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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Jay Burgess on February 24, 2012, 10:29:45 PM
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Ok so I'm going to be in the market for a boat soon and I'm open to suggestions for your best GT rig under 50K (new). Can be flexible and stretch the budget a little for the right boat but as a general guide would like to keep it around this mark. There's a few criteria that I'd like to meet but beside that it's pretty open. Firstly, I'd like it to be aluminium.. mostly just for the durability, running around shallow bommie infested lagoons, pulling up onto the beach when camping etc... Secondly, forward casting platform that's enjoyable to cast from is a must in a GT boat in my opinion... and thirdly something that is fairly light and easy to tow as I will aim to do frequent trips up north towing long distances. I'm leaning towards the NZ style ballasted boats (Bar Crusher, Surtees, Extreme etc) in centre console configuration but I'm not sure if anyone has any better suggestions ???
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mate ya cant go wrong with the surtees, we do alot of fishing out of my mates 6.1 game fisher here in nz. been in some epic seas and once ya fill the ballest the deep v slices like an axe through the waves without a bone breaking ride home! very well built and the finish is just a bit better than the extreem imo. looking to move from my 5.5 glass vistacraft to one of the 6.1 or 5.85 in the near future. best thing is you can spec to your needs while they build it.
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http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=11752711 (http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=11752711)
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=11763281 (http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=11763281)
Couple of 2nd hand Fishers here that would suit your requirements, my old man has the same boat in centre cab configuration and has done 600 hrs since 2007 of which I have done a couple of hundred. They are very solid, I wouldn't say light though as they are 6mm and 5mm plate construction but they have the ballast system and with a 23 deg deadrise the ride is excellent. I will warn you though there is no backup for them ( you wont get it up there anyway) as the company has gone under. We looked at the NZ style stuff aswell but custom mad was much better value for money at the time, but that was 5 years ago. Cheers Ben
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Thanks for the suggestions Ben, good input. Maybe a bit bigger than what I'm after though... really looking around the 5.0-5.5m mark. I've noticed the NZ boats have a pretty small fuel tank for their size compared with custom plate boats... maybe due to the narrow beam?
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Yeah probably due to that and I think the distance they travel to and from their fishing grounds is a lot shorter than what we do in Aus. Nothing worse than having jerrys starapped around the deck, you can get some really good roll up fuel bladders these days that you can use first than stow away but they are quite dear.
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Saw these at the Brisbane Boat show SeaRod by Formosa Boats. A 5.5 cc with 115 etect was about 46 k. good finish etc it has a ballast system like Bar Crushers and Surtees.
http://searod.com.au/searodboatmodels.php (http://searod.com.au/searodboatmodels.php)
i was in the market for a 6 Meter Boat and have purchased an Oz Craft , but if i wanted a 5.0-5.5 would have looked at these more
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My God, boats are expensive in Australia!
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Yes mark 6.0 65 to 70 K dependant on electronics Contenders 120 k
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Saw these at the Brisbane Boat show SeaRod by Formosa Boats. A 5.5 cc with 115 etect was about 46 k. good finish etc it has a ballast system like Bar Crushers and Surtees.
http://searod.com.au/searodboatmodels.php (http://searod.com.au/searodboatmodels.php)
i was in the market for a 6 Meter Boat and have purchased an Oz Craft , but if i wanted a 5.0-5.5 would have looked at these more
Thanks Dave, they look good... only problem is the only dealer is in Queensland. I think I might look at a 5.5m Centre Cab here in WA from a builder I've had my eye on for a long time. Benefits of being able to work closely with the builder would be great.. and it's fully custom so I can design it the way I want. I was considering a centre console but anyone who knows me know I hate getting wet and the added advantage of having somewhere dry to stow gear on extended trips is a huge plus.
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My God, boats are expensive in Australia!
Too expensive Mark! :-\
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Seems like you guys get stuffed on everything down there from the price of a reel to the price of a boat :-\.
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Jay, read this its a very interesting thread on a swff forum
http://www.saltwaterflyfishing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=10582 (http://www.saltwaterflyfishing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=10582)
This key west is what I'm going to be chasing. They float in some pretty skinny water and the ride of a glass boat is too good to go past
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Jay, read this its a very interesting thread on a swff forum
http://www.saltwaterflyfishing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=10582 (http://www.saltwaterflyfishing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=10582)
This key west is what I'm going to be chasing. They float in some pretty skinny water and the ride of a glass boat is too good to go past
Can't see it mate because I'm not a member :-\
Just don't know if I can go down the glass road? Still be interesting to take a look..
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Seems like you guys get stuffed on everything down there from the price of a reel to the price of a boat :-\.
Good thing I work in Oil & Gas, otherwise I'd probably need to seriously consider another hobby ;D
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Jay the boat was a key west 176 bay reef with a 115 yamaha with ~100hrs, 70lb minkota, new alloy trailer built to aussie specs, it set him back 23000 aud pickup from brissie ports. When I get out of the pub I can email your the thread content if you would like. Check out the key west boats, they look like a good gt rig they have a decent casting deck up front, but up back the sides look high enough to lock your knees in
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Hi Jay,
OK so it's not alloy, but comes in on the money and very well put together.
Had a mate who ran a Stinger out of Townsville and could get out to the outer reef for a fraction of the cost other hull designs could.
