So I'm seeking advice for my first boat in Auckland. I'm not new to fishing but I am to boating specially the ocean. For the past few years I have been rock fishing and jumping onto mates boats (glass 5.3m) and charters. 

My budget for this is $10k and could stretch it to $13/15k all in (sounder, lifejackets, anchor, etc). 

I am thinking a little dinghy for two adults to go in-shore fishing around the Auckland harbour/gulf (waiheke, the noises, coromandel, etc), small enough to beach launch, and maybe take it up or down north of auckland over the weekends. After extensive reading I have somehow landed on getting a Smartwave 3500 with a 25hp 2 stroke. That is until I saw it in person.

I managed to talk the guys at Kev & Ian's about the Smartwave's and couldn't help to realise how tiny the 3500 feels (specially with the console installed), and how nice and almost 'perfect' the 4200 looks. Yet the latter has an extra problem (to me): is almost twice the weight (550/600kg vs 300/400kg) and the money to the sw3500 ($23k vs $10k (open boat)) and I dont want to get another towing car or change my current one. 

So after all that bla bla, what are your thoughts/experiences with the sw3500 for two adults to go fishing say Orakei to The noises and back? I feel i might be 'limited' to what I can/could do/go with the sw3500?

I've been told, you're gonna sweet 'on a fine day', but little boats struggle otherwise... I'd love to know what a 'fine day' means (other than the obvious of little to no wind/swell/chops) and what a 'rough day' is.

Last but not least, I do understand a bigger boat offer a 'nicer/dryer/softer ride', which brings me to my counter thoughts of getting a slightly longer/bigger RIB instead of the SW3500 for the same money?

Any thoughts, inputs, links, would be much appreciated from a complete newbie boatie. (I do have my 'skipper day' course approved and all)

I would say the Noises would be real easy in 10 knots in the 3500 but a struggle in 15 knots and damn hard in 20. You need to really watch the weather forecast and also what changes occur while you're out there.

In a small boat especially take note of wind direction

A hell of a lot more room than a smartwave...

Of course how rough it is depends on many factors such as wind vs tide direction, amount of fetch etc..  I would say that 10knots wind against tide coming back from the noises would be unpleasant on a boat that small.

Been caught out in wind vs tide chop up to and in blows up to and past 20knots in places including Auckland harbour, the Tamaki Strait, Lake Tarawera, and off Whangamata.  Once in Nelson Haven with two adults (200kg) and 3 small kids on board. I put my whole family on it other times and once I gained confidence in it never felt like I wouldn't get home. 

It's the most confidence inspiring boat of that size I could imagine. 

However by reading these plus some other private messages, it seems that the SW3500 might be 'too small', therefore 'not so safe' or 'water ready' as larger vessel would be, which I can understand. On the other hand though, the few 'positive' comments have been so far from people actually owning or past owners of this boat, which is quite interesting... 

Sadly Samartwave boats seem to be in high demand according to some Marine dealers around Auckland, so can't test them myself. Will try to go this Saturday to check out some places (covid permitting tho)

Thanks for the advice on trying Ali boats and those little catamarans! 

No, I did not know about these guys! I have spoken to Blair (owner) and will go on a test drive this Saturday (covid permitting)

These look cool! 

WOW! that is nice feedback, you certainly have pushed the 'limits' of this little boat, have you? I wonder, do you still have/own this boat or have moved to another type/bigger boat since?

 haha, I have a Corolla GX HAtchback 1.8L that according to AA it can only tow 450kg MAX! - however it rates the Yaris 1.3 up to 550kg!   - https://www.aa.co.nz/cars/owning-a-car/towing/towing-weights/toyota/

I'm sure those figures are conservative, but if anything goes wrong while towing a slightly heavier boat, im sure the insurance company will give me trouble!

that's very good to know! do you still have it? or have moved to a bigger boat?

I also had a family of five with growing kids. I am currently building a 5.3m boat from glass/epoxy/plywood composite. 

