
famous Steber International
boat building company, was
two years old in those early
days. He would sit, (with
runny nose and all) in his
nappy, under our feet
playing in the wood
shavings whilst we were
The Boat Mag 65
Todayʼs Dominator 4900
has been too often overlooked amid the plethora of
seemingly ʻgreat valueʼ
American imports and the
many old time second hand
rigs on the market. But in
reality, the Dominator 4900
would out perform just
about all of them especially in the rough or
choppy stuff - and run
sweetly and economically
with a pair of 50 or 60 hp
outboards. Easily towed by
sensible family cars and
SUVs, this rig deserves a
lot more attention than it
receives - for more info,
check out the full test in the
SEA Library!
nailing on planks.
After a five year
apprenticeship with Bruce,
Iʼm proud to recall that I felt
I had truly mastered the art
of clinker boat building.
This was the period the
new wonder boat building
material, “fibreglass”,
arrived in Australia.
It was also the beginning
of the end for the traditional
wooden or composite boat
builders.
Not that we boatbuilders
were short of work; far from
it. Our experience and
knowledge was quickly in
demand tooling up replicas
of the wooden boats being
switched over to fibreglass
construction, and thus
needing plugs and moulds
for the new (fibreglass)
production process.
However, this had a
naturally depressing effect
on experienced tradesmen.
Traditional boat building as
we knew it, had come to a
crossroad.
The writing was on the
wall for me, so I left Bruce
to seek new horizons.
66 The Boat Mag
At age 21, I left
Australia to visit New
Zealand. Fibreglass wasnʼt
to be considered in NZ for
another year or two, so I
had the opportunity to add
a few more years to my
timber boat building
experience.
I worked with boat
builders Max Carter and
later, Dave Marks of
Marksply fame.
These were incredibly
exciting times for me. As a
very ʻgreenʼ, boat builder
(who thought he knew
everything) I literally had
the ʻproverbialʼ kicked out of
me by the Kiwi boat
builders.
What an experience. In
eighteen months, I worked
on more different types of
boats than Iʼd seen in my
first 5 years in Oz. We built
trawlers, racing yachts,
family boats, and every
type of ʻone-offʼ craft you
could imagine.
There were cold moulded
Partiki class yachts. Work
boats, and the best of all,
was building from start to
finish (in 16 weeks) a 54
foot 4 skin Kauri / epoxy
sheathed, cold moulded
racing yacht called
Northener. This yacht
defeated N.Zʼs record
holder, The Ranger, which
had been unbeaten.
As well, there were many
excellent clinker vessels
where I must confess, I did
excel and managed to
show my stuff.
To this day, I hold New
Zealand designers and
builders in the absolute
highest esteem.
Back in Oz with my wife
and first child, I put a call
through to my old friend
Bob Miller - who was later
to become very famous
as Ben Lexan, of
Americaʼs Cup fame.
I worked with Bob over
the years and we shared
many different projects and
happy memories including
designing and building a
special surf cat for ʻMidgetʼ
Farrelly.
Bob was pleased to hear
that I was back in Oz, and
asked if I would consider
building a couple of
catamarans for two of his
clients.
Now in those days, I had
never heard of a catamaran
let alone having built one.
But, because I was now
ʻthe most experiencedʼ boat
builder in the country, (just
joking!) I said “Of course!”
Well, this really was the
start of my career as a boat
builder because quite
coincidentally, it started the
pattern that was to change
my working life for the next
45 years.
Bobʼs catamaran designs
were 25 feet long,
Polynesian-styled sailing
vessels with a banana
shaped sheer line, similar to
the early Hayman Island
tourist marketing brochures,
with tropical background
and brightly striped sails.
The unique shape of the
hulls was ʻasymmetricalʼ (as
opposed to ʻsymmetricalʼ).
Now before we get
confused, I was on a
learning curve myself.
So for those interested,
firstly the word ʻcatamaranʼ
is an old Polynesian word
meaning ʻtwo joined
togetherʼ or something like
that, and this would be
applied to outrigger canoes,
etc.
More than 300 of the
classic Dominator 7.0
Canyon Runners have been
built and are operating all
over Australia, making it
one of the most successful
powered cats of all time.
The asymmetrical shape,
I learned to appreciate, had
a direct effect on these
boats being able to sail
reasonably high to
windward with the minimum
depth of keels and no
centre boards or dagger
boards.
In fact we only used
fixed, very shallow fin type
keels, drawing only about
300mm. Further, the
asymmetrical shape of the
hulls was incredibly clean
and smooth through the
water with virtually no wash
or drag.
I built two of these cats
for Bobʼs customers. Gary
Richardson, owner of Victa
lawnmowers and Ben
Chechick owner of Newport
Arms (and our old watering
hole).
Two more were built for
other clients and one went
to Norfolk Island. Of course,
with this new claim to fame,
I was suddenly a
catamaran building expert.
Powered cats had not been
created at this time.
Other catamarans were
ordered from a variety of
people and before long I
was an established
specialist cat builder. Quick
Cats, Australiaʼs famous 16
foot catamaran we built by
the dozen, as well as
Australs, Panthers, Arrows,
etc. Then the International
ʻAʼ and ʻBʼ class divisions
were created and I was
successful in becoming the
first builder in the cat world
to hold both A and B class
licenses.
Initially I built just on 120
Tornado and Australis
International light weight
racing craft.
After 6 fulfilling years as a
specialist builder in this era,
I decided to move on. The
sailboat market was very
demanding and finicky and
I needed a change.
It was, coincidentally, at
this time in the boating
movement in Australia,
that an unlikely prospect
emerged on the scene.
The very first powered
catamaran designed and
built by Bruce Harris of the
famous “Shark Cat” fame
started achieving a great
deal of publicity and media
attention.
Bruce was not a boat
builder as such, but
originally a licensed
fisherman. He created a
boat that could be driven
through breaking surf with
minimum risk of capsize or
broaching.
He certainly captured the
imagination of the media.
The ʻSolo Lemonʼ TV adds
are legendary.
This was the start of the
modern power cat
movement in Australia, and
for that matter, the world.
There were no first prizes
for beauty as the first boats
were put together from
glassed over plywood. But
Bruce sure made an impact
and his craft were
inspirational.
Peter Webster, the editor
of this very magazine, and
previously Australian
Boating (1973-1988)
Trailerboat Fisherman
(1984-1988) F&B (19932011) is, in my opinion, the
single most outstanding
reason for the success and
growth of the twin hull
movement in this country.
His interest, foresight,
dedication and editorial
achievements have made
the twin hull movement
come alive. Almost singlehandedly, Peter educated
the Australian boating
public to the unique
attributes of the catamaran.
Even so, the power
catamaran market took a
long time to develop. The
Sharkcat ʻimageʼ alone was
brilliant, and created a real
ʻButchʼ attitude. But that did
not necessarily create a
viable market for saleable
product and consumer
demand overnight.
For me, it all started
when Peterʼs Australian
Boating and Trailerboat
Fisherman team sought to
encourage new and
innovative concepts in boat
design for the Australian
boating public.
They created a Boating
Design competition in 197576, co-sponsored by
Chrysler Marine.
At the time, very few
innovative or new designs
had been created by
Australian designers and
builders, and the production
mono-hull had virtually
stagnated into a collection
of ʻme-tooʼ models that all
looked disarmingly similar.
The Chrysler Design
Comp was very popular,
and despite a big collection
of very professional entries,
I had the good fortune of
being declared the winner,
with a unique 4.26m multipurpose family cat. (See
pic, page 60 - Ed)
This was a result I still
The Boat Mag 67
Left: “By jove, weʼve got it !
Yes!! It works . . . itʼs
bloody brilliant!” A special
day, when months of
testing, rebuilding and
trials up and down
Sydneyʼs Pittwater ad
nauseum, finally paid off and in September 1976, the
Markham Whaler was born.
And yes, this little painted
timber and plywood boat
was truly amazing, with a
level of ride softness,
stability and handling that
in truth, has never been
surpassed. It is ironic
really, but the potential for
this craft - a SMALL cat - is
just as valid for todayʼs
retirees and older
fishermen, as it was in the
1970s.
from 1 to 10 before I could
be satisfied that a powered
catamaran would tick all the
boxes. These were, in my
order of preference:
feel very humble about
today. Not only were there
many excellent entries, the
Design Competition
Judging Committee was
headed by the late Alan
Payne, surely one of the
most respected naval
architects to ever emerge
from Australia – and one of
natureʼs true gentlemen.
My design concept was
based on the incredible
features that I had learned
from my many years
building, cruising and racing
sailing catamarans, and
then applying power to
these very ʻslipperyʼ hulls.
With so much interest
generated in the
68 The Boat Mag
Competition wining entry, I
was encouraged to explore
building a more specifically
fisherman friendly model
ʻcatamaranʼ - like a small or
baby Sharkcat!
The aim was to follow-on
from the marketing
excitement being created
by the Bruce Harris
Sharkcat, whilst trying to
create a much smaller,
family-friendly product
better suited to a wider
market - and not requiring a
5 tonne truck to tow it.
Remember, the big 4WDs
like the Landcruiser and the
Patrol were still being
developed back then, and
towing limits were set by
the Holden and Falcons of
the day.
My self-imposed design
parameters were designed
to create one of the safest
small boats possible for
Australian conditions.
Harris had proven the
commercial benefits of a
powerful catamaran for use
in rough seas and broken
water that had not
previously been achieved
by any power driven vessel
in Australia.
I tried to take this further
but in a much smaller craft
more suited to the general
boating public.
In setting my objectives, I
set up a table of priorities
1. Stability.
2. Sealed, self draining
cockpit floor.
3. Positive buoyancy (as in
the famous Boston Whaler
construction).
4. Ride and seaworthiness.
5. Ability to offer acceptable
performance with outboard
power and reasonable, fuel
efficiency.
6. Ability to offer safe
handling on broken water
and ocean bars.
7. Appearance and
practical construction
quality.
8 – 10. Value for money.
Styling and general
cosmetics did not make the
Top 10.
When analysing my wish
list, there was no other
design that could satisfy
these requirements. Trim,
self draining and positive
buoyancy, stood out like
neon lights.
It had to be a catamaran.
The ʻConceptʼ that we
created, was clearly the
result the judging panel had
supported. Something
revolutionary. Something
that could benefit people
who love boating and
fishing, but with seriously
improved safety features.
At the time, we had really
only created a concept.
The product had yet to
happen.
I built the first prototype
under our house at
Bilgola Plateau, in
Sydney.
This strategy went down
like a lead balloon with my
wife and growing family!
The first effort was a 14
foot version of the design.
As there were no
precedents to work with, I
had to tread softly in largely
uncharted waters as far as
small craft were concerned.
Firstly, I had the
asymmetrical sponsons
back to front, and secondly,
I decided to work with a
single 90 hp motor mounted
in the centre of the hull.
Both decisions were a big
mistake.
In testing the prototype,
we did get a great ride and
great stability. But, that was
all. It chewed up all of the
90hp. Needed full revs to
stay on a plane, ran
through a tank of fuel in
record time, and was life
threatening when cornering.
After all of my
expectations, I was
devastated.
Back to the drawing
board I went. Once, twice,
and three times. By the
time the third prototype was
developed, and didnʼt work,
either, I had run out of
funds, patience, and
confidence, and wished I
had never started the
project.
I informed Peter that Iʼd
had enough.
Peter, to his credit, talked
me through my frustrations
and asked me to stay with it
a bit longer. “Why donʼt you
spell the single engine
concept for a bit, and letʼs
see how it performs with
two smaller, lighter
outboards with roughly the
same power to weight
ratio?” he suggested.
Well, I thought I owed
him at least this much
support, so we re-examined
the areas causiing most
frustration.
I went back to the
sponson shape and after
much deliberation, realised
that I had inadvertently
reversed the underwater
asymmetrics. So I re-built
the sponsons with revised
design.
Peter, on the other hand,
organised a pair of brand
new 35 hp outboard motors
from Chrysler Motors (who
were marvellous) to replace
their single 90hp motor.
Well, I had little faith in
this venture at this stage
but when we readied P-3
for launching again, I only
had to change the transom
from single to twin
outboards, as the rest of P3 was perfect.
You wouldnʼt read about
it! Our first run knocked me
out. Not only did these little
35ʼs jump this thing out of
the water, but it would hold
onto plane at all rev ranges.
It did not need full throttle, it
used very little fuel and was
literally a boat like no other
we had experienced before.
It was a very exciting day.
So the Markham Whaler
was born. We set up
production for the first small
fibreglass outboard
powered catamaran for the
general boat buying public.
But wait, there is more!
This little machine now
cornered like it was on rails.
