Haines Signature 485SF |
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The name Haines is an icon in the boating industries, both in New Zealand and Australia, and John Haines Senior’s ground-breaking early Haines Hunter designs commanded great respect.
It is a complex story, but John Haines Senior has not been associated with Haines Hunter boats for many years now, rebuilding his place in the boating industry with Haines Signature boats and the Australasian Suzuki agency. The Haines Group is now one of Australia’s largest marine businesses. Last time I saw him, John Senior was talking retirement, but the company is in good hands with sons John Junior and Greg now managing directors.
I first saw the new Signature 485SF at this year’s Hutchwilco Auckland Boat Show. It was a standout as the lone fibreglass side-console fishing boat at the show. Small-to-medium open console (mostly centre-console) boats have enjoyed a modest renaissance in the last year or two, the popularity of soft-plastic fishing, fly casting and the current economic constraints boosting sales of smaller craft. The current strength (at least when I wrote this) of the New Zealand dollar makes imports like this Aussie-made hull more competitive in the Kiwi market, too.
The Haines Group has developed a closed-moulding manufacturing process that ensures product consistency and reduced styrene emissions, while speeding production at the same time. Haines call this the Resin Injection Vacuum Assisted Low Emission (RIVALE) technique, and will use it for the future production of their fibreglass boat brands, including Signature, Seafarer and Traveller.
Using their RIVALE construction system to build the 485SF, Haines has produced a strong 4.85m hull that weighs only 320kg (this weight varies with fit-out) and incorporates a modular construction system that allows a wide range of customising options – something seldom available in fibreglass boats.
These hulls come standard with closed-cell under-deck foam fill on either side of the under-floor fuel tank. A further option (incorporated in the test boat) sees more foam-fill added in the coamings, ensuring the boat will float upright if swamped. The Australian builders rate this hull for a maximum of five people (300kg) and a maximum load of 400kg.
These hulls come with a standard white finish; a coloured hull – as with our trial boat – is an optional extra. A protective keel capping is added and a rubbing strip around the outside of the hull helps further protect the hull.
The 485SF is rated for 30-90hp outboards and the test boat was fitted with a Suzuki DF80 four-stroke, fed from an optional 130-litre under-floor tank. An 80hp engine on a hull of this size and weight makes it go like the proverbial cut cat. A quick squirt on a dead-calm sea produced 72kph (39 knots) with ease, and I wasn’t keen to trim the bow up too much. This hull would probably perform pretty well with a 70 or even a 60hp outboard.
I found 3800rpm produced a comfortable cruising speed of 40kph (22 knots). At this speed, figures supplied by Suzuki have the rig using about 10 litres per hour, giving a range of about 286 nautical miles on a full tank.
It was a beautiful bright, calm (and chilly) winter morning when I took the Haines for a spin on the Hauraki Gulf, along with Auckland Suzuki Marine Manager, Mark Presnall. It was a fabulous day to be on the water, and the biggest sea we found was probably only half a metre. We ran the Haines from Half Moon Bay out around Rakino Island, then to the Ahaas and back – a total of about 30 nautical miles with a little drift-fishing thrown in.
The 485SF has a variable deadrise, ranging from a fine entry of 33° to 21° at the transom. It cut through the sea softly and proved a smooth rider, yet was remarkably stable for such a deep-V hull. With downturned chines and big flares on the bow, it threw the spray well back and looks to be a pretty dry boat for a side-console hull, although I will admit that we didn’t encounter a beam wind that would have made 10 knots.
There are a number of configurations available using this basic hull: a tiller-steer ‘dinghy’, and two versions with the side console in different positions. The test boat had the console in the rear position, near the stern, and with the two of us, an outboard of close to maximum-rated weight for the hull, and the battery back there, the bow tended to stand up a bit between displacement speeds and planing, cutting forward vision at saltwater troll speeds. I suspect that the version with the side console and passenger seat set further forward in the boat – especially in conjunction with a lighter outboard – would eliminate this.
The test boat was fitted with cable steering, and I found the helm was a bit heavy; hydraulic steering would be the answer here.
