Boat Reviews

Vindicator trailers come with a spare wheel and spare wheel carrier, Australian jockey wheel, Timken bearings and bearing buddies. The ladder-rack system down the centre of the boat trailers has stainless steel spindles and split pins as well as Australian rollers with a Teflon entry cradle, providing the ability to drive a boat onto the trailer. Adjustable wobble roller racks …

In terms of storage, there is a shelf in the console and room underneath to stretch your legs or stow anything that you want kept within easy reach. Side pockets on either side of the boat also make sure additional items are kept secure and out of the way, leaving your boat clutter-free for fishing. There is bulk storage under …

I’m similar to Goldilocks I guess, I don’t like my boats too big or too small, so the 650 Trident HT felt just right. I spent most of my time in this boat and finished with a wealth of appreciation for the work that has gone into designing and making this range so impressive. Despite four blokes in the boat, …

Summary The Moda Marine Black Diamond BV7000 is a superbly designed fishing and family boat with carefully thought out inclusions and a high standard of construction. www.modamarine.com.au

Another thing worth mentioning is that Procraft fibreglass boats are backed by a five-year fibreglass warranty from The Haines Group, which should instil buyer confidence. As well as this you are getting an Australian manufactured boat designed for our conditions. Since my original test, there have been a few developments with the Procraft 6.2 Walkaround and it now also comes in …

While not specifically designed as an offshore boat, with the right weather and safety gear I would confidently head offshore, say out of Mooloolaba and chance a few longtails. Conversely, this boat would be even more at home on the inshore, bay and estuary scene. Other features I like include the large side pockets, big front casting deck, fully welded …

I AM a very patriotic Australian but need to give credit where credit is due. The rear facing seats could double as a spot to put the kids when under way or a great place to sit back and relax while you fish. It has a rear bench seat that would probably be an even better place to put the kids or crew when under way. The internal design is pretty functional, maximising the room …

A bit of room between the console and casting deck is an ideal place for an Esky. Depending on how you intend to use the boat, you could extend the casting platform so it wraps around the Esky. I guess that is the main advantage of having the boat specifically set up how you want, which is what the guys …

As mentioned, this is the smallest of the Offshore Side Console models, with others between 5.7m and 6.75m overall length. So if you are after a big boat with good performance and heaps of fishing room, it would be worthwhile checking out the Sea-Rod range. Another positive is they are Australian built for our harsh conditions. I was very impressed with the quality of work and in particular the welds. The wide gunwales are fully …