It was safe, predictable, did
not lean out in a turn, but
incredibly, would actually
ʻbank into the turnʼ. This
feature has remained with
The very handsome Ranger
35 aft cab was built by
Hookhamʼs team in Port
Macquarie until the
recession of 1988 forced
the closure of the Ranger
side of the business. More
than 100 of these Marino
Gomes designed craft were
built.
us to this day and is
unheard of in the world of
twin hulled boat design.
So - we finally had an
exciting little machine. It
met all of our parameters
and exceeded many.
We named the project
Whaler and started a
production company that
we called Markham.
And went to market.
Despite all of the hype,
editorial praise and market
expectations, the early
production catamarans
were not easy to sell.
Early comments at boat
shows in the 1970s one
would often hear “Here is
one of these awesome
Shark Cats” Or more
commonly, “Who would
want to own anything this
bloody ugly!” or words to
that effect.
Yes, the early cats were
not unlike the early 4WD
Land Rover. Not real pretty.
The Boat Mag 69
But, just look at us now.
How we have improved.
Yes, Australia can be proud
of its role in pioneering and
perfecting the power cat
movement in the world. Not
only in performance and
build quality, but also in
cosmetic appeal.
For my role in the
scheme of things, never in
a million years could I have
imagined that I could have
played such an important
part in the evolution of such
a great icon as the
Australian power catamaran
industry.
I feel very humble when I
consider that in the early
1970s, there was no such
thing as powered cats. At
all - anywhere! One only
has to look around the
world now to see them
everywhere in every
State Decentralisation
scheme. A very scary
decision to make in our
young lives. However, in
hindsight, this was one of
the better ones.
The Decentralisation plan
was structured to create
employment and training
opportunities for country
workers.
At the time, I had not fully
appreciated the true
meaning of the principal of
decentralisation, however, I
did have the opportunity in
later years of witnessing the
wonderful benefits of the
scheme when visiting
factories in USA where I
had the rare chance to
study the Bayliner and
Chrysler plants.
Decentralisation was the
secret of their employment
histories.
“We produced in excess of one hundred
vessels in a few short years. To this day,
the single most satisfying memory of
those times was the fact that this country
town was producing a world standard
product using all local talent. . . .”
possible application in
every country.
It is a funny feeling to be
such a part of history. And
Peter Webster can take a
well deserved bow for his
role in identifying the
attributes and potential of
this totally ʻnew breedʼ of
boating from day one.
He is the only editor that
this writer gives credit to for
his literally countless
editorial pages and reports
over the years, that have
made our efforts worth
while.
The Ranger Project
In December 1979 we
moved our fledgling cat
building business from
Sydney to Port Macquarie.
Six children, our key staff
and all of our plant and
belongings.
This was under the NSW
70 The Boat Mag
In my own situation, I
learnt to respect the value
and loyalty of key workers.
Their need for permanent
work was just as crucial as
my need to sustain reliable
permanent employees.
This developed into a real
family style activity where
we all needed each other to
survive in the country.
Consequently, the
product we all lived by
received wonderful
attention and dedication in
order to attract continuing
interest and sales.
As we grew in Port
Macquarie we were also
attracting reasonable media
interest due to the continual
developments and growth
of our Whaler cats.
In 1985, I was
approached by Ranger
Marine in Pittwater to tool
and produce a brand new
series of luxury cabin
cruisers to compliment their
imported boats. The
established models coming
out of Taiwan were 45 feet
and larger to 70 feet.
The luxury cruiser
market was growing rapidly
in Australia, and Ranger
needed to introduce
vessels in the 35 to 40 foot
size range.
These models were
financially viable to build in
Australia under full local
control, and with local
quality to suit Australian
boat owners.
An initial contract for
thirteen boats was offered,
including the contract for
the tooling and mould
manufacture.
I had known and
respected the directors of
Ranger Marine (who were
the owners of Mitchells
Boating Centre at Church
Point) for some years. I was
impressed with their
dedication and financial
support of their product. No
expense was spared to
ensure that Ranger
maintained the highest
degree of design,
manufacturing standards
and market representation.
I decided to accept the
challenge.
The thirteen 35 foot aft
cabin and sedan models
grew to a twenty four boat
contract with the
introduction of a 39 foot aft
cabin model. This also had
to be fully tooled and
moulded in the Port
Macquarie facility.
Before this contract was
completed, a new overall
contract was offered which
was for 43 units over three
years - and also included a
39 foot luxury sports sedan.
The wonderful Ranger
project was at its peak in
the late 80ʼs and just prior
to the recession (we did
NOT need to happen)
ceased to trade. The high
flyers of the country Skase, Bond, etc, were the
first to fall. Followed by
many others.
Ranger Marine was a sad
victim of the times and
consequently our company
was caught up in their
demise.
The exciting Ranger
ʻmachineʼ we had
developed in Port
Macquarie was employing
65 local tradespersons at its
peak. We were producing
high quality luxury craft that
were being exported to
Japan, USA, and New
Zealand.
We produced in excess
of one hundred vessels in a
few short years. To this day,
the single most satisfying
memory of those times was
the fact that this country
town was producing a world
standard product using all
local talent.
Not ONE employee had
come from any other boat
yard. Thatʼs right; they were
all trained in house.
Admittedly, many were
already qualified.
Mechanics, cabinet makers.
Spray painters, detailers,
laminators (etc) although I
was the only shipwright in
the team.
I was very proud of these
facts.
With the demise of
Ranger, I went back to
what I always knew best,
and certainly felt
comfortable building.
My cats.
In the late 80ʼs I started
all over. I re-designed and
re-tooled the Mark 11 series
of Markham, and created
the Dominator series of
cats. These new models
carry the famous
asymmetric hulls, but boast
a great many new features
and improvements.
The Design.
I started with a unique
design that emerged
straight out of Bob Miller
asymmetrical sail boat
days. It was good at the
The Hookham designed and built Dominator 9800 resin
transfer tooling is magnificent; we believe this is the only
production GRP cruiser in Australia built to the complex
EU Standards, enabling it to be put into charter anywhere
in Europe or in the French territories - such as Tahiti.
The Boat Mag 71
time because it was all I
knew and, there were no
other precedents to follow
other than the symmetric
design of the Sharkcat.
However, over the years I
have become totally
immersed in the attributes
of this design. The many
features that have emerged
are, in hindsight, quite
amazing.
Now, after some thirty five
years of continuous and
intense development
working with this design
philosophy, I can honestly
say that I do not think I
could improve it.
If I had my time again, I
would stay with the
asymmetric shape of the
sponsons.
I find it quite intriguing
that in the whole catamaran
industry now spanning
some thirty five years in
Australia, every single
catamaran in the market
has a marked similarity to
the original Sharkcat.
Whether it be fibreglass
or plate alloy, thereʼs been
very little variation in hull
shape. Even the cosmetic
appearances are similar.
72 The Boat Mag
The Asymmetrical
Design.
I rate myself reasonably
qualified to comment on
design these days.
Our company has
produced nearly four
hundred Markham
catamarans in recent years.
Three hundred alone
being the (7.0m) 8100
Canyon Runner and Cabin
models including Police
contracts and commercial
operations.
I believe this would make
the 8100 model one of the
most popular boats for its
size on the market today.
Of course the Markham
Whaler resulted in
hundreds being built
between 1976 and 1990.
As HIN numbers didnʼt exist
during the early years,
records were not
maintained, but it would be
safe to say that we are
talking 1,000-1,200 Whalers
being built over the 15 year
period of their construction.
The asymmetrical
sponson shape is not unlike
the shape of an aeroplane
wing turned vertically. One
surface being much closer
to a centre line than the
other.
When an opposing
sponson is mirror reversed,
we have, in effect created a
wide aperture at the front at
the inside of the tunnel and
a tapering, narrow exit
towards the rear of the
tunnel.
On the other hand. The
outside shape in relation to
the sponson centre line is
very close and parallel..
The transom finishes with
a distinct dead rise with the
inside of the sponson
sharply angled and the
outer face of the sponson
substantially rounded and
much higher than the inside
chine.
This results in
Markhamʼsʼ unique
cornering ability. The inside
chine ʻbitesʼ and the outside
curves slide. Very simple,
but did take a lot of
development.
Design parameters.
For each and every
model, two design
requirements really set the
foundations for every boat.
An interesting perspective
of the relative size of the
classic 8100 Canyon
Runner - and its big
bruvver, the Dominator
9800, side by side in the
shed at Port Macquarie,
NSW. Note the interesting
trend to a narrower, but
higher tunnel in both craft.
This enables the designer
to build up the volume in
the hulls (the
“displacement”) whilst
retaining the crucial flowthrough of the water
coming down the tunnel.
Firstly, having decided on
the length of the cat, the
critical requirement then
becomes the expected load
to be carried.
This determines the
ʻdisplacementʼ value, and
the needed volume of the
sponsons.
The second issue is
beam. This is the biggest
problem for the design of
trailerable catamarans.
Being restricted to 2.5
metre width places
significant restrictions on
the design of each boat.
Especially for cats up
around 7-8 metres LOA, as
the beam: length ratio starts
blowing out.
However, our market
expects to be able to trail
these boats without permits,
so we are stuck with
making the best boats
possible that will float the
loads expected, and still be
legal to tow on Australian
roads.
This results in many
challenges and trade offs
for cat designers.
Every thing was good for
a long while when (you
guessed) along came four
stroke outboards.
These new motors have
really revolutionised todayʼs
boating, but did create
many problems for cat
designers.
I am proud to say that I
was one of the very first
accommodate these larger
outboards.
So we developed and
perfected the new 8.1m
model to be trailerable and
customised around the new
4-stroke outboards. This is
where the full sponsons
and load carrying ability of
this mode came from.
The end result has been
this companyʼs most
successful and popular
model, resulting in well over
three hundred outfits having
been sold to many happy
owners.
Other builders chose to
simply add ʻpodsʼ to their
designs to accommodate
the additional 4-stroke
weights. I experimented
with this concept in the
beginning and made the
decision that it was not
suitable on my boats, as it
combination.
However, it does rely on
commonsense and
experience of each owner
in the operation and safe
handling every time the
vessel goes to sea.
No two days are the
same. When you take the
variables - crew weight, fuel
and personal gear, then fill
a big icebox with a good
load of fish, and come
home in deteriorating
weather, this will test the
experience, skill and
commonsense of the
skipper (and his rig) every
time.
The boat, after all may be
the best boat in Australia
but that stands for nothing if
the ʻNut behind the wheelʼ
is inexperienced or
irresponsible.
Knowledge of the sea
comments. These boats
can literally take anything
the owner can stand, as
long as one is sensible.
The very obvious goal is
to strike a running attitude
and speed that is safe and
comfortable on the day.
Often 18-20 knots can be
okay, where 30-35 knots
could be just too hard on
equipment, rods, sounders,
etc. not to mention
backbones.
Over the years, we have
had to live with the
standard Ozzie product
bashing that is rife in this
industry. Everybody is an
expert in this regard.
Criticism of our designs
together with idle gossip
only shows ignorance and
lack of appreciation of a
unique design.
I am happy to say that
Hookhamʼs latest (and final,
he reckons) design, the
raised sheer Markham
8500, is also destined to be
regarded as his best-ever,
as it embodies everything
heʼs learned over the 50
years of his impressive
boatbuilding career.
builders in Oz to work with
Hondaʼs innaugural ʻbigʼ
4-stroke outboards. We had
the first stock from the initial
batch of 90s and 135s that
were available.
The most immediate
issue was their physical
size, and the lower power
to weight ratios of these
outboards.
In my case, and,
(remember we were still
stuck with a 2.5m beam)
something had to give.
We designed and tooled
the all new, bigger tunnel
volume Dominator Canyon
Runner range especially to
had a negative effect on the
cornering ability of this
design.
Along the way, the
motors suddenly jumped to
150 hp without too much
increase in weight. The
price difference was not
significant and suddenly
everybody wanted the new
engines.
The good thing for me
was that the 8100 took to
these engines easily.
Three hundred
horsepower is magic on
these boats, and a great
many have now been
supplied with the 2 x 150hp
and how the boat responds
is vital. When to accelerate,
when to back off, when to
bear away is vital and
applies to every cat owner,
not just our models.
We preach never to sit
down or take a hand off the
throttle when running fast in
a sea way. You donʼt get a
lot of time to think,
especially in these
conditions. A rogue wave or
swell can come out of
nowhere in a second, and
you must be on guard to
deal with it sensibly.
Of course I do not want
to alarm readers with these
after a full time involvement
of some 35 continuous
years, (and over 55 as a
boat builder) I have
supplied thousands of
powered cats to a large
cross section of the market.
Always with great
satisfaction and pride. The
positive buoyancy alone
has been a great (and often
taken for granted)
insurance for every boat we
have built.
In the world of serious
boating, catsʼ still stand out
as the very safest blue
water boats for Australian
conditions and Australian
boating fishermen and their
families.
