Grant Dixon looks forward to reviewing new Tightlines Media project boats when they are launched. Each is guaranteedt o be packed to the gunwales with the latest marine
innovations, products and technology.

ITM Fishing and UltimateFishing.TV’s frontman Matt Watson and his suppliers have once again delivered with Got ‘Em On V, a Stabicraft 2750 Centre Cab which has to be the flagship of that marque’s recreational product.

Got ‘Em On V, as the name suggests, is the fifth ‘big’ Stabicraft project Matt has been involved with. There are several innovations and features on board that are not currently available as Got ‘Em On V is the test bench for these. It has many of the features you would only expect on a well-spec’d 40-foot game boat, including the latest comms and marine electronics – there’s even a Sky Television receiver and a two-tap draught beer dispenser on board.

Not too many trailer boats have their own draught beer on tap, in this case a Williams Warn system that serves Matt's own Swordfish Mojo brew.

One of the most notable aspects of the boat is the ingenious use of space and this resulted in some hard choices – there is no toilet, sink or galley on board for example, nor a freshwater system, water being carried in the forepeak in three 10-litre containers.

Many of the brands associated with Matt’s first project boat are present in the latest.

Matt has worked closely with Stabicraft’s designers, the results of which are highlighted throughout this review.

On the transom are twin direct-injection two-stroke 200HP Evinrudes which incorporate i-Dock, which sees the outboards steer independently of each other, enabling Matt to fit Got ‘Em On V in the tightest berth or hold station for jigging over a school of kingfish.

Unlike other docking systems, i-Dock is built into the outboards. With no external pumps required, it is a tidy and quick fitout, requiring minimal space and is operated from the cockpit controller.

Top speed during testing was 47 knots, and fully laden with gear, six guys and a full load of fuel, it still ran at an impressive 44 knots. At Matt’s preferred trolling speed of seven knots, the fuel burn is an impressive 0.7-0.8 nautical miles per litre, testament to the Evinrude G2 Best In Class fuel economy.

Matt has installed the fully auto ZipWake trim system that sees actuators rather than tabs control the running aspect of the hull. He says these are ‘set and forget’ and that he doesn’t have to think about trimming the hull to obtain maximum performance and stability while underway – this is done for him.

Electronics

At the heart of the helm station and the electronics fit-out is two 15.6” Furuno screens. One is the MFD/Furuno TZ Touch 3 multi-function display unit. It incorporates a transducer unit set in a special pod that enables the WASSP function – ENL’s world-leading underwater mapping system. Thanks to a custom-built transducer pod in the hull of Got ‘Em On V, the WASSP is able to record at speeds of up to 35 knots, one of the best mapping speeds recorded. The WASSP system will map down to 450m and has its own 15.6” screen set alongside the TZ Touch 3.

Other Furuno functions included are auto pilot, radar and VHF. Most functions are controlled via a track ball set on the helmsman’s right side just behind the throttle. This eliminates the need to control functionality via the touch screen when underway, which is not always an easy task.

The auto pilot can be controlled anywhere on board using the ‘gesture controller’ – point the wireless controller in the direction you want to go, and the boat steers that way.

The sounder is a 1kW UHD TruEcho CHIRP Broadband unit that offers excellent clarity and fish ID, even at depth.

Another helm-based function is anchoring. The Maxwell VETUS Tasman drum unit is fully enclosed to protect it and is accessed via a hatch in the deck. Anchoring is just a flick of a switch away.

Furuno electronics, including the latest MFD/Furuno TZ Touch 3 multi-function display unit which connects sounder, chartplotter, radar, entertainment systems and auto pilot, and the WASSP underwater mapping system, dominate the customised helm station.

Entertainment

Entertainment is provided through the Fusion Marine sound system and Rear Seat Entertainment’s ‘smart tv’.

Fusion’s Apollo head unit is the world’s first touch screen marine entertainment system that has built-in Wi-Fi as well as NMEA 2000 connectability. Just when you think the boat couldn’t get any ‘cooler’, you turn on the Fusion system and you have your own onboard sound show, complete with lights in the speakers and synchronised Lumishore underwater lights that flash in time with the music, to the colours of your choice! The only thing missing is the disco ball in the cabin top! But other than entertainment and cool-factor, the Lumishore underwater lights are great for attracting bait fish, and are bright enough to raise billfish and other predators like kingfish during the day. With three transom-mounted Lumishore lights each pumping out 4000 fixture lumens (almost double the average car head light!), like everything else on this boat it’s spec’d to the highest level.

The RSE 22’ television accepts both satellite and terrestrial Freeview channels through the TV1 stabilized satellite receiver on the roof. This gives Matt Sky TV connectivity, so he can watch the All Blacks and the Black Caps live while fishing, another feature that allows more time out on the water.

RSE have also provided a 12v icemaker that produces 12kg of ice every 24 hours – or put another way, nine cubes every 6-14 minutes. A solar panel helps keep the batteries topped up with an all-in-one three-way system.

Connectivity

As you would imagine, the boat has many charging ports for the multitude of electronic devices – phones, camera batteries etc – that need to be kept topped up for a day’s filming and fishing. Various drawers have charging ports and chargers in them, so devices can be topped up even when stored away.

