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Best pontoon boat

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=111923
Printed Date: 04 Jun 2026 at 10:04am


Topic: Best pontoon boat
Posted By: Jelliman
Subject: Best pontoon boat
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2015 at 9:38pm
I'm keen on a pontoon boat 5,5m + second hand. Around 25k.
What are your thoughts on the following boats.
Stabi
Mac
Senator
Profile
Kiwi kraft
Ospray
DNA
Frewza
Hardi
Orca
Any others I'd be keen to know about. I have time to wait for the rite deal.



Replies:
Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2015 at 4:35am
I have a 4.2M Mac Fisherman which I have been using on Manukau Bar for 8 years now and I like it.  Not perfect but works for me, punches above its size, Mac 570 not well known but would be a good boat - are you wanting for diving or fishing - for diving easy boats to get in and out of.
Like the material - plastic is real easy to live with.  Boat was poorly setup from new - had to adjust engine height and fit a permatrim but good now.  One plus is boat and trailer made in Akld so any spares or repairs needed are easy to arrange.  

-------------
Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish.


Posted By: yellafin
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2015 at 6:34am
I have been in several different brands of pontoon boat in varying sizes. IMHO One brand, no matter what size, rides better than the others - kiwikraft.

However their main problem is a narrow internal beam, especially in the smaller models. Not a lot of room!


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2015 at 8:33am
I do like the sound of the mac 5,7. I havnt heard much about them either.

I've heard heaps of good about the kiwi craft but it is narrow.

I want to go out over the bar and long distant east coast trips.

I need space for 4 on the boat incl me.

I'm a fisherman so jigging, popping, softbaiting.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 9:14am
for 25k you could pick up a older pontoon in good nick with a late motor, Tsunami is another brand. I saw one at paeora marine going for about 25k.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 9:16am
Cheers. Will have a good look. I know the older pontoon boats bang in the rough but I'm keen on the safety aspect.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 9:38am
I have really changed my mind about all the banging in the rough with the old school boats. you counter that with good driving skills, lift the noise, ride at a angle. probably because i am older know i don't thrash it like i used too.  common sense


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 9:50am
Makes sense.


Posted By: Southern_Jez
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 10:23am
i agree with rahui ... if you dont drive it as hard it doesnt bang as bad

we were coming back across foveaux strait on saturday in a F14 Frewza, just took our time in the 1.5m swell with chop and didn't have any issues. But we are seldom in a hurry to get anywhere and never seem to have issues with hard rides (that said we are getting a bigger boat built as soon as mine sells, sticking with Frewza). The water was flat when we got into the shelter of Bluff hill and we opened it up from there.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 10:38am
What are the senators and mac 5.7 like does anyone know?


Posted By: MikeAqua
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 11:33am
I agree with the driving style comment.  I have an older Bluefin.  They are very solid and stable boats, but too blunt in the entry so they lift and bang punching into or across a sea.

I just slow down to about 15 knots.  I am still planing at that speed, it's much more pleasant, and I can still cover 25km in a hour.




Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 12:02pm
What about those 5.7 macs they are built proof. a little flat in the nose and like anything will pound in a bad sea but slow down and enjoy the scenery


Posted By: Contract
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 4:47pm
I think you meant "Bullet Proof" Rahui !
And BTW ~ this is the most sensible thread around at present. If it's freaking rough ~ you either don't go out, or you slow down. Full stop. Anyone who says they can drive a small tinnie though rough sea at 25 knots (comfortably) is either suicidal or telling porkies
 


Posted By: H'd-Up
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 4:54pm
Originally posted by Jelliman Jelliman wrote:

What are the senators and mac 5.7 like does anyone know?

I had a Mac Fisherman 570 for a few years, definitely had its pros and cons.