- Mark Hookham
Shipwright, boat builder
TBM
The Boat Mag 73
FIELD
TRIALS
SA’s Nautic Star
7.6m RHIB
TBMʼs SA Editor Di Ross and photographer John Batty
combine again to produce this very special report on another
Nautic Star from Marko Bacicʼs increasingly diverse and
highly regarded ally boat building factory in Adelaide.
74 The Boat Mag
Low, lean lines of this special RHIB disguise a tenacity and power that
enable it to deal with extreme conditions, 24/7.
The low freeboard and side tubes are specifically designed to enable crew
to reach over and down to the water, and haul heavy, possibly
unconscious people from the water; think plane crash or boating accident
in South Australiaʼs gulfs and coastal waters.
The Boat Mag 75
This is a very
specialised
vessel.
Operationally,
it will be
subjected to
some of the
harshest
conditions not just within the
South Australian Gulf waters but
also the often hostile conditions
of the Southern Ocean.
Unrestricted 2C Survey means that
this vessel can operate totally
independent in any waters and
conforms to all maritime seagoing
criteria for the Class.
The design was developed by
Nautic Star and interpreted into
electronic data format by GN Marine
Design. This data was then passed
onto Aluminium Dynamics where the
hull and superstructure were CNC
router cut, nested and delivered to
Marko Bacicʼs Nautic Star Lonsdale
7.6M
RHIB
76 The Boat Mag
(Adelaide) factory. This process is an
significant time saver, and it is
surprising how quickly the flat
sections shape into a recognisable
vessel.
The rigid hull of this vessel has a
plumb bow, essentially rising straight
up from the waterline at the stem.
This style of bow is still the very
much preferred configuration for
many commercial boats maximising
the waterline length of the vessel.
The collars have minimum contact
with the water, either at rest or
underway except in bigger sea
conditions and when the boat heels
during a sharp turn.
At rest the lower edge of the collar
is 90mm above the waterline at the
stern.
An interesting factor in this design
is that if both the collars were
deflated, this measurement would
remain the same without any impact
on the vesselʼs operating capabilities.
Also inclusion of a significant volume
of floatation foam ensures that the
vessel could still operate in a worst
case scenario such as a ruptured
hull - very reassuring!
Marko did several trials on the
finished vessel, the calm day easy
water run in the Port River and then
in the Gulf in extreme weather
conditions. The latter was one of the
dirtiest days for some time with 30
knot winds, seas to 3.0 metres and a
significant running swell. It is times
like this when you quickly come to
the realisation that the boat is far, far
more capable of handling the
conditions than the operators.... and
that is a good thing!
This is one very impressive boat. I
did hear on the grapevine that The
Marine Safety crew had her out for a
solid five hour session last weekend
and are ʻstokedʼ with the spritely
performance, manoeuvrability,
dexterity and engine performance.
Specification for RHIB to
Unrestricted 2C Survey
Builder:
Customer:
Length:
Nautic Star, Chrysler Road,
Lonsdale, SA.
TEL: (08) 8326 2212
[email protected]
Marine Safety, Dept of Transport
Environment & Infrastructure,
Government of South Australia
8.3m from bow to rear of collar;
water line length of 7.6M
Beam:
2.9m
Weight:
BMT wet 3,800kg
Hull Plating:
Bottom plate and chine plate
6mm, side plate 5mm, floor 4mm,
keel 10mmx120mm, full frame
6mm at 500mm spacing, stringers
60mmx6mm at 200mm spacing.
Speed:
A comfortable cruising speed
around 25-30 knots and on
smooth water it easily achieved
46.8 knots at WOT with fuel
full and four persons onboard.
Drive:
Power assisted steering and
Hydrive Bull Horn steering with
an Admiral helm pump.
Propellers:
Stainless Steel Viper 19 inch
(contra rotating)
Trim Tabs:
Volvo Penta
Scuppers:
Hypalon ‘Socks’ with Nautic Star
custom fabricated stainless
steel scupper centres.
Cabin:
The bunk space and helm can be
completely enclosed providing all
weather, well ventilated
operator comforts. The rear
bulkhead doors are fully sealed
(D-Type)
Super Structure 4mm plate.
Fuel Tank:
Foam:
Collars:
Custom fabrication in 4mm and
5mm plate, the 410 litre capacity
tank fitted laterally under the aft
deck.
4.1 cubic metres of survey
approved floatation foam above
and below deck
Orca ® Hypalon Collars - 450mm
diameter at bow increasing
to 550mm diameter aft (above
the chine line).
Engine:
Twin Evinrude E-Tec High
Output (torque and power) 200hp
V6 compression ratio with max
engine RPM of 5,800 providing
instant throttle response power,
Weight:
234kg per each.
Gear Ratio:
1.86:1 Wide open throttle at 5,700 rpm will
produce a speed of just over 80k/mh with a
fuel burn of 80 (+) litres (each) per hour.
Electronics: Raymarine 36nm radar,
auto pilot, sounder and plotter as
per customer requirements
Radio:
GME 27mhz ICOM VHF and
ICOM UHF Radios
Glass:
Windscreen is 8mm toughened
glass, the side windows, rear
bulkhead doors are 6mm
toughened glass.
Stowage:
Under seat and outer deck side
shelves provide storage of safety
and operational gear. The stowage
area under the bunks and along the
cabin’s side shelving provides a
secure and dry location for
personal gear, maps, specialised
equipment, etc. Glove box is fitted
on the port side, for mobile phones,
cameras, watches etc.
Trailer:
Nautic Star custom fabricated
aluminium trailer with Dura Torque
dual axles, stainless steel callipers
and Hydra Star braking system.
The Boat Mag 77
7.6M
RHIB
With these two E-Tec high
output V6 engines, we
suspect there will never be
a shortage in the power
department.
The upholstery, fabrics,
furniture, instrumentation
panel, radio panel,
controls and stainless
railings are all first class
quality fixtures befitting a
luxury cruiser, however we
know that this is the
Nautic Star standard for all
their builds.
The selection of the
Canadian Shockwave Air
Ride seatings for the
helmsman and navigator
will no doubt prove to be
an enormous advantage.
These seats can be
adjusted for different
payloads and sea
conditions. The air
suspension moves
minimally in relation to the
vessel, reducing bounce
and pitch and hence a
better ride for operators
and crew.
This air suspension
seating system has been
developed for military use
in fast water response
units, tanks and all terrain
units over recent years,
and it is always good to
see these developments
evolve into general use.
This RHIB is almost
unlimited in application,
the design concept being
adaptable for craft ranging
from 6.4m x 2.7m through
to 11m x 3.5m, the
superstructure and internal
configurations being
equally flexible in
configuration. The end
result will be a spectacular
craft with outstanding
stability matched to
whatever power unit you
require for your boating
criteria.
The NZ supplier of the
collars (who came to
Adelaide to oversee the
fitting of the items) for this
RYIB are very impressed
with the Nautic Star
design and quality
fabrication.
Okay, itʼs not the prettiest nose in the business, but this is
one time when function overtakes form, and here, it is all
about structure and waterline length.
TBM
F&B TV(Tablet/Phone users: If video does not play, press here to change formats)
78 The Boat Mag
Sorry - the only sound on this video is the wind noise! - PW
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*Built-in multi-voltage operation. 12-24 VDC and 110-240 VAC. Uses the highest voltage
*Air and water cooled condenser. Operate from either but best with the water kit included.
*Remote controller with ECO2. Powers up unit when it senses 240VAC or >13.6VDC).
*Manufactured in Australia by Australians for Australian conditions. A simple DIY project.
See all of the Ozefridge system
features, package details & prices:
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E480 unit with eutectic plate
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Cairns Custom Craft
15 Redden Street Cairns Qld P.O.Box 204-B Bungalow, Qld 4870 Phone (07) 4035 2966
Fax (07) 4035 2662 Email [email protected] www.cairnscustomcraft.com
A u s t r a l i a n B o a t i n g Te s t
(JUNE, 1982)
The Riviera 30
Flybridge
TBM
RETRO
BOAT TEST:
Unchanged,
as first
published,
written and
photographed
by Peter
Webster in
1982
80 The Boat Mag
When Sydney boat
builder Bill Barry-Cotter
sold out his interest in
Mariner Cruisers and
moved north to the
Queensland Gold Coast,
there was no doubt (as
far as the industry was
concerned) that Billʼs
career as one of
Australiaʼs most
successful cruiser
builders was far from
over.
They were not wrong.
Within a matter of
months, he had organised
brand new premises on
the Gold Coast, and plug
makers were hard at
work producing a range of
craft to become known as
Riviera Cruisers.
Barry-Cotter has the not
inconsiderable advantage
of being able to look both
backwards and forwards
when it comes to the
design of his new Riviera
range. It is only months
since he was the chief
executive of Australiaʼs
largest cruiser
organisation, building craft
he had himself supervised
and designed - and now,
acting in his own right
once again, he is able to
pick up on all his Mariner
experience, blend it with
the very latest trends, and
develop cruisers which are
arguably a step or so
ahead of those which he
has just left behind.
Sounds simple, doesnʼt
it? Well, it might sound
alright in theory, but in
practise, the luxury cruiser
business of Australia has
never been as competitive
as it is right now.
Barry-Cotter has the
Top left: Helm is well thought out with excellent access
behind the dash to survey instruments and steering, and
a comfortable seat for the helmsman. His vision is very
good.
Top right: The dinette is strictly for two adults with may
be a small child on either side. This does convert to a
small 'double' berth.
Left below: Flybridge layout is terrific with a comfortable
central helmsman's chair, and fore and aft seating on
either side.
Right below: Split level to galley is clever, keeping the
dirty dishes out of sight but keeping the host or hostess
in the swim of things from the main saloon.
Western Australian Randell
organisation breathing
down his neck, the
Bertram people in
Melbourne virtually ʻsoldoutʼ, and Mariner
Cruisers enjoying one of
the best years on record.
There isnʼt exactly a lot of
holes for new cruiser
manufacturers to
break into.
For this reason, BarryCotter, has had to be
doubly careful about the
craft he has chosen to
launch in Australia at this
point in time.
Coming into the market
initially, his Riviera 38 was
a clever move, because it
sat neatly under the
powerful Mariner 43,
competed favourably with
the new Mariner 38, sat
underneath the striking
Randell 41, and kept the
Bertram 35 nicely in
check. Round one to Mr.
Barry-Cotter!
For his second move,
Barry-Cotter has
undoubtedly confirmed his
oppositionʼs worst fears by
launching the new Riviera
30 with the size and
comfort of a larger cruiser,
driven by a single diesel
engine. The package
comes in at around
$57,000 (ex-Sydney) and
thatʼs enough to sit down
hard on the Randell
26, comfortably bowl over
the Mariner 28, squeeze
the Mariner 31, virtually
shake out the Bertram 28
from the luxury cruiser
stakes, and seemingly,
assure himself of
an important slice of the
booming luxury cruiser
business.
DESIGN: The Riviera 30 is
9.04 metres overall (29ʼ8”)
The Boat Mag 81
Riviera 30
(circa 1982)
with a maximum beam of
3.27 metres (10ʼ9”), a draft
of 0.71 metres (2ʼ4”) and a
displacement of 4.31
tonnes (dry).
It is a GRP Sports
Cruiser, using a moderate
planing hull of a
conventional style, with a
straight sheer, and simple,
straight forward hull
styling. The Riviera 30 has
a heavily raked two-piece
forward windscreen which
sits underneath an
overhanging “eyebrow”
caused by the large
flybridge.
It is fitted with berths for
as many as six people,
sleeping two in a separate
forward cabin in
conventional vee berths,
two on the convertible
dinette, and two more on
the pullman-style lounge in
the main saloon.
The saloon is well
conceived, with the dinette
to port providing
comfortable seating for two
adults, and the lounge
opposite providing
additional seating for
three more. Adding the
skipper on his built-in
helmsmanʼs seat, at least
half a dozen adults can
laze around the saloon
sipping their Pina Coladas.
The Riviera 30 is fitted
with a conventional head
on the starboard side, on
the lower level, behind the
helmsmanʼs position. The
head comprises the usual
shower over toilet arrange
ment, with a small hand
basin providing wash-up
facilities. The galley is
located mid-way between
the saloon level and the
forward cabin, enabling the
person doing the cooking
or preparing the cocktails,
to converse with others in
the saloon.
The cockpit is quite large
and unusually well appointed. This time Riviera have
built in side pockets for
mooring lines and fenders,
and further, have built in a
cockpit shower, complete
with hot and cold pressure
water. This and the teak
cover boards laid around
the coaming add up to an
attractive, practical cockpit
that will service the needs
of a family better than
most.
Up on the flybridge, the
layout is simple, but
MARINE
AUCTIONS
effective. There is a single
helmsmanʼs chair
amidships, providing
excellent control and
comfort for the skipper
who in turn is flanked by
two fore and aft thwarts on
either side of the flybridge.
This is surely one of the
best possible
arrangements.