It really depends what you want to do with it. Obviously no 3.5m boat would be the first choice for trips to the Noises, but most of your intended locations are closer to shore. If you are willing to wait for good weather you will have a lot of fun with it, and catch fish. I wouldn't cross the Manakau or any bar with it, but I know for a fact you can launch at Manu and get out West. The guy I sold it to planned to keep it at a Waiheke bach, and I took it over there once. For the Firth, Mercury bay, harbour fishing, Coromandel beach launching etc it will work if well set up.

Really the only conditions to be aware of is tight, steep closely spaced chop. This isn't dangerous if you keep the bow into it, but it will be uncomfortable, and you might get wet. I once took my daughter and MIL out 10km off Raglan and got caught with a breeze change funnelling over the mountain. Waves up to 1m and close together. It wasn't fun but we did get home, and never felt in danger. Little water in the boat. I always went out in the morning after that. 

There are advantages to a smaller boat. It was so cheap to run with a 4s that I never had to budget trips. Always had plenty of range on one 12l tank. I had more fishing room than a 5m cuddy and could tow it and launch it anywhere. If you have growing kids, or want to go out after Marlin then it's not going to be for you, but for fishing I wouldn't swap it for a RIB. Maybe an Arancia for the rocks. 

The reasons not to buy a dinghy as a first boat would be: kids need a place to sleep, want to get out further, and have the budget to pay for it. If you don't mind dropping 30k on a 5m then go for it. You could get a 4m for 10-15k or so and this would also be an option. 

Wow, thanks for dropping that in. I had no idea about that and have just spent 30 minutes educating myself online about Newtons (measure of force) in relation to wind.

While it gave me nasty flashbacks to my inability at school to understand maths equations, I kept going and indeed worked out (I think) that at sea level the force of 10kts is 32.5N, and 15kts is 73N...so as you say, 2.24 x the force.

Fascinating, and good to keep in mind as a small boat owner.

You've got some excellent direct feedback from the likes of Spin King. Nothing better than first-hand long-term experience with particular hulls.

I'd recommend adding the FC390 ali to your 'have a look' list in that less than 4m size range. A couple of Forum regulars including FarQuirk (who posts in the Out with the Twelves thread) own and rate them. He regularly launches at Okahu and fishes around the islands, or tows further afield. Marco makes a 4m dory which looks well designed and worth comparing.

Great that you are doing sea trials - that's very worth the time and effort. Standing/sitting in a boat on the water feels completely different to on land, and it's the only way to get a feel for the boat's ride. 

As others have said, in sensible conditions you will have a lot of fun and good fishing in a small boat, and a good small boat will get you home if the weather turns with sensible skippering (and you've already done your course, good on you!).

 

Take your time (as you are obviously doing), choose what suits YOUR circumstances the best, and good luck. See you out there!

Crikey that is surprising I thought they were reso dry and handled good chop?

OP, I'd go for the 4200 in an open boat if you can swing it, or a 4m pontoon. But if it has to be a 3.5m boat the SW is really hard to beat. 

Hey Spin King, thanks so much for your input. 

re the FATCAT's I am test driving it tomorrow actually. But after seeing some videos about (and also someone else commenting here) it seems that the boat despite being/looking extremely spadeful seems like a 'wet' ride. much so than many other dinghies? I wonder why they would add or extended those gunnels a bit? anyhow, will report back tomorrow after the fact. 

Also, thanks for sharing those photos, I could resist to sneak out through your instagram account, and it seems you've had a blast with that SW3500! however I was wondering about that other grey boat that shows up on some of your photos, is that the SW4200? or is it also a SW3500 e-Fish?

I will take extra notes on the ride for the FATCAT, otherwise it does look like a great alternative to the Smartwave boats. 

I saw the SW4200 open boat at the marine the other week, and man it seems I could fit a whole party in that thing , though the 4200 with center console also looks very nice, unlike the sw3500 with CC, which seems to use ALOT of real state in that boat. 

Funny you mention the pontoon's, cause Im also eyeing some of those on TM, but it seems that the manufacturers either don't have a fully working website to check out, or what, but yeah a RIB with its lighter weight, might allow me to go over the 4m mark without having to change my car also. 

How did the FATCAT trial go mate??