Pros
- Steady as anything at rest! 
- Quite roomy for a boat that size
- Easy as to clean / maintain due to it being plastic

Cons
- HEAVY. heavy to tow, and needs a good sized motor on it to get it going, we had 115 two stroke and wouldnt want any less than that.
- Wet, in any sea those round pontoons seemed to do a fantastic job at getting the water heading straight for your face, especially in any kind of quartering sea
- Ride was pretty hard due to its short blunt nose, again if you slow it down abit you will be fine! 

My father in law has a Senator 570 that I have spent abit of time in and I would say that would be my preference out of the two.




Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2015 at 6:07pm
Awesome that's good to know.


Posted By: rowboat bob
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2015 at 8:53pm
Go for the Senator 540 with a Yammy 90 , may be able to pick one up for $25k now.
Good ride with a fine entry for a pontoon boat, way more freeboard than the Mac. One of the strongest screens you will see with acrylic set into a fully welded frame. I really appreciated this a couple of times when taking breaking waves on the cabin while launching in the surf. Had my Senator 520 out in 50kn winds and 3m swell just for fun a couple of times to see how it would cope. It never felt unsafe. The NZ fishing news review a few years ago rated them as the "best surf boat in the country"High praise.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2015 at 10:08pm
I had a 520 and it was generally a great boat but I thought it could have been a little beamier It was 1.99m .a little unstable for me.can't beat the Macs for stability


Posted By: Wayne.L
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2015 at 10:15pm
Originally posted by yellafin yellafin wrote:

I have been in several different brands of pontoon boat in varying sizes. IMHO One brand, no matter what size, rides better than the others - kiwikraft.

However their main problem is a narrow internal beam, especially in the smaller models. Not a lot of room!
Right on the money. Nothing will touch a Kiwikraft.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 3:48pm
Just gave mine a ride this morning 3 adults 2 kids. Ate the sea . Much better ride than the Senator and more room. Heaps of room in the 495


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 4:08pm
Not an easy decision. Are the kiwi kraft a lot narrower?


Posted By: Time_Bandit
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 5:23pm
Kiwi Kraft Aqualine 495
Beam ext 2020 mm
Beam int 1400 mm
 
Senator RC 520
Beam External1.98m
Beam Internal1.525m
 
 


-------------
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”



Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 5:25pm
Really not much in it.


Posted By: Time_Bandit
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 6:21pm
nothing in it mate, go for a ride in both and make your mind up from there

-------------
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”



Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 6:22pm
Thanks for that. You've made it easier to choose


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 6:38pm
What the silver lines like?


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 7:05pm
Originally posted by Time_Bandit Time_Bandit wrote:

<font face="Arial" size="3">
Kiwi Kraft Aqualine 495
Beam ext 2020 mm
                Beam int 1400 mm
 
Senator RC 520
<table ="tablepress tablepress-id-30" id="tablepress-30"><t><tr ="row-3 odd"><td ="column-1">Beam External</td><td ="column-2">1.98m</td></tr><tr ="row-4 even"><td ="column-1">Beam Internal</td><td ="column-2">1.525m</td></tr></t></table>
 
 


Posted By: rowboat bob
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 7:10pm
what makes the Kiwi kraft so good then as they sure look ugly.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 7:15pm
You forgot the height . The Senator has low sides. My kiwi is 700 to 750 which gives it more room. I should know I have owned both.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 7:23pm
They ain't pretty but you. Just feel safe in them when it turns snotty. You can drive them harder.than the standard tinny.


Posted By: Wayne.L
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 7:25pm
Originally posted by rowboat bob rowboat bob wrote:

what makes the Kiwi kraft so good then as they sure look ugly.
 
It's the ride. And I guess ugly is subjective.


Posted By: rowboat bob
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 7:28pm
Fair enough, the Senator has lower sides but at least they are still there. Those Mac boats don't have any sides to speak of. Both the Senator and Kiwi Kraft seam to hold their value unlike the Mac boats. Usually a good indication as to how good they are.


