Massive boat test starts tomorrow

TrailerBoat magazinehas named its Top Ten contenders for the prestigious Australia’s Greatest Boatsawards for 2011.

This time around, the exercise is based at the stunning d'Albora Marina in Port Stephens (NSW).

Last year’s winningmanufacturers, Haines Hunter and Bar Crusher, are facing tough competition froma field of both new and proven models from other top manufacturers.

Competing for the title of TrailerBoat’sTop Fibreglass Fishing Boat for 2011 are the Haines Hunter 560 Classic,Evolution Boats 552, Trophy 2152 diesel, Haines Signature 543RF and Cruisecraft530 Explorer.

In the Aluminium Fishing Boatcategory, it’s a tough battle for five tough boats – the Bar Crusher 610C, Stabicraft2150, Surtees 4.8 Workmate, Noble 7.5m Centre Console and White Pointer 750Sports Hardtop.

Chief judge John “The Bear”Willis said this year’s contenders were every bit as impressive as those whichcontested the inaugural Australia’s Greatest Boats titles last year.

“Several of the samemanufacturers have made it into our Top Ten again, for the very good reasonthat they have yet again delivered boats that set the standard for boats oftheir type,” he said.

“Every year our team tests ahundred or more new boats, and every year there are some that stand out fromthe pack – these are the ones that earn a place in our Top Ten.

“To find the winners we willassess each boat by ten criteria, starting with suitability for fishing, innovation,design and layout, quality of finish, handling and ride, and stability at rest.

“Our judges also give individualscores for ergonomics, standard equipment, value for money and, of course, theX-factor – and then we add them up to determine the best of the best.

“It’s an exhaustive process – andan exhausting one too, with long days of testing and long evenings of debatingthe scores – so there is no question that Australia’s Greatest Boats have welland truly earned their titles.”

John Willis heads a hugelyexperienced judging team. John himself has been on pretty much every hull everin Australia, while Warren Steptoe brings four decades of testing experienceand John Ford is a lifetime photojournalist best known for his knowledge ofoff-road recreational vehicles.

International input comes fromKevin Smith, who brings a South African perspective to the judging, and Jeff Strang,editor of Trade-A-Boat New Zealand.

The entire judging team, alongwith photographers, video crews, boat drivers, camera boats and helicopter,will converge on Nelson Bay on 27 and 28 June for the 2011 Australia’s GreatestBoats judging day.

Australia’s Greatest FibreglassFishing Boat will be named in a massive AGB feature in TrailerBoat inAugust, followed by an equally huge feature for the aluminium boats in TrailerBoat inSeptember, and ultimately by an action-packed DVD that will be a perfect Christmaspresent.

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