Overall, the Riviera 30 is
a very well presented and
packaged craft. Its obvious
relationship to BarryCotterʼs earlier designs is
in some ways
disappointing; it seems
a pity to so closely repeat
the styling of his previous
craft when the opportunity
to do something different
presented itself. However,
the track record of those
manufacturers who have
indeed tried something
different in this country is
so poor, one can
sympathise with BarryCotterʼs wish to stay firmly
in the mainstream of
consumer cruiser thinking.
CONSTRUCTION: The
Riviera 30 is manufactured
of glass reinforced plastic fibreglass to the uninitiated
- and is produced in
Riviera Marineʼs Gold
Coast facility.
A one pieced fibreglass
hull mould is used, and at
this stage, glassed-in
fibreglass timber engine
bearers.
A number of other
moulds are used, including
a very typically BarryCotter full length inner
furniture mould, plus an
extensive deck and
cabin mould upon which is
mounted the windscreen
and side window
arrangement and in turn,
the cabin top and flybridge
moulding. Itʼs a well tried
and proven construction
technique that results in a
strongly built and well
engineered craft. It
requires virtually no
maintenance at all, apart
from the occasional hose
down with fresh water to
remove the salt from the
superstructure, but then,
even that is only for
appearances sake.
Australian manufacturers
such as Riviera Marine
have gone a long way to
producing a boat that is
truly maintenance-free
externally, apart from its
regular anti-fouling.
FINISH: The Riviera 30 is
packaged with just about
all the sensible extras that
you would require fitted as
part of the standard
inventory. A look through
the list of optional extras
reveals things such as the
power winch with foot
switch ($893.00),
hydraulic electric trim tabs
($1,054.00), hydraulic
steering ($1,630.00), a
bimini ($830.00), but the
fact remains that for
around $56-60,000 it is a
very competitive package.
The standard of fittings
and finish used throughout
the Riviera varies
When you want to sell your boat, and waiting around hoping for some
action is no longer an option, itʼs time . . to speak with the professionals.
Marine Auctions offer a dynamic, effective method of quickly securing an
unconditional contract of sale with a 7 day settlement. Very high clearance
rates and a great deal of practical experience in this exacting field. Donʼt
wait any longer; ring them today.
www.marineauctions.com.au
Marine Auctions Pty Ltd
PO Box 170 Albion QLD 4010 Ph (07) 3268 3614 Fax (07) 3268 3760
email: [email protected]
Adrian
Seiffert,
Auctioneer
Riviera 30
(RETRO, circa 1982)
somewhat, but overall, it must be
said that the Rivieraʼs choice of
fittings is typical of those being used
by their competitors.
That is not meant as a sort of
back-handed swipe at Riviera — it is
simply a matter of fact that there is
an increasing use of fittings by the
marine industry which can best be
described as second grade, or less
than satisfactory in certain
circumstances.
These sort of fittings include
polypropylene port lights, anodised
or alloy cleats and bollards, plastic
door clasps, perspex door covers
and so on. For each of the
manufacturers, the use of these
fittings can often be the difference
between a profit and a loss, but for
people seriously intending to use
their cruisers in offshore situations
they would be well advised to seek
out the manufacturer with a view to
reviewing and possibly changing a
number of the fittings and finish
items to those of a more durable,
heavy duty standard.
THE ENGINE ROOM: The Riviera
was fitted with the single AQAD 40
Volvo diesel, complete with
turbocharger, after cooler, and 280
sterndrive. This leg is not fitted with
power trim, but it is fitted with a
power mechanism to lift the leg
almost out of the water.
Yes, you read that correctly —
even with the leg in the full tilt
position, none of the drive unit is out
of the water, including the propeller.
Why then, use the sterndrive? You
might well ask this question, as
certainly it is going to be the most
controversial factor surrounding the
Riviera 30.
The Volvo AQAD 40 sterndrive is
developing a fine reputation for
reliability, economy, and longevity of
service, but Volvo themselves would
be the first to admit that pushing a
craft this big is stretching things a bit
for the AQAD 40. Not that the craft
doesnʼt respond to the 114 kilowatt
engine — it planes quite readily,
even with half a dozen adults
aboard, and apart from top end
speed, really has an adequate
amount of performance for most
84
The Boat Mag
situations.
For Riviera to use a sterndrive
though, is a bit questionable. Despite
the obvious preference of
Queensland readers (and some
Victorian readers for that matter) for
sterndrives due to the considerable
shoal draft boating areas they use,
most boat owners would much prefer
a craft of this size to have a
conventional inboard installation with
gearbox, propelller, shaft, skeg and
rudder.
You donʼt have to be an
accountant to realise that a single
sterndrive is a much easier
installation for the builder, and in this
case, the saving involved is the very
Looking Back:
June 1982
Notes by Peter Webster
September, 2012
Have to smile at the pics in this
report. They reveal a VERY
young Stephen Milne talking with
reknown broker Mike Gaffiken.
Stephen today is one of the
executives at Riviera, and is flat
out hustling Rivs around the
world, whilst Mike runs his
brokerage from Akuna Bay, NSW.
We all tried to put up a brave
front in this test, but the Riv 30
was embarrassingly
underpowered, and should have
had the six cylinder version of
the Volvo diesel most were fitted
with after this episode. Terrific
value s/hand - current prices will
see a good rig purchased
between $45K-$70K - and thatʼs a
cheap family-fun, entry level
diesel flybridge this good.
edge of competitiveness Barry-Cotter
is seeking, and has apparently
achieved.
PERFORMANCE: Frankly, the
performance of the Riviera 30 leaves
a bit to be desired — about 40
kilowatts, to be precise, and we
suspect that when the upgraded Pro
40 156kW (210hp) turbo charged
diesel is released in the next twelve
months or so by Volvo, then the
Riviera 30 will undoubtedly show a
marked increase in performance.
Alternatively, the rumoured four
cylinder diesel turbocharged Volvoʼs
could eventuate, and two of those
in this craft would make for a very
impressive piece of equipment. As it
is, the Riviera 30 with the single
Volvo AQAD 40 sterndrive is
capable of a maximum of just 15.8
knots (18.26 mph), although this
does not vary all that much with a
reasonable load such as the five
adults we had on board for the test.
The Riviera 30 is available with a
variety of MerCruiser or Volvo petrol
engines, although we know most
readers would prefer to stay with a
diesel engine.
As tested, the Riviera 30
was fitted with a 185 litre fuel tank,
and from our previous experience
with this engine, this would suggest a
range of about 180 nautical miles is
feasible. An extra 185 litre fuel tank
is listed as an optional extra at
$490.00.
HANDLING AND RIDE: During the
test, the weather conditions were
absolutely perfect, so we scarcely
had the opportunity of trying the
Riviera 30 out in much more than a
Pittwater ripple. In all still water
areas, the Riviera 30 performed very
nicely, with only a moderate
amount of roll and excellent
steering response.
At low speed in and around the
marina, one is aware of the craftʼs
bulk, particularly as craft of this size
usually have twin engines to play
with. However, the steering propeller
system of the sterndrive makes life a
lot easier than it would with a single
inboard propeller, and once youʼve
got the hang of it, the Riviera 30 can
be turned on the proverbial dime,
and backed and filled into marina
berths quite easily.
CONCLUSION: With or without
more urge from the engine room, the
Riviera 30 will prove to be a popular
craft in this country, if only because it
represents such terrific value for
money.
The fact that you can buy a six
berth diesel cruiser for around
$60,000 brand new is not going to be
unnoticed by either new buyers or
those people who thought they may
have to buy secondhand to get this
standard of fittings and finish.
TBM
There are web sites that entertain . . .
. . and web sites that will surprise.
www.boatmags.com.au
You really should check out The Boat Magʼs web site, very soon.
Home of the SEA Library (and hundreds of boat and engine tests!)
Queenies are a spectacular catch at the best of times, but when
they are this big, they are a real challenge - and love to get ʻaerialʼ.
Neil Dunstan:
Ebb & Flow
An Unusual
Catch. . .
R
ecently, the
weather around
our way has been
extremely windy,
but with clear days
enabling the
‘gardening duties’
to over-ride fishing
trips.
Needless to say,
with the hot summer
months on our
doorstep, I was
giving a bit of
thought to getting
back into the swing
of things offshore not only did I miss
it, but the freezer
was almost empty.
In the hot summer
months, our method
of getting a bit of
fishing in is to get
out fairly early and
fish for a while, then
get home again
around eleven in the
morning.
As we have very
large tides up here,
86 The Boat Mag
we try to fish around
the top or bottom of
the tide when the run
drops off a bit,
which is different to
most places where
the cry is “no run, no
fun” but we just
cannot fish when the
tide is more than six
metres and the run is
four or five knots.
I had not been out
for nearly two weeks
and when the wind
dropped off to five
to ten knots I
decided to go out
and give it a go even
though the high tide
was six and a half
metres, but luckily,
the tide peaked at
around ten in the
morning allowing
me to get out early.
I launched my
small boat (a
Quintrex 4.5m dory
modified to suit my
fishing methods) at
around seven in the
morning, and
decided to travel a
few miles to the
south to an area of
shallow reef about
three miles offshore.
This reef area is
mostly around
twelve metres deep
and is made up of
hard and soft corals
on rock rubble and is
a couple of miles
square.
At times during the
year large schools of
doggie mackerel
congregate around
here, and it’s also a
good spot to catch
grassy sweetlip,
venus tusk fish and
good size black spot
blue parrot fish.
It was a pleasant
trip to the reef area
and I arrived just as
the tide was starting
to slow down
enough to fish. Even
though I have this
spot on my GPS I
still find it by using
the marks that I have
used for years such
as islands, headlands
and back ground
mountain peaks.
Once on the spot I
then circle around
watching the sounder
for a bit of
prominent bottom
with resident fish.
After setting the
anchor, I then set up
my usual
arrangement of gear
which is mostly
focused on getting
around the bimini
canopy. I keep this
erected, even though
we are nowhere near
full summer heat yet,
but as I get older,
I’m a lot more
conscious these days
about the skin cancer
issues. So good
shade is a priority,
even though it is a
damn nuisance and
gets in the way all
the time . . . So I set
up with a long rod
rigged with a
floating pilchard
well out the back
and set in a special
rod holder right
down the back near
the motor which gets
it out past the
canopy and out of
the way of the rest of
the lines.
Next I set up a rod
in a rod holder up
near the bow and
bait it with a large
slab of fish fillet and
Boatmags .com.au
Ruth’s Boatshop. . .
battery of your torch is flat, there’s
no power - and it’s a very dark
night!
2012 Spring
Stocktake
Clearance
Now On!
F&B Navy Tee Shirt. Was
$18.90 Members $10.90
Simple, cool, elegant and srong,
these navy blue tee shirts are
worth every cent - especially at
$10.90 plus P&P.
Get organised on the boat or around
the camp. Easy & quick to wrap up.
F&B Polar Fleece Vest. Was
$59.90 Members $39.95
Very useful on the tinnie, in the car
or on the picnic rug. Effective, too.
F&B Tournament Pro. Was
$39.90 Members $25!
This is a
favourite, and
easily one of
the best
‘sahara’ style
caps around.
Very
comfortable,
terrific protection and amazingly
effective with good polarised
sunnies.
Weekender Wet Shower Bag.
Was $24.90 Members $15.95
F&B Cooler Bag. Was $59.90
Members $40
Shakespeare Pro-Am reel.
Was $19.95 Members $9.95
Love these sleeveless vests - and
wear ‘em all the time. Excellent in
late winter or spring when a full
jacket is too hot, but you need
something for the small of
your back.
Perfect for the little bloke! And a
useful bait reel into the bargain which it is. Approx 220m x 3kg,
fast 4.8:1 gearing.
12v Halogen Spotlight
(Round). Was $19.95
Members $9.95
LED Torch: No Batteries
Required - ever!
Was $49.90 Members $34.00
Extremely useful and very practical
- the light you need when the
500,000 Candlepower spottie with
10’ car cord and cigarette lighter
plug. Trigger on/off.
Geoff Wilson’s Knots & Rigs
(and DVD). Was $24.95
Members $17.95
An absolute classic for any halfway
serious fisherman. Wonderful gift.
F&B Drink
Bottle.
Was $9.90
Members
$6.95
Be it ever so
simple and easy
to use, the F&B
water bottle is
especially
important on
those hot days!
Cork Key Ring. Was $7.95
Members $3.95
Yeah well - can you have too many
cork key rings? These are value,
and they do float!
To order, please go to Ruthʼs Shop on The Boat Magsʼ web site www.boatmags.com.au
Neil Dunstan’s drop it
down with a
heavy
sinker so
that it can
take a fair
bit of
chewing - and usually
catches fish without my help.
Then I put down my secret
weapon, a 45 lb. handline
with a running sinker and
4/0 hook which is baited
with squid or pilchard and
allows me to fish all around
the boat without the damn
canopy getting in the way.
