Help: First Boat for Fishing and Family
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=111199
Printed Date: 07 Jun 2026 at 11:55pm
Topic: Help: First Boat for Fishing and Family
Posted By: 3degrees
Subject: Help: First Boat for Fishing and Family
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 1:30pm
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Hi Interested in any comments on first boat. Mixed use. Family of 4 adults/teens. Looking at New/near new for reliability and peace of mind.Hauraki Gulf use mainly. Narrowed down to 5-6m Figlass with cabin to suit and winter purchase to get packages. Considering Haines SF535 or 545 vs Buccaneer 565. Am I missing a Hull better option?Ad engines - Probably 130HP but Totally confused by 2 vs 4 stroke. Love 4 stroke quiet and fuel use but stretches budget so would have to be stunning difference? any advice welcome.....
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Replies:
Posted By: jonty.m
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 1:39pm
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im an alloy man wont go past stabicrafts but my opinion is go the biggest you can afford you will out grow your first boat for sure ------------- www.facebook.com/addictionfishing |
Posted By: MikeAqua
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 2:16pm
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Bigger isn't always better. Bigger generally means more fuel to tow and operate, and more effort to launch and retrieve. Having a cabin for little kids isn't always as good as you think. Kids can feel sick in a cabin. If you are in Auckland have you thought about a syndicate boat? |
Posted By: 3degrees
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 2:29pm
| Thanks. I've heard others who own stablcrafts speak incredibly highly of them. I've already passed my initial preferred budget point with this short list...easy isn't it?! Two strokes seem to be out favour these days. Are that really as noisy and thirsty as often claimed? |
Posted By: Don18025
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 4:04pm
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Can you answer a few more questions 3 degrees? 1) How often do you intend to use this boat? Every weekend, or only on holidays with odd summer weekend. 2) What is the main intended use for the boat? You and the wife maybe happiest fishing and cruising the Gulf, but those teens maybe into skiing or wake boarding. I should also ask if there is an interest in game fishing or diving. 3) Have a you a suitable tow vehicle? Should not be a big problem with the hulls identified, but if you jump up to 6.5metre plus then it is a challenge. Also are you beach or ramp launching - has an impact on the tow vehicle. I have always strongly supported Haines Hunters as they are well built and have excellent sea keeping qualities. But I know very satisfied Buccaneer and FiGlass owners. Modern two strokes are great engines, if they save big bucks on purchase use one but you may use some more gas. The teens will love them for skiing and wakeboarding. I am not in favour of under utilised 4 strokes, believing they are great for the high hours per year user (game fishers and those out on the water every spare day). You have probably made a lot of the yards towards a decision if down to these three makes. Buy then give the boat a family use of summer testing.
Enjoy the experience - that is the key thing about owning your own boat. |
Posted By: NumnuT_AUS
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 5:08pm
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Any size Haines with a 4 stroke will be as good as it gets Craig |
Posted By: CoastalStan
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 5:33pm
| My advice would to be to buy a second hand boat that suits you now, reassess in a couple of years and change if you need to. Boats are not like wives and you can change without to much stress, hell you can even have two of them. We started with a boat that suited the family (Buccaneer Esprite) that I could take fishing and and after 2 summers the family only wanted to fish and we did no skiing. Now the kids have jobs, girlfriends and cars and we never see them in the weekends so we have changed again to suit just me and the wife doing some serious fishing trips. The point is unless your certain of what your long term needs are, you will lose money on a new boat if you need to change. |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 5:40pm
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Mixed use. Family of 4 adults/teens. Glass boat better ride comfort , espec for the lady members of the family.. Min for basic comfort space would be around 5.8m and around 6.2 comfortable Probably 130HP but Totally confused by 2 vs 4 stroke. Economic power requirement for 4 ppl plus gear etc under 6m around 140/150 hp with right prop.. under that less economic due to min or under powered... 130 bare min.. Good selection of prop makes very little difference between 2 and 4 stroke economy.. It is the power AT THE PROP that determines performance... not how the power gets to the gear box above it...be it hamsters running in a wheel or and internal combustion engine Getting up to the 6/ 6.3 glass boat one moves into an efficient power range min 175 , more ideal around the 200 hp mark Also note.. more modern design boats have smaller cabins to the older sea nymph commander style... a cabin on a buccaneer 635 is about the same size as a 18' (5.8m) commander with less head room. a 5.5 / 5.8M modern glass boat with fish 4 guys ok 3 guys comfortable....older boat 4 guys little cramped but ok, 3 guys nice.. due to the larger rear space. Also keep in mind with teenagers...it is very soon they start having their own lives/ friends etc.. leaving u and the missus .. or u and m8s heading out on the water 4 stroke definitely quieter... modern 2 stroke not quite as quiet.. older 2 stroke get over cruise rpms and forget any natural conservation... then put that in perspective... cruising out to fishing spots 15/ 25 mins @ around 30 /35 mph.. (measure on google maps from where u put the boat in a and destinations) anchor up or drift... couple minutes to re drift the line or maybe little longer to check out the next spot/ reef Looking at New/near new for reliability and peace of mind. A ball park budget would help further |
