Rick Huckstepp•27 Sept 2013

REVIEW

Haines Signature 575F

Name: Haines Signature 575F
Brand: Haines Signature

New cuddy cabin breaks the fish-and-family-boat mould

LIKES

- Protective cabin

?- Ideal helm set up

?- Folding bait-rigging station

?- Cockpit stowage ideal for busy anglers

NOT SO MUCH

?- Needs passenger handrails

?- Perhaps a handrail fitted on the inside of the windscreen

OVERVIEW

- More fishing space in an Australian-made sportfisher

To say we were more than a little keen to get onboard this new model from The Haines Group is an understatement! In a sea of trailerboat brands and builders, all spruiking their product’s user friendliness, the 575F stands out from the crowd.

The cuddy-cabin version of the 575RF runabout we tested last year is a new iteration designed to appeal to the serious angler who: (a) covets a little more cabin space, (b) invests heavily in the latest electronics, and (c) places great emphasis on cockpit room for casting and wrestling fish.

Thanks to a clever bimini design this a boat that has a surprising amount of casting room. It is therefore a great sportfishing platform for many fisheries around the country. From casting to GTs up north to bouncing soft-plastics for snapper to chasing King George whiting, the 575F will be a fit.

We also feel more than a little chuffed that this boat is built by Australian anglers for Australian anglers. That can only add to the 575F’s utility and useability, not to mention after-sales support and resale.

Suffice to say, Haines Signature boats have a good reputation for standing the test of time. The new 575F builds on everything the yard has achieved before, while also setting some new standards in respect of design.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

- Plenty of standard kit and class-leading bait-prep station

This Signature 575F comes with a respectable price tag of $76,290 with a host of factory fitted options included in that price.

The folding bait-preparation board is a ‘must have’ when ordering this boat. For too long, manufacturers have put this important fishing accessory on the ‘if you must’ list.

As a result, such ill-designed bait boards don’t always take into consideration the size and shape of the outboard cowl. The result being the meeting of the two with damage to one or both.

But the R&D staff at The Haines Group has come up with this pearler of a bait-rigging station that has got more features than many we see. With hinged and pinned post supports, it folds down into the cockpit when required.

The transom step is a handy feature and must be fitted to get the boarding ladder, which is also optional. With it, you improve water access to make a better family and dive rig.

The stainless steel seat risers are another option, but again we see them as key components that allow for stowage of large items such as (and in this case) a pair of iceboxes. They were secured underneath the seats to prevent them sliding out onto the deck.

The boxes protrude aft from the overhanging frame at a distance that will allow the ends to be used as seating, too. If one does not take this option, typical pedestal-post seating is the standard fit.

The brace of Garmin electronics was also optional and consisted of a 751S combination chartplotter and a pair of GM120 instruments that interface with the 140hp Suzuki.

Those with driveway parking for their trailerboat might want to contemplate the optional sliding lock-up cabin door to secure their gear on board, as well as the canvas-covered bimini frame that includes a rocket launcher.

If you don’t want icing on your cake, the base boat will set you back $59,440. You still get a lot of boat for the price tag. But with the extra kit our test model was more fish-friendly.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION

- Geared for serious fishing with heaps of storage

Signatures have never been lacking in the stowage department and the 575F is no different.

The boat has two-tier cockpit side-pockets that are part of the liner. The lower level will accept medium-sized rigged fishing rods, while their fascias are made of King Starboard, a tough synthetic material impervious to most things.

The fronts of these side pockets are engraved with a long measuring board to help you keep your catch legal and alleviate the need for messy and untidy boat stickers.

Complementing the side pockets is a pair of hatches in which to stow a pair of common Plano tackle trays to keep gear neat and dry. Imagine having a stack of these home in the shed, loaded with the right sort of tackle for the target species of the day, and just adding and subtracting as needed. Way to go!

The transom has a half-height walkthrough with Kingboard door that leads out onto the boarding platform, fitted with a transom step and ladder.

Meanwhile, the rear lounge rebates flush with the front of the transom bulkhead and the padded backrests provides ample cushioning for the thighs when leaning outboard to fight a fish.

The livebait tank is situated in the starboard transom corner and nearby is that smart bait-rigging station we like so much. The latter has a hinged cutting board covering a shallow rebate suitable for traces and small rigged game lures.

