Stabicraft 2750 Centrecab: Fishing Boat Review

With dual Yamaha four-stroke F150B outboard engines, a serious 500lt fuel supply, enclosed full-shelter centre-cabin layout, and large uncluttered cockpit, the Stabicraft 2750 Centrecab is a gun trailerable offshore sport fishing platform. This fabulous Kiwi-built pontoon-style hull is near bulletproof structurally, super safe and seaworthy, and topped with an amazing walkaround layout to help you land the biggest bluewater fish.

OVERVIEW
- Safe, soft, solid offshore fishing boats
Designed and built in New Zealand, Stabicraft boats have been available in Australia for many years now. These pontoon craft — which have safety buoyancy chambers encircling a deep-V plate-alloy hull — are renowned for their stability, soft ride and rugged durability. As fishing boats Stabicraft reign supreme across the Tasman and have a loyal following in Australia.

In the recreational Stabicraft boat range there are two dozen or so different models. They range from the entry 1410 tiller-steer Explorer open boat through to the flagship 2900 Pilothouse cabin cruiser. In between you can choose from a wide array of models with open, centre console, cuddy cabin, and enclosed half cabin configurations.

The Stabicraft model for this review is the imposing 2750 Centrecab powered by a pair of Yamaha 150hp extra-longshaft four-stroke outboards and supplied by Brisbane’s Northside Marine. This boat is something else again and, as the range stood at the time of testing, the ultimate Stabicraft for bluewater sport fishing.

DESIGN LINES
- Fishing show host lends a design hand
The 2750 Centrecab is unique in the Stabicraft range in that the interior layout was designed originally with input from leading Kiwi fishing personality, and The ITM Fishing Show host, Matt Watson.

Stabicraft collaborated with Matt to produce a purpose-designed trailerable offshore fishing boat for Matt’s popular TV fishing show. The new craft created so much interest that Stabicraft added the big Centrecab to its model range.

The production model 2750 Centrecab differs from the original Matt Watson model in a number of areas, but the inherent design remains the same, especially around the rear cockpit and transom where Matt’s influence is evident.

Below the waterline the 2750 Centrecab is unchanged from its siblings. It has an 8.4m long, 21 degree deep-V hull equipped with a single planing/lifting strake on each side and Stabicraft’s "Arrow" pontoons.

Slimmer and more attractive than the previous design, the Arrow pontoons were introduced to boost interior space and provide a more comfortable ride without loss of Stabicraft’s renowned stability.

The latest hulls also have Stabicraft’s heralded "Game Chaser" transom, which is angled and shaped to deflect water to the sides for improved manoeuvrability when reversing, and to make it easier to back-up on a fleeing game fish.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Add electronics gear and go fishing
Brisbane’s Northside Marine has Stabicraft 2750 Centrecab packages priced from around $196,868. This price is for a standard unpainted boat with dual counter-rotating Yamaha 150hp extra-longshaft (25in) four-stroke outboards (with hydraulic steering and Yamaha Command Link digital display) and riding on a Dunbier Suparolla tandem axle aluminium trailer with electric-hydraulic break-away brakes.

Our test boat was packaged with the exact same Yamaha outboard engines and Dunbier trailer, but is priced higher at $222,137 due to the addition of a $9k Garmin electronics package and a few optional extras.

The dealer fitted electronics pack included dual Garmin GPSMap 7410xsv 10in multi-function touch screen displays with GT51 transducer with spray shield, G2 Vision Chart, external GPS aerial and network cable, and a Garmin GMR 24xHD Radome 4kw HD radar.

General options included full paint to the hull and deck, noise-suppressing foam injected into the pontoons, rear T-bar boarding ladder, a Maxwell roof hatch in the saloon, the addition of a third battery, a Sarca anchor, rope and chain (for the included Stress Free brand anchor winch) and an open-water safety gear pack.

Remarkably, everything else you can see in the attached photos is standard!

