HAINES SIGNATURE 485SF

DISLIKES
-- We tried hard to find fault with this rig but didn’t other than the lack of a hand rail for the passenger seated next to the skipper.
-- If manual cable steering was retained the engine height should be fine tuned to alleviate aeration at the propeller during tight turns at speed.

For a small boat, this rig has amazing performance and versatility and the icing on the cake was its practicality and exemplary finish throughout.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

While the in-fill mouldings on the coamings are optional, it would be handy to have them as standard as they add a lot to the look of the boat but also add strength to the gunwales.

LAYOUT

At the bow there is a hatch that will take a medium Danforth or small grappling anchor. It seemed a shame that such a beautiful finish inside here had an anchor and chain bouncing around on it; alas, throw in some more carpet!

Stepping down onto the forward casting deck there is another hatch that features a seat-post base inserted in it. This is an option we would go for as there are no bow rails on the forequarters and a high bum-seat is just the thing for stability when standing up in choppy water and moving around when hand holds are necessary.

Under that hinged hatch is the cranking battery and it's worth noting that a larger battery could be fitted into this compartment. We guess a 130amp hour running length-ways along the centreline would be a good supply to a 12-volt electric motor although you would have to source another compartment to install the crank battery, and under the console immediately comes to mind.

This boat may have an optional electric motor mount which is formed as part of the hull during manufacture so it needs to be ordered that way first up.

The most-aft hatch in the forward casting deck is wide and makes an ideal kill tank or ice box, as do all the other underdeck compartments in the 485SF due to the build and foam infusion which turns this boat into a giant ice box.

MECHANICAL, HULL AND RIG

The process is one where two moulds are put together with the required amount of special matt cloth inserted between and the void is vacuumed while resin is pumped in. This removes the issue of wet resin vapour flying though the air, and also ensures that there are no air pockets anywhere in the finished product. The resulting products are strong with less chance of air pockets, material usages are more easily controlled and the finish is first class; you can see this throughout the 485SF. How strong? Actually strong enough to drive a 4WD over an upside down hull, as seen at various boat shows around the country, on The Haines Group stand. (Don’t try this at home folks)!

The top liner is fixed to the hull utilising the same technique on the 600RS, 675 and 600 bow rider hulls which The Haines Group call ‘Nexus’, a system whereby the bottom hull is formed and the top liner is lowered inside, the bottoms of compartments of the top liner contact the inside of the hull where it is glued with methyl methacrylate. The voids throughout the boat are then pumped with foam to add further strength and sound proofing not to mention offering a boost to buoyancy.

The rolled inner edges of the side coamings on the base hull are further strengthened with the optional installation of an inner moulded coaming to square off the length of the cockpit. The internals of these coamings are then filled with long noodles of foam, the same as those kids play with in swimming pools which allows electrical wiring and other cabling to be passed through the void amongst the noodles without jamming while also giving this boat further positive buoyancy.

Another ice box is situated on the cockpit deck up against the forward casting platform bulkhead and a textured surface deck runs aft to the short casting platform that is loaded with hatches holding safety and other gear.

At the helm a small wind deflector sits atop a well-laid-out console. It looks too small to be effective but actually is big enough to do the job, shielding a Furuno 7000F combination unit on a gimbal behind it while the Suzuki instrumentation is recessed. The compartment under this console is small but you would get a standard 70amp hour crank battery there if need be.

A maximum horsepower of 90 may be fitted to the 485SF but only with a helm wheel operation and not the tiller version. As tested with the latest model DF70 Suzuki four-stroke, this boat is a balanced package offering good hole shot capability with two large adults aboard.

The engine had a comfortable cruise speed of 45kmh while running at 4250rpm and at WOT of 5600 it reached a speed of 62kmh without too much noise. With an engine operating range of 5000 to 6000rpm there is room to move should you wish to prop this outfit to suit your style of boating. Perhaps you’re looking for faster hole-shot or more wind in the hair at the top end.

ON THE WATER

It launched off waves and landed without any bad habits and its lack of flex in the hull when doing so across waves at an angle attests to the hull's rigidity. You will be impressed with the quietness of this hull in the water; we were!

Fitted with manual cable steering, it displayed typical torque at the helm when trimmed fully in and trim had to be fully in for hard fast cornering to prevent slight aeration at the propeller.

Trimmed out, this boat is a little rocket and keeps a bow-down attitude most of the time so it likes plenty of trim out which does not affect its direct steering.

Also noticeable was the dry ride. We had about 10 to 15kmh from the south-east and with wind pushed over various quarters there was no spray. This was due in part to the aggressive overhang of the coamings to the outside of the hull which downturned any water creeping up the side of the hull. When one was seated and holding onto the sides you could feel the water contacting the hands but being totally deflected down and away.

What was missing for the seated passenger was a hand rail on that coaming. In fact a brace of handles would put the finishing touches to what is, overall, an excellent boat.

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.8/5.0
Mechanical/equipment/Rig: 4.5/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.9/5.0
On the water performance: 4.5/5.0
Value for money: 4.8/5.0
X-factor: 4.95/5.0

Comparable boats
There is nothing in this league available on the Australian market.

Specifications- Haines Signature 485SF
Price as tested:   $36,500  
Options fitted:   Nil (Furuno unit not included in test)

GENERAL
Material: Fibreglass
Method of build: RIVALE (resin injected, vacuum assist, low emission)
Length: 4.85m
Beam: 2.05m
Weight: 320kg bare shell only

CAPACITIES
Fuel: 130l
People: 5
Max engine hp: 90
Minimum engine hp: 30 (bare shell hull)
Max transom engine weight: 155kg