Posted By: Time_Bandit
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 7:50pm
the Senator or profile are the better looking ones

-------------
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”



Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 8:04pm
I am not bagging Senator they are great boats and the low sides are great for diving. Just for me kiwi a better ride. I have heard the Mac 600 is better than the Mac 570


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 8:06pm
They look better and I suppose they have pontoons


Posted By: Pro Fish
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 8:42pm
My 2c from experience in pontoons

Stabis are overrated imo...
Did a few miles in an older 4.5 m model to puka marks behind the mokes a couple of times, hard ride but safe at rest.

Frewzas used to be best bang for buck but pricing has come up now...

Blackdogs are excellent - great platform for longlining, netting , diving , anything really although a bit wet on the side.

Senator would be the best have been on for pontoon.

Best boat for its size was a local legend ( dave bartram ) out of BOI he ran a 525 billfisher with 90 hp suzuki - that was an excellent rig and caught a lot of good fish
 




Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 9:58pm
You might have to go up 10k to get some thing decent


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 10:02pm
No chance


Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 2:30pm
whats the need for pontoons out of interest?

id be going for whatever boat is the beamiest with a sharp entry flattening out to a gull wing rare. whether thats a pontoon or not. by default most pontoons give the gullwing shape which gives them stability, which a lot of people think is due to the pontoons.

id go frewza myself if it had to be a pontoon.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 2:58pm
I like the safety aspect of pontoon boats, especially on west coat


Posted By: Cpt.Pugwash
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 6:01pm
Yellow Submarine anyone?


Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 6:12pm
fair enough. well make sure you kit it out for safety. pontoons dont equal automatic safety. some will be better at not rolling once swamped and you will clearly want hardcore bilges as safety is your priority. one that keeps the engine above the water line when swamped will be a plus.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 6:51pm
Noted.if I can't get a boat already kitted I'll do just that.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 9:32pm
I am approx 115kg and my 2 brother in laws weight over 140kg so all up approx 400kg when the 3 of us go fishing. tell me then what 5 mtr non pontoon would be safe for us to move around at will. yeah right might be ok for you sparrows but not us. Pontoon only way to go and we have been in heaps of boats. We don't just say this stuff to stir we say it because we are experienced. ll I know if that dreaded day comes and we flip my big round pontoons will keep us a float


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 9:34pm
Good point


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 9:51pm
Anyone know about the ospreys?


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2015 at 10:22pm
never been for a ride one but checked them over a few years ago when there was a agent in HB, similar to Kiwis with strong quality build, safety, deeper deadrise which will need more horses, quite pricey but generally are considered one of the top brands


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2015 at 10:26pm
There have been a few good deals on trademe over winter. Most good deals are in Wellington.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2015 at 8:13am
Orca look solid? Anyone know about them?


Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2015 at 2:30pm
i dont think the point of pontoons should be to keep you afloat. a lot of non pontoon boats will do that. find a model that will keep you upright and not flipped by rolling waves when submerged. even better if the engine remains above waterline.

a lot of trade offs in a pontoon boat but safety is paramount so good choice and yep so many to choose from.

i think for me the frewza guys pretty much drummed it in they are good value.

but so many other good options.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2015 at 4:26pm
My point is that in the event of the boat getting caught in a bad crossing or a bad breaking swell and the boat flips which is quite often the case the extra air in the pontoons will give it the buoyancy to remain afloat and could save your life.
With the non pontoon it is likely that when the boat flips the boat will be  underwater and may float mostly submerged. what boat would you like to be on, especially in winter?


Posted By: MikeAqua
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 9:47am
The other potential advantage of pontoon boats is the pontoons can function like large reverse chines.

If the boat is designed correctly it should get up and plane on the vee with the pontoon mostly out of the water.  

But at rest the pontoon should be contacting the water along most of its length providing resistance to the boat rolling from side to side.

This should allow the designer to get away with a deeper vee but still have a boat that is stable at rest.