We don’t have the space to list everything, but some of this good gear includes: the hardtop with toughened glass windscreen, windscreen wiper, and sliding side windows, forward cabin with adaptable berth cushions, under-berth storage and cabin ceiling lining, deluxe pedestal chairs on Softrider pedestals, folding saloon jump seats for four adults, lock-up cabin/saloon with bi-fold doors, bow seating area with cushion, a huge checker-plate alloy rear cockpit with insulated underfloor kill tank, centre transom bait station with rod rack, knife and utensil racks, cutting surface and lockable slide-out drawer, port side live bait tank, built in cockpit rod holders, elevated battery shelf, raw water deck wash, auto bilge pump, and twin tuna tubes with each one fed by a 1200gph pump.

You get the idea...

AT THE BOW
- Clever design has casting platform with anchor under the bowsprit
The walkaround centrecab layout is ideal for fishing and the layout on the 2750 is among the best you’ll find. It doesn’t have the deep cabin side trench of some models, but it has an elevated side walkway that is just the right width.

Importantly, the rails overhead have been located well inboard on the gunwale so you can stand and lean against them to brace yourself when fighting a fish. At the bow the rails are 800mm off the deck, making the foredeck a genuine fishing spot for one person. There is even a seat on the front of the cabin structure to perch on.

There is more innovation at the bow in the placement of the anchor and anchor well. To create a standing casting deck right on the pulpit, the anchor well is situated under the foredeck and not right up at the bow. The anchor itself is positioned permanently under the bowsprit and is lowered electrically from this position at the flick of a switch at the dash.

Other features include non-slip deck matting, dual rope storage lockers, two welded cleats at the bow, two more amidships, and four Railblaza Starport mounts which are designed to accept a range of Railblaza attachments, including vertical rod holders.

HELM AND CABIN
- All-weather sport fishing with enclosed, lock-up cab
The 2750 Centrecab is available with or without the lockable bi-fold doors separating the saloon and cabin from the rear cockpit. Either way you have full weather protection inside as the helm is enclosed.

The centre cabin is not as wide as a traditional full-width cabin, but there is still space for two pedestal mounted bucket chairs to be placed side-by-side before the helm and dash.

The single front-pane toughened-glass front windscreen and sliding side window are tall and provide an unimpeded 180 degree view forward.

There is ample headroom under the hardtop and comfortable foot-rests for the skipper and forward passenger.

There is additional seating behind the primary helm seats in the form of four folding seat squabs. There is nothing flash about them, but they do provide additional seating for four more crew members inside the cabin, sheltered from the weather.

At the helm the sports steering wheel and side mount binnacle throttles are well placed, while the dash and fascia is large enough to cater for a single extra large multi-function display — or two smaller units. Our test boat was optioned with two 10in Garmin GPSMap 7410xsv displays.

The Yamaha Command Link digital display was mounted in the bulkhead above the fascia, alongside the Fusion stereo head unit.

Flip-up bolsters on the front of the pedestal helm chairs ensured the boat was comfortable to drive while seated or standing.

The forward cabin area opens up from the port side. The open-plan layout ensures there is ample headroom when you step down into the cabin.

The cabin has a modular seating/berth arrangement that allows the seating area to be converted into a large double berth. Forward of the skipper and passenger footrest there is a hinged plate/bulkhead which folds down to extend each side berth. Additional infill cushions slot in between to create the double berth.

With all the cushions and infills removed you can step down into the cabin and use the area for seating and storage. To that end, there is a huge storage locker underneath the companionway between each side berth, along with underberth lockers.

This large sub-floor locker is one of three huge floor storage lockers. There is another in the floor of the saloon, between the fold-down jump seats, and a third out in the cockpit. The two big forward lockers are for dry storage, while the aft cockpit sub-floor locker is a kill tank to stow the day’s catch.

Other cabin/saloon features include the optional Maxwell roof ventilation hatch under the hardtop, as well as attractive grey carpet lining to the ceiling and side panels throughout the cabin and saloon.