I really enjoyed this boat. The Suzuki DF80 punched it up on plane easily, and once it was running flat and sweet across the gulf, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
This boat is made for inshore and lake fishing, especially drift and casting work. As such, a lot of warp and a big anchor are not required. A modest hatched anchor well is moulded into the bow, and the pick can be easily pulled from the bow seat. A chromed brass fairlead and cleat are fitted; all that is needed for the type of work this boat is designed for.
As mentioned, one of the neat things about this boat is the opportunity for the customer to choose from a wide range of custom options, an unusual and welcome thing in a glass boat. There are many combinations of options available – too many to list here (see www.thehainesgroup.com for details). I liked much of what had been done with the test boat, although if I was setting up one of these hulls, I would go with the centrally-mounted side console, (rather than the stern position) to shift the balance further forward and because I could then fit in the rear locker and rear casting platform option, creating a second raised fishing position well separated from the one in the bow, as well as creating yet more stowage space.
The test rig was fitted with the rear side console, hatched anchor well, bow seat, forward casting platform, plus extension (both with hatches and internal stowage), under-deck hold, starboard side coaming, port-side covered rod and pole locker, under-floor fuel tank, rear pedestal seats, bilge access and fold-out work top.
There is a heap of stowage built into this boat, including the option for a built-in kill tank for the catch. The deck has a moulded-in non-skid finish and drains to the bilge at several places, running to a sump in the stern from where it is removed by a 1250gph bilge pump.
The battery sits on the deck in a protective battery box strapped to the deck in a stern corner. It is easily accessible there and helps counter the weight of the helmsman, should he be out on his own. With a stern platform fitted, the battery would be sited inside the stern locker. Navigation and riding lights are red and greens mounted on either side of the bow, and a white pole light fits into the stern and is stored in clips under the gunwale when not required.
Three removable pedestal seats are fitted, one on the bow platform and two in the stern. Quality switches and gauges are fitted on the console, with room for a GPS/sounder. A spot for a VHF is available in the side-coaming inset. A modest polycarbonate ‘screen gives a little shelter to the helmsman but more to the electronics.
Fishing is what the 485SF (Sport Fisher) design is all about, having the looks of an American-style ‘flats’ boat, but a hull design that will handle rougher waters. Fibreglass is relatively quiet in the water – important in shallow fishing spots. The side-console configuration allows a large amount of fishing space for the length of the boat, and the stable hull and good footing allows anglers to stand and move around when fishing, with no nasty surprises.
The test boat had a four-position moulded ‘glass rod holder fitted to the face of the bow platform; the side of the console is another spot one of these units could be fitted. More rod stowage (for rods up to 2.13m or 7’) is available in a protected (and lockable) locker built into the gunwale. A further four mounts for plastic rod holders of the detachable-adjustable style had also been fitted.
There are plenty of spots to stow tackle boxes and other fishing equipment, and a built-in ‘kill tank’ option is available – big enough to take a pretty substantial fish, such as a decent kingie. Optional foam insulation can be added here. The under-deck hold, just aft of the bow platform, is an ideal spot to keep a sea-anchor and its warp.
The big bow casting platform and the option of a stern platform – added to the hull’s stability and non-skid finish moulded into the deck – make this boat ideal for lake and inshore lure fishing; perfect for anglers into fishing poppers, soft-plastics and flies. Obviously you can fish baits out of it, too.
The trailer supplied was a GT450 with a single axle and leaf-spring suspension. A cradle A-frame design, it looked sturdy and featured three pairs of wobble rollers per side, a wind-down jockey wheel, single-ratio manual winch, dual coupling galvanised frame and rims, and submersible lights. The boat loaded easily, and approximate tow weight is a reasonable 850kg.
Overall, a great boat for the inshore and lake sport fisher, and a rare offering on this side of the Tasman – an open-console boat in fibreglass. The layout options made available by the modular design give this boat huge potential to be customised to the requirements of individual anglers at a reasonable cost
Material fibreglass
Configuration side console
LOA 4.85m
Beam 2.05m
Hull weight (approx) 320kg
Deadrise at transom 21°
Recommended hp 30-90hp
Fuel capacity 130 litres
Test engine Suzuki DF80ATL
Trailer GT 450
Tow weight 850kg approx
Capacity 5 adults
Key turn package
(console and Suzuki DT40) $30,750
As tested $44,950
Test boat courtesy of Suzuki/The Haines Group, Auckland.
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