Posted By: Denny Boy
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 12:31pm
  • Pontoons-every pontoon boat that I have studied planes with the forward 3/4 of the pontoons out of the water and only the back 1/4 touching. To a point I think these are the built in trim tabs for the boat. Unless it is like a Stabi 509 that I had which had basically a flat bottom with the pontoons quite "level". With this boat any sort of a sea hit the forward pontoon area much sooner, "cupped" the pontoons and broke my back. Many later pontoon boats have remedied this and have upswept pontoons e.g. Senator, Profile etc which allow a lot more "squash" before the pontoons hit. Kiwikraft on the other hand have it sussed with their really deep V and rounded pontoons with the effect if the boat did nose dive into a trough the water flows smoothly over the pontoons rather that "cupping" as is with sqare pontoons. Then again Senator have mitigated this to a degree with thinner pontoons.
  • Noise-at rest you are going to have noise with alloy boats regardless unless they are kitted with sound deadening material along the insides which results in more expense so I guess that's why they don't insulate often to keep down the cost.


Posted By: Mullins
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 12:57pm
Originally posted by MikeAqua MikeAqua wrote:

The other potential advantage of pontoon boats is the pontoons can function like large reverse chines.

If the boat is designed correctly it should get up and plane on the vee with the pontoon mostly out of the water.  

But at rest the pontoon should be contacting the water along most of its length providing resistance to the boat rolling from side to side.

This should allow the designer to get away with a deeper vee but still have a boat that is stable at rest.

That's not really an advantage of pontoon boats though is it, since you could build exactly the same lower hull shape (big reverse chines) without having pontoons.


Posted By: MikeAqua
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 1:34pm
I agree that reverse chines are not exclusive to exclusive to pontoons - for example Boston whalers often have big reverse chines. 

But you don't see a whole lot of reverse chines on non-pontoon trailer boats.

The pontoon deign inherently provides reverse chines without some of the challenges of including them within a conventional hull.

Originally posted by Mullins Mullins wrote:

That's not really an advantage of pontoon boats though is it, since you could build exactly the same lower hull shape (big reverse chines) without having pontoons.


Posted By: Mullins
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 2:02pm
Wonder if it's because they're difficult to build (more welding but surely not all that hard), or just not desirable?


Posted By: Joker
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 2:24pm
Originally posted by Mullins Mullins wrote:

Originally posted by MikeAqua MikeAqua wrote:

The other potential advantage of pontoon boats is the pontoons can function like large reverse chines.

If the boat is designed correctly it should get up and plane on the vee with the pontoon mostly out of the water.  

But at rest the pontoon should be contacting the water along most of its length providing resistance to the boat rolling from side to side.

This should allow the designer to get away with a deeper vee but still have a boat that is stable at rest.

That's not really an advantage of pontoon boats though is it, since you could build exactly the same lower hull shape (big reverse chines) without having pontoons.
 
Isn't that what Fish City did with their hulls?


Posted By: MikeAqua
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 3:21pm
I think fish city boats describe (some of) their boats as a gull wing design - which could be considered a wide, gentle reverse chine, often curved rather than angular.

Gull wings add stability, but I don't know if they help with hole shot, planing and tracking the way reverse chines do.

Gull wings, being flatter and wider are quieter than reverse chines which can be noisy.



Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 3:25pm
Are fc boats pontoon boats


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 6:49pm
no but they do have buoyancy in the gunnels, I reckon they are all right, worth checking out


Posted By: of2fsh
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2015 at 10:06pm
Originally posted by rahui rahui wrote:


no but they do have buoyancy in the gunnels, I reckon they are all right, worth checking out


Polystyrene pieces in the gunnels, some early models I looked were very shabby, one had prices of poly falling out...this combined with the poor quality of the welding steered me clear of these boats and into a Frewza .

The new FC boats are better, they have even fixed the poor transome design on new models

-------------
2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2015 at 3:00am
Hawkes Bay outdoor marine had a couple of cheap pontoons going or sale.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2015 at 6:55am
Do u know anything about the orca boats?


