Stabicraft 2250 Ultracab WT teased

“In a few days, we will release what will be known as the most provocative and innovative piece of engineering on the aluminum trailerboat market. It is called the Stabicraft 2250 Ultracab WT,” Stabicraft said in a notice posted on its website.

“While the concept of a new Ultracab may not come as big news, those with an eye for detail will still be focused on the letters at the end of the new model name – ‘WT’.

“Unlike a standard Ultracab or an Ultracab XL, this new model will have something never seen before on a trailer boat, or any boat for that matter.”

One image and a brief flash in a video that accompanies the release give a hint of what might be to come – the “WT” could stand for “walkthrough”, meaning the boat will have an open bowrider-style, rather than closed, bow.

The clue is in a brief shot taken down the side of the boat, showing the wheelhouse flush with the outside of what would be the walkaround gunnels on the standard 6.85-metre long, 2.55-metre wide (2.50 metres for Australian-delivered boats) 2250 Ultra Centrecab.

Another video shows the boat being towed through a very dark tunnel. A snapshot of the video, enhanced in Photoshop, shows a very different leading edge to the cabin, hinting that there might be a central companionway leading forward out of the cabin.

The Stabicraft 2250 Centrecab was introduced to the Invercargill-based alloy boat brand’s line-up to give buyers the choice of a more manageable, affordable and easy-to-tow centre-cab model.

The Ultra model swaps out the centre cab for a pilothouse-style cabin.

Stabicraft pontoon boats are renowned for their structural strength, safety and seaworthiness.

These innovative, cleverly designed craft are utilitarian in nature, perfectly suited to commercial marine applications (think coastal rescue or water police) as well as recreational fishing, diving – and pretty much any other application that requires an unsinkable, rough water-capable craft.

At the launch of the centre cab model midway through last year, Stabicraft said refining the boat to meet market demand proved challenging – for all the right reasons.

“We had a base 2250 platform that could hold its own in big water, but we needed to work out what features people value on this model, and what price would they pay for them,” it said.

“What we quickly found is that no two customers were the same and it would be a challenge to capture the whole market with one package.”

Instead, Stabicraft created four different packages in either Centrecab or Ultra Centrecab format.

“For example, we have built packages that suit the budget conscious, the hard-core fisherman and end-users that like a few more creature comforts,” it said at the time of the launch.

“We also have a package designed specifically for the US customers based in the Pacific Northwest.”

The new Stabicraft 2250 Ultracab WT is expected to be revealed in full on Friday.

Stabicraft currently has design patent applications before the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office for four as-yet unseen models it expects to launch in the future.