EXCLUSIVE TEST: Haines Hunter 760R Limited & twin 225hp Yamaha four-strokes
This big new offshore sportfisher from an iconic Aussie boat builder is set to become a classic. JIM HARNWELL reports.
THERE are two words that best describe Haines Hunter’s new flagship 760R Limited. The first I’m not allowed to publish and the second is “awesome”.
This boat has been some years in the making. The design and manufacturing team at Haines Hunter have been fastidious in their approach to creating this vessel – and this has obviously paid off in regards to the boat’s level of fit-out, clever use of space and on-water performance.
I was invited to a sneak preview of the hull in unfinished form at Haines Hunter’s Melbourne factory earlier this year. While I was there I worked a deal with Haines Hunter MD John Haber to get an exclusive on it when it was eventually launched. As soon as I saw the prototype hull I knew that this boat would be something special and I wanted Fisho readers to be the first to get a good look at it.
Interestingly enough, the genesis of this boat has coincided with the development of Victoria’s southern bluefin tuna fishery. For the past few seasons Victorian and southern NSW anglers have experienced champagne fishing for these tough-fighting tuna. Anyone lucky enough to experience SBT action over the past year or so will know that there are some pretty big trailerboats being used by super-keen gamefishos to access the tuna grounds. Due to its hull design, stability and roominess, the 760R Classic is without doubt an ideal platform from which to target SBTs in the often-boisterous conditions off ports like Apollo Bay and Portsea in Victoria and Eden and Bermagui in NSW. The boat would be equally at home punching into a nor-easter on the way out to the shelf at Port Stephens, Jervis Bay or off Sydney. Fitted up with a set of good outriggers, a downrigger or two, a couple of tuna/slimy tubes and an array of shiny gold reels in the rocket launchers, this big new Haines Hunter will surely be of interest to any cashed-up angler who wants what could well be the ultimate in Aussie-made trailerable gameboats.
With the boat’s offshore gamefishing credentials in mind, it was a good thing that the test run was conducted in choppy, overcast conditions out of Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay. Not great for taking pretty pictures but the sloppy lm seas enabled us to get an idea of how the hull would perform in typical offshore fishing conditions. As this is a serious bluewater fishing boat, there’s no point taking it for a test run in flat calm water, is there?
First things first, however. Let’s take a walk through this imposing vessel. As this is the launch model, it’s been blinged up big time. John Haber and his team don’t do things by halves and this boat is most definitely a hamburger with the lot! Interestingly, all the features of the test boat, apart from the electronics, are standard items on the “Limited” model. When you start to list what’s available as standard, you begin to realise that this is no ordinary boat.
The test boat was fitted with a top-of-the-line electronics package involving a flush mounted Furuno FCV-295 sounder and flush mounted Garmin GPSMap 7012 touchscreen sounder/plotter plus no less than three thru-hull 3kW transducers (one each for the Furuno and Garmin plus one dedicated to low frequency work). This big money electronics pack is similar to that which you’d find on a dedicated flybridge game boat. In order to reduce costs, you’d easily get away with a single Garmin 7012 or maybe a 12-inch Simrad NSE. Also fitted is a Garmin GHX 10 autopilot, a state-of-the-art Rockford Fosgate stereo system with twin subs and four speakers, Lenco trim tabs and a Garmin 200i VHF radio.
A massive illuminated Ritchie compass is mounted down on the cabin bulkhead at about knee hight when seated.
Apart from the (optional) twin 12-inch screens, the stylish dash also sports twin top-of-the-line LAN gauges for the Yammie 225s, plus stop/start panels and synchronised binnacle controls (nicely mounted on a moulded platform on the lower starboard section of the helm).
Other notable features include a cork floor (easy to clean and non-slip, even when covered in tuna blood), a remote control Guest spotlight on the bow, a Haines Hunter anchor winch, three Ultimate gel mat batteries down under the transom (one for each engine and one as the house battery all fitted with voltage control relays) and a manual bilge pump in case the battery powered one in the bilge fails.
The boat is self-draining, with massive bronze scuppers draining water but not allowing any in. We backed the boat up into the swell to test the scuppers out. There were gurgling noises but not a drop of water flowed in.
A massive 700 litre insulated and plumbed underfloor kill tank located amidships would hold all the tuna you could possibly ever need. A second, slightly smaller kill tank positioned further forwards could also be used for fish and/or gear storage. Twin 65 litre livebait tanks (complete with waterproof lights!) each side of the transom would hold enough slimies or yakkas for even the biggest day’s gamefishing and a well-designed bait station provides for rigging duties plus rod storage.
A nifty swivelling lean seat, complete with sturdy rod holders, would doubtless make fighting a big bluefin an easier affair. This seat can be removed, freeing up deck space for socialising or less intensive fishing expeditions.
The actual deck itself is a vast open platform free of clutter and with nice high gunwales offering security when locked up on big fish. The smooth moulded coamings are fitted with side pockets portside for rods and/or gaffs and very clever custom designed fender holders are on the starboard side. Six custom made HH branded stainless steel 130lb rated rod holders (three on each side) are fitted. These rod holders are plumbed, meaning that any water that sprays or washes in goes into the bilge, not into the hull.
The starboard side coaming features a lift-out door amidships, handy for reboarding after swimming or diving and also for dragging big fish aboard.
The entire boat is foam filled and the gunwales are actually airtight, further increasing the hull’s positive buoyancy rating. Like many boats in the Haines Hunter range, the 760R Classic is built to 2C Survey ratings.