Posted By: Southern_Jez
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 6:15pm
| we are speccing out a new boat currently ... only thing my wife and 11 year old daughter want is a toilet ... apparently they dont fancy hanging their backsides over the side. We are going with a chemical toilet up in the cabin to keep the girls happy ... something to consider perhaps. |
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 6:40pm
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Boat I brought was 6 months old and I saved a lot on new price - guy who sold to me took his wife and young boy out for first time after buying - she got sea sick and he sold it 6 months later - suggest you get family out in a few boats first to try. As others have said try to decide what you want to do and buy boat accordingly - best way is to go out in a few - go to a dealer and make buying noises subject to a sea trial etc. Good Luck. ------------- Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish. |
Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 6:41pm
| Another thing to think about - the width and weight towing on a trailer - and the tow vehicle. Have you tried towing a 5.5m metre fibreglass boat? |
Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 6:42pm
| I bought 4 different boats before getting one I liked. |
Posted By: 3degrees
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 6:57pm
| Thanks for Syndicate suggestion but I prefer flexibility of ownership |
Posted By: Olfart
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 6:59pm
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Best advice I can give is to have a list of the "must haves" readily at hand when viewing prospective boats. Anything more than that will be a bonus and don't get too hung up on people's comparisons between one style/brand versus another. What you really need to know will be 1. How well a selected boat performs in flat and not so flat as well as rough water 2. What effect the wind has on the ride and how the boat feels at rest. 3. Whether the boat of choice can be easily towed behind your current vehicle 4. That the outboard has a good service history and is adequate for the size of the boat and the use you will put it to. 5. That the trailer has been well looked after with no corrosion issues. Most of all, take your time over your search to make sure you get what you really want - now and for the future (as far as that can be predicted.) ------------- Semper in excreta sumus, solum profundum variat.... |
Posted By: 3degrees
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 6:59pm
| Thanks. Useful info. Trying to buy versatile use boat (....and if I bought 2 boats I'm sure i'd have no wife!) |
Posted By: Gareth15765
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2015 at 8:30pm
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the only way really is to try each one and see how they go as your needs will be different to any one else maybe some of the forum users on here could help take you out for a spin show you their setups mite cost you a couple of boxes of ale and some petrol money but to me probably the best spent money BEFORE you buy one that suits on the trailer but not on the water but that is only my 5c good luck with whatever you do buy I don't think you could go wrong with any of them mentioned as long as layout suits YOU
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Posted By: Ascot
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2015 at 10:20am
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What's the budget? Makes a big difference. As a current HH 535 owner I wouldn't recommend one unless it's an older model. HH have made no changes to this boat in years, it really shows its age when parked next to a Buccaneer or Tristram. Even the 545 feels dated in its layout/design and it's a brand new model (think its actually closer to a shortened 600). For the Hauraki Gulf I think you really want to be closer to a Buccaneer 605 in size. Having followed a couple of these back to the ramp I've seen that the extra length, but probably the beam and corresponding weight, make for a much better ride. HH do have a very good hull but I think the 19' boats are just a touch small for the chop that we get in the Gulf. I appreciate that a bigger boat will always ride better, but something in the 20-21' range is about the best compromise for our conditions. We've outgrown our 535 quite quickly, and as much as I would love a 7m hard top I think something around 21' would be a great all round size. As for motors as others have said it comes down to use. If it's going to be used 5-6 times a year then fuel use is irrelevant. If you're out every weekend then a four stroke will make a big difference. Do think about resale as well. A new boat, particularly one that needs something in the 150hp plus range, with a two stroke is not going to be as easy to sell as a four stroke. I think everyone is used to four stroke now, new two strokes almost get a sideways glance these days. Finally don't be too worried about towing. You're talking about a sub 2 tonne boat which is something that a lot of vehicles can handle. You don't need a land cruiser. Cheers |
