Stabicraft 383

The 383 is both the newest and the smallest boat in the Stabi-craft stable. We borrowed one from Kev and Ian's Marine for the weekend, took it fishing and had a ball.

Stabicraft have been building alloy pontoon boats for many years now. They're famous for them and their boats have earned a reputation for build quality, ruggedness, safety, and above all, stability. The 383 is the smallest boat they currently manufacture, but as we found out, it's much bigger than its length suggests. Compared to your average 12-foot dinghy, it's a monster.

Stabi-craft's trademark pontoon design really comes into its own in these smaller boats. They have so much integral buoyancy. It's possible to flood a loaded boat (three adults) to overflowing and it will float the right way up with the engine clear of the tide. While it's true that pontoons do compromise cockpit space somewhat, we found that all of the 383's space was usable because the pontoons afford so much buoyancy the boat is amazingly stable. Therefore, there are no concerns about standing up in the boat, moving right into the corners and standing hard against the boat's sides — things I think twice about in my own 12-foot dinghy.

As tested, the 383 comes on a light but sturdy Voyager trailer. It's equipped with bunks rather than rollers — not my favourite configuration — but it proved easy to launch and retrieve the boat. We beach-launched the boat, once with the vehicle and the second time using the jockey wheel to push the boat and trailer to the water. The boat slips on and off the trailer easily once the plastic runners on the bunks are wet.

Construction and Layout

Because of its construction the boat is quite a bit heavier than an alloy dinghy of like size. It's still very light to tow and easy enough to handle, however. It's also far stiffer than a dinghy and this, along with the extra weight and reasonable vee, gives the little boat its excellent (for its size) ride. The pontoons make sure the boat is dry, too, turning the spray down and away.

The foredeck and dodger arrangement offer reasonable shelter from the elements, both underway and while fishing at anchor, as well as providing a dry space for storing odds and ends. There are plenty of handholds, though my passenger commented he would have liked one on the dashboard directly in front of him.

The layout is fairly basic but it's very practical. The cockpit has a checkerplate floor and is self-draining through scuppers in the corners. Some water seeps back into the boat when two anglers stand across the transom, but securing two simple rubber tubes closes off the scuppers when they're not required.

The simple fact two anglers can stand and safely fish across the stern of a twelve-footer speaks volumes for the 383's stability at rest. Although, as is the case with nearly every pontoon boat I have tried, freeboard is relatively meagre, there's so much buoyancy the chances of shipping water are slim. And even if water does come aboard, it's no big deal, as the boat will continue to float. But there's no bracing yourself against the boat's sides or sitting on the gunwales (again, something you would not contemplate in any normal twelve-footer).

Although the boat's interior beam is not remarkable, every bit of it is usable. Consequently, two of us could stand and fish side by side. Alternatively (and this is more sensible if conditions are rough) sitting on the single bench seat with fishing rod in hand is quite comfortable.

Like the rest of the cockpit, transom freeboard is low, but the pontoons extend aft beyond the engine ensuring plenty of buoyancy. As tested the boat was fitted with a 25hp Johnson, but the 383 is rated to 40hp, so the extra weight is obviously not an issue (apparently, like most Stabis, the 383 likes a bit of weight aft). The fuel tank and battery are neatly strapped to the floor across the stern. They don't really get in the way but you need to watch bare toes.

The simple bench seat is topped with neoprene that does a reasonable job of gripping the bum and taking the chill off the metal. There's a raised lip on the floor of the boat forward where we kept a painter, lifejackets and spare clothes. It's a logical place for the anchor and warp. We carried an anchor in a separate bin and I'm told many owners opt to have a plastic anchor bin fitted in the foredeck.

Anchoring can be accomplished from inside the boat (we left the anchor snubbed against the fairlead and ran the chain and warp back into the boat) but the cleat could be better placed closer to the cockpit to make tying off easier. It's also quite safe to use the little checkerplate side-decks to walk around to the bow (again, not something you'd contemplate in your average twelve-footer) to work the ground tackle.

Performance

On the water the little boat goes very well. It was equipped with a 25hp Johnson. This engine provided adequate if unexciting performance. Two up with gear, bait, berley and a full tote tank of fuel, plus a 5-litre spare tank, the 383 showed a little sluggishness getting onto the plane but got along well enough once underway. Things were better when I took the boat out alone. The hull turns on a dime and tracks very well but the boat lacked power in really tight turns. I got the feeling the hull would really sparkle with more power. If I was buying it I would certainly consider at least a three-cylinder engine, perhaps a 35 or 40hp.

On the other hand, fuel economy was excellent. We spent two full afternoons fishing and exploring the Upper Waitemata — perhaps two hours of engine running — for about 10 litres of fuel.

The Stabi-craft 383 was ideal for this type of fishing. It was capable enough to comfortably run reasonable distances without fear, soft-riding enough not to rattle your teeth loose in light to moderate conditions and seaworthy enough to get you home if the weather cuts up. While it is hardly a bluewater machine (it's only 4.0 metres long), it's a very able little craft suitable for inshore (further if the weather's good) and lake fishing with the ability to carry substantial loads and a better than average level of comfort and performance. Above all, its virtual unsinkability makes it extremely safe.

Specifications

LOA: 4.0m
Beam: 1800mm
Deadrise at Transom: 18°
Weight on trailer: 360kg
Options: anchor well, paint etc.
Other engine options 30, 35, 40hp Johnsons

	This article is reproduced with permission of NZ Fisherman Magazine John Eichelsheim Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited