BEST FIBREGLASS FISHING BOATS | AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST BOATS
As daylight etched the horizon, five fibreglass fishing boat contenders milled around the rally point about a mile outside the Gold Coast seaway. Their mission? To stake a claim to the 2014 title for Australia’s Greatest Trailer Boat – Fibreglass Fishing Boats category.
As with previous Australia’s Greatest Boats shootouts, our judging panel consisted of five judges. They were chosen from among the most experienced boating writers and journalists in the country and their job was to decide on a winner.
When the final scores were tallied, the results were exceedingly close. No one was surprised by this given the high quality of all the fibreglass fishing boat contenders. Even so, our most seasoned AGB judges were still amazed at just how close the final score came down the line. In fact, the final result will shock you.
As our fleet of the best fibreglass fishing boats in the country set out, the faintest breeze ruffled the surface, its chilly embrace snapping us all to attention. Eager eyes darted around eyeing off the opposition. The distant thrum of helicopter blades broke the eerie silence and a whale broached in the distance. Australia’s Greatest Trailer Boats 2014 had begun.
BEST FIBREGLASS FISHING BOATS
Whittley SL 24HT
Whittley has twice now qualified to enter Australia’s Greatest Trailer Boats. This time, the Whittley team blew us away with the Whittley SL 24HT. Here, Whittley has recognised and addressed the prime concerns when covering big distances on the water, namely fuel economy, storage and safety.
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Cruise Craft Explorer 595
Even the opposition agrees, Cruise Craft boats offer some of the most appealing, premium quality finished mouldings in the business. Its latest offering, the Cruise Craft Explorer 595, represents a pinnacle of fibreglass fishing boat evolution and Cruise Craft’s uncompromising commitment to quality.
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Evolution 600 Apex Extreme
Evolution is no stranger to Australia’s Greatest Trailer Boats. The original Evolution 600 first challenged the fibreglass fishing boats title in 2010 and although pipped at the post, Evolution returned in 2011 with the new 552 and walked away with the silverware.
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Streaker 5700 Commander
Streaker Boats is one of the longstanding boating identities to have made its mark on the marine landscape. Streaker first presented a contender when AGB made its debut in 2010. This iconic Victorian boat builder returned in 2014 with the Streaker 5700 Commander.
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Signature 575RF
It’s been 40 years now since John Haines Snr got the “shiny arses” out of their management chairs and back into the factory to produce one of Australia’s favourite boats. In 2014, the Haines Group is back with a vengeance as this latest new-generation Signature 575RF shows.