This area also has a
resident population of what
we call sennitt (but I believe
is a northern variety of the
yakka which is caught
further south) and I then start
jigging for these until I have
a dozen or so in the well.
These are used live on the
floating mackerel rig or
filleted for slab baits..
Once I have got all this set
up I then try to catch any
Ebb &
Flow. .
smaller fish, but particularly
a tusk fish, and they are sent
out alive on my cod line
which is a 100 pound hand
line with a large snapper
lead on the bottom and a
12/0 hook a couple of metres
up an a short leader to stop
the livie from getting down
into the coral.
These are the favourite
prey of large gold spot
estuary cod, and if there is
one around he will often
have a go at it. I then settled
down to catch a few grassy
sweetlip for the ice box on
the handline, and decided to
have a coffee and relax for a
while.
As this reef is basically a
near shore nursery reef, there
are lots of smaller fish here
and this day was no
exception as I was pulling in
saddle tailed sea perch or
small mouth nannigai by the
dozens which were all
around 35 cms. long and the
legal size is 40 cms. It was
2&($1&5$)7
2
&($1&5$)7
One day all boats
will be built this way
ALL ALUMIN
IUM PLATE
ALLOY INFL
ATABLE STY
LE
PHENOMENAL BUOYANCY
& STABILITY
LIABLE
SAFE & RE
LL
EP VEE HU
ULTRA DE
SMOOTH & SOFT RIDING
P PW.
PW
.
RQO\
+XOORQO\
+XOO
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7(/>@
7(/>@
Mob:
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0416 293
293 686
686 | Email:
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
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ZZZRFHDQFUDIWFRPDX
Z
ZZRFHDQFUDIW FRPDX
88 The Boat Mag
all a bit of fun and I threw
them all back, but in
between I caught a good
feed of sweetlip, spanish flag
and bluies so it was all good.
Then out of the blue, the
cod line went off big time,
and ripped of fifty metres or
so of line at great speed so I
reckoned that it was a bit
fast for a cod, especially
when I got my finger stalls
on and tried to put a bit of
hurt on it, and it went crazy.
A few minutes later there
was a massive eruption
behind the boat and I
realised that it was a dirty
big queen fish.
It took quite a while to
subdue even on a 100 lb line
and I eventually got it into
the boat to take a photo and
then release it. I was quite
upset when it died and I
could not revive it so I
placed it in the big ice box.
I don’t usually eat them
although they are not too
bad, and thought that I might
give it to someone at the
ramp.
I was absolutely amazed
that this fish had completely
swallowed a 30 cm tusk fish.
I thought they mainly fed on
bait fish such as herring and
hardie heads, but this guy ate
a couple of pound of tusk
fish without any trouble.
So in the first hour I had
caught a good feed of fish
and had a great tussle with
one of the hardest fighting
fish in the ocean on my
trusty handline, so I set
everything up again and had
another coffee. In the next
hour I got two sharks on my
floating line but no
mackerel, so that was a bit of
a bummer, but I continued to
catch a range of good eating fish although
none of them were bigger than about three
pounds.
Just as I was beginning to think about
heading home as the tide had started to run
too much, my cod line went off again and I
was into another large fish. I didn’t see him
for a while and couldn’t figure out if it was a
cod or not, but it was certainly a decent fish as
I couldn’t gain on him even on 100 lb. line.
As I fish on my own I wasn’t able to clear
all the other lines and soon had a great tangle
of lines and had to throw the two rods out of
gear and free the other hand line to stop them
from all going over the side.
At last I was gaining on him when the
biggest queenfish I have ever seen (and I have
caught plenty – especially when I lived in the
N.T.) burst through the surface and took off
again. I was fast running out of line and if I
hadn’t used finger stalls there is no way I
could have held him at all so I just locked up
on him and he bolted, breaking the 100 lb.
line like cotton for which I was very thankful
as I didn’t want kill another one of these
beautiful fish.
As I said, this was the biggest queenie I
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have ever seen, and I estimate his size at close
to two metres long and over twenty kilos
which was quite a handful on a handline, but I
still reckon I could have handled him with a
bit more line on the spool as our hand-lining
technique is still pretty successful.
After that I untangled all the mess, pulled
the anchor and headed home, where I arrived
in time for lunch after a pleasant morning, a
box of nice eating fish and the first time I had
ever seen a large queenie eat a live bait bigger
than its mouth.
Neil Dunstan
Sarina Beach.
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The Boat Mag 89
TBM’s October 2012 Outboard Prices
Make
HP
Honda
Yamaha
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Parsun
Yamaha
Mercury
Mercury
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Parsun
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
2
2 pmx
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.6
3 pmx
3.3
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.5 b
3.6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4 pmx
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 pmx
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6 pmx
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8 pmx
9
9.8
9.8
9.9
9.9
9.9
Model
B2D4 SCHD
2CMHS
1F02201FK
M
T2.5BMS 2C
DF2.5S
MFS2.5A S
M2.5A2 S
F2.5AMHS
F2.6MBS 4C
3AMHS
M
1F03201FK
MFS3.5A S
M3.5A2 S
M3.5B2 S
T3.6BMS 2C
1F04201FK
M
F4BMS 4C
DF4S
MFS4BD S
M4C S
F4AMHS
4ACMHS
BF5A4 SB
1F05201FK
M
F5BMS 4C
DF5S
MFS5BDS
M5BDS
5CMHS
1F06201FK
M lite
T6BMS
DF6S
MFS6B S
MFS6BSUL(Sail)
M6B S
6CMHS
BF8D2 SHD
1F08201FK
M lite
DF8
MFS8A3 S
M8B S
F8CMHS
8CMHS
DF9.9
MFS9.8A3 S
M9.8B S
1F06201FK
M
EL Big Foot
RRP
4-stroke
Cylinders Amp/hr
2-stroke Capacity
capacity
Carb/Inject (ccʼs)
$1,234
$900
$1,247
$833
$700
$1,048
$1,494
$894
$1,497
$899
$1,099
$969
$1,325
$1,527
$925
$1,029
$720
$1,687
$1,392
$1,195
$1,535
$1,693
$1,411
$1,817
$1,468
$2,090
$1,775
$1,608
$1,245
$1,619
$1,746
$1,536
$1,782
$1,892
$1,767
$1,495
$1,791
$1,851
$1,900
$2,013
$2,153
$3,392
$3,054
$1,906
$3,260
$3,080
$2,040
$3,495
$2,467
$3,442
$3,147
$2,188
$3,236
$2,398
$4,290
4c
2c
4c
2c
2c
4c
4c
2c
4c
4c
2c
2c
4c
4c
2c
2c
2c
4c
2c
4c
4c
4c
2c
4c
2c
4c
4c
2c
4c
4c
4c
2c
2c
4c
2c
2c
4c
4c
4c
2c
2c
4c
4c
2c
4c
4c
2c
4c
2c
4c
4c
2c
4c
2c
4c
57
50
85
74.6
74.6
68
85.5
74.6
72
72
70
74.6
85
85.5
74.6
74.6
74.6
123
102
112
138
123
102
112
83
127
123
102
112
138
123
102
103
123
169
169
138
123
123
169
165
222
209
169
208
209
169
197
165
208
209
169
209
262
209
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
5A
4A
5A
5A
0
6A
5A
5A
5A
3A
5A
4A
6A
5A
5A
5A
5A
6A
5A
5A
6.7A
6
6A
6A
6A
6A
6A
6A
6A
6A
6.7A
6A
8A
6A
Weight
(Kg)
12.2
16.5
19.0
13
16
13
13.0
12.5
17
18
16.5
13
13.0
19.0
12.5
13
16
25.0
20
24.5
26
26.0
19
22
21
27.0
25.0
20
24.5
26
25.0
19
21
25.0
26
26
26
25.0
25.0
26
27
42.0
38.0
26
39.5
37.0
26
38
27
39.5
37.0
26
38.1
35
43
F&B Emiss
Emiss.
Star HC+NOX
CO
Rating (g/kw/hr) (g/kw/hr)
3
0
3
0
0
3
3
0
2
2
0
0
3
3
0
0
0
3
1
3
3
3
1
3
0
3
3
1
3
3
3
1
0
3
0
0
3
3
3
1
0
3
3
0
3
3
1
3
0
3
3
1
3
0
3
24.9
388.2
25.5
277.1
434.1
399.4
24.2
24.3
305.3
42.9
29.8
399.6
384.5
150.0
466.2
134.5
277.1
27.7
24.3
305.3
280.2
399.4
468.8
384.5
150.0
150.0
24.3
221.9
21.8
19.1
20.7
204.0
26.8
332.3
20.5
24.3
221.9
21.8
19.1
20.7
204.0
468.9
236.2
339.9
273.0
263.0
258.4
254.3
598.3
374.0
468.9
236.2
296.5
273.0
263.0
258.4
24.3
306.1
468.9
225.5
19.1
20.7
20.7
220.9
322.7
17.9
20.7
306.1
18.6
20.0
220.9
21.9
322.7
21.0
20.0
195.0
20.7
323.2
20.7
273.0
263.0
263.0
377.3
331.7
363.5
144.4
225.5
214.1
296.4
377.3
325.0
331.7
231.1
296.4
150.0
144.4
533.4
144.4
est
est
est
est
est
est
est
est
est
Notes: Shaft length - representative models shown use the following convention where possible. Up to 10hp, short shaft.
10hp to 150hp, long shaft. Over 150hp, extra long shaft. Up to 18hp, tiller steer. 20hp and over - forward steer. Readers are
advised to make sure they check the latest prices with their local dealers, before making a purchase decision - and please
note, freight costs will vary according to the location of the dealer.
90 The Boat Mag October 2012 Outboard Database
HP
Model
Parsun
Parsun
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Honda
Mercury
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Parsun
Suzuki
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Tohatsu
Honda
Mercury
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Parsun
Parsun
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Suzuki
Suzuki
Suzuki
9.8
T9.8BMS
9.8
F9.8BMS
9.9
DT9.9S
9.9
M9.9D2 S
9.9
F9.9FMHS
9.9 pmx 9.9FMHS
10
BF10D2 SHD
10
Sea Pro
15
BF15D3 LHD
15
15ML
15
M L super
15
ML
15
Sea Pro ML
15
T15BML 2C
15
F15BML 4CT
15
DF15L
15
DT15S
15
MFS15CL
15
M15D2 S
15
F15CMHS
15 pmx 15FMHL
18
M18E2 S
20
BF20D3 LHD
20
20ML
20
MFS20CL
20
F20B MHL
20 pmx 20DMHL
25 e-tec E25DTSL
25
BF25D4 LHGD
25
ML
25
T25BML
25
F25BML FES
25
DF25L
25
MFS25B (EFI) L
25
M25C3 L
25
F25DETL
25
F25AETL
25 cv pmx 25BMHL
25 pmx 25NMHL
30 e-tec E30DTSL
30
BF30D4 LHTD
30
EL GA EFI
30
EL lite
30
T30BML 2C
30
DT30L
30
MFS30B (EFI) L
30
M30A4 L
30
F30BETL
30 cv pmx 30HMHL
30 pb 30DETOL
40 e-tec E40DLP11
40
BF40D LRTL
40
ML
40
ELPTO
40
MHL Lite
40
Sea Pro MLG
40
ELPT EFI bigfoot
40
T40BML 2C
40
DF40TL
40
DF40AQHL
40
DT40L
RRP
4-stroke
Cylinders Amp/hr
2-stroke Capacity
capacity
Carb/Inject (ccʼs)
$1,575
$2,095
$2,401
$2,494
$3,557
$2,656
$3,906
$3,006
$4,274
$3667
$2,385
$2,594
$3,127
$1,810
$2,645
$3,443
$2,544
$3,858
$2,601
$4,102
$2,952
$2,601
$4,550
$4,211
$4,114
$4,998
$3,456
$5,589
$6,321
$5,250
$2,635
$4,045
$5,026
$5,312
$3,384
$6,285
$5,986
$3,456
$3,729
$6,685
$7,109
$6,514
$3,700
$2,660
$3,049
$5,312
$3,384
$7,026
$4,385
$6,053
$8,612
$8,990
$6,498
$6,341
$4,640
$5,721
$7,991
$3,140
$8,544
$8,147
$4,017
2c
4c
2c
2c
4c
2c
4c
2c
4c
4c
2c
2c
2c
2c
4c
4c
2c
4c
2c
4c
2c
2c
4c
4c
4c
4c
2c
2di
4c
4i
2c
4i
4c
4i
2c
4c
4c
2c
2c
2di
4c
4i
2c
2c
2c
4i
2c
4i
2c
2c
2di
4i
4c
2c
2c
2c
4i
2c
4i
4i
2c
169
2099
284
247
212
246
222
262
350
351
294
262
262
246
323
302
284
351
247
323
246
294
350
351
351
362
395
576
552
526
496
498
538
526
429
498
498
496
395
576
552
526
430
703
499
526
429
747
496
496
864
808
747
644
697
645
995
703
814
941
696
2
2
2
2.5A
2
6.7A
2
6A
2
10A
2
6A
2
6A
2
6A
2
11A
2
6A
2
6A
2
6A
2
2
2
6A
2
2.5A
2
12A
2
6.7A
2
10A
2
6A
2
6.7A
2
12A
2
11A
2
12A
2
10A
2
6A
2
56A
3
10A
3
15A
2
2
V2 70º 6A
3
15A
2
6.7A
2
10A
2
15A
2
6a
2
6A
2
56A
3
10A
3
15A
2
6A
2
2
2.5A
3
15A
2
6.7A
3
16A
2
6A
3
6A
2
81A
3
17A
3
6A
2
18A
3
11
2
18A
4
18A
2
3
6.7A
3
19A
2
18A
Weight
(Kg)
26.0
38.0
38.5
37
39.9
36
42.0
34
46.5
52
42
35
34
37.5
51
49
38.5
52.0
37
50
36
37
46.5
53.0
52.0
53.7
48
64.4
72.5
71
53
68
72
82.5
52
79
71
54.5
48
64.4
72.5
71
48
75.1
60.5
82.5
52
99.6
54.5
66
109
98.0
93
78
69
74
120
75.1
110
104
76.0
F&B Emiss
Emiss.
