Stacer 389 Territory Striker Review

OVERVIEW
Queensland's Stacer Aluminium Boats has kept a relatively low profile during the last 12 months, with little in the way of new product releases. However, we understand there is lots of new stuff coming, along with upgrades to existing models.

Having noted the above, Stacer has not been completely idle over the summer months. In January, Stacer introduced a new series of entry models within the Proline series of v-nose bass and barra boats.

The new boats are called the Territory Strikers. There are three to choose from - available in 349, 369 and 389 model sizes.

Compared with the existing Stacer Proline boats, the new Territory Strikers have slightly wider beams, a sharper vee hull, and taller topsides for more interior space and freeboard.

The new boats are each made from 1.6mm pressed aluminium and weigh 81kg, 92kg, and 116kg respectively. Theoretically, the boats can be car-toppered, but there are lighter models within the Stacer Proline range better suited for this purpose.

The Territory Strikers are stronger, more heavy-duty than the existing Prolines, with higher sides for safety and increased fishing space, along with beefed up transoms and welded seat thwarts for added strength and rigidity.

For this test review, we secured the flagship Territory Striker 389 from Gold Coast dealer, Whitewater Marine. The test boat arrived on a Stacer braked alloy trailer and was paired with an Evinrude E-TEC 30hp DFI two-stroke outboard.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
Whitewater Marine has entry package pricing for the Stacer 389 Territory Striker starting from $11,210. This includes the maximum power Evinrude E-TEC 30hp outboard. To save a few dollars you could easily drop back to the 25hp model - and still have plenty of performance.

The 30hp E-TEC included in the deal is an electric start, tiller-steer longshaft (20") model with power trim and tilt.

Power trim is more useful than you might think in a sub-4.0m boat package. Small boats are very sensitive to weight distribution. With power trim on the tiller handle, your crewmate can sit up in the bow - or back down alongside you in the stern - and you can quickly compensate for the weight change by trimming the boat up or down as required.

Of course, power trim is most useful in setting up the boat for differing sea conditions. For example, you would generally trim the bow down when running into a stiff chop, but trim it up - or out of the water - when running before the sea.

More detailed information on weight distribution and trimming your boat can be found on our sites.

Now back to the topic at hand. The standard Territory Striker 389 comes unpainted, and with two heavy duty, foam-filled welded seat thwarts, a glove box with cup holders, along with low set bow and stern rails, dual carry handles at the bow, rowlock blocks, stern carry handles, transom corner reinforcing gussets, and a heavy-duty transom with V-shaped internal bracing.

Two supporting struts welded from the transom to the internal keel - just beneath the rear seat thwart - add extra strength to cope with the thrust of outboards to 30hp on this boat.

Internally, the 389 Territory Striker has nine internal cross ribs (plus the anchor shelf) to support the 1.6mm pressed alloy used in the hull bottom, transom and topsides. Five of these ribs extend up from the internal chine to the gunwale.

Other standard features include an over-sized plastic drain bung at the transom, and a dual towing eye so that you can attach a winch wire and a separate safety chain.

Our test boat was not rigged with all of this gear, but it did have the most important stuff - such as the low-set carpeted plywood floor, the bow casting platform, bow mount electric trolling motor plate, bow cleat, and a fuel tank rack in the stern.

The hull was also painted white, although we would regard hull paint as non-essential. It looks good, of course, but hull paint won't help you catch more fish.

With the few additions over the standard boat, the test rig has a package price from Whitewater Marine of $13,627 - which is still really affordable.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
The interior layout in the Stacer 389 Territory Striker is little different to the other Stacer Proline models (or indeed many craft from rival brands), but the slight increase in width and depth creates more interior volume - and provides for more storage space beneath the optional casting platform.

At the bow, the Territory Striker has a short foredeck above a full width anchor shelf. The latter can easily accommodate an appropriate-sized anchor and rode, but the well is not carpeted so the anchor will clatter about on the bare alloy. Tellingly, in the test rig, someone had placed a loose strip of carpet under the anchor to stop it from damaging the paintwork.

The casting deck aft of the anchor well combines with the forward seat thwart to create quite a large bow platform. Beneath it there is a spacious storage locker for safety gear and for mounting a trolling motor battery.

Between the wide, foam-filled bow and stern seat thwarts is the carpeted plywood floor. The test rig had the low-set or half-floor fitted - as opposed to the more costly full-width floor which is higher and wider.

The full floor will give you more foot space between the two seat thwarts, but for most situations the cheaper low-set floor should be sufficient. It is also mounted lower (directly over the ribs) and this keeps the centre of gravity down lower - which in turn helps with stability at rest.

Behind the rear seat thwart the test rig had the optional full-width fuel tank rack - with carpeted plywood pads on each side. The battery was housed in a regular plastic battery box and situated on the starboard side pad. The 25lt fuel tank was situated opposite, over to port.

ON THE WATER
The Stacer 389 Territory Striker will perform well with outboards in the 20hp-30hp range. Our test boat was mated to an Evinrude E-TEC in-line two-cylinder, DFI two-stroke outboard - and the combination proved agile.

As noted earlier, you could easily get by with the smaller power 25hp E-TEC (although it is essentially a de-rated 30hp), but the extra power does give the little Stacer plenty of oomph from displacement speeds and lots of mid-range grunt.

A twist of the meaty throttle handle and the little Stacer shoots forward from a standing-start, before accelerating strongly to a top speed of 24 knots. This doesn't sound all that quick, but in a sub 4.0m tiller-steer open boat 24 knots feels fast. There is certainly no need for additional power.

In choppy bay conditions, whipped up by gusting winds and rain squalls, the Stacer test rig proved to be well mannered, surprisingly dry and, for its diminutive size, quite comfortable.

The smooth ride stems from the fact that the Territory Striker hull has been given a finer entry than comparable-sized Proline hulls, yet the softer ride comes without any loss to stability due to the boat's wide beam.

Thanks to the power trim included with the Evinrude E-TEC, we could also trim the Stacer 389 Territory Striker to perfectly suit the changing conditions. This is not practical with a manual trim outboard as you have to lift up the engine, and manually move the trim-pin from one hole to another.

VERDICT
The Stacer 389 Territory Striker is a feisty little fishing boat for smooth and sheltered waters. It's a great platform for chasing lizards in the bays and estuaries, bass and trout in the impoundments - as well as barra in the northern parts of Australia.

At 116kg, the Stacer is still light enough to be roof-topped using most of the boat-loader-type racks currently available, although we expect most people will keep this versatile boat on a trailer.

Either way, for low cost, entry-level boating and fishing the Stacer 389 Territory Striker is an excellent choice and a first -lass product. Stacer has taken the timeless Aussie tinny, stretched and tweaked it in all the right places, and improved upon a classic with a smoother ride and great stability.

Length overall: 3.95m
Beam: 1.82m
Hull weight: 116kg
Depth: 870mm
Weight on trailer: Approx 550kg
Length on trailer: 5.2m
Bottom & transom alloy: 1.6mm
Topsides alloy: 1.6mm
Maximum power: 30hp
Maximum engine weight: 105kg
Engine as tested: Evinrude E-TEC 30hp two-stroke
Fuel capacity: Portables
Flotation standard: Basic
Maximum persons: Five