Stabicraft 1650 Fisher – family fishing fun

TrailerboaT TrialsBy Sam Mossman

Invercargill-based boat manufacturer Stabicraft Marine was onto a good thing when it pioneered the construction of aluminium pontoon or 'tube' boats back in 1987.

With great advantages in reserve buoyancy, stability and load-carrying ability, these craft initially struck a nerve with commercial fishermen and divers who valued function over form, before branching into the recreational market.

Stabicraft has continued to advance its designs with filled-in transoms, 'D' section pontoons, improved layouts, more attractive cosmetics (including fibreglass tops) and, more recently, a ‘Game Chaser’ transom and ‘Arrow’ pontoon design.

A quarter of a century in the business sees them the largest builder of trailerboats in the country, with 53 staff and an output potential of 600 boats a year with a single shift working. Six staff members are employed on research and development, and a global network of 23 dealers includes New Zealand, Australia, the USA and New Caledonia.

Specialist sales have included the recent design, manufacture and export of nine boats to monitor Alaskan fisheries.

There are four standard Stabicraft ranges: the Fishers, the Explorers, the Frontiers and the Supercabs. It was for a new model of the venerable Fisher range, the 1650, that I travelled to magnificent Lake Wanaka in the central South Island to test.

I was met by Stabicraft’s marketing co-ordinator Tim van Duyl, along with Adam Marshall, who handles retail sales for Stabicraft and whose personal boat we were using for the test.

Safety firstStabicraft is a household name

in New Zealand (at least in those right-minded households that are interested in boating) and is famous for its stability and high level of reserve buoyancy. The 1650 Fisher is no exception, with an excess of buoyancy over rig weight of about 840kg – impressive for a 5m (16.5’) boat – and rated to carry up to five adults, the pontoon design giving excellent load-carrying capacity.

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This hull features a 4mm bottom, 3mm pontoons and 3mm Treadplate deck. The deadrise at the transom is 17.5°. Lengthways, the hull is supported by the pontoons and two full-length bearers; laterally there are two bulkheads and the transom. The welding is tidy and has been left unground for maximum strength.

Incorporated into the design are Stabi’s ‘Game Chaser’ transom and ‘Arrow’ pontoon profile. The Game Chaser design incorporates the engine pod into the stern, improving aft buoyancy, lift and steering when going astern. Although you are unlikely to back down on a fish in a boat of this size (forward chase is much more practical), these are useful attributes if the boat were to take a big wave on the stern or for close-quarters manoeuvring.

The ‘Arrow’ pontoon design relates to re-profiling of the pontoon shape where the bottom and pontoon meet. The wetted surface area has been fined out at this point, reducing any tendency to pound in a short chop. Buoyancy, however, has not been compromised according to Stabicraft.

The forward section of the boat is lined with marine carpet to the bottom of the pontoons, while the cockpit and outsides are painted to the deck/waterline. Adam has opted for bright orange paintwork – presumably partly for safety reasons. Inside, the pontoons are finished with attractive gray-stipple paint. The paintwork and lining are optional, but well executed, and the finished result looks very sharp.

Top performanceThe test rig was powered by a

Yamaha 100hp four-stroke outboard – right at the top end of the 60-100hp recommended range. It was spinning a 19” pitch prop and fed from an optional 100-litre under-floor tank.

It was a magnificent day on Lake Wanaka, with only about five knots of breeze, and the snow-capped peaks of Mount Aspiring and the Southern Alps forming a stunning backdrop.

While not quite the conditions to bring out the Stabi’s well-known ability to handle the rough, or enable an assessment of what improvements in ride might be afforded by the new ‘Arrow’ pontoon profile, it was a fabulous day for boating, exploring the lake, and even doing a little fishing. The only waves available were the wakes of other boats and launches;

just enough to confirm that the hull is a soft lander and travelled dry in the calm conditions.

The flat lake was ideal, however, to see what sort of speed could be coaxed out of the rig. The engine is rated for top-end revs of 5500-6000, and with two of us aboard, 6000rpm and 36 knots (66.7kph) was produced. These revs indicate a good prop match although you could go slightly coarser in pitch if you wanted. Trimmed so that pretty much only the prop was in the water and with just me aboard, the 1650 scraped up another couple of knots, achieving 71kph (38.3 knots) at 6100rpm – fair flying for a 5m rig and possible only in calm conditions.

Anchoring optionsThis is an area of the new design

that Stabicraft is still tinkering with. Owner Adam says he usually drift-fishes or trolls, and doesn’t anchor much. The test boat has a relatively shallow anchor well with two tie-off positions, of which the rear one appeared the most useful and easily reached. A smart-looking stainless fairlead is mounted on the bowsprit, with a locking pin to constrain the warp (this is an optional upgrade; a similar aluminium version is standard).

The central section of the windscreen hinges back to allow easy access to the anchor well from inside the boat, but the fairlead cannot be reached from there, so the anchor would need to be permanently mounted on the bow to avoid climbing out around the side of the cabin to place it in position when required.

If doing much anchoring, Stabi

The bow layout features

anchor well, bow sprit with

fairlead and bow rails.

The bolster on the front of the helm seat rolls back to allow more room when

standing at the helm.

offers an optional Stress-free drum anchor winch, which would be a good way to go – or, with the fairlead pin removed, lifting the anchor with a float and stowing the warp in a fish bin is another option.

