lake boats hold their condition fantastically well

Grahams beach on the Manukau is a good place for surfcasting .
Especially during the Grunta Hunta , is that your plan for next year ?

Been 1/2 by thinking about gettinjg something like that... and sell the bighorn.
Thought about or got a little trailer to tow to the beach, then put behind the quad?

Sorta have grandchildren in mind..heading 4 or 5 miles up the beach.

Steps wrote: Sorta have grandchildren in mind..heading 4 or 5 miles up the beach.

489 stabicraft
60hp Suzuki 4 stroke

Likes: light, fast, stable, cheap to run

Dislikes: too low at the back so chop can come in. Not a makaira.

So many west coast places to explore, I really wish I had the budget for one, and that you could haul one on a boat trailer legally (dont have room for 2 trailers). So much fun. Makes 90 mile  a breeze.

kitno wrote: Surfcasting machine, should make some beaches a bit more accessible.

kitno wrote: I'm trailering it down to Matata this weekend Fiz. It cost 3k if you're wanting to know.

That seems a bargain. Seen a lot of quads on muriwai with the big reels for kontikis, good fun.

Good luck with the trip.

Redfinger wrote: FIZ - Fact check and not for first time - fc boats all have transoms to take 20 inch motors . Some manufacturers do have very low15 inch  transoms , with water slopping in from back, but FC Boats are not one of them.

Hi RF, I know you work there so no offense meant. Ive always been a big fan of the FC boats right from the first release, one of the early admirers and advocates, mostly due to the 2m beam and gullwing design that started with the Haines 445/Formula 15 and was copied by many boat builders. Also I like the lip out from the gunwale it seems to deflect any left over spray well. 

It is just something Ive noticed a number of times in following seas, when coming back behind them. I think the issue is more people using the small boats for purposes they are not intended for, which is near shore, not open ocean swells mixed with sudden wind chop off the top.

Backwash is largely something caused by fast deceleration, but add decelerating quickly with a following sea and potentially bad news. It could happen in any boat in that scenario. Very surprised a Stabi 459 which is designed to not roll and keep the engine above waterline when flooded and has an engine well is getting backwash. 

Is an engine drainage well an option? ie like with the older Ramcos (although the newer ones are a pod design)  which had a well just straight across the stern about 1-2feet in from the transom. Only practical on models like the 430cc/sc. I have noticed a couple of FC small open tillers now with plate soldered tabs onto the transom to reduce the cutout to a square shape. If bought new they should have gone with the longshaft possibly.

There are a lot of threads on here relating to "cutouts" and backwash, likewise safety information on how to prevent a swamping with a quick google. Again, you or FC cannot control people not using common sense. 

Pure preference I would go with the longshaft transom. 

On a side note, my understanding is more longshaft engines have been sold than shortshaft as well, I use to think it was the other way around but an engine dealiership told me otherwise.....

what a stunner mate. Your set. Well done!