Haines Hunter's Future Shock

Haines Hunter recently rolled out their new models for the 2007 season. While they have been busy re-vamping their range, their forward thinking has also been concentrating on the construction of a new factory at Derrimut, Victoria, which will encompass a range of new technology that will see up to 1000 boats per annum produced for the Australian market. The opening of this facility is due later this year.

In all, six new models make it to the market place this year and a good many facets of our recreational boating and fishing have been targeted with these new boats.

John Haber, the boss of Haines Hunter has always espoused the quality of his hulls, and rightly so. They are well designed, strong and heavy. The latter is a feature many manufacturers, if they had such a hull, would prefer to keep to themselves but not Haber. His slant on this is that a heavy boat gives a soft ride and that's what it's all about. This attribute is the result of the quality and quantity of materials used in the hulls and an aspect marine surveyor's demand be present when putting a boat through survey.

Subsequently, Haines Hunter has found it relatively easy to put a number of hulls into 2C survey standard and, for a small extra cost, these boats may be used commercially for a number of operations. They have also increased their warranty period from five to seven years for all boats across the range. We looked at five of these boats at the Haines Hunter conference recently.

The 600 Horizon on test was fitted with a 150hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard. This is a must-see model for anglers who enjoy running wide in search of greener pastures but need to cater for the creature comforts of the rest of the family. It features a brilliant galley on the port side of the cockpit under the bimini, and a comfortable lounge area against the transom bulkhead, while optioned up with a dining table or dropped to a lower level for a double berth. The lounge base has a huge volume of stowage inside and two bolts release it for total removal opening up the cockpit for game and sportfishing.

The helm seat swivels and slides upon a large hollow fibreglass module that is a receptacle for a Waeco 40lt refrigerator, further freeing up cockpit space. This boat has a walkthrough transom with a shaped door to fit the profile when closed. At 5800rpm this rig rakes along at 68kmh and earns full marks as an all-rounder. Being a prototype, it will not have a finished spec sheet until near the end of 2007 at which time firm pricing will be available.

The 600 Breeze was fitted with Honda's 225hp four-stroke motor which was more than enough to send it along the canal at a cracking pace. Rated to a maximum of 230hp, its 2.4m beam offers a great cockpit to work from and stability when off the plain either bottom fishing or on the troll.

It was configured more for the serious fisho, fitted with rocket launcher rod holder and a bait table. The lounge seat at the aft end of the cockpit folds up neatly into a rebate in the transom bulkhead, but the base of this module did not allow feet to tuck underneath while fishing over the back of the boat.

The 585R Breeze was fitted with an E-Tec 115hp outboard and is a shrunken version of the 600 series with similar user friendly features such as walkthrough transom with stylish door, livebait tanks, baitboards and rocket launchers for half dozen rods behind the bimini top. It is rated to a 200hp motor which won't be required unless the occupants are all oversized. It has the same beam and fuel capacity as its big brothers making it a long hauler capable of being towed with a big six-cylinder vehicle.

In a sheltered canal the water is usually calm, but five boats driven by petrolhead journos transformed the normally serene waterway into a washing machine of big bow waves and froth! All of the boats, including the small Pro Strike, handled the slop with ease and at full throttle.

In keeping with the trend toward fun boats in the Australian market, Haines Hunter have entered the 640 Bow Rider into the race and it does just that with Yamaha's big 250 four-stroke on the back. The test boat looked the part with big framework and board racks, stereo speakers and unusual arched coamings on each side of the aft pit. This boat has some serious ground tackle attached to the bow so the designers have been thinking fishing when putting the drawings to bed on this boat. It is a big family rig and a substantial six-cylinder or Mitsubishi Pajero-sized vehicle would be the minimum for hauling.

Haines Hunter hasn't forgotten the serious estuarine angler either and, following the popularity of the Prostrike series, have introduced the 490 Prostrike Sport. The horse power was maxed out at 150 and it had no trouble handling all of them dished up by Evinrude's E-Tec powerplant.

Nothing has been left wanting in the fitout of this pro angler boat and it is ready to fill with tackle, having a multitude of purpose designed compartments under expansive casting decks to hold a host of gear for various types of fishing and target species. On the water, it was excellent in the chop and could fit three across the midship full-beam bucket seats.

All in all, a great lineup of boats will be available in 2007 from Haines Hunter. Check out www.haineshunter.com.au for details.