FROM THE HELM - TRAILERBOAT'S ENEWSLETTER

Sea-Doo is among the world’s big jetski brands, and with flash designs, racy engines and so forth, they are BRP’s thrillseeking children. But more than just being waterborne versions of high-performance motorcycles, the Sea-Doo range also incorporates crossover craft like the 150 Speedster.

In tomorrow’s issue of TrailerBoat, read Darren Shiel’s review of the Sea-Doo 150 Speedster and how this vessel borrows heavily from jetski technology and engineering to produce a ski/wakeboat with enough punch to mix it with the dedicated V8-powered tow-machines.

Unlike a jetski’s in-line seating arrangement for mostly a maximum of three at best, the Sea-Doo 150 Speedster can accommodate four people, three across the helm and one rear-facing/observer’s seat forward in bow. But like its jetskis, Sea-Doo borrows a jetski powerplanet in the form of the 225hp Rotax 4-TEC three-cylinder supercharged engine and waterjet propulsion for the 150 Speedster.

The subsequent performance is said to rival the best V8 powerboats, but with greater fuel economy, while the extra seating and its setup makes for a social sportsboat with eye-watering performance. See the video on the 150 Speedster at www.trailerboat.com.au and read the test in tomorrow’s TrailerBoat.

Meanwhile, the great reading continues in TrailerBoat, and in contrast to the Sea-Doo 150 Speedster our roving reporter Paul Tuszon inspects a Stabicraft 859 Supercab employed by the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (AVCG). Paul details the serious rescue work undertaken by the AVCG and reveals what they put into and expect from their fleet of vessels.

As usual, we cover a host of fine trailerable fishing boats, in particular the Coraline 750 Outsider from the west. Mike Brown reveals that the big 750 Outsider is a lot of boat for your buck, and another fine example of a Western Australian built plate boat designed for going out wide.

Staying on the topic of plate boats, Sea Jay’s 6.8m Preda-King Centre Console is all fishing and promotes a tough build with a hull boasting a 5mm aluminium bottom and 4mm sides. This is a big, roomy centre console and like the Coraline targets the offshore angler.

If its bargains you’re after, TrailerBoat delivers with two affordable boats from Tournament and Revival. The former has retooled its 1750 hull to create an all-new deck catering for the bowrider market. The beauty of this is, with the drop in the Australian dollar compared to the greenback, our boats are now beating the yanks price wise. It’s a buyer’s market out there, particularly on the local scene.

Revival Boats from Melbourne has a new three-model 5.45 range that has something for all the family. With a Runabout, Cuddy fisherman and Deluxe cruiser versions, Revival Boats says its 5.45 range covers a lot of bases appeasing the sportsboat fan, family-oriented boaters and the fishing fraternity alike. These GRP constructed boats can all be configured for fishing too and a big winner is the price, starting from $32,950 for the Cuddy (BMT) up to the Deluxe (BMT) from $35,950. Certainly very affordable trailerboats.

In conclusion, TrailerBoat features the sporty Regal 2220 FasDeck speedboat, the 2009 XFi Genesis ski/wakeboat, a new BF60 four-stroke outboard from Honda, while for towing Phillip Lord looks at the credentials of the LandCruiser GXL 76 Series and in sport we marvel at Austalia’s ski-queen Lauryn Eagle and her recent two-records-in-one achievement.

From the team at TrailerBoat, stay safe on the water and happy reading.