Star HC+NOX
CO
Rating (g/kw/hr) (g/kw/hr)
0 est
0 est
3
1
3
1
3
0
3
3
1
0
0
0 est
3 est
3
0 est
3
1
3
1
1
3
3
3
3
1
3
3
3
0 est
3
3
3
1
3
3
1
1
3
3
3
1
0 est
1 est
3
1
3est
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
1
3
0 est
3
3
1 est
13.6
180.9
18.6
249.6
17.9
323.2
15.5
18.4
173.5
323.2
323.2
104.2
287.2
267.7
408.4
336.2
533.4
172.6
150.7
270.3
533.4
533.4
16.0
15.4
221.3
255.5
16.7
180.9
22.3
249.6
173.5
15.5
18.4
16.7
14.6
201.9
14.4
14.1
14.9
164.4
287.2
229.0
408.4
270.3
172.6
150.7
164.4
311.1
200.4
144.8
217.2
279.4
12.8
15.5
14.5
160.7
201.9
14.6
211.2
201.9
16.4
14.6
14.9
164.2
152.0
205.2
282.8
194.0
200.4
230.5
326.9
200.4
139.8
239.2
279.4
202.9
14.5
164.2
237.6
237.6
237.6
15.2
12.6
13.0
142.2
142.2
142.2
14.2
282.8
202.9
425.6
425.6
425.6
66.5
87.0
185.4
192.3
192.3
192.3
188.9
13.8
14.8
235.3
74.2
TBM’s October 2012 Outboard Prices
Make
The Boat Mag October 2012 Outboard Database 91
TBM’s October 2012 Outboard Prices
Make
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Mercury
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Suzuki
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Parsun
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Yamaha
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Parsun
Suzuki
Tohatsu
HP
Model
RRP
4-stroke
Cylinders Amp/hr
2-stroke Capacity
capacity
Carb/Inject (ccʼs)
40
M40D2 L
$4,519
40 tldi
MD40B EPTOL $8,373
40
F40FETL
$7,774
40 cv pmx 40XWTL
$5,868
40 pb
40VETOL
$6,780
50 e-tec E50DPL11
$9,487
50
BF50 LRTL
$10,469
50
ELPT EFI
$8,309
50
ELPTO
$6,750
50
ELPTEFI BigFoot $8,472
50
DF50TL
$8,975
50
DF50ATHL
$9,804
50
M50D2 EPTOL $6,962
50 tldi
MD50B EPTOL $8,551
50
F50FETL
$8,781
50 cv pmx 50HETL
$7,051
50 pb
50HETOL
$8,263
55
Sea Pro MHL
$6,939
60 e-tec E60DPL11
$10,437
60
BF60ALRTN
$11,499
60
ELPT EFI
$8,708
60
ELPTO
$7,159
60
Sea Pro Big Foot $7,024
60
ELPTO BigFoot $7,610
60
ELPTEFI BigFoot $8,349
60
T60FEL
$7,100
60
DF60ATL
$10,322
60
DF60A
$10,322
60
M60C EPTOL
$8,995
60
F60CETL
$9,200
60 cv pmxE60HMHDL
$7,592
60 ht
FT60DETL
$9,325
60 pb
60FETOL
$8,819
70
DF70ATL
$12,568
70
M70C EPTOL
$9,045
70 tldi
MD70B EPTOL $11,994
70 pb
70BETOL
$9,346
70
F70AETL
$10,412
75 e-tec E75DPL11
$12,087
75
BF75DKO LRTL $13,650
75
ELPT EFI
$11,936
75
T75FEL
$7,200
75
ELPTO
$8,825
75
Sea Pro MLHG $9,067
75 opti
ELPT
$11,785
80
DF80TL
$13,545
80
F80BETL
$12,376
90 e-tec E90DPL11
$13,260
90
BF90DKO LRTL $15,950
90
ELPT EFI
$12,658
90
ELPTO
$10,273
90 opti
ELPT
$12,312
90
T90FEL
$7,400
90
DF90ATL
$14,244
90
M90A EPTOL
$9,799
2c
2di
4i
2c
2c
2di
4i
4i
2c
4i
4i
4i
2c
2di
4i
2c
2c
2c
2di
4i
4i
2c
2c
2c
4i
2c
4i
4i
2c
4i
2c
4i
2c
4i
2c
2di
2c
4i
2di
4i
4i
2c
2c
2c
2di
4i
4i
2di
4i
4i
2c
2di
2c
4i
2c
697
697
747
703
698
864
808
995
967
995
814
941
697
697
996
703
698
967
864
998
995
967
967
967
995
1141
941
941
938
996
849
996
849
1502
938
1267
849
996
1295
1497
1732
1141
1386
1386
1526
1502
1596
1295
1497
1732
1386
1526
1141
1502
1267
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
4
3
4
3
3
3
3
4
2
3
3
2
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
11A
23A
15A
6A
6A
81A
17A
20A
16A
20A
18A
19A
11A
23A
17A
6A
6A
18A
81A
18A
20a
16
16A
16A
20A
(tba)
19A
19A
11A
17A
6A
17A
6A
27A
11A
23A
6A
17A
81A
44A
50A
(tba)
18A
18A
60A
27A
25A
81A
44A
50A
18A
60A
(tba)
27A
11A
Weight
(Kg)
85
93.4
90.4
80.7
88
109
98.0
112
93
120
110
104
85
93.5
111
87
86
100
109
110
112
99.5
108
109
120
119
104
104
115
111
102
115
105
156
115
143
105.5
118
145
162
181
119
138
139
170
155
172
145
163
181
138
170
119
155
135
F&B Emiss
Emiss.
Star HC+NOX
CO
Rating (g/kw/hr) (g/kw/hr)
1
2
3
1
1
3
3
3
1
3
3
3
1
2
3
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
1
3
0
3
3
1
3
1
3
1
3
1
2
1
3
3
3
3
0
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
3
0
3
1
153.0
30.6
150.0
119.2
196.6
167.5
15.2
12.6
14.2
140.1
14.2
13.8
14.8
167.8
30.6
15.1
167.5
167.5
140.1
13.4
14.2
14.2
140.1
140.1
140.1
157.9
364.8
329.7
66.5
87.0
188.9
411.0
188.9
235.3
74.2
387.0
119.2
128.7
329.7
329.7
411.0
66.5
188.9
188.9
411.0
411.0
411.0
298.1
14.8
74.2
157.9
15.1
168.2
15.1
168.2
12.37
151.4
31.2
168.2
11.2
12.3
15.2
15.4
298.1
128.7
319.4
128.7
319.4
60.28
291.2
91.2
319.4
108.0
69.8
63.6
336.0
122.9
122.9
13.3
12.37
16.2
12.3
15.2
15.4
122.9
13.3
401.5
401.5
127.5
60.28
102.0
69.8
63.6
336.0
401.5
127.5
12.37
147.7
60.28
286.0
est
(est)
est
est
Notes: Shaft length - representative models shown use the following convention where possible. Up to 10hp, short shaft.
10hp to 150hp, long shaft. Over 150hp, extra long shaft. Up to 18hp, tiller steer. 20hp and over - forward steer. Readers are
advised to make sure they check the latest prices with their local dealers, before making a purchase decision - and please
note, freight costs will vary according to the location of the dealer.
92 The Boat Mag October 2012 Outboard Database
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Suzuki
Yamaha
Evinrude
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Tohatsu
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Mercury
Evinrude
Yamaha
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Tohatsu
Evinrude
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
Evinrude
Honda
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Yamaha
Yamaha
Evinrude
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha
HP
90 tldi
90 pb
100
100
115 e-tec
115 e-tec
115
115
115 opti
115
115
115
115 tldi
115
115
115 pb
125 opti
130 e-tec
130 pb
135
135 opti
135 ver
140
140
150 e-tec
150 e-tec
150
150
150 opti
150 ver
150
150
150 pb
150 pb
175 e-tec
175
175
175
175 ver
175
175 hpdi
175 pb
200 e-tec
200 e-tec
200
200
200 opti
200 ver
200
200
200
200 hpdi
200 pb
Model
MD90B EPTOL
90AETOL
DF100TL
F100DETL
E115DPL11
E115DHX11
BF115D
ELPT EFI
ELPT
PRO-XS
DF115TL
M115A2 EPTOL
MD115A EPTOL
F115AETL
F115A
115CETOL
L
E130DPX11
130BETOL
BF135A4 LD
L
L
DF140TX
M140A2 EPTOL
E150DBX11
E150DHL11
BF150A4 LD
L EFI
L
L
DF150TL
F150AETL
Z150QETOL
150FETOL
E175DPX11
BF175A6 XD
BF175 AK1
175ProXS
XL
DF175TX
Z175GETOX
175DETOX
E200DPZ11
E200DHL11
BF200A6 XD
XL EFI
XL
1200V13FD XL
LW
XL
DF200TX
FL200CETX
Z200NETOX
200FETOX
RRP
4-stroke
Cylinders Amp/hr
2-stroke Capacity
capacity
Carb/Inject (ccʼs)
$12,249
$10,844
$14,873
$13,928
$16,253
$16,847
$17,990
$14,322
$12,797
$TBA
$15,378
$12,314
$15,849
$15,834
$TBA
$11,935
$TBA
$16,966
$12,832
$19,194
$16,904
$21,626
$16,233
$12,795
$19,674
$20,361
$21,126
$14,023
$17,603
$22,657
$19,413
$20,210
$20,746
$15,927
$21,325
$23,636
$23,636
$20,312
$23,649
$21,276
$21,957
$17,067
$25,469
$23,957
$24,854
$15,901
$20,141
$27,626
$24,861
$24,054
$22,871
$22,827
$18,279
2di
2c
4i
4i
2di
2di
4i
4i
2di
2di
4i
2c
2di
4i
4i
2c
2di
2di
2c
4i
2di
4i sc
4i
2c
2di
2di
4i
2i
2di
4i sc
4i
4i
2di
2c
2di
4i
4i
2di
4i sc
4i
2di
2c
2di
2di
4i
2i
2di
4i sc
4i sc
4i
4i
2di
2c
1267
1140
1950
1596
1726
1726
2354
1732
1526
1526
1950
1768
1768
1741
3352
1730
1526
1726
1730
2354
2507
1732
2044
1768
2589
2589
2354
2507
2507
1732
2867
2670
2596
2596
2589
3471
3471
3032
1732
2867
2596
2596
2589
3279
3471
2507
3032
2598
1732
3614
3352
2596
2596
3
3
4
4
V4 60º
V4 60º
4
4
3
3
4
4
4
4
V6
V4 90º
3
V4 60º
V4 90º
4
V6 60º
4
4
4
V6 60º
V6 60º
4
V6 60º
V6 60º
4
4
4
V6 76º
V4 90º
V6 60º
V6
4
V6 60°
4
4
V6 76º
V4 90º
V6 60º
V6 90º
V6
V6 60º
V6 60º
6
4
V6 55º
V6 90°
V6 76º
V6 90º
23A
10A
40A
25A
133A
133A
55A
50
60A
60A
40A
27.5A
40A
25A
46A
20A
60A
133A
20A
40A
60A
70A
40A
27.5A
133A
133A
40A
60A
60A
70A
44A
35A
45A
45A
133A
60A
60A
60A
70A
44A
45A
45A
133A
133A
60A
60A
60A
70A
70A
54A
45A
45A
25A
Weight
(Kg)
143
122.5
189
172
167
177
217
181
170
170
189
164
173
188
278
167
170
177
167
217
195
231
186
164
190
190
217
193
195
231
211
216
220
198
190
267
272
229
239
211
220
198
190
238
267
196
225
294
239
263
274
220
198
F&B Emiss
Emiss.
