Stacer 539 Crossfire: Fishing Boat Review

The new Crossfires were launched to assembled media just a few months ago on the Gold Coast. We drove the 509 series model on the day and were suitably impressed. We have now managed to snare the second boat off the production line, the slightly larger 539 Crossfire coupled with an Evinrude ETEC 115hp DFI two-stroke outboard.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Great entry price with lots of standard kit
The new Stacer Crossfires are available in four model sizes – 489, 509, 539 and 579. As the second to largest model our 539 Crossfire test rig is quite a substantial boat, easily capable of fishing coastal offshore waters as well as cruising open bays and harbours.

Having noted the above, the 539 Crossfire is light and easy to handle on the launch ramp and rides on a single axle aluminium braked trailer. The package weighs around 1000kg so it can be easily towed behind a family car.

There are plenty of options for the Crossfires but the standard boats are not short on features or equipment. Fishing features include the decent sized transom corner live bait tank, the four standard rod holders, wide side coamings, dual transducer brackets, VHF radio, and large, uncluttered rear cockpit.

Among the general inclusions is the overhead bimini with envelope, bow and stern rails, carpeted bow seating area/casting deck, side console helm station, two pedestal bucket chairs (with four in-floor seat positions), cockpit carpet throughout, underfloor and side storage pockets, rear boarding platforms, and a 95 litre sub-floor fuel tank.

Packaged with the entry-sized 75hp Evinrude E-Tec DFI two-stroke outboard and a single-axle Stacer alloy braked trailer, the standard 539 Crossfire can be purchased for just $38,189.

This entry price from the Gold Coast’s Whitewater Marine also includes boat and trailer registrations, battery, sand anchor kit, and an inshore safety gear kit for four adults.

Our test package was upgraded with a larger 115hp Evinrude E-Tec outboard along with a series of options which included the padded vinyl bow seat cushions, infill board to convert the bow deck into a casting platform, forward cockpit pedestal table, electric trolling motor plate and battery box, and a Lowrance Elite-7TI Touch fish finder/GPS.

Whitewater Marine has the complete, as tested 539 Crossfire available for $44,548 – which is pretty decent value for money for a versatile, mid-sized family fishing boat.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Bow seating area takes centre-stage
The stand-out feature and selling point for the new Stacer Crossfire is the bow seating area which is designed so that it can be reconfigured into an elevated fishing casting deck. In itself this is not a new idea, but combining this forward deck layout with a side console helm configuration is offering up a new style of boat. It has probably been done before on custom boats, but not as a regular production model from a mainstream manufacturer.

The bow seating area can be configured in three or four different ways, most of them requiring the purchase of the optional padded vinyl seat cushions and the infill board which slots in between the vee shaped seating.

The standard boat has the vee shaped, carpeted seating structure. Add the optional vinyl padded seat cushions (and or backrests) and you create a very comfortable bow seating area for three – four adults.

Stacer also has an oval shaped table which can be pedestal mounted between the bow seats to provide a cosy dinette – ideal for onboard picnics on warm summer’s day afternoons.

For serious fishing trips you would leave the cushions and dinette table at home, slot in the optional carpeted infill board and you’re good to go.

For bow fishing you can also mount one of the pedestal chairs (or buy a third) into an elevated seat-socket just behind the anchor well – though this requires the removal of the centre infill board.

As you would expect there is plenty of storage space beneath the forward seating area. The anchor well – with roto-moulded plastic insert – is situated under the forward part of the seating area, but there is a large storage locker under each of the side seats.

A sub-floor locker at the bow has been provided to house the battery to run a bow mount electric trolling motor.

Cockpit and bow side pockets provide additional storage space and there is an enclosed shelf/locker within the helm console for dry gear, such as your EPIRB, safety flares, etc.

The console is compact in size and made of a tough plastic material. It has a wind deflector in place of a regular windshield, space for engine instruments and provision for a single, flush mounted fish finder/GPS display up to about nine inches in size. The test rig was equipped with a seven inch Lowrance Elite-7TI Touch display which slotted into place in the fascia with room to spare.

From a seated helm position the sporty looking steering wheel is comfortably within reach and the side-mounted throttle falls easily to hand. Reaching the throttle lever while standing up is a little more difficult, but the boat is not really designed to be driven while standing up.

Behind the helm console there is limited rear cockpit space, but there is enough room to tuck in behind the helm chair to fish over the starboard rear quarter.

Opposite there is plenty of fishing deck space, stretching 2.3 m from the bow seating area back to the transom.