COCKPIT AND TRANSOM
- A fishing layout to treasure
The rear cockpit and transom layout is exceptionally well designed for fishing. The welded tread-plate aluminium cockpit floor is large and uncluttered — measuring 2.4m from the cabin doors aft to the transom wall by a tad over 2.0m wide.

The cockpit is not self-draining, unfortunately, but there are two automatic bilge pumps fitted to remove any water from the rear cockpit.

Along the cockpit sides the gunwales are 810mm above the deck and very nearly as high in the transom corners at 760mm.

The coaming top is nice and wide at 270mm so you can easily install additional deck mount rod holders, outriggers or downriggers.

The 200mm wide side pockets run the full length of the cockpit, and should be ideal for stowing deck lines, lure bags, terminal tackle boxes, and the like.

There are no floor-level toe/foot rails to due to the pontoons that encircle the main hull, but the gunwale is high enough for you to lean securely against while fishing in rough weather. That said, coaming bolster padding would be a welcome addition and can certainly be fitted as an option.

At the transom, the 2750 Centrecab has a folding, step-on jump seat on the starboard side, along with a transom door leading out to the boarding platform and optional T-bar boarding ladder.

Taking centre stage in the rear cockpit is the elaborate bait/rigging station which incorporates a bait board (which has been specially designed so you can fillet your catch on board), knife racks, drink and sinker holders, an aft-facing rod rack, and a large slide-out tackle drawer.

The house and engine starting batteries are located on a platform beneath the bait station where they are sheltered from the weather, yet easy to access for servicing and maintenance.

Over on the port side you’ll find a 70lt live well with clear front viewing window as well two built-in tuna tubes. Yes, you read that correctly. For this writer, seeing tuna tubes included as standard equipment on a production boat is a first. Well done Stabicraft!

The tuna tubes and live well are fully plumbed too, fed by individual 1200gph electric pumps with the water supply controlled by those four big blue taps you can see under the bait station and bait tank.

Other features include a two-level rocket launcher rod rack on the hardtop, raw water deck wash, electric reel power sockets, multiple in-deck rod holders and drink holders, and stern cleats.

POWER AND PERFORMANCE
- Duel engines for long range fishing
The 2750 Centrecab is rated for single or dual outboards up to 500hp in total, though we can’t envisage a situation where you would need that much power. Our dual 150hp Yamaha four-stroke powered test rig was quick enough, attaining a top speed of 38.9 knots at 6000rpm.

You might consider upgrading to a pair of Yamaha’s wonderful F200 lightweight, in-line four -ylinder outboards, but more power beyond that would be overkill — at least for recreational applications.

You could also opt for a single 300hp or 350hp outboard, but we believe twins is the way go on a craft destined for long range offshore sport fishing. Fitting twins also does away with the need for trim tabs, which we would otherwise recommend with this big Stabicraft — and any other boat of this size for that matter.

With the twin Yamaha 150s on the transom the test rig accelerated strongly from idle with a smooth, linear power delivery. We felt the test rig lacked a bit of punch in the mid range, but for most offshore fishing applications this dual 150hp set-up will be ideal.

It will also be economical, the dual engines purring away at 4500 rpm and a speed of 24.8 knots to record a best fuel range on the standard 500lt fuel tank (less 5 per cent for line losses) of 255nm.

ON THE WATER
- Smooth riding deep-V pontoon hull
Stabicraft’s latest Arrow pontoon deep-vee hull is now well proven. The positive buoyancy pontoon chambers, which encircle the main centre hull, ensure the boat is unsinkable, but also account for the big Stabicraft’s wonderful stability. The hull is rock solid at rest and underway.

The hull is also soft riding as the entry is fine and the deadrise still pretty sharp back at the transom where it has a vee angle of 21.5 degrees. Unsurprisingly, the test boat proved comfortable riding in chop, stable and dry.

At the helm the steering was light, the throttle responsive and the boat banked securely into slalom turns, rode easily out of wave troughs in a following sea, and felt well balanced in beam and quartering seas.