Posted By: OneWayTraffic
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2015 at 6:17pm
| Could consider a second hand boat with a new auxillary motor. That way you would get a combo of reliability and value. |
Posted By: of2fsh
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2015 at 6:20pm
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There's a 535 Tristram shop demo for sale at a discounted price at Tristram boats Hamilton ------------- 2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition |
Posted By: Durban
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2015 at 7:56pm
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Posted By: Cpt.Pugwash
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2015 at 8:08pm
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Hi 3degrees, I would get a boat that I liked and went a long way to satisfying what I intended to do in the LONG RUN eg fishing or cruising. Fibre glass looks better and would appeal to women more than an Aluminium look.....so don't make a mistake and give mum the decision if you know that she'll only come out occasionally and what you really want your boat to be is a FISHING boat.....so establish if the new boat is to be a cruiser or fisher. The rest ie. motors, size etc can be calculated and limited by $$$$$$$$$$
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Posted By: cirrus
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2015 at 10:02pm
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My thoughts would be. Get the boat you want . Not what someone else would want. Make sure you can tow it ,store it off street,especially if your section is sloping. Make sure you can handle it solo if need be. Also make sure your wife and kids will want to come out on it enough to justify spend I know a guy who bought a great boat to take wife ,teenage kids and friends out. Kids were not as interested as he thought.Never went out. Wife never went out as not enough cash left to fit with proper seating. Boat now sits there in the weather unused and corroding. On a sloping section it is too heavy to connect to tow bar without expert backing skills. Not trying to put a spoke in the wheel but make sure they really are commited before purchase. |
Posted By: whippersnappyr
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2015 at 1:14am
| Haines hunters are good boats but agree they are very dated design wise. Tristram probably make the classiest glass boats but they are exy and I'm biased since I own one. If you are going new or near new it will almost certainly be 4 stroke powered |
Posted By: Jacknz1
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2015 at 9:58pm
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Hi, we recently bought an older 'Buccaneer 560 cabin', powered by a 135 Merc, its on a new braked single axle trailer, towing weight is 1450kg full of fuel but no gear. Hull length is 6m overall as the motor is on a pod. That would be a pretty typical scenario for most boats that size. You need to look at all the opinions of our learned friends above, and pay attention to things like storage, is it going outside? or will it fit under your garage door? is your storage place easy access? if not then you may want to consider the trailer, tandem or single axle? If it isn't on a braked trailer, then I suggest you budget for brakes, having experienced both, and had a couple of 'Oh S..t,Oh S..t...' moments, I will never have an unbraked trailer again. It has to be easy to use, that way you will use it, buy the boat your wife likes,that way you will be allowed to use it, ask me how I know... Take your time, take up as many offers for a ride as you can so you get an idea of what you want, remember the BOAT acronym, Break Out Another Thousand. cheers, Jacknz
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Posted By: 3degrees
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2015 at 12:04am
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Hi Thanks to all for useful advice and guidance. I have ordered a new 6m cabin boat, appropriate size four stroke on a single axle braked trailer that can be towed by our existing 4wd and takes into account all our needs and fits our home storage. (And yes the portable toilet in the cabin suggestion got thumbs up from the girls in the family) |
Posted By: MikeAqua
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2015 at 9:25am
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Why single axle? |
Posted By: 3degrees
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2015 at 9:57am
| Manoeuvring into storage option on the property |
Posted By: Jacknz1
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2015 at 10:00am
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That's why I have a single axle trailer , no regrets, good move on the brakes, you will never regret that. It also takes away the insurance issues if you're involved in an accident. Jack |
Posted By: Nickfixit
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2015 at 2:39pm
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What hull and engine did you end up getting? |
Posted By: 3degrees
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2015 at 1:32am
| Tristram / with 150 4 stroke |