Based on Japanese hull design, so very seaworthy. Rated better than the yamaha longboats or southwind, but a longboat design all the same.
http://www.stingerboats.com.au/forsale1.html (http://www.stingerboats.com.au/forsale1.html)
Just putting it out there. ::)
Cheers Dave
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Jay, I think you really should consider the glass option as well. They aren't as fragile as you think. My Galey floats in 30cm of water and unless your going flat out across bommie strewn area's you won't wreck it. Light as well, got 240l fuel storage and for 40k you'll have change to buy more rods and lures! Hahaha
My other choice when I was looking was the Aussie whaler, nomad use them, exceptional ride and stand up to a reef or 2!
Definitely get a center cab, you'll appreciate it on those wet days. Otherwise you'll need clears for a cc matter what hull shape.
Each to their own hey but definitely check all the options and if you can take them on test drives!
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hmmm... never been happy with glass centre cabs, they tend to put too much emphasis on the 'cab' part of it and they don't really seem to suit my requirements from a fishing perspective :-\ just love the option of having a fully customisable boat and you can't get this unless you go ally. Couldn't imagine myself cruising up shallow pilbara creeks in a glass boat ???
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If your planning to use it in dirty water creeks then yes I agree with you that an alloy boat would be the better choice.
My ride is fully customized (as far as starting with a basic hull and deciding what and where the other bits went), and glass.
I haven't see too many "center cab" glass boats myself but I recon all you need is room for 2 or 3 to stand/sit with spray protection from 3 sides.
I'm really keen to see what you go with Jay 8)
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If your planning to use it in dirty water creeks then yes I agree with you that an alloy boat would be the better choice.
My ride is fully customized (as far as starting with a basic hull and deciding what and where the other bits went), and glass.
I haven't see too many "center cab" glass boats myself but I recon all you need is room for 2 or 3 to stand/sit with spray protection from 3 sides.
I'm really keen to see what you go with Jay 8)
I'm pretty certain I've made up my mind but I don't want to spill the beans until it's confirmed :-X I'll be sure to update this thread once I get the ball rolling... will be interesting to post progress shots during the build 8)
Realistically I think it's still a few months away... maybe more, need to save up a bit more coin first... but it's in the foreseeable future that's for sure.
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Nice Southwind!
Stinger? I thought they took that website down, it seems to be back up now? Wasn't Murray trying to sell the moulds? Never really heard the ride is any better on the stinger, but the mod cons are, you get some nice rec-fisher updates over the bare bones southwinds with them.
The second fisher 5.8m cc? ZOMG how far forward is the CC? The ride would be awful.
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Shame the dollars don't stretch to a Commodore centrecab Jay, they are nice looking beasts and locally made.
I also agree about reconsidering the 'glass option. I originally had a alloy CC for the reasons you mention - hitting stuff and running up onto the beach. Realistically running your boat onto the beach is a serious pain and once i'd done it once or twice i avoided it like the plauge - incoming tide it just keeps washing up, rocking back and forwards and getting smashed, outgoing tide you strand it and have to wait around to refloat - which is a long process in itself.
As for hitting stuff...well ok, it saved me that once with an unforseen piece of reef ;) but other than that i think the glass benefits are worth it.
As also mentioned still consider an import from the states - if you can find the right boat you will get a lot more boat for your dollar and it's not as hard as it seems. If you need an tips or advice on that option PM me.
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Thanks for the suggestions Ben, good input. Maybe a bit bigger than what I'm after though... really looking around the 5.0-5.5m mark. I've noticed the NZ boats have a pretty small fuel tank for their size compared with custom plate boats... maybe due to the narrow beam?
im pritty sure the 5.85 surtees has a 130ltr tank with a under floor kill well too. you could look into getting them to make the kill well a fuel tank too uping the total to say around 150-180ltr? could do the same with the 5.5 going from 80ltr to say 120ltr?
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I don't have a lot of experience with Ally boats but I can tell you my favourite ride ever has been in a Jopalo made in NSW (out Armidale way?).
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I don't have a lot of experience with Ally boats but I can tell you my favourite ride ever has been in a Jopalo made in NSW (out Armidale way?).
2nd hand option only these days I believe Luke....
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I don't have a lot of experience with Ally boats but I can tell you my favourite ride ever has been in a Jopalo made in NSW (out Armidale way?).
2nd hand option only these days I believe Luke....
Just did a Google after your post. What a waste! :(
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Ditto that the Jopalo was one of the best tinnies going round real shame
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might be worth looking at http://gsmarine.com.au/gallery/v/XtremeBoats/centre/ (http://gsmarine.com.au/gallery/v/XtremeBoats/centre/) some nice boats but i cant seem to find prices
(http://gsmarine.com.au/gallery/d/300-2/500HCRC+-+Karl+011.jpg)
(http://gsmarine.com.au/gallery/d/306-2/500HCRC+-+Karl+016.jpg)
some solid boats
(http://gsmarine.com.au/gallery/d/2510-1/EX550+8.jpg)
(http://gsmarine.com.au/gallery/d/2524-1/XM550+15.jpg)
i have not emailed to check prices but it might be worth it?
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Thanks James, those GS's really look the part... they're quite expensive (from memory) I've looked into them before. If I decide to go with a custom boat I think I'd prefer a local builder.
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How much are we talking?? I think i have limited my next boat to two builders but that will probably change next week as it always does. I have to get a boat that the wife will be happy to spend a couple hours on so it makes it hard to get a dedicated fishing boat.