2022 Stessl 730 Coastrunner review

Overview

For decades, Stessl Boats has been a leading Aussie manufacturer of pressed and plate alloy boats. This innovative boat maker has introduced a range of clever features over the years, including the Edge Tracker V-nose boat, Trak Rail pressed alloy hull bottom, and various different alloy powered catamarans and trihulls. 

There are no multihulls in the current Stessl Boat range, but there are dozens of great pressed and plate alloy monohulls from the diminutive 3.0-metre Vagabond car topper through to the 7.3-metre plate alloy Seahawk half-cabin and Coastrunner centre cab. 

The latter is the model that's the subject of this review. We tested the big Stessl 730 Coastrunner courtesy of Stessl Boats.

Price and equipment

In case you did not notice from the photos, our 730 Coastrunner test boat is also Stessl's latest project/fishing/adventure boat built for The Mad Hueys. This tough plate alloy boat has subsequently been outfitted with a stack of optional features and accessories, some of which are desirable, but costly. 

Most notable here are the trick Shockwave S5 suspension helm seat bases that add more than $4000 to the cost of the standard boat. That said, if you've got a bad back, then these special seat bases may be a worthwhile investment.

The test boat was also fitted with the full Yamaha Helm Master EX joystick navigation control system (at a cost of more than $20,000) to accompany the big 300hp Yamaha 4.2-litre V6 four-stroke extra-longshaft outboard engine bolted to the transom. 

For electronics, the test boat was optioned with CZone digital switching, a Garmin GPSMap 8416xsv multifunction display (with fishfinder, GPS chart plotter, radar and Yamaha Helm Master EX integration), a Garmin VHF radio and a Fusion audio system with speakers everywhere. 

There was also a Scan-Strut ROKK wireless charging mount for a mobile phone.

Factory-fitted options include the overhead, semi-enclosed hardtop; underfloor kill tank; bow electric trolling motor mount; deluxe transom bait board; rear peak/hardtop shade extension; custom-designed SeaDek flooring throughout; hull wrap; and a transom live bait tank.

The test rig was also optioned with a Minn Kota 36-volt electric trolling motor with lithium-ion battery, Ocean LED underwater deck lighting, deck wash, and more. 

Packaged on a deluxe-model Redco Sportsman dual-axle galvanised steel trailer with electric-hydraulic brakes, the test boat package retails for $200,000.

If you don't need all the extra gear on the test boat, you can get into a Stessl 730 Coastrunner for a whole lot less. Paired with a smaller 250hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard engine, a hull wrap, bait board and basic electronics, BMT package prices start from around $150,000. 

This price includes plenty of standard kit. Instead of the enclosed hardtop, the base boat comes with a folding hardtop with clears and a radio/electronics box above the helm.

Standard boats also feature the heavy-duty plate alloy construction; welded, self-draining checker plate cockpit floor; wide side decks; transom door with boarding platforms; helm seat boxes with deluxe folding helm chairs; Lenco trim tabs; dual (250L and 100L) fuel tanks; hydraulic steering; a white painted hull; and more. 

Another cool feature is the TE Trac side deck mounting rail/channel now built into all Stessl boats made with side decks. The TE Trac is designed to accept the New Zealand-made Railblaza boating and fishing accessories. 

One of two Railblaza accessory packs is included with each side deck-equipped Stessl and comes with four Railblaza Sideport mounts, four Starport mounts, and a different mix of Railblaza rod holders, cup holders and Stowpods.  

Hull and engineering

The Stessl 730 Coastrunner has an overall length of 7.7m, a wide beam of 2.5m and a hull weight of 1400kg. Packaged with the 300 Yamaha outboard engine and Redco trailer, I would anticipate the towing weight to be around 2750kg. 

Stessl's large trailer boats are made with the latest Platerix2 plate alloy hull,made with 5mm hull bottom sheets, 4.0mm topsides, and a 3.0mm self-draining deck, combined with heavy-duty decks and cabins. 

Between the hull bottom and cockpit floor, full height welded frames and transverse bulkheads provide strength and rigidity. 

The hull is also foam-filled for safety and to dampen hull noise and slap underway. 

With regard to hull shape, the Stessl 730 Coastrunner has a fine entry at the bow to slice through the waves, coupled with a high, raking sheer to the topsides to suppress spray.

At the stern the Stessl 730 Coastrunner has a wide waterline beam, a modest 15-degree deadrise and broad, reverse angled chines to provide stability. 

Design and layout

The Stessl 730 Coastrunner is a centre cabin boat with a V-shaped cabin seating/storage area, bow and stern fishing decks, and a proper walkway around the cabin. 

There is ample freeboard to each side of the cabin structure, along with 380mm of footwell space to give you the option to stand and fish from the side walkway.

The cabin-side trench is also elevated a half step or so above the aft cockpit floor so that any water coming over the bow will drain aft and out through the cockpit scuppers.

Up at the pointy end of the boat there is also room to move about, to operate the optional Minn Kota electric trolling motor, and to deploy the anchor from the large forepeak anchor well.

Underfoot, the optional SeaDek flooring provides excellent grip and stays quite cool beneath the noon sun. 

Cabin and console

The cabin in the Stessl 730 Coastrunner is reasonably spacious. The berths are just short of full length at 1.72m long, but there is ample headroom above the vinyl upholstered cushions. I see the cabin mainly as a sitting/storage area, although youngsters could bunk down for a nap easily enough. 

Beneath the included cushions are three deep lockers for safety gear, towels, clothing and other dry storage items.

Commendably, the plywood hatch lids are stainless steel-hinged, and carpeted front and back to protect them against mould and rot.

