AUSTRALIANS are lucky to have a wide range of boats to choose for fishing and recreation.
I recently spent time travelling across several US states and was interested to see what the locals were using for fishing. Interestingly, the choice of boat was largely dictated by the area or state. For example, Floridians mostly use large fibreglass boats or fibreglass flats boats if they’re fishing shallow water. They don’t often use aluminium in the salt! However, moving inland and aluminium boats are the dominant watercraft for the freshwater lakes and rivers in the north west. Then there are the high powered bass boats for zipping around the giant inland lakes. Yet these are fibreglass. Confused yet?
We do it differently here in Australia. It’s a more eclectic mix of boats. Aluminium boats are popular in the fresh and salt, as are fibreglass boats. Boat choice, materials and designs are far more malleable and that’s a great thing! After all, the choice of boat for many people comes down to opinions and impression formed over generations. There’s also great deal of misinformation and boat owners are often afraid of change.
The offshore tinny
Let’s explore offshore aluminium boats. What are their advantages, disadvantages, and how to get the most from your chosen boat. We’ll also serve up some of the best alloy offshore boats on the market.
The humble tinny has come a long way. It’s an iconic Aussie boat; a simple and basic vessel built for fishing without all of the bells and whistles.
Typically, when we talk about a “tinny”, we’re referring to a small aluminium boat. Usually it’s about 12 foot long, open configuration with a small tiller steer outboard on the transom.
These are great boats and generations of Australians have used them for catching fish all over the country.
These days, however, the choice of tinny has expanded and many are well suited for offshore game fishing. Many of these boats are designed for rough water and feature modern marine electronics and all of the essential features you would expect from a serious offshore fishing boat.
While the traditional 12 foot tinny doesn’t make for a safe offshore fishing boat, how big should a boat be before it’s considered an offshore boat? It’s a tough question to answer. Some modern boats are safer than others. There are different hull designs, and levels of flotation. Some hulls are self-draining and many modern boats feature state-of-the-art navigation, sonar and satellite communication.
As a general rule, and this largely depends on weather and location, I’d consider boats over five metres to be suitable for offshore fishing. Typically, the bigger the better for handling offshore, although less suitable for towing. It’s a compromise. Many offshore boats have cabins. Cabins offer the best protection from spray and wayward waves in bad weather. They’re not necessarily safer than an open boat, but they sure are more comfortable if you plan on spending most of your time offshore.
Cabins can impede on space and some fishos prefer open boats, even if the weather protection suffers. Again, it depends on your location, how often you fish offshore and the type of weather you’re likely to experience. The choice of boat to fish offshore from Tasmania chasing tuna during the cooler months would differ compared with someone chasing mackerel of the coast of Queensland.
Why choose an aluminium offshore boat?
There are endless debates on social media and magazines about the pros and cons of aluminium and fibreglass. Some boat owners think aluminium is superior, others swear by fibreglass. There’s no right or wrong answers and I’m definitely a fence sitter when it comes to choosing between aluminium and ‘glass. They’re both fantastic materials for boats and both have loads of advantages. I own both!
Let’s look at some of the advantages of aluminium in offshore boats.
It’s easy to maintain and great for those who are rough on their gear. They can handle small scratches and scuff marks. Although, while small repairs are straight forward, larger repairs can be expensive and difficult to cosmetically restore. The good news is offshore boats are far less likely to get damaged on beaches and rocks compared to a boat fishing around sunken timber and snags.
Another advantage of aluminium is its lightness. This makes them easier to tow and handle. If you can’t afford a big powerful car for towing, a lighter aluminium offshore boat may be a good choice.
That said, some aluminium plate boats do weigh a lot and the difference between a big solid plate boat and a comparable fibreglass boat may not be as much as you would think.
“Plate” boats, as opposed to “press aluminium”, are typically constructed using thicker sheets of aluminium and constructed differently. They’re tougher, heavier and generally more expensive.
It’s similar to the aluminium vs fibreglass debate. There are many pros and cons of each and it’s best to avoid the “noise from the sidelines” on social media when making your choice.
Heavier plate boats usually offer a better ride than a light boat. Lighter boats can bounce around in rougher water.
That said, some modern press alloy boats feature clever hull designs which allow for a smooth, dry ride in rougher water.
The above point about hull design is one of the reasons aluminium is so popular. Boat manufacturers can design and make incremental changes more easily than fibreglass. As a result, each year we see more innovation come from aluminium hull shapes and interiors. Each change makes them better at performance and for fishing. It’s the reason why an aluminium boat from 30 or 40 years ago looks so very different to the average “tinny” today.
Modifications and customisation are another advantage of these boats. When you order an one, there are often many options available. You can order more or less rod holders, outriggers, electric motors, electronics, choice of paint etc. The nature of aluminium allows for more options on your boat.
It’s the same after the purchase. Often you will own a boat for a while and decide you need to make some modifications. With alloy it’s quite easy to make those additions to the boat. For example, bolting an electric trolling motor, or even fitting simple gunwale rod holders is a simple task in an aluminium boat.
Offshore boat check list
So far we’ve looked at the pros and cons of aluminium boats. And again, let’s emphasise that there are no right or wrongs. Fibreglass boats are fantastic and have several advantages, as are aluminium. It often comes down to personal choice and your own unique set of circumstances.
