Hi guys, thinking of getting a bigger boat. narrowed it down to a buccaneer 605 escape or haineshunter sf600. Would appreciate any comments on these boats.eg is one a dryer boat than the other? ,softer riding ,any niggly faults.thanks.

Never been on the Buccaneer, but they do look like they are build well, as for the 600SF have been on those in 25kts gusting 35 to the back of the Mere and back and I was well impressed with the ride, very dry and very soft riding for any boat in those conditions IMO. I think the 600SF like all Haines are pretty basic compaired with the later model Buccaneers, Haines still don't have f-glass inersoles and some of the flash bits of the other Glass boats but thats part of the attraction I spos. Like said above, both these boats are proven to stand the test and both have good reasale, this one will more than likely come down to who gives you the best service when it comes time to buy. If you are buying new go see Lionel at Miler Moyes you won't get a nicer guy to deal with, he may even have a second hand one he can put his hands on you never know.......

 Thanks for the feedback guys, I like both boats ,the buccaneer seems to be a bit more modern in the layout compared to the haines which just may be the decideing factor.

An old post I know, but as I own a Buccaneer 605 and have recently been out for a days fishing on a HH SF600 I thought others might find my opinion useful. Both boats have 150 4 stroke motors. The Buccaneer is definitely a nicer finished boat and as far as cleaning is more practical than the HH. Things like Seadeck flooring, waterproof uhpolstery in the cabin, no carpet up the sides in the cockpit to me make the Buccaneer more practical for fishing. The dash layout was nicer in the Buccaneer plus the added strength of the inner fibreglass liner on the Buccaneer, which I understand is a more modern and stronger way of building glass boats now compared to the older design of the HH. The bait board on the HH was useless and the outboard hit it when it was fully tilted up..
The HH houses the batteries in compartments off the floor where the Buccaneer has them on the floor which I don’t like, however that allows the buccaneer to have a live bait tank and sink which the HH doesn’t. Personally I’d rather not have the tank and sink and have batteries up off the floor.
Stability at rest I think is identical.
Lastly the ride. I have to admit the HH beats the Buccaneer. It didn’t matter which direction we went in the swells, the HH out performs the Buccaneer in every way. Not by a huge margin and the Buccaneer is still a great riding boat, but the Haines definitely is better. “The Secret Is In The Ride” - Haines motto is certainly bang on the money.
However the differences in the two boats would not be enough to swing you one way or another but if I was buying again I’d be seriously thinking about switching to the HH just for the ride. It would be a tough decision between the two. They are both great boats.
I hope others find this useful

I thought others might find my opinion useful.


Excellent and practical objective assessment.

I Havnt been a fan of the smaller Buccaneers (or rayglass) under the 6m compare to  other hulls.. eg HH, SN in short and bigger chop etc.
Been in the 635.. maybe because bit more heavy, thu still not up with the HH.
Been looking around for 6m hull for a while for west coast and slightly longer water line than currently have...and more deck/fishing space currently have.
Also considering alloy, later (thicker plate) fryans and ramco.
Whatever will also be well powered for the bar.

Steps wrote: I thought others might find my opinion useful. Excellent and practical objective assessment. I Havnt been a fan of the smaller Buccaneers (or rayglass) under the 6m compare to  other hulls.. eg HH, SN in short and bigger chop etc. Been in the 635.. maybe because bit more heavy, thu still not up with the HH. Been looking around for 6m hull for a while for west coast and slightly longer water line than currently have...and more deck/fishing space currently have. Also considering alloy, later (thicker plate) fryans and ramco. Whatever will also be well powered for the bar.

Buccaneers etc  just seem too pretty to be used as a serious fishing and diving boat.

That's why my plywood epoxy glass build will have very little bling and flash upholstery. Painted wooden benches may not look as nice, but will last.

Hmmm I have carpets.. I have cloth, not vinyl side panels and cloth seats in the cabin.
 We seriously fish, bait, into the carpets  blood goes everywhere definately no care when out there.. all about hooks in the water forget the rest.
Yep last drop the washdown pump comes out, get most.
 Get home, while motor runs in the tank , unload.
 Then big foam up with super cheap GT 18 in a gone in 30 sec hose clip on sprayer... 2 /3 mins most.
 Usually next day, another foam up, then good blast down with hose.. outside, inside, carpets everything..
 No brush , no scrubbing...and everything clean as..

Son had a rayglass , same thing as buccaneers except on steroids when comes to add on BS ... same thing.. clean down minimal, easy no scrub and quick..
No more than a washdown on an alloy hull.

Very good acquaintance had a buccaneer 635 for yrs .. lot diving weekends away used at least every week maybe more...again routine in the clean down nps

I owned a HH SF650  Great boat, a bit dated, 23 deg V so performed really well but a bit tippy at rest.  The biggest problem I had with it was the amount of water that came through the transom walk through into the boat at rest in a sloppy sea, especially if there was a heavy person standing in that corner, so I sold that boat after a year and bought a Buccaneer 720.