Best Aluminium Fishing Boats | Australia’s Greatest Boats 2015

Clang, clang rang the ship’s bronze bell. What else could herald Part II of the Australia’s Greatest Boats 2015 competition? Featuring this time around are the ironclad warmongers – the aluminium fishing boats.

Cruising resolutely across Victoria’s Lakes Entrance bar were our five tough contenders: the magnificent twin-hulled Sailfish S7 powercat, the snappy Crestliner 1650 Superhawk, the strapping Stabicraft 2050 Supercab, the bruising Bar Crusher 730 HT, and the swift and sturdy Surtees 5.5 Workmate Hardtop. 

These alloy boats portray a wide cross-section of the Australian trailerboat industry. While each has its own individual strengths and appeal, there’s one theme in common – they're all superb fishing boats.

Aluminium boat buyers have traditionally held a different mindset to fans of fibreglass boats, favouring function over form. However, it was at the 2012 Australia’s Greatest Boats event that it became apparent many aluminium boat packages were riding better than some fibreglass boats.

Aluminium boats generally appeal to those looking for a large vessel with lower tow weight, and the physical nature of aluminium means these boats are very strong and impact resistant.

Many aluminium boat buyers don’t even paint their hulls, preferring to keep things simple and easy to keep clean. It’s not a bad option and they certainly don’t become slaves to their boats. Other boats though, have such terrifically formed alloy panels and paint jobs that it’s difficult to pick them from the fibreglass hulls. Boaties’ tastes and needs vary considerably. Many people start and often finish up in small tinnies, while the offshore warriors go to sea in massive bluewater battleships.

Our smallest contender however, was a brand not unfamiliar to Greatest Boats fans. The surprising American-made boat, the Crestliner 1850 Fish Hawk WT, was last year’s worthy winner, taking line honours from a raft of Aussie/Kiwi challengers. Yep, we copped a bit of stick from a few readers and boatbuilders alike, but it’s always been the score sheet that tells the tale, not the pedigree. This year it was the Crestliner 1650 Super Hawk’s turn.

The 2015 competition also welcomed the return of three long-time alloy Greatest Boats contestants: Bar Crusher, Stabicraft and Surtees. This magnificent trio are household legends among the Australian fishing fraternity and deservedly so.

Last but not least, any decent battle needs a loose cannon, so this year’s wildcard is the stunning Sailfish S7 catamaran. What a magnificent beast it is. Sailfish just missed out last year with the hulking Canyon Master, so the manufacturers studied the rules, considered the judging criteria and came back with an attitude — and won the 2015 title.

One thing is certain though – every vessel at this final stage of Australia’s Greatest Boats is the pick of the bunch. So grab some popcorn and your refreshment of choice, put your feet on the dash and hit the autopilot button while you check out the five best aluminium fishing boats available in Australia for Australia’s Greatest Boats 2015. We hope you like them all as much as we did.

BEST ALUMINIUM FISHING BOATS

Bar Crusher 730 HT

Bar Crusher has won the Aluminium Fishing Boats category twice at Australia’s Greatest Boats. Each year Bar Crusher produces the goods, and each year the quality improves. “A big performer and big fishability” is how one judge described the Bar Crusher 730 HT. Need we say more?

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Sailfish S7

The Sailfish S7 powercat combines family runabout appeal with top fishing credentials, all in one complete package. Whether it's punching out to the shelf, running between swells on a bar crossing, or just mooching around the local waterway, the Sailfish S7 is the powercat that keeps on giving.

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Surtees 5.5 Workmate Hardtop

Surtees is known for making simple, economic and straightforward boats and the 5.5 Workmate Hardtop is no different. Seemingly a straightforward and hardened fishing boat, in reality much of the minimalist approach comes from years of experience from this very advanced plate alloy boatbuilder.

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Stabicraft 2050 Supercab

The Stabicraft 2050 Supercab is the latest fishing boat from this long-established New Zealand plate aluminium boatbuilder. Oozing versatility, this freshly redesigned fishing boat features the best of Stabicraft’s never ending research and development regime.

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Crestliner 1650 Super Hawk

Crestliner won the aluminium fishing boats category for 2014. With the 1650 Super Hawk, a boatbuilder might look at the moderate-vee hull, broad beam and rather full entry and be very mistaken about the ride. We don’t know exactly what makes them work, but the ride rocked our socks off!

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