General features in and around the rear cockpit area includes 595mm of internal cockpit freeboard, the port side live bait tank, rear coaming rails, and ski pole mounting bracket.

There is also a hatch in the floor at the transom to access and service the bilge pump and plumbing.

The engine battery is also located in this underfloor locker, which is less than ideal to our way of thinking. We believe the battery should be mounted on a shelf, elevated above the cockpit floor – and clear of any water that may flood the cockpit.

ON THE WATER
- Proven performer
Stacer’s Evo Advance hulls have been fine-tuned over a number of years. The hulls have quite a sharp entry, moderate vee coming aft, several full length planing/lifting strakes, and slightly reversed outer chines. This combination provides an easy ride with excellent stability at rest and underway.

Under the 539 Crossfire the Evo Advance hull design works particularly well, the hull being easy, instinctive to drive, well balanced, quick to plane and with sufficient buoyancy in the stern to comfortably carry the weight of the boat’s maximum power outboards.

With an Evinrude 115hp ETEC DFI two-stroke outboard on the transom the Crossfire is very quick too. We achieved a top speed of 37.5 knots at 6150rpm. The test boat accelerated very strongly and there is more than enough power to pull a skier or two, and to tow the kids around on tubes, wakeboards, etc.

For fishing you probably don’t need the grunt of the 115hp Evinrude but it does make the boat fun to drive – and that’s what this new Crossfire is all about.

VERDICT
- Crowd pleaser
The new 539 Stacer Crossfire is a versatile, practical family fishing boat with a design and layout that should keep everyone happy. It has the seating, cockpit and storage space for family day trips on the harbour, yet with the right options, can be rigged as a serious impoundment, bay and coastal offshore fishing boat.

Stacer looks to be on another winner with this one – as the 539 Crossfire is also good value for money, safe, seaworthy, durable, and easy to tow behind a family car or small SUV.

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
3.1kts (5.7km/h) @ 1000rpm
4.4kts (8.1km/h) @ 1500rpm
5.7kts (10.5km/h) @ 2000rpm
7.1kts (13.1km/h) @ 2500rpm
14.0kts (25.9km/h) @ 3000rpm
17.4kts (32.2km/h) @ 3500rpm
23.0kts (42.5km/h) @ 4000rpm
25.0kts (46.2km/h) @ 4500rpm
29.2kts (54.0km/h) @ 5000rpm
32.9kts (60.9km/h) @ 5550rpm
36.7kts (67.9km/h) @ 6000rpm
37.4kts (69.2km/h) @ 6150rpm (WOT)

LIKES
>> Excellent all-round performance
>> Great fishing/family cross-over boat
>> Versatile seating area/casting deck

NOT SO MUCH
>> Battery stowed below cockpit floor level
>> No stern cleats
>> Bow cushions are not standard

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.72/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.7/5.0
Value for money: 4.8/5.0
X-factor: 4.7/5.0

Specifications: Stacer 539 Crossfire
Price as tested: $44,548 including Evinrude E-Tec 115hp longshaft (20”) DFI two-stroke outboard, Stacer single axle aluminium braked trailer, Lowrance Elite-7TI Touch fish finder/GPS with Totalscan HDI Skimmer 455/800 kHz chirp transducer with side/down scan, bow-mount electric trolling motor plate with battery box, padded vinyl bow seat cushions, infill board and cushion to convert the bow deck into a casting platform or sun-bed, forward cockpit pedestal table, sand anchor kit, boat and trailer registrations, battery, and inshore safety gear for four adults.

Priced from: $38,189 including Evinrude E-Tec 75hp DFI longshaft (20”) two-stroke outboard, Stacer single axle aluminium braked trailer, battery, sand anchor kit, boat and trailer registrations, and an inshore safety gear kit for four adults.

Length overall: 5.61m
Hull length: 5.42m
Beam: 2.34m
Depth: 1.24m
Hull weight: 490kg
Flotation standard: Basic
Towing weight: Approx 1,050kg
Deadrise: 12 Degrees
Length on trailer: 6.85m
Height on trailer: 2.02m
Bottom & transom alloy: 4.0mm
Topsides alloy: 3.0mm
Maximum power: 130hp
Maximum engine weight: 242kg
Engine as tested: Evinrude ETEC 115hp DFI two-stroke
Fuel: 95 litres
Maximum persons: Six

Supplied by:
Whitewater Marine
Phone: (07) 5532 4402.
Email: info@whitewatermarine.com.au
Website: www.whitewatermarine.com.au.