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2015 at 4:59pm
no, just another small brand, browse them,


Posted By: Korora
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2015 at 10:41pm
Ive got a 5.4M orca with 90 Vtec.   5mm hull.    Heavy as.    Rides awesome in the crap.     The 90hp is enough for 30kn fully trimmed on a glass day.    I fish off muriwai and its taken a few on the nose no problem, kept nice and straight and i really appreciate the weight when dealing breaking waves.    Super stable and feels real safe when out wide.   Reckon it would be good with a 135 vtec.   Orca did that config for a University crowd a few years ago.          


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 6:42am
I didn't want to say but a few of the boats I had browsed looked quite industrial as if made by an engineers, this is not necessarily a bad thing, I think the modern term is ugly, my kiwi has been called that. the proof is in the ride


Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 8:09am
Originally posted by rahui rahui wrote:

I didn't want to say but a few of the boats I had browsed looked quite industrial as if made by an engineers, this is not necessarily a bad thing, I think the modern term is ugly, my kiwi has been called that. the proof is in the ride
I prefer the word functional - time always tells if a quality product.  Lightly made - falls apart.


-------------
Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish.


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 8:46am
Yes Functional is a better word.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 2:36pm
What's your thoughts on the DNA boats?


Posted By: HB_fishdive
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 4:53pm
No idea personally what the DNA are like but this one would have enough horses on the back to cope with 4 people easily I'd say. Go have a look and see about a test ride, is the best way to know how they go
%20" rel="nofollow - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-945180935.htm


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 4:54pm
I'll see if anyone else knows.


Posted By: Time_Bandit
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 5:43pm
[QUOTE=HB_fishdive]No idea personally what the DNA are like but this one would have enough horses on the back to cope with 4 people easily I'd say. Go have a look and see about a test ride, is the best way to know how they go
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-945180935.htm%5b/QUOTE" rel="nofollow - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-945180935.htm[/QUOTE ]
 
that's a smart buy for the price


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“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”



Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 6:14pm
Yeah looks good for price. I just want to know more about build quality etc


Posted By: Time_Bandit
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 6:27pm

what do you want to know ? are you a buyer or just like talking boats, not that theres anything wrong with that.



-------------
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”



Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 6:52pm
Originally posted by Time_Bandit Time_Bandit wrote:

[QUOTE=HB_fishdive]No idea personally what the DNA are like but this one would have enough horses on the back to cope with 4 people easily I'd say. Go have a look and see about a test ride, is the best way to know how they go
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-945180935.htm%5b/QUOTE" rel="nofollow - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-945180935.htm[/QUOTE ]
 
that's a smart buy for the price
 
Damn heavy for a 5.15M boat tow weight of 850kg! Though says hull weight of 345kg?  No wonder it has a 115 on it.  Looks real solid.  Boat 2 yrs old but motor 13 yrs old -would prefer the other way round!


-------------
Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish.


Posted By: rowboat bob
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 7:14pm
Not that heavy , Senator 520 with Yammy 90 is 825kg. It'll fly with a 115. My current boat is a 5.2m Marlborough with a 115hp and weighs in at 1200kg , now that's heavy


Posted By: Time_Bandit
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 7:27pm
tow weight of 850kg that includes the trailer sounds about rite.

-------------
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”



Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2015 at 8:19pm
Originally posted by Time_Bandit Time_Bandit wrote:

tow weight of 850kg that includes the trailer sounds about rite.
When I say heavy, am going by tow rating on my Toyota 2L 2WD station wagon - would be pushing it and need brakes on trailer for me to tow legally.  My Mac 420 with 50hp tows fine but wouldn't want any heavier without changing vehicle first.


-------------
Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish.


Posted By: MikeAqua
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2015 at 9:39am
The vehicle manufacturer's tow rating has no legal status.  The Land transport website has the legal requirements.


Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2015 at 10:06am
Originally posted by MikeAqua MikeAqua wrote:

The vehicle manufacturer's tow rating has no legal status.  The Land transport website has the legal requirements.
 
Thanks Mike had a look at website - "it may be possible to safely tow a trailer heavier than three quarters of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, but the seven metres from 30km/h brake performance requirement still applies."
 