If you do decide to choose an aluminium boat for offshore fishing, here are some the items and options I consider essential.
Quality electronics
Quality marine electronics are considered a must-have these days. There’s never been a better time to buy electronics with so much choice at a great price.
Regardless of brand, ensure you choose a unit suitable for offshore use. You will be fishing deeper water and many of the entry level systems aren’t capable of performing well offshore. You will need a specific transducer and a sonar unit designed for deep water.
It also pays to have up-to-date mapping software for the area you intend to fish, and if the budget permits, even a radar for extra peace of mind.
Outboards
Ensure your boat has the maximum horsepower that’s rated for your boat. Modern four stroke outboards are fuel efficient and reliable. These are important when you’re travelling many miles offshore. You don’t want to be spending too much on fuel and you certainly don’t want to breakdown. As such, don’t try and save money on an outboard. Buy the best and most suitable outboard you can afford.
Trailers
Again, boats for offshore fishing are big and a quality dual axle trailer is worth its weight in gold. Choose a trailer that’s designed for your boat. It will make driving the boat on and off the trailer much less stressful. A quality trailer will also be much safer on the road and will give you years of use without unexpected problems.
Accessories
Ample rod holders are essential. I can’t recall anyone saying their boat had too many rod holders! Some should be in the gunwale, and others on top of the cabin. These are called “rocket launchers” and are great for stowing rods that aren’t being used at the time.
Serious game fishing boats also have outriggers. These are used to set up a spread of lures for trolling for big gamefish.
Livewells are another essential item. Thankfully, most decent trailer boats come standard with live wells. They’e essential for keeping bait fresh.
Ample storage for keeping safety gear and also a “kill tank” under the floor where you can keep fish cold after capture is very useful.
Conclusion
Alloy boats make for great offshore vessels. They’re typically lighter, more affordable to purchase, and can also be more affordable to run. Plus, they’re easily customisable, sturdy and the choice of models and designs are endless.
Five of the best
YELLOWFIN EXTENDED CABIN RANGE
THE latest Extended Cabin range from Yellowfin marks the brand’s 40-year-old boat brand anniversary. The latest models – the Extended Cabin YF-70 and YF-76 – are a relaunch of Yellowfin’s Southerner range and are loaded with new innovations and plenty of clever features.
As the name suggests, the latest iteration features a more spacious cabin area. Importantly, the roomier cabin isn’t at the expense of fishing cockpit space. The cabin is higher and wider and still allows for generous fishing space where it counts.
The hard top configuration and increased room makes it a perfect option for serious offshore fishing where protection from the elements is a must. It allows all of your crew to stay safe and dry under way and plenty of space for the family to stay dry or protected from the sun on those family outings.
Yellowfin has produced a cleverly designed boat with a generous number of standard features, not to mention the fully spec’d Fishing Edition with all the bells and whistles.
BAR CRUSHER 730 HT
Constructed from heavy duty, high-tensile 5mm (bottom sides) and 4mm (top sides) marine grade plate aluminium, each model features Bar Crusher’s high-tech Waveslicer deep-V hull for a smooth ride, expertly-engineered Rigideck sub-floor system for maximum hull strength, and Quickflow water ballast technology to ensure each boat is extremely stable at rest.
A toughened safety glass windscreen and all-weather hard top allows full standing room and an unobstructed 360-degree view from the helm, while sliding side windows provide plenty of ventilation on hot days. The spacious cabin and bunk provides comfortable accommodation for extended trips up and down the coast.
FORMOSA SRT PRO 635
Designed and built in Tingalpa, Brisbane, Formosa Marine builds a plate boat construction with a superior underfloor lock-cell design giving the floor structural reinforcement, ensuring the main traffic areas are solid underfoot and provides greater overall hull strength to handle the rigours of open water boating. Box style side ribs act as support and house wiring and tubing internally to keep your deck clean and free of obstructions.
STACER SEA RUNNER 589
Stacer’s Sea Runner is a versatile light offshore and bay boat.
The Sea Runner features Stacey’s Revolution Hull. Previously only available on the Sea Master, Crossfire, Assault Pro and Wild Rider models, the Revolution Hull is now available on even more Stacer boats, including the Sea Runner.
The 589 Sea Runner carries seven people and features 3mm topsides and 4mmm bottom sides.With a maximum 150hp outboard and 110litres fuel capacity, the Sea Runner would make an affordable and capable offshore boat, one that’s also easy to tow.
Stabicraft 1850 Supercab
The 1850 Supercab is a reboot of a classic Stabicraft model, revisited and reinvigorated with a new and modern aesthetic reflective of Stabicraft’s latest design DNA.
The 1850 Supercab Sportfish package raises the level of standard fitment by also including a raft of popular options that include Stage-1 paint, elite bolster seats, cabin lining, hydraulic steering, baitboard and even more. EVA foam is standard fitment on coamings and topside surfaces while full EVA flooring remains a selectable option. This package is made up of all the most popular options and caters for the buyer looking for a compact hardtop boat that ticks all the boxes.
First published in the Nautilus Marine Magazine. More info at nautilusinsurance.com.au/lifestyle/magazine