Travelling in comfortThe bow section is what Stabi calls

the ‘dump zone’, with a low bulkhead constraining gear in the bow and doubling as a foot rest. Additional stowage is in side shelves atop the

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pontoons.The 4mm toughened-glass

windscreen does a good job of cutting wind-rush when travelling seated. Optional bimini top/rocket launcher and clears combinations are available for those who want more protection from the elements. Grab rails are fitted along the back edge of each side of the screen.

With the centre section of the dash cut away to allow access through the fold-back section of the ‘screen, the dash is reduced to two small triangular trays – enough for stowing odds and ends – lined with Octitread panels, as are the gunwales. A Uniden UM 380 VHF and Lowrance Sonic Hub are recessed into the passenger’s console, while a Lowrance HDS7 Gen-2 sounder/GPS, switching and engine instrumentation are set into the helm

side. The throttle/shift is standard Yamaha and steering is via cable Ultraflex non-feedback, which seems quite adequate. Hydraulic steering is offered as an option.

The helm seating is cantilevered out off the sides and the mounts offer two levels of built-in stowage. Various seating options are offered and Adam has upgraded to the Ocean bolster seats: big, comfortable, upholstered units with flip-up fronts to allow more space when standing. Additional seating is provided by fold-up seats in the stern corners.

Side shelving runs the full length of the cockpit; wide enough for skis and long enough for average fishing rods. Hand rails are fitted along the side, and a decent rubbing strip protects the hull from getting knocked around.

The sealed Treadplate deck drains

A two-step ‘T’ boarding

ladder is ideal for divers,

who can leave their fins on

while using it.

The forward ‘dump zone’ stowage space features a low rear bulkhead to prevent items

from sliding back.

The rear cockpit corners offer

additional fold-down seating.

to a sump under the stern, from where any water is removed by a 500gph bilge pump. A locker with hatch entry is built on the transom. Inside this is the battery in a well-protected position. A ski pole can be mounted here, too. This unit can also be configured in other ways, which we will come to in a

minute.On the rear edge of the transom is

the fuel port for the optional under-floor tank; this position makes fuel spillage into the cockpit unlikely when fuelling. The fuel line between the transom and the deck has a protective guard. Over the transom wall are two

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Specifications

Material: aluminium

Configuration: pontoon cuddy

LOA: 5m (16.5’)

External beam: 2.15m

Internal beam: 1.65m

Bottom: 4mm

Pontoons and topsides: 3mm

Recommended HP: 60-100hp

Test engine: Yamaha 100hp 4-stroke

Prop: 19” pitch

Trailer: Mudgway

Tow weight: 1100kg

Key-turn package: $34,990 (60hp Yamaha

2-stroke)

Price as tested: $54,200

Test boat courtesy of Adam Marshall/Stabicraft.

1) Side shelving offers useful stowage space. 2) Electronics and instrument gauges are flush-mounted into the dash. 3) A Uniden UM 380

VHF and Lowrance Sonic Hub are recessed into the passenger’s console. 4) A bait-station can be fitted atop the transom locker; a live-bait

tank can be added. 5) The opening central section of the ‘screen allows easy access to the anchor well.

1 2 3

4

5

boarding platforms, also with non-slip Octitread panels applied. The port-side one is fitted with a fold-down, two-step T boarding ladder.

Basic fishing funThe stability of this boat, added to

the secure footing provided by the Treadplate decking, makes for a good basic fishing platform, although the rise of the pontoon sides prevents anglers from standing upright while leaning on the gunwales.

Two alloy through-gunwale rod holders are fitted along each side and a further two on the rear of the transom-mounted bait-station. Gimbal pins are fitted to help hold the rods square, although it is always better to see these running fore and aft, rather than side to side, so the gimbal nocks do not bind onto them under the pressure of a heavy fish, making it hard to pull the rod from the holder.

Matching the rod holders are

recessed cup holders – useful for keeping drinks from tipping over, and also a handy spot to put a sinker while baiting hooks or moving spots.

The bait-station on the transom is designed to bolt to the top of the stern locker and features cutting board, rear drainage, knife slot, grab rails and the two rod holders and cup holders already mentioned. The stern locker can also have a 66-litre live-bait tank added as an option. This is mounted atop the battery compartment (which is slightly reduced in size), with the cutting board forming the lid and a viewing window being added to make it easy to check on the baitfish’ health. A Bimini top and rocket launcher combination is also offered, which increases rod-storage opportunities.

The stability and boarding ladder make this hull suitable for divers.

On the roadThe test boat was carried on a

galvanised Mudgway-built trailer. This is a single axle, cradle A-frame design with zinc-protected leaf-spring suspension. The wheel rims and guards are also galvanised, and other features include: submersible LED lights; a manual winch; wind-down jockey wheel; spare trailer wheel; and four pairs of wobble rollers to a side.

Tow weight for the rig, fully fuelled, is 1100kg.

All in allStabicraft’s Tim van Duyl told me

that the focus of this hull is entry-level fishing and family fun. It succeeds admirably in these goals, being affordable, stable (and with the safety of a high level of reserve buoyancy), easily towable, a good-on-water performer, and well-suited to basic fishing and diving applications, as well as having plenty of boogie for skiing and towing water toys.

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