A well-made canopy, fitted with custom made clears, smick stainless steel framework and a 10 pack rocket launcher for rod storage (plus a base for a centre ’rigger), provides plenty of shelter while allowing windows to be unzipped for a bit of breeze on a nice day. The canopies are customised for individual buyers. When you place an order, the Haines Hunter technicians measure you and make the canopy to suit your particular height requirements. Pretty cool, hey? For those wanting the security and protection of a full cabin, a 760 with a fully enclosed hardtop cabin is currently being designed.
I saw a prototype at the Haines Hunter factory after we tested the 760R Classic – it looks like a scaled down version of a flybridge cruiser!
Interestingly, the test boat had no passenger seat fitted, just a nicely padded box-mounted pedestal chair on the starboard side for the skipper. This single seat design concept is the brain child of HH’s John Haber. I reckon he’s on the money – the amount of space and easier access to the cabin enabled by the lack of a seat portside is bloody fantastic. Who really needs to sit down when you’re fishing or travelling offshore anyway? If you do need seating, Haber and his team offer a padded icebox as an option.
The lockable cabin featured well padded upholstery, full lining, a Porta Potti, lighting, roof mounted storage for game rods and access to the bow via a clear hatch. I’m 183cm tall and could lie down and stretch out comfortably. You’d certainly be able to spend a night or two in here with your missus if you like to enjoy a bit of on-water romance. Or you could fill the cabin up with lure bags and tackle. The choice is yours …
While lying around in the cab I made a point of removing the hatch behind the console and inspecting all the wiring – as expected, it was a super neat job with all cables labelled and nicely laid out. Inferior wiring often lets boats down but after having a bit of a poke around in the bowels of the 760 I’d be extremely surprised if any electrical faults became an issue with this particular boat.
All in all, it was hard to fault the 760R Limited in terms of fit-out, available deck space and fishability.
Performance
The test boat was fitted with twin 225 Yamaha four-strokes, the max HP the boat is rated for. John Haber said twin 150s would be an ideal match for the hull with a single 300 also being a good option. The twin V6 Yammies provided blistering performance. While blasting out of Port Phillip Bay John pushed the throttles down and really gave the boat some stick. The ordinary conditions prevented us from reaching WOT but even still we were travelling at 50+ knots over sloppy seas. That’s pretty fast but the boat hung in there with minimal pounding or banging. The engines were chewing through 140lph, which is a lot of fuel, but you have to remember that we were travelling in rough seas at almost 100kph. Bringing the revs back to the 3000rpm mark saw a very nice and comfortable cruise of 27 knots using 45lph, which is amazing economy for a big boat with 450hp pushing it. The heavy deep vee hull ate the slop and chop, whether head-on, following or beam on. The 500-litre fuel tank provides for massive range – some 300 nautical miles if you cruised at 3000rpm. When trolling you can turn off and trim up one motor to maximise economy. Interestingly, the boat performed well powered by a single 225. It worked hard to get the boat up on the plane but once there we easily managed a fast cruise of 37 knots at 4500rpm. That’s the great benefit of twins – it’s nice to know that if you have an engine fail, you’ve got another one to get you home.
The twin Yammies, with their 4.2 litre V6 donks and variable camshaft timing, possessed seemingly limitless torque. Pushing the throttle down at 30 knots saw the 760R leap out of the water and take off like a high-performance bass boat. Awesome stuff. The Haines Hunter guys are still fine-tuning props to get maximum performance and fuel economy. We had 19-inchers on during the test day but a set of 17-inch props trialled previously resulted in higher top end speed. It has to be said that there’s no need whatsoever to bolt 450hp onto this boat; 300hp – either with twin 150s or a single – is more than enough. But if you like the feeling of raw power that these Yamaha 225s give the boat, and if you have deep pockets, then by all means go for it.
As you’d expect from a boat of this size and weight, lateral stability at rest was impressive. Even beam-on in the chop and swell, hull transition was predictable and gentle. You’d have no issues in all but the wildest seas having three or four anglers jigging or cubing from one or other side of the boat.
As tested, the hull comes in at around 1750 kilos. On a steel tandem axle trailer, with the twin 225s and half a tank of fuel, the test boat comes in at about 3.9 tonnes, which restricts it to being towed by anything other than a small truck. Fitted with twin 150s or a single 300, the 760R comes in at under 3.5 tonnes, which makes it suitable to tow behind a Landcruiser, F250 or Land Rover. Haines Hunter use and recommend Oceanic trailers from Queensland.
All up, this is an impressive offshore fishing trailerboat that will have definite appeal with serious sport and gamefishermen. As tested, it is a premium priced sportfisher loaded to the gunwales with top-end electronics and gear. Opting for more modest electronics and smaller engines will bring the price down significantly but won’t impact in the hull’s seaworthiness or performance. If you like catching tuna and marlin but don’t want the hassle and expense of a moored game boat, then the Haines Hunter 760R Limited could be the boat for you.
Haines Hunter 760R Limited
LOA: 8.20m
Beam: 2.50m
Fuel: 500 litres
Power: As tested, twin 225hp Yamahas.
Rec: Twin x 150hp
Weight: As tested, the boat has a tow weight of 3.9 tonnes.
Price: As tested: POA. Starts at $130,000
Contact: Haines Hunter, 1300 42 46 37, haineshunter.com.au