An innovative bit of kit is the ROKK Wireless Active phone charger, the world’s first 12/24V waterproof wireless charger that holds and wirelessly charges phones.

To enable Matt to live-stream the fishing action, Powertec Telecommunications have installed a Cel-Fi GO Marine Pack which boosts phone signal with as little as one bar of signal up to 100km from shore. It supports both voice and data.

Overnighting

With the in-fill in place, there is room for three people to sleep in the cabin in relative comfort.

There is an extension to give added length to the berths and these fold forward to create a padded enclosure that prevents items stored in the cabin from bouncing back and out into the cockpit when the boat is underway, especially in rougher conditions.

The passenger seat is a work of art and has four positions. Flat out, it is another bunk, and with the bolster up, it is a seat facing forward; it can be turned into a ‘chaise lounge’ to watch the lures from facing rearward; or can simply be a rear-facing seat.

Matt has the perfect place to watch the lures in comfort in what is a four-way seating arrangement, one of the functions being the creation of a fourth berth for overnighting.

Folded up, the back of the seat doubles as a storage area where Matt keeps his pre-rigged traces close at hand. Great storage is a feature of the boat, Matt saying he now has more places to stow fishing gear than he has tackle to put in it! Where possible, on storage areas that open the lid is assisted with a gas strut.

The cabin has been mosquito proofed with the window spaces mesh-covered and a dropdown rear curtain keeping the insects out.

Let there be light

Got ‘Em On V is a mobile showcase for Hella Marine lighting.

Matt has his forward spotlight mounted on the bow. There are two Sea Hawk XLB 350 long range spotlight bars integrated into the bow rail to optimise night vision and to reduce glare off the bow as happens with cabin top mounted lighting.

Sea Hawk XL dual colour side lights and cockpit floodlights are part of the fitout, as are light blue lights in the live well. Courtesy lights are fitted throughout the vessel and there is also a Hella hand-held spotlight.

Combine the Hella lighting, lights in the Fusion speakers and the Lumishore underwater lights, and the boat lights up like a Christmas tree.

Practically place Hella lighting features throughout the boat, and the multi-coloured Lumishore underwater lights attached to Fusion sound system pulse to the bass beat.

Fishability

While Got ‘Em On V might have all the bells and whistles, its primary role is still to be a fish-catching platform.

At the heart of this is the transom bait station, containing slots for knives and bait needles, a waxed thread dispenser, cutting board, several tackle drawers and four rod holders.

The bait station includes designated spots for knives, needles and a waxed string dispenser.

Set into the port transom is a substantial live well and two tuna tubes, with more storage on the starboard side, as well as the washdown hose.

There is U-Dek throughout the boat to provide soft, quiet and secure footing and there is good toe space up against the gunwales to ensure maximum leverage when fighting a fish.

There are more rod holders than you would find in a small tackle shop, including three set forward for those using the bow as a casting platform. A full range of top-end Shimano tackle is carried on board, covering everything from deep-dropping for swordfish through to bait catching.

Shimano Talica 50's are the key components to Got 'Em On V's gamefishing effort. 

A feature of the cockpit is the addition of eight Revolution 360 rotating rod holders that can be set through 360 degrees at five-degree increments.

Matt says their versatility has done away for the need for more rod holders set at various angles in the gunwales. It doesn’t matter whether he is trolling, drifting or at anchor when bottom bashing, being able to position the rod at the press of a button is particularly useful. Having the ability to swing the rod tips inboard when re-rigging or changing lures is another advantage from both a practical and safety perspective.

Matt has changed the forward rails so they can be leaned upon and run the length of the cabin at thigh height – they are not just there for decoration. This enables anglers to fully utilise the advantages of the walk-around cabin in safety.

To keep the walkaround obstruction-free at all times, the Ocean Blue Outriggers are mounted on the rooftop to give extra height to the already 17-foot-long riggers that Matt highly rates due to their stiffness.

Matt has long been an advocate of caring well for the catch. In the centre of the cockpit is a 300-litre Icey Tek bin which has a padded top to provide extra seating, along with a food prep area where a gas cooker or barbecue could sit.

On the road

Got Em On V is towed on a custom-built Hoskings trailer that utilises in the main, New Zealand- made Trojan componentry.

The trailer features a Hydrastar electric braking system from Trailcom, operating on both axles.

The boat is a big unit and fully fuelled and iced up is a formidable rig to tow, a task undertaken with a Toyota V8 diesel Land Cruiser. Matt says the rig tows well with the stability of the Land Cruiser making for stress-free travelling.

The big Stabicraft 2750 Centre Cab is towed on a custom-built Hosking trailer behind the latest Toyota V8 Land Cruiser.

Overall

I have touched on just the key points of Got ‘Em On V. There are many more smaller features and details that have been glossed over due to the confines of space.

This is Matt’s most sophisticated boat yet, and one that will feature prominently via Tightlines Media’s various television and digital channels. It has already been in the thick of things, producing respectable swordfish and bigeye tuna catches for Matt and his crews over the recent New Year holiday period. Long may they continue.

To see the action already recorded on this fishing machine, as well as a full walk through of the boat, it’s setup and products, visit ultimatefishing.tv.

	This article is reproduced with permission of    New Zealand Fishing News March 2020 - Grant Dixon Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited