Open Dinghy Choices

Mr Kroozer ,

Norm C is a very keen barra fisherman and he just told me he had got rid of his Dart 3.75 and ordered " a Sea Jay Angler 3.95 and a 30 HP Mercury or Honda 4 stroke "

I nknow nothing about them , but Norm usually does his homework .

Willie .

I have a 4.4 Savage jabiru with 35 hp Evinrude, does the job extra well for me, cost about $6500 a few years ago. Good high sides,chequer plate over the bow and plenty storage under.

As Willie has said, I've just upgraded. I'm using mine as a (BIG). I collected the data on at least a dozen boats. As you know, boats of this size are all about compromise.

The Stacer Proline 399 looks a good boat, but at 1.83 beam was a touch wide for me. And at .80 deep, I prefer something a touch deeper. Like you I do a fair bit of fishing in croc territory.

Almost went for a Blue Fin 3.8. Factory agreed to modify the transom to take the extra weight of a 25 HP 4 stroke. (standard transom weight limit is 52 KG). But in the end I went for a Sea Jay 3.95 Angler. 2mm bottom and .91 deep, so it is pretty heavy for a roof topper (115 KG), but a great boat. It will take a 30 HP and that is what I'll fit.

Sea Jay and Blue Fin both make great boats. If it is a trailer boat you are after, check out the Sea Jay Nomad 4.1 and the Blue Fin Outlaw 4.0. Both great boats, but a bit big and heavy for me. Or for something a touch smaller, I could not go past the Sea Jay 3.95 Angler. Sea Jay welds all their thwarts (some others, including Quintrex and Stacer rivet a lot). Sea Jay also seem to have a lot more strength in the transom than many others.

I think Stessco / Stessl boats have changed hands a couple of times . The Stessl family company now builds under the Mako brand, I believe. Can't really comment on any of these.

I'm looking to go for a 4 stroke this time. Always had 2 strokes before. But with the km we do on the water, the 4 stroke will pay for itself in 2.5 to 3 years. And I get the reduced noise, lower environmental impact etc for 'free'. Only trouble is I could do a bit of maintenance on a 2 stroke myself. Other than basic oil and filter changer, I'll have to pay someone to look after the 4 stroke. I'll also consider the Evinrude E- Tec, but their 30 HP is not due out till Nov/ Dec. Don't know if I'm prepared to wait that long.

I have got a 4.2 Bermuda which was a Quintrex explorer with a diff name. Great boat , very stable but the sides would not be high enough for croc country.
We fitted the floor ourselves(used better quality timber), seats etc. When it was a bare hull the 30 was ample, but now I could use a 40.
We fitted marine carpet over the checkerplate nose and it is brilliant. No slip, and my wife often sits up their to fly fish. The piont I am trying to make is I had a 3.95 and traded up to the 4.2 which is a much better riding and handling boat. If you are going to trailer it go the 4.2, you will not regret it.
Goodluck Pete

Go the SF420 with the 30 Suzuki, Honda, or Yamaha - even better would be the 40hp in any of the above models. In that size boat I would spend a bit more and get a 4 stroke. They certainly arent car toppers so the extra weight of the 40 over the 30 wont be a factor and the sf420 with the 40hp would be a great river, bay, or ocean boat.