Knowing that the boss lives in NSW and loving my job here at Fisho, I have to be a little cautious when comparing Queensland to the great southern states.
For that reason, I won’t mention how Queensland has dominated rugby league for the past eight years …
Instead, I’ll play it safe and talk about how Queensland boating manufacturers have the distinct advantage of being able to develop hulls and designs with a little more ease than their colleagues in the south.
Call me biased but the Sunshine State has the weather, waterways, fishing opportunities and lifestyle that’s perfect for inspiring R&D departments.
And I reckon the new Outlaw range from Stacer is a direct result of exactly that sort of inspired design. From lazy days on the water to serious tournament fishing, this is a very neat little package.
With a start price point of just over $35,000, it has so many options covered that it’s sure to be popular amongst anglers in all states – even the southern ones!
Layout
The choice is yours between side and centre console.
Centre consoles have the advantage of being able to offer access right around the boat.
This is a huge benefit when fighting a good fish on light gear, but I did like the fact that the test boat had a side console that was small enough to allow plenty of deck space and room to move but was big enough to support decent sized electronics.
A sounder/GPS combo is standard on sportfishing boats these days so having that sort of gear on top of the console, with a marine radio mounted below, allows the open space on the face of the console to be utilised for engine gauges and various switches.
The test boat didn’t feature gauges for the E-TEC but the space was there, which is good to know.
Being designed to cater for general sportfishing, the 529 Outlaw boasts front and rear casting platforms. These are ideal for not only inshore lure casting but also for soft plasticking for snapper as well as offshore jigging.
In my view, it’s great to see that Stacer – as well as various other boat manufacturers – has listened to anglers and is keeping up with how we like to have our boats laid out.
There are four storage areas under the front casting deck with the large centre compartment able to be plumbed for a live well.
The lid is well sealed with a “slosh proof” setup to avoid losing water from the live well when underway.
There are three additional storage areas under the rear casting deck with the centre area housing the start battery.
The port side has a plumbed bait tank as standard with tackle tray storage and a cutting board lid; more general storage space is in the starboard side compartment.
Side shelves under the gunwales and an anchor well on the bow ensure a clutter free fishing space.
Seating is pedestal type with spigots that allow seats to be removed if fishing alone or the first mate’s chair to be moved forward. An optional spigot is available if required on the front casting deck.
Anglers wanting to add a bow mounted electric motor can do so with the option of the thruster plate up front; two side storage compartments under the casting deck can easily hold a couple of deep cycle marine batteries.
A port side transom step and rail as well as a 95lt under-floor fuel tank finishes a very neat layout.
All up, the design of this boat is based on fishing but is versatile enough to be used on family weekends away or just towing a tube for the kids.
Hull
What a difference smooth sides can make to a painted or, in this case, graphic vinyl wrap, hull. It’s the plate look without the price tag.
While plate boats have obvious advantages over pressed hulls, the on-water performance of the Outlaw proved to be as impressive as its looks.
The sides, bottom and transom are all 3mm aluminum and the EVO Advance Hull provides a clean ride with very good response to any adjustments made at the helm.
The dry hull weighs about 450kgs so add a tank of fuel, two anglers and the 115hp E-TEC and she’s on the water at around 850kgs.
This weight improves the ability of the EVO hull to slice through the rough stuff, providing what I’d call “plate performance” to go with that classic looking plate finish.
The test boat was fitted with its maximum power of 115hp and it launched itself onto the plane like a fighter jet.
I spoke to a mate after taking the test 529 for a run. He drove the same boat with a 75hp outboard and spoke of how efficient is was with 40 less ponies pushing it along. Given that, a 90 would surely be an optimum match with the hull?
The 115hp E-TEC was running a 19-inch Viper prop, which allowed the hull to reach 40 knots at full noise while consuming 39lph.
That’s a fair bit of fuel but a very impressive top speed. Cruising along at 4000 revs, we managed 28 knots for 23lph.
The standard Outlaw is built to fish but there are plenty of options.
Extra rod storage, the thrust plate for bow mounted electric and plumbing for the live well would be priorities for the keen angler, while families may opt for the bimini and envelope (as featured on the test boat).
Graphic vinyl wrap is another option that will not only customise the hull but make the Outlaw stand out in the crowd.
Looks like Queensland has done it again! But somehow I don’t think the southerners are going to be too upset with this win …
The Details: Stacer Outlaw
Length: 5.23m
Beam: 2.25m
Weight: 452kgs (hull only)
Power: Max. 115hp; as tested 115hp
Fuel: 95 litres
Price: As tested, $59,890 (starts at about $35,000)
Contacts: www.stacer.com.au
Star Rating: 4/5
This story was first published in the Fishing World January 2014 issue.