Another rebate for the plumbed sink drains over the back. There are dedicated areas to hold hooks and the knife in a safe manner. The few drink holders will be put to good use retaining anything else likely to roll around when on the high seas.

A big kill tank is situated in the deck between the two helm seats and it doubles as another icebox or perhaps a rubbish receptacle.

But the most noticeable design aspect is the height of the cuddy superstructure and helm station bulkhead. Higher than just about any other trailerboat, it will prove agreeable to all but the shortest of anglers, while offering great protection when underway and high headroom inside the cabin.

The 575F features an opening centre pane in the toughened-glass windscreen that may be accessed by standing on a sturdy metal fold-down step fitted to the bulkhead.

The helm station is a hinged unit that may be released with the panel opening to reveal the looms and hydraulic pump for the wheel. All of the electrical components are easily accessed rather than having to crawl around in the confines of the cabin.

The interesting feature of this newly heightened bulkhead is the angle at which the helm-station panel faces the wheel. It is designed so that anglers in the cockpit may easily view instruments including the sounder and chartplotter. That makes it perfect for presenting lures to those targets on the sounder.

It is for this reason that the helm wheel has been positioned low on the panel so the fish-finding screen (up to a 15-inch model) is not obscured by helm wheel spokes and the like.

Adding to the fishability of the cockpit is the way the bimini frame has been shortened to allow people to wave long rods about without clashing with the metal work. An optional pullout awning increases shade should you want it.

Inside the cabin are the typical under-bench bunk stowage voids and there is easy access to the anchor well through a roof hatch. There is a portable toilet installed in the leg well otherwise covered with infill cushions.

The lack of bulk behind the dash has freed up the cabin nicely and, in our view, a set of stowage pockets would be a practical addition.

MECHANICAL AND HULL

- Great foundation and reputation

The helm on the 575F is hydraulic. The hull is what we typically see with Signature boats: full one-piece topsides adhered to a full one-piece hull. The voids in between are filled with waterproof high-density foam which aids rigidity, deadens a lot of ambient through-hull noise and turns any underdeck compartments into insulated compartments should you need to utilise more icebox space.

The only timber used in the construction of the hull is Ruply which is made specifically for The Haines Group to strengthen the transom. Having used this material for 16 years without structural issues, they are on the right track.

ON THE WATER

- Flat seas but we sniff the potential

A cracker day on Moreton Bay did nothing to help test the seagoing ability of the 575F, so we made enough waves to prove that it will ride well over short sharp chop. The 140hp Suzuki is an economical match to this hull and it produced a good hole shot with pleasing results in the fuel consumption department.

At pelagic-trolling speed of 6 knots, the engine was turning over at 2600rpm with a fuel consumption of 8.8lph. The Suzuki settled into a comfortable cruise speed of 22.8 knots at 4250rpm for a fuel burn of 24.0 ph. WOT was 5600rpm burning 42lph for a speed of 32 knots, which indicates a smaller propeller is needed to get the rpm up to that recommended by the manufacturer.

Considering this review was this boat’s water trial after rolling off the production line and straight into the Brisbane Boat Show, it did well to perform to the level it did.

At the end of the day, it’s good to see a manufacturer not afraid to make significant design changes to the cosmetics of a cuddy cabin. This boat will find favour with ardent lure fishers and family boaters. It has a lot to offer the wider on-water community out there.

Towable with a mid-range 4WD or a large family sedan, the 575F has broad appeal and is well suited to many applications from fishing to purely pleasure boating. Definitely worth a second look.

RATINGS

Overall rating: 4.78/5.0

Mechanical/equipment: 4.8/5.0

Packaging and practicality: 4.9/5.0

On the water Performance: 4.8/5.0

Value for money: 4.8/5.0

X-factor: 4.6/5.0

Specifications

Price as tested: $76,290

Priced from: base boat $59,440.

LOA: 5.95m

Beam: 2.38m

Weight: 1900kg tow weight

Engine: 140 hp Suzuki 4-stroke

Deadrise: 21-33 degrees variable

Fuel: 220ltr

Berths: 2

People Day: 7

Supplied by:

The Haines Group of Companies

www.thehainesgroup.com

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Haines Signature 575F

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