Star HC+NOX
CO
Rating (g/kw/hr) (g/kw/hr)
2
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
1
2
3
3
1
3
3
1
3
3
2
3
1
3
3
3
1
2
2
3
3
2
1
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
1
3
3
3
1
3
2
2 est
3
3
2
1
31.2
161.4
12.37
16.2
12.5
12.5
13.8
15.4
13.3
19.8
12.6
199.6
31.1
11.9
TBA
169.4
12.6
12.8
140.0
13.8
14.2
15.4
12.4
167.3
15.2
15.2
13.8
117.2
14.2
15.4
12.9
10.8
30.5
130.0
15.2
11.5
12.4
15.1
15.4
12.9
30.5
122.5
15.2
10.6
11.5
117.2
15.1
15.1
91.2
432.5
233.2
102.0
114.9
114.9
75.6
336.0
127.5
170.2
233.5
150.0
128.5
246.5
TBA
356.4
139.7
122.8
392.8
75.6
107.6
336.0
238.5
355.3
114.2
114.2
75.6
282.4
107.6
336.0
159.6
222.3
89.2
354.8
114.2
77.8
89.4
92.8
336.0
159.6
89.2
241.8
114.2
84.9
77.8
282.4
92.8
278.8
13.0
12.7
30.5
122.5
200.9
199.9
89.2
241.8
TBM’s October 2012 Outboard Prices
Make
Footnote: Readers are reminded that all the outboard data, and the prices Boatmags P/L has published here, are as accurate as we can
make them at the time of going to press. The database is derived from various sources in Australia and overseas, and regularly spotchecked for accuracy. We maintain the lists on a monthly basis, but from time to time, an ammendment will come in too late to make the
cut for the following issue, so the published prices and specs can be as much as 5-6 weeks behind the ʻstreetʼ figures. Do Not Rely On
Them To Make A Purchase Decision! Always check with your local outboard dealer to get the latest ʻdealʼ, ʻpackageʼ or price before
deciding which one to buy - and donʼt forget to clarify whether the ʻpriceʼ includes the propeller, throttle, gearshift and appropriate
cables, the engine gauges, and installation charges.
The Boat Mag October 2012 Outboard Database
93
HP
Evinrude
Evinrude
Honda
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Yamaha
Evinrude
Evinrude
Mercury
Mercury
Suzuki
Suzuki
Yamaha
Mercury
Evinrude
Mercury
Suzuki
Yamaha
Mercury
Yamaha
225 e-tec
225 e-tec
225
225
225 opti
225 ver
225 3L
225
225
250 e-tec
250 e-tec
250 ver
250 opti
250
250SS
250
275 ver
300 e-tec
300 ver
300
300
350 ver
350
Model
RRP
E225DPZ11
E225DHX11
BF225A6 XD
XL EFI
XL PRO XS
XL
Sea Pro XL
DF225TXX
FL225FETX
E250DPZ11
E250DHX11
XL
250 XL PRO XS
DF250TX
DF250STL
F250DETX
XL
E300DPZ11
XL
DF300TX
F300BETX
XL
FL350AETX
4-stroke
Cylinders Amp/hr
2-stroke Capacity
capacity
Carb/Inject (ccʼs)
$25,469
$26,204
$25,230
$19,080
tba
$29,190
$20,450
$25,654
$25,840
$29,332
$27,708
$30,689
$27,464
$26,879
$30,723
$28,772
$33,308
$31,777
$34,550
$31,036
$31,578
$38,527
$40,110
2di
2di
4i
2i
2di
4i sc
2i
4i
4i
2di
2di
4i sc
2di
4i
4i
4i
4i sc
2di
4i sc
4i
4i
4i sc
4i
3279
3279
3471
3032
3032
2598
3047
3614
4169
3279
3441
2598
3032
3614
4028
4169
2598
3441
2598
4028
4169
2598
5330
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
90º 133A
90º 133A
60A
60º 60A
60° 60A
60º 46A
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V6
V8
55º
60º
90º
90º
60º
60º
55º
55°
60º
90º
90º
90º
55º
60º
60º
90º
Weight
(Kg)
238
238
267
218
229
294
209
263
253
238
234
294
229
263
262
253
294
242
294
274
253
300
365
54A
70A
133A
133A
46A
60A
54A
54A
70A
133A
133A
133A
54A
70A
46A
50A
F&B Emiss
Emiss.
Star HC+NOX
CO
Rating (g/kw/hr) (g/kw/hr)
3
3
3
1
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
2 est
3
10.6
10.6
11.5
103.6
12.1
15.1
26.3
13.0
10.4
10.6
10.6
15.1
12.1
13.0
13.0
10.4
15.1
29.5
15.1
13.0
10.4
tba
9.2
84.9
84.9
77.8
248.3
278.8
278.8
146.2
200.9
219.8
84.9
84.9
278.8
83.8
200.9
200.9
219.8
278.8
251
278.8
200.9
219.8
tba
216.1
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From Australiaʼs most experienced, ʻhands onʼ boatbuilding team.
Since the the first book in the PAB series in Y-2000, and their first major Project Boat, Peter Webster and Ruth Cunningham
have been boat building in plate aluminium, amassing an extraordinary level of knowledge and experience. Now weʼre
making Books 3, 5 and 6 available for a winning price; for once, you canʼt go wrong! PAB #1, 2 and 4 have sold out, but the
artwork for them is being converted to digital, so theyʼll be available later in 2012 as online publications.
94
PABs #3, #5 and #6 - all 3 Now Available For Just $45.00 (incl P&P)
through The Boat Mag’s web site: www.boatmags.com.au
The Boat Mag October 2012 Outboard Database
TBM’s October 2012 Outboard Prices
Make
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Raymarine e165 Multifunction
Display
(Boasts largest screen to space ratio so far )
Raymarine is proud to announce the
launch of the e165 at HISWA, Amsterdam.
The latest addition to the award winning
range of eSeries MFDs (multi-function
displays), the e165 sports a full 15.4” 16:9
wide-format display and sits in the same
footprint as a traditional 14” screen, giving
20% more screen for the same helm or dash
space.
The arrival of the e165 means that eSeries
MFDs are now available in four sizes; 7”, 9”, 12”
and the new 15.4” screen.
eSeries MFDʼs are able to network up to 6
displays plus sonar, radar, thermal and other
accessories. The super-bright LCD displays are
96 The Boat Mag
backlit with LEDs to improve overall power
efficiency and provide maximum linear
brightness control.
The displays offer clear and consistent colour
and contrast levels, even with changes to the
viewing angle, and are further enhanced by a
choice of colour palettes which allow for
optimum use of available sunlight; saving even
more power and energy.
The new e165 is a powerful multi-tasker; three
processors - a dual core main processor and a
third dedicated graphics processor - give
stunning graphics, brilliant video and
instantaneous chart redraws.
The e165 is incredibly easy to use thanks to
the latest version of Raymarineʼs LightHouse
user-interface, and utilises the full power
capability of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The dedicated inbuilt Wi-Fi combined with
Raymarineʼs new apps enables live video from
the e165 to be streamed direct to tablets and
smartphones in real time.
Simply put; navigation charts, thermal video,
radar or sonar information on the eSeries can
be accessed and controlled (RayRemote and
RayControl apps) from absolutely anywhere onboard.
Available with optional Silver-level Navionics
cartography on microSD (upgradeable to Gold
and Platinum on chart chip), the new e165
eSeries HybridTouch MFD will be available for
shipping in October.
For sales enquiries contact Raymarine Asia
Pty Ltd on (02) 9479 4800.
Rapala Balsa Xtreme Minnow
With the responsive swimming action of
balsa wood and the strength and color
technology of plastic lures;
Rapalaʼs Balsa Xtreme
Minnow is the culmination
of Rapala history and a
modern concept
united.
Encased within
a heavy-duty
copolymer
shell,
you will
notice a
perfectly lure shaped wooden body
made of the same product that Lauri
Rapala was carving lures from during
the days of Rapalaʼs inception – balsa.
It is this balsa wood that provides the
unmistakable ʻwounded minnowʼ
action that Rapala has become so
famous for.
Combining these traditionally
separate raw materials generates a
unique mix of rolling & wobbling action
at a ratio of 60 to 40 that is super
responsive, even at low speeds. The
body is long casting and floats on a
pause making it ideal for a number of
shallow-water or heavy-structure
applications.
Available in 10cm/10g and in 4 great
colour patterns.
The BX series is the perfect combination of
life-like action, natural look and strength for
Xtreme angling conditions!
Unique Tool Gets Rid Of Barnacles
Easily
Barnacles and growth on pilings, docks
and seawalls can very easily scratch, gouge
and damage a boat, but removing them can
be backbreaking work.
Shurholdʼs innovative Barnapole barnacle
removal tool helps boaters more easily scrape
barnacles, oysters, mussels and other
crustaceans from seawalls and dock pilings.
This helps protect the value of the vessel.
The Barnapole features curved and flat
scraper blades made from solid stainless steel.
The handle attachment block is made from a
solid aluminum extrusion. This combination of
stainless steel and aluminum allows the
Barnapole to withstand harsh marine
environments.
Engineered specifically for pilings and
seawalls, the Barnapole can remove up to 23
cm of buildup with each pass, saving owners
time and money.
Those whoʼve used a shovel or spade in the
The Boat Mag 97
NSW Government
Announces Interim Site
For 2014
Sydney International Boat
Show
The NSW Government this week
announced that Glebe Island will
be the home of the interim venue
for exhibitions whilst Darling
Harbour is redeveloped.
The interim venue to be known as
Glebe Island Expo will be prepared
with infrastructure and complemented
with transport services from Darling
Harbour.
The new interim site will be
required in 2014, 15 & 16. The boat
show will remain in Darling Harbour
next year and will return to the new
venue that will be known as The
Sydney International Convention,
Exhibition and Entertainment Centre
(SICEEP) in 2017 in time for the
Sydney International Boat Show to
celebrate its 50th anniversary.
past know it will only remove about 2 cm or so
of growth with each pass. This method can
also lead to gouging the piling. Barnapole is
designed to be used from the top of a dock, so
there is no need for users to get in the water.
The Original Barnapole easily attaches to any
standard threaded pole, such as a paint roller or
broom handle. The Shurhold Barnapole easily
attaches to any Shurhold handle. There is no
handle included with either unit.
Dedicated to educating boat owners, Shurhold
provides key tips for boat value preservation at
www.shurhold.com.
Inventor of the One Handle, Does It All
system, Shurhold manufactures specialty care
items and accessories to clean, polish and
detail.
Contact Shurhold, 3119 SW 42nd Ave., Palm
City, FL 34990 USA. www.shurhold.com.
98 The Boat Mag
GUARA
NT
ION
EE
CT
FA
D
s
ST
A
TI
TE
ED
s
A
BUILT TO L
SF
AC
N
“Get
down”
s SA
TI
S
Further to this, it has become a gathering
point for many of the large number of
recreational boaters from NSW as well as over
7,000 visiting each year from interstate and
overseas.
The creation of Glebe Island Expo will mean
the large exhibition industry, which invests
about $100 million into the NSW economy each
year, will stay healthy and ready to take
advantage of the new Sydney International
Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment
Precinct at Darling Harbour when it opens.
The Boating Industry Association says that it
sS
Domenic Genua, Marketing & Events
Manager for the Boating Industry Association
(BIA) said, “We are pleased that the NSW
Government through Infrastructure NSW
included and consulted with us from the
beginning. This allowed the BIA to ensure that a
solution was found that suited the industry and
would allow for the best link between the
temporary hall exhibits and the existing onwater displays that will remain in Cockle Bay,
Darling Harbour”.
“Itʼs still early days and there is a lot of work to
be done, but we are confident that we are able
to continue to deliver a first
class event without
interruption”,Genua said.
The Sydney Boat Show
started in 1968 and pioneered
on water displays as part of
boat shows in Australia. The
show has been located in its
current home of Darling
Harbour since 1989. The show
remains an important part of the
recreational marine industry in
Australia with the event fulfilling
a number of core objectives for
the industry.
TI O N G UA
RA
Manual Downrigger (including rod holder base)
Includes:
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$425
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Visit: downriggershop.com.au PH: 0402 075 000 Email: [email protected]
The Boat Mag 99
will continue to work with Infrastructure NSW
through the complex detail required during this
important planning stage.
For further information contact Domenic Genua
on 0412 642 357 or Roy Privett on 0414 382 077
New Wireless Server From Digital
Yacht
Digital Yacht has introduced a new on
board, wireless server called iNAVHub.