A cabin ceiling/wall lining, not fitted to our test boat, is optional. 

Outside the cabin is space beneath the optional hardtop for two helm chairs to be mounted on storage boxes. Our test rig was optioned with the Shockwave suspension bases, but standard boats come with regular pedestals. 

The chairs were nicely positioned in close proximity to the dash to port and the steering wheel and Yamaha controls to starboard. The standard seats swivel 360 degrees and slide fore and aft so you can adjust them to your liking.

Ahead of the skipper is a large, angled fascia panel with space for the optional Garmin multifunction display on our test boat. 

The Yamaha side-mount throttle box and Helm Master EX joystick control were located conveniently close by. 

Overhead, the hardtop was optioned with a pair of opening vent hatches, along with a radio box/panel for the Fusion audio system and Garmin VHF radio head units. 

Opening cabin side windows also breeze air into the helm station. 

Other cabin/helm features include a pair of cup holders; a passenger side storage pocket; a sub-floor storage bin; EPIRB/fire extinguisher recess; a well-placed dash grab rail; aft hardtop grab rails; hardtop rod rack; and a hardtop shade extension. 

Cockpit and fishing features

Anglers will love the huge size of the self-draining welded alloy cockpit. It stretches 2.46m from the helm seat boxes back to the full-height transom wall, and is 2.29m wide.

Flanking the uncluttered cockpit are elevated side pockets with toe rail space underneath, while overhead, the 240mm-wide side coamings provide ample space and width for installing extra rod holders (six are included), downrigger brackets, and more. 

The side coamings are 715mm above the floor,which is pretty much the perfect height for fishing.

The lowest point in the cockpit is aft at the transom door where there is 625mm of freeboard. 

The test boat was optioned with a moderate-sized live bait tank beneath the transom door and boarding step. I personally would prefer a much bigger live well on a bluewater boat such as the Coastrunner, but each to their own. 

I was impressed with the elevated, sheltered battery platforms beneath the transom, along with the optional underfloor kill tank, and deluxe bait board with rod rack.

The coaming stern rails are useful and well positioned, but I'd probably ask for the exposed stern cleats to be relocated so they would not snag fishing lines.

On the water

The Stessl Platerix2 hulls were recently redesigned with increased width at the waterline,  and broader, reverse angled chine flats. This has stiffened the hulls laterally to provide more stability without upsetting the handling or ride through chop. 

Our test boat was certainly very stable on the water, both at rest and underway. The hull also glides easily onto the plane with minimal bow lift, despite having the maximum-size Yamaha outboard engine on the transom.

Sea conditions offshore were a little too calm to give the Stessl 730 Coastrunner a proper workout, but there was enough chop, swell and wave action within the walls of the Gold Coast Seaway to confirm the 730 series hull is nicely balanced at speed, and smooth and dry through the lumpy stuff. 

The big 300hp 4.2-litre Yamaha outboard engine is well matched to the hull, providing plenty of power and throttle response from idle and up into the midrange. 

There was also plenty of poke from 4500rpm through to the 6100rpm redline, at which point the hull is scooting along at 40.4 knots.

Performance

1000 4.6kt (8.5km/h) 4.8L/h 318.6nm

Range on 95% of the 350L fuel supply: 287nm at 3500rpm

Verdict

The 730 Coastrunner is the biggest Stessl I have tested to date, and one of the best. This is a big, beamy, but legally trailerable bluewater fishing platform that can easily double up as a family day boat with a few extra seats fitted. 

That said, the Stessl 730 Coastrunner is a fishing boat first and foremost, designed, built and outfitted to handle big seas while wide offshore. 

Hardcore anglers will certainly appreciate the Stessl 730 Coastrunner's excellent performance, the superb centre cabin layout, the full-shelter enclosed hardtop, and the massive self-draining aft fishing deck. Make no mistake, this is one tough fishing rig.

Specifications
Model: Stessl 730 Coastrunner
Length overall: 7.7m
Hull length: 7.3m
Beam: 2.5m
Draft: 1.5m
Deadrise: 15 degrees
Weight: 1400kg (hull only) 
Weight on trailer: 2750kg (est)
Alloy: 5.0mm (bottom and transom)/4.0mm (topsides)
Maximum power: 300hp
Engine as tested: 300hp Yamaha V6 four-stroke
Fuel: 250L, 100L
Flotation standard: Basic
Passengers: 7 

Priced from: $150,000 including a 250hp Yamaha V6 extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard engine with standard hardtop; hydraulic steering; hull wrap; bait board; basic electronics; and a Redco Sportsman dual-axle galvanised steel trailer with electric-hydraulic brakes

Price as tested: $200,000 including a 300hp Yamaha V6 extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard engine with Yamaha digital electric steering and the full Helm Master EX joystick navigation control system; a semi-enclosed hardtop with rocket launcher rod rack; CZone digital switching; Garmin GPSMap 8416xsv multifunction display (with fishfinder, GPS chart plotter, radar and Helm Master integration); Garmin VHF radio; Fusion audio system with speakers; Scan-Strut ROKK wireless phone charger; Shockwave S5 suspension helm seat bases; Minn Kota 36V bow mount electric trolling motor with lithium battery; underfloor kill tank; bow trolling motor mount; deluxe transom bait board; rear peak/hardtop shade extension; custom SeaDek flooring throughout; hull wrap; transom bait tank; Ocean LED underwater, deck lighting; deck wash, and more

Supplied by: Stessl Boats

Also consider: Yellowfin 7600 Southerner HT, Surtees 750 Gamefisher, Extreme 745 Game King, McLay 751 Gen2 Hardtop, Stacer 759 Ocean Ranger Hardtop