CamCraft 6.8m does 65 knots

There’s a fraternity of go-fast sportfishing trailerboaters in Victoria who can drive. They match deep-vee offshore hulls with big horsepower and know how to trim them just right to carve a path at high speed to the big tuna, marlin and broadbill geounds.

Here's one such boat — a 6.8 metre CamCraft that touches 65 knots (120 km/h). Powered by pair of Mercury 350 Verado outboards, the 6.8 with big power and look-at-me wrap has been turning heads along the Mornington Peninsula.

Neil Robertson, the owner of the CamCraft 6.8, says since the engines have loosened up a little he’s been hitting 120km/h or 65 knots.

"Every time I start it up at the ramp, heads spin around.

"Then when I push the throttle the sound is unbelievable — not loud — just unbelievable.

"Everyone stops talking just to listen to the engines," he said, smiling.

But you’d be wrong to think Robertson has only created a personal point-and-shoot muscle fishing boat.

"I went out with my wife and we were cruising at 3500 revs about 72-75 km/h (38-40 knots), using 60 litres an hour, so not only do I have all this power I have brilliant fuel economy as well," he enthuses.

Robertson originally ordered one of the new eight-metre CamCrafts and bought the pair of 350hp Verado outboards for that.

"When I saw there were two Verado 350s available in white I got the builder, Cam Strachan, to grab them straight away because I think they look so good," Robertson says.

But then, with the eight-metre boat being delayed, Robertson asked Cam to put the Verados on a 6.8 that he could use in the meantime.

"As soon as I had it in the water, I thought ‘forget about the eight-metre, this is perfect.'

"The only thing I was worried about was the weight, but all it’s done is make the boat sit down in the water a little and actually handle better, which is what CamCrafts are known for."

The 350hp Verados were fitted and adjusted by Leigh McGilp at Supreme Marine on Westernport Bay.  

"Putting 700hp on a six-metre boat is a bit out of the norm for anyone I think, but the outcome is mind-blowing," McGilp said.

He spent a lot of time getting the balance and trim just right, eventually pairing the outboards with 23in four-blade Mercury Revolution 4 props.

"It’s a lot of power but we were assured by Cam the builder that the boat could handle it and he was absolutely right.

"Actually, in some ways, I think I have created a bit of a monster because the phone doesn’t stop ringing now with people asking about adding more power to their boats," he said.

But for Robertson, he is rocketing out into the deep blue.

"I have another boat, a 13½ foot Haines Hunter that I use for fishing inshore," he said.

"This one really is an offshore boat that I’m going to use to chase marlin, and it’s going to be amazing."

The CamCraft 6.8 feature a 30 degree monohedron deadrise, 600lt integral fuel tank and 2.45m beam. The hull weighs approximately 1600kg and will support single engines from 300hp, but twin engines between 400hp and 500hp are normally recommended.

More at CamCraft.