New enclosed Bar Crushers

Australian plate aluminium boat manufacturer Bar Crusher has launched its new Hard Top Pilothouse (HTP) series of offshore fishing boats.

Comprising three models – 670HTP, 730HTP and 780HTP – Bar Crusher says the HTP series offers the ultimate in protection from the weather, as well as the opportunity to stay overnight, with fully-enclosed cabins, toilets and other comforts.

Bar Crusher director Peter Cleland said the HTP series delivered a balance of fishability and comfort. "When we set our minds to building a new pilothouse model, we wanted it to tick all the boxes," he said.

"Our customers told us they loved the performance and engineering in our boats but they wanted more.

"The pilothouse range is designed and built for those who take their fishing seriously, but also want a little extra comfort and protection… with all the comforts your wife, girlfriend or kids have always wanted in your hard-core fishing machine."

The flagship 780HTP is a real blue-water weapon, we're told. The cockpit offers everything required for offshore fishing – plenty of space to fight and handle big fish, self-draining checker-plate deck with scuppers, alloy rod holders, good-sized bait board, transom live-bait tank, deck wash, sizeable kill tank, tackle storage, leader dispenser, and more.

The flexible layout can be changed in minutes – from a functional fishing machine to a dining layout for the evening. Either side of the entrance to the lockable pilothouse are a couple of seats that when the cushions are removed reveal a plumbed freshwater sink and a single-burner gas stove for cooking.

"Stepping through the glass doors into the helm and cabin area, the helm is well set-up with a fabric-covered bolster seat that’s positioned to provide a 360-degree view through the toughened glass screen, while everything falls nicely to hand," Cleland said.

"On the port side there’s a clever seating arrangement that has two fabric-covered seats with a table in between. The table stows behind the helm seat and the seats slide together to provide a bench seat for the trip back to port."

The fully-lined cabin is roomy and functional, with a comfortable V-berth, LED lighting and storage shelves running the full length of the cabin. Under the centre cushions is a plumbed toilet.

The HTP series is factory-packaged on a custom-designed galvanised or alloy trailer, which is self-centering, and with Bar Crusher’s innovative Bar Catch system allows for single-handed launch and retrieve which Cleland says is a bonus for such big boats.