VERDICT
- A wonderfully appointed, high-end trailerable sport fisher
Offshore anglers looking for a trailerable fishing craft to tackle East Coast blue marlin out wide, or pursue barrel-sized bluefin tuna out of Portland – or any other application involving long distance sea travel — need look no further than the Stabicraft 2750 Centrecab.

This big centrecab is one mighty fine offshore fishing craft —superbly appointed, safe, soft, stable and sturdily built. Just as importantly, however, it combines a fully enclosed, all-weather lock-up cabin with the centre-console-like ability to fish 360 degrees around the boat. You can expect to catch some seriously big fish from a boat of this calibre!

LIKES
>> Proven Arrow pontoon hull
>> Excellent fishing layout
>> Innovative anchor positioning
>> Bow and stern fishing decks
>> High, supportive bow and side rails
>> Plumbed tuna tubes and live well
>> Twin Yamaha outboard reliability

NOT SO MUCH
>> Stern cleats could snag fishing lines
>> Cockpit not self-draining
>> Glare and heat off raw alloy deck

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.76/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.9/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.6/5.0
X-factor: 4.7/5.0

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
4.6kts (8.5km/h) @ 1000rpm
5.8kts (10.7km/h) @ 1500rpm
7.1kts (13.1km/h) @ 2000rpm
9.3kts (17.2km/h) @ 2500rpm
14.4kts (26.6km/h) @ 3000rpm
20.0kts (37.0km/h) @ 3500rpm
24.8kts (45.9km/h) @ 4000rpm
29.0kts (53.6km/h) @ 4500rpm
32.9kts (60.9km/h) @ 5000rpm
36.0kts (66.6km/h) @ 5500rpm
38.9kts (72.0km/h) @ 6000rpm (WOT)

PERFORMANCE – ECONOMY
5.7 l/ph @ 1000rpm
8.3 l/ph @ 1500rpm
13.7 l/ph @ 2000rpm
21.0 l/ph @ 2500rpm
27.3 l/ph @ 3000rpm
37.7 l/ph @ 3500rpm
46.2 l/ph @ 4000rpm
57.0 l/ph @ 4500rpm
71.2 l/ph @ 5000rpm
94.2 l/ph @ 5500rpm
114.3 l/ph @ 6000rpm (WOT)

MAXIMUM RANGE ON 95% OF 500L FUEL TANK: 254.98nm @ 4,000rpm

Specifications: Stabicraft 2750 Centrecab
Price: $222,137 including twin Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboards with counter-rotation, hydraulic steering and Command Link digital display, Dunbier Suparolla tandem-axle aluminium trailer with electric hydraulic break-away brakes, Garmin electronics package comprising dual Garmin GPSMap 7410xsv 10 inch multi-function touch screen displays with GT51 transducer with spray shield, G2 Vision Chart, external GPS aerial and network cable, and a Garmin GMR 24xHD Radome 4kw HD radar. General options fitted include full paint to the hull and deck, noise suppressing foam injected into the pontoons, rear T-bar boarding ladder, a Maxwell roof hatch in the saloon, the addition of a third battery, a Sarca anchor, rope and chain, boat and trailer registrations, and an open water safety gear pack.

Priced from: $196,868 with twin Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboards with counter-rotation, hydraulic steering and Command Link digital display, Dunbier Suparolla tandem axle aluminium trailer with electric hydraulic break-away brakes, boat and trailer registrations, and an open water safety gear pack.
Length: 8.4m
Maximum beam: 2.49m
Internal beam: 2.04m
Dry hull weight: Approx. 1,900kg
Towing weight: Approx. 3500kg
Deadrise: 21.5 degrees
Bottom alloy: 6mm
Side Tube alloy: 4mm
Length on trailer: Approx 9.8m
Height on trailer: Approx 3.14m
Maximum power: 500hp
Engine as tested: Twin Yamaha 150hp four-strokes
Fuel: 500 litres
Maximum Persons: Nine

Supplied by:
Northside Marine
2294 Sandgate Road
Boondall QLD 4034
Telephone: (07) 3265 8000
Email: billh@nsmarine.com.au
Website: www.northsidemarine.com.au.