Hydrofield Sandfly tri-hull runabout reimagined

Scott Donaldson, the manager at Yeppoon-based Hydrofield Boats, confirmed to boatsales.com.au this week that images teased on social media were the first build of the vastly improved 60hp-rated, 120kg Sandfly that will one day come in either tiller steer or centre console layout.

That last bit of information alone is good news for anyone looking to own a shrunken-down 4x4 of the sea – the bench seat forward control version of the older Sandfly won’t be making a comeback this time around.

Donaldson said the new version of the Sandfly was a major remake of the original, offering more freeboard, rot-free Thermo-lite transom and stringers, and a raised floor.

He said the Sandfly was a great little boat worth bringing back onto the market.

“I think everyone is going to go down that road, moving away from bigger boats into fun smaller boats,” Donaldson said.

While the first model off the line is a tiller-steer, the next – already in the mould – will be a centre console.

Donaldson said he raised the freeboard by aorund 100mm on the new-look Sandfly to move away from the curved deck of the original model and give it a bit more protection when using pedestal seats.

One of the Hydrofield’s best-known innovations – a flooded keel that helps with stability – will also be fitted to the Sandfly.

The system uses two intake “nostrils” at the front of the hull’s centre keel (originally made from cut-down fishing rod holders) that let about 30 litres of water in to flood the boat’s kill tank, adding ballast when it is needed.

“Being such a small boat there’s not much volume in there, so it’s [the ballast] not going to take very long to empty out once you start moving,” Donaldson said.

He said since posting the images on social media, Hydrofield had been flooded with inquiries asking about the Sandfly’s price.

“I don’t think it will get to the point where I’m going to have to put a motor on it before it will sell – that’s why I’ve made up another one between [building] other boats.

“I can continue to pop them out because they're a good size that’s easily handled, and you can punch them out pretty quick.

“I think it’s going to be a good thing, that’s for sure.”

Donaldson, who owns one of the original Sandfly hulls, said there were few of the boats around.

“When they do come up for sale, they go pretty quick,” he said. “I bought that one cheap. When I got mine, I just didn’t have the time [to modify it] so I turned it into a tiller-steer.

“The original boat … had this void sort of thing in the centre of the hull where you used to sort of sit to drive the thing.

“It was a bit of a wild-looking thing.”

Interested in asking about a price? Your best bet is to contact Hydrofield directly via Facebook.