Stabicraft 1550 Frontier SC 2024 Review

Overview

The work continues at Stabicraft’s headquarters in Invercargill, New Zealand to develop and fine-tune the 14-model Stabicraft alloy pontoon boat range.

In recent years, we have seen the introduction of a new models like the 2250 Ultracab WT and 2050 Treker, along with the re-introduction of some upgraded classics like the diminutive but popular 1550 Frontier with a side console configuration and three levels of interior fit-out.

Like the smaller 1450 Frontier, the new 1550 series boat can be ordered with three packages: ‘Adventure’, ‘Sportfish’ or the flagship ‘Profish’.

For this review, Brisbane’s Northside Marine presented a trick-looking, light blue 1550 Frontier SC equipped with the middle-range Sportfish pack powered by Yamaha’s evergreen 70hp four-stroke outboard.

Price and equipment

The Sportfish pack starts at $66,483 with the outboard, and rides on a very cool GFAB heavy-duty alloy trailer.

The Sportfish pack adds a number of features over the base Adventure model, such as the Fish Pro starboard side helm seat, ski-pole/baitboard, coaming handrails and bow rails, port side trolling motor plate, and a raw-water wash-down and pump.

Our test boat was quite heavily optioned, bringing it closer to the fit-out of the Profish model.

Our test boat gained hydraulic steering, a Garmin Echomap Ultra 125sv multi-function display with Navionics charts and transducer, starboard side console for flush-mount electronics, removable front casting platform, weld-on boat catch hook, a 60L underfloor EPA fuel tank with U-Dek flooring, coaming lighting, transom live bait tank, raised bow rails, belting-up gloss paint with coaming fendering, sand anchor kit, tie-down straps, partially smooth waters safety gear pack and 12-month boat and trailer registrations.

With all the extra gear and equipment, the test boat package rises to $88,954 drive away.

The 1550 Frontier is a small, relatively narrow boat, but there is still ample fishing and move-about space within the confines of the deep-sided aft cockpit.

The compact, but functional side console is also mounted right over to starboard, leaving ample space alongside it.

Cleverly, the console is welded directly to the side deck to remove the requirement for a port/left side vertical support strut. This opens up the centre cockpit space further.

The console might be small, but there is fascia panel space to flush-fit the test boat’s optional 12-inch Garmin Echomap 125SV fish finder/GPS – alongside the engine gauges and switch panel.

The console also has a sturdy handrail, tinted windshield and a footrest.

Fronting the console is the standard Skipper seat with swivel and slider, mounted on a welded aluminium frame/plate.

Beneath that is the included 70L split-lid Icey-Tek ice box/cooler with padded seat squab.

I like the treatment/design of the helm station. The console/helm set-up is effective, yet very space efficient – thereby boosting cockpit space.

Passenger/port side seating is optional, but most buyers go without to keep the port side of the boat wide open for fishing.

Forward of the console and deep middle cockpit area there is a removable/clip-on alloy casting deck with a U-Dek rubber surface to provide non-slip – and to match the U-Dek foam rubber used to surface all the flat deck areas inside the boat.

The removable casting deck slots into place between recessed/low side decks which run back to the middle of the boat and can double-up as bench seats.

Further forward there is a vertical rod rack, storage bin, as well as a large anchor well on the foredeck with a gas-strut support lid.

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The central cockpit area extends from the front casting deck aft to a full-height transom wall.

Ultra-wide 295mm side deck coamings flank the cockpit, situated above equally wide, very spacious side storage pockets.

Built into the coamings there are six powder-coated black alloy rod holders and four Railblaza cup/sinker holders.

The side coamings also have low-set grab handles and welded stern cleats.

Above the full-width, 650mm high transom wall there is a removable bait board/ski pole.

The elevated battery shelf is situated underneath, behind a hinged door, and alongside the surprisingly large port side live bait tank with clear viewing window and full plumbing.

Other notable features include the port side raw-water wash-down, external boarding platforms and a port side folding alloy step-ladder.

It would have been great to have some rough water to test the 1550 Stabicraft, as that is where this boat will really shine. Unfortunately, the Moreton Bay conditions were dead calm, although the wind and waves picked up a little later in the day.

We resorted to using boat wakes from large cruisers to judge the performance of the Frontier in choppy conditions – and were suitably impressed with the level of ride comfort.

The transom deadrise is only 15 degrees, but the bow has a sharp entry shape which helps to smooth out the chop.

There’s also a decent chine below each of the pontoons to shed spray away from the interior.

The Stabicraft is very stable at rest, and at speed you can walk about this small boat confidently and with a high degree of safety.

The freeboard inside the main cockpit area is high at 745mm, so leaning securely against the side coamings is no problem.

The Frontier is rated for a single longshaft outboard engine to a maximum of 75hp. Our test boat had just the right amount of power with the Yamaha 70hp four-stroke.

With the throttle pushed all the way forward and the engine maxed-out to 5700rpm, we recorded a top speed of 30.3 knots (56km/h). That’s plenty of pace for a 4.8m boat.

Range on 95 per cent of the 60L fuel supply at 4000rpm: 103.5nm

The Stabicraft 1550 Frontier SC is an excellent coastal fishing rig. It’s only 4.8m long, but it is more capable, better appointed and safer than many monohulls in the larger 5.2m size range.

That’s just as well too because the Stabicraft is not cheap. A price of $88K for the loaded boat package is a fair ask for this size – but you do get lots of included kit and class-leading levels of ride comfort, handling and stability.

Model: Stabicraft 1550 Frontier Sportfish SC
Length: 4.8m
Beam: 2.01m
Internal beam: 1.35m
Deadrise: 15 degrees
Hull weight: 550kg
Towing weight: 985kg (approx)
Pontoon tube alloy: 3m
Bottom and transom alloy: 4mm
Cockpit floor alloy: 4mm (tread-plate standard)
Maximum power: 75hp
Engine as tested: Yamaha 70hp longshaft four-stroke
Fuel: 60L
Passengers: 5
Priced from: $66,483 including a Yamaha 70hp longshaft four-stroke outboard with mechanical steering, and a GFAB aluminium single axle trailer with mechanical brakes.
Price as tested: $88,954. As above but with an upgrade to hydraulic steering, Garmin Echomap Ultra 125sv multi-function display with Navionics charts and transducer, starboard side console for flush-mount electronics, removable front casting platform, weld-on boat catch hook, 60L underfloor EPA fuel tank with U-Dek flooring, coaming lighting, transom live bait tank, raised bow rails, belting-up gloss paint with coaming fendering, sand anchor kit, tie-down straps, partially smooth waters safety gear pack, and 12-month boat and trailer registrations.
Supplied by: Northside Marine