My comment was to do with feel of my 2L 2WD car - though I could tow up to 1200kg assuming I could brake in 30M, present 750kg unbraked is about comfortable limit realistically, even braked any heavier and I would struggle getting off beach or ramp at times. 
Need to check braking distance sometime as well to see if okay but picking it will be as it pulls down well when braking.


-------------
Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2015 at 2:07pm
I've got a 4x4 Holden rodeo, should pull most?


Posted By: MikeAqua
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2015 at 11:42am
If at all concerned I would just get trailer brakes fitted.  Cheaper than a bigger vehicle, and the modern ones are more easily maintained.

In some/all states in Aus trailer brakes are compulosry above 750kg, UK is the same.  This explains many car manufacturer's limits.    We are way out on our own in NZ at 2,000kg.


Posted By: DNA BOATS
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 6:42am
Hi jelliman, here's a few shots of our new model 5.7m hard top. We have Been taking build shots as we went to show the state of build quality and our welding ability, let us have you're feed back guys and gals?


Posted By: DNA BOATS
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 6:51am
 


Posted By: DNA BOATS
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 7:11am
Here is a link to a short vid of one of our dna 440 jetx hulls crossing the hokitika bar,was low tide and a pretty flat sea, water was only around 100mm deep right on top of the bar





Posted By: DNA BOATS
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 7:30am
BUSH meets Boat vynil wraps...



Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 11:04am
That 5,7 looks awesome. What is the most basic price


Posted By: DNA BOATS
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 12:07pm
Start at $56400 with a 100HP Honda 4 stroke.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 12:30pm
Seems like a good price. I'll prob be in the market for a second hand boat.


Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 5:15pm
I reckon the boat with the biggest deadrise 18+ and deep pontoon bottoms to act as a tri and a downward chine, and a wider than tradional pontoon beam, still struggling to find that.


Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 5:59pm
Sounds like VMG - look at their website, and theres one advertised on trademe.
Deadrise 23 degrees (that's high) - sponsons look even better than pontoon chines for stability. They say they are going to produce boats lengths 515, 475 as well as the bigger ones 575, 615, etc.
 
They say theres inside buoyancy chambers; not sure how much as yet.
 
 


Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 6:59pm
yep the VMGs do "sound" very good, but havnt seen a lot of boat tests. but beamy and good internal beam and that shapes got to be stable with a fine entry.

this is off their hardtop on trademe. Pretty light tin I thought.

"2015 models include the 450, the 515, the 575 and the 675"

seen the boat running on what i consider glass like conditions, 10cm of nothing. want to see them ride in a 20 knot wind 1m+


Posted By: GeoffL
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2015 at 7:06pm
Hey Jelliman, what did you find out about Profile boats? I have been looking at getting into a 1410 and just curious if you had a go in one and what you thought of the handle/ride etc. They seem like a great option at the price, and look pretty well rounded for what you pay for.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2015 at 7:24pm
Havnt tested anything yet. I'm Kern on 2 boats at moment one is black dog cat, which is too expensive at this stage the other is a kiwikraft after all the good things I've herd about their ride.


Posted By: GeoffL
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2015 at 7:29pm
Im going to get out on the water this week and give some a try. Ill let you know how it goes.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2015 at 7:31pm
Yes please.


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2015 at 11:36am
What are the abilities of a stabi 509 vs kiwi kraft 505?


Posted By: yellafin
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2015 at 3:44pm
I have been in both. The Stabi has the bigger cockpit. Other than that the Kiwi kraft is far better in every way. Ride quality is far superior in the rough. 


Posted By: Jelliman
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2015 at 3:56pm
Could the stabi go everywhere the kiwikraft could go at different speeds tho?


Posted By: Davo
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2015 at 8:34pm
How many mm is the hull on the dna 5.7? Looks good


Posted By: rahui
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2015 at 8:54pm

kiwi all the way, what about the new stabis I have read there ride is impressive




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