Every day we connect to wireless networks
with our phones, tablets and PCs at home
and work. Now you can do this whilst on
board as iNAVHub allows boat data and a
mobile internet connection (if available) to
be shared by crew and guests.
iNAVHub creates a password protected
WiFi network on board your boat and
typically footprints boats up to 30 metres in
length. Simply search for networks on
your mobile device or PC, connect to
iNAVHub and then you can seamlessly
join the boatʼs network.
It features an NMEA input allowing you
to connect to your boatʼs existing
systems such as GPS, instruments
and AIS and it makes all this
data available over
the
WiFi link for use with popular electronic charting
apps such as iNAVx or data viewing
programmes such as iOnBoard or NMEA
remote. Data is transmitted in the industry
standard UDP format which allows for multiple
devices to connect at any one time.
iNAVHub also has a WAN (wide area
network) connection. The WAN port can
connect to internet connection devices such as
WiFi, 3G or satellite systems with a standard
ethernet interface. There is also a port for
connection to a local wired network (LAN) for
use with devices such as PCs or MACs
iNAVHub has been designed to fully integrate
with Digital Yachtʼs latest WL510 long range
WiFi adaptor. Simply plug the WL510 into the
dedicated WAN network socket and when you
arrive in port and connect the WL510 to a local
hot spot, everybody on board will be able to
share the long range internet connection. The
optional WL510 offers WiFi connection ranges
of up to 4NM.
It is suitable for operation on 12V and 24V DC
and can be neatly mounted in a locker or at the
nav station. iNAVHub is priced at $595.00
excluding GST in Australia.
For further information contact CH Smith
Marine Pty in Victoria on (03) 9417 1077, email
[email protected] or visit
www.chsmith.com.au
Save up to $4,765 - Repower
today!
Great news if youʼre looking to
reinvigorate your boat with a new
petrol engine – and enjoy a big
boost in horsepower or a new
technology upgrade.
The 2012 Mercury MerCruiser
Repower Program has been
extended until October 31, extending
your opportunity to secure unbelievable
savings of up to $4,765.
This year the deals are better than ever
because if you buy a new MerCruiser petrol
engine, youʼll be given a free upgrade** on
selected models.
100 The Boat Mag
Upgrade from
Upgrade to
Benefit
RRP Saving
3.0L Carburetted 135HP
3.0L MPI 135HP
Fuel injected upgrade
$2,989
4.3L Alpha Carburetted 190HP
4.3L MPI Alpha 220HP
Fuel injected and
horsepower upgrade
$1,053
5.0L MPI Alpha 260HP
350 Mag Alpha 300HP
Horsepower upgrade
$1,139
5.0L MPI Bravo
260HP
350 Mag Bravo 300HP
350 Mag Bravo 300HP
Horsepower upgrade
$3,599
377 Mag Bravo 320HP
Horsepower upgrade
$4,765
8.2 Mag DTS Bravo 380HP
8.2 Mag DTS HO Bravo 430HP
Horsepower upgrade
$4,167
But itʼs not just about the money - repowering
with MerCruiser will give you increased
performance, increased reliability and more
features.
These include MerCruiserʼs exclusive Engine
Guardian technology, SmartCraft capability plus
dry joint exhaust manifolds - all
features worth repowering for now.
MerCruiser has the largest range
of sterndrive engines to choose
from, and they are backed by
excellent warranty conditions and
an industry leading dealer
network.
Theyʼre built to provide you with
years of boating enjoyment.
Donʼt delay - these free
upgrades are only available while
stocks last.
**Applies to repower only - Application to be
approved by MerCruiser sales manager and
proof of repowered engine to be provided by
consumer. • Excludes new boat purchases. •
Applicable to engine only or package options •
Upgrade applies to engine of like technology
and specification. Upgrades such as DTS and
SeaCore must use the equivalent base price
and only available on Bravo product.
8.2 upgrade only applies to the 8.2 DTS ready
package. • Program effective 1st June 2012 and
concludes 31st August 2012. While stocks last.
Valve & Hose Combo Problem
Solver
Installing or renovating plumbing can be a
headache, but with the Tru-Design
AquaValve Manual Y-Valve and Sani/Flex
Sanitation Hose from Raritan the process is
a lot simpler.
This versatile Y-Valve has a variety of tail
fittings to allow incredible flexibility and when
paired with Sani/Flex, DIY boat owners can
choose from a variety of plumbing options.
This Y-Valve has tail pieces available in
straight, 90° and 120°. It can be installed at
different rotations as well. Sani/Flex is
extremely flexible for easy installation and tight
bending, with a low bend radius up to one time
its diameter. Sani/Flexʼs smooth inside wall
surface allows for a greater fit and seal.
The Tru-Design Manual Aquavalve Y-Valve is
molded from a glass-reinforced nylon
composite, providing dramatic strength,
stiffness, toughness and dimensional stability.
Users can clearly tell which port is in the closed
position. Easy to mount, this Y-valve screws
directly to the bulkhead or floor. Users can fully
service the valves themselves. A lockable
feature helps prevent any accidental discharge.
Each valve is supplied with a spanner wrench.
Utilizing Butyl rubber for its construction, the
Sani/Flex sanitation hose has the lowest odor
permeation level available. For better durability,
it features reinforced double-steel wire Helix
with high-strength synthetic textile yarn. The
cover is constructed from abrasion, ozone and
seawater resistant rubber.
Contact Raritan, 530 Orange St., Millville, NJ
08332 [email protected];
www.raritaneng.com.
The Boat Mag 101
Award Winning Marina Lifts Again Okuma Salina 3
In creating a (luxury) home away from
home, the range of creature comforts at the
current Australiam Marina of the Year,
Soldiers Point Marina, are backed by a
personalized concierge service aimed at
providing an even higher standard of
service for their marina clientele.
We have attentive staff at
your beck and call,
including our on-board
provisioning service –
whether itʼs a fine
bottle of wine and
gourmet platters for
your afternoon guests
or airing and cleaning
the boat, making the
beds and stocking your
fridge prior to your arrival; two courtesy
vehicles for overnight visitors, free
transfers to and from Newcastle airport
for those flying in or out; thereʼs
complimentary cappuccinos and
newspapers delivered to each boat
every morning during the summer,
and then a cocktail to toast a stunning
sunset in the afternoon.
Thereʼs filtered water available throughout the
marina, and complimentary pushbikes, tennis
court and golf games for the sports minded. For more information please contact Lue
Fagan, Marketing Manager Soldiers Point
Marina 0412 971 848
102 The Boat mag
Built tough to last - Okumaʼs new Salina 3
spinning reel draws from the success of its
predecessors and offers further
technological enhancements to satisfy
heavy tackle saltwater anglers Australia
wide.
The latest in metal technology becomes the
Salina 3 with Okumaʼs proprietary T480
aluminum alloy body; side plates and rotor
design, providing unmatched corrosion
resistance for a reel of its kind. T480 is a
completely new, completely unique aluminum
alloy. Non-anodized T480 shows zero structural
damage after 480 hours of continuous saturated
salt spray; a timeline on which standard
aluminums reach the point of catastrophic
failure. Each reel is then further protected by an
anodizing process, paint and finally Okumaʼs
CRC process of Corrosion X coating.
The
main
gear of the
Salina 3 is helical cut
from high density
material – 50%
stronger than standard
gearing, and combines
with a machine cut
brass pinion
wrapped in a protective layer
gear to produce a drive train that
The GOOD NEWS Corner . . .
cover.
is smooth, efficient, and ideal for
Weʼre
trying
to
encourage
readers
to
The Wiring Loom is a complete
tough fishing conditions and
share their ʻHappy Daysʼ boating
system
that can connect your
punishing fishing methods.
experiences with fellow readers. We
electric motor to your battery
An oversized screw-in
anywhere on your boat. There is
aluminium handle provides a
no longer the necessity for extra
non-slip grasp on the drive of
wiring, clamps or joiners. Fitting
the reel ensuring no pressure is
your electric motor is as easy as
lost during those gut wrenching
following the instructional step by
battles; match this design to an
step guide that comes with the
ergonomic EVA wrapped,
Wiring Loom; and then getting out
machine cut alloy handle knob
on the water and getting amongst
to present a strong, comfortable
the fish.
hold.
The Minn Kota Wiring Loom is
The new Salina 3 reels
also a great product to replace old
incorporate a DFD: Dual Force
reckon itʼs time to remind each other
and fatigued wiring on your
Drag system that houses an
about all the wonderful things you can
existing electric motor and it is
upgraded Carbonite washer
do in a boat . . and Tonysʼ Tribute to
compatible to both 12V and 24V
stack complete with Calʼs
Boating (and his children) on Page 18,
is a great example. It is not about
electric motors, while the 50 Amp
Universal Drag Grease; a multiliterary or photographic skill; it is all
circuit breaker makes for safer
disk drag on top of the spool
about putting together a summary of a
works in conjunction with a
special day, or weekend, youʼve had in boating.
For more information on the new
secondary drag on the bottom of
your boat. Weʼve got subscriptions,
tee
shirts
and
sunnies
on
offer
as
Minn Kota Wiring Loom and to
the spool to maximise high drag
incentives . . and yep, we are
find your nearest stockist visit
pressures and give a smooth
particularly keen to see family pics with
www.minnkota.com.au or
release of line. Other features
the youngsters involved. Weʼd also
love
to
hear
from
readers
boating
and
www.bla.com.au
include an oversized bail arm,
fishing some of the more unusual and
elliptical oscillation for improved
remote areas of OZ.
line lay, Okumaʼs Rotor
New BIAS Catalogue
Enquiries to [email protected]
Equalizing System, eight HPBB
Released
bearings, a quick set anti-reverse roller bearing
Good
news
for
budget conscious boatowners
and Okumaʼs “Hydro Bloc” watertight drag seal.
Available in seven models over four sizes suited - the new BIAS Catalogue is available in their
to heavier fishing in both standard speed and high BIAS stores or online, from October 11th.
speed gearing.
Grab a copy
py of oour new
New Minn Kota Wiring Loom
Minn Kota is synonymous with quality
products and innovative accessories.
BLA have just released another product to their
growing list to help you when installing your
electric motor. The Minn Kota Wiring Loom is a
simple yet extremely effective product to help you
with easy, safe and hassle-free installation.
The Wiring Loom is made up of marine grade
tinned wire and comes complete with 2 Anderson
Plugs and a 50 Amp Circuit Breaker. All of this is
S
Summer
22012-13
Product Catalogue
Cata
over
hot price
50SPECIALS
& bonus offers
100+
new products
to Bias stores
Pick up a ne
October 10
or join our m
The Boat Mag 103
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e
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schedules and procedures)
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Nautic Star’s Impressive New 9.3m
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Amazing Trailerboat
Voyage To Japan
Wheelhouse Pro Fisherman
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Affair: The
ntroducing F&Bʼs Exclusive Report on
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voyages of all time. Last month,
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another extraordinary
adventure, pushing
himself and his
equipment to the limit
as he undertook the
impossible: taking a stock standard, 5.4 m Haines
Signature powered by a 90 hp Honda 4-stroke, on a
7,500 km odyssy, from Darwin to Okinawa, Japan.
I
Report & Interview by Peter Webster. En-route pics by Hans Tholstrup,
Pics of Hans by Steve Evans (SOLAS) & others.
42 Fisherman & Boatowner
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Fisherman & Boatowner 43
TBM’s Sea Library Good Read Pick Of The Month
This is the full report of adventurer Hans Tholstrup’s amazing voyage
from Darwin to Japan in a Haines Signature 540 powered by a BF-90
Honda, in 1999. The report makes truly fascinating reading, especially
Han’s exceptional comments about small boat safety and seamanship
at sea (never mind crossing oceans!) in a 5.4m trailerboat. Definitely
one of the best reports to come out of the 1990s.
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Hi,
We trust you are
enjoying the revised
F&B format in The Boat
Mag, as much as we are
producing it.
Whilst retaining all the
core F&B values of
creditable, ʻhands onʼ
editorial, itʼs been good to
branch out into other areas working with second hand boats for
example, or recognising that imports are
here to stay, and local boat manufacturing will be strained
to the max as a result . . . .
The Latest Outboard Prices & Specifications
Northbank’s Impressive New GRP
These are issues that effect
The
each of us in different ways,
and we believe itʼs more
Mag 7.5m Wheelhouse Sportsfisherman important than ever that you
can count on The Boat Mag
2012 Mid-Year
Plate Alloy Boats
team for fast, independent
Survey & Analysis
advice, whether you are
Ruth
Peter
planning to buy a ʻpre-lovedʼ
rig, an import, or renovate that lovely old timber bay boat
youʼve been admiring . . . as a subscriber, you can count on the
experienced support of The Boat Mag team.
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Consumer Report:
Trialling The NEW 3.6L Honda V6
A Family Affair: The ‘Bro-fest’ Principle
Kind regards,
Peter ([email protected]) & Ruth ([email protected])
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