Stacer 539 Nomad Fisher

But Stacer built its concept version of the 539 Nomad Fisher to test the waters at the its National Dealer Conference.

According to Stacer’s National Account Manager Drew Jackson, the reaction was very positive indeed: "At the conference, the dealers were all over it," said Jackson who joined us on a day out in the Nomad Fisher.

"They loved it. So in conjunction with them and some of our customers, we modified the concept a bit and came up with this boat," Jackson added.

The result is what you see here: a 5.4 metre aluminium centre-console with a checkerplate self-draining floor and heaps of storage and equipment for the ardent fisherman.

For that, you do get a fair bit of boat. The standard motor is a 115hp Evinrude E-Tec which is plenty of grunt for this 5.4m boat. The Evinrude is fed by an 80-litre underfloor fuel tank and steering is manual but with a hydraulic option that we recommend.

On the console you get the digital readouts from Evinrude as well as a Lowrance Mark-5X fishfinder and a VHF radio with whip antenna.

You also get four rod holders (more would be nice), fold-down drink holders, transducer brackets, a live-bait tank and built-in kill tank.

Construction is of pressed aluminium bottom and side sheets, with a checkerplate floor which is self-draining. The bottom and transom are 4mm alloy while the topsides are 3mm.

Our boat was the centre-console version but we’re told you can get a side-console variant with a bit more uninterrupted floor space. Both versions have the raised casting deck forward which in our case was carpeted but it can also be ordered in checkerplate. Personally, I’d go for the carpeted version as it’s easier on the feet, especially in hotter climates, and it’s far less glary.

Up front, there is a fair-sized anchor well which is constructed of moulded plastic so the anchor won’t clang around. A bow roller is standard and there’s a substantial cleat to tie off the ground tackle or mooring.

Other features include a large central kill tank, long rod storage pockets in the sides and good storage under the casting deck.

Stacer’s new transom is neat and hides all the cabling from the engine allowing for an obstruction-free stern less likely to foul lines.

There’s also storage in the transom for a twin batteries and, according to Jackson, the whole setup "creates a lower centre of gravity for more stability at rest and while under way."

The boat comes standard with a single battery but the twin batteries are available ex-factory. There is also provision for the mounting of an electric motor up front but I didn’t see provision for an auxiliary on the transom.

Drew also told us that the boat could be configured with a second fuel tank which sits athwartships in front of the centre console: "We have a dealer in Darwin who ordered one like this," he said. "It means that you lose the kill tank which is situated in front of the console but it certainly increases the range of the boat."

Jackson also told us that potential owners can opt for ‘spigot’ seats with mounts around the boat for versatile seating configurations – a great idea, I thought, for those long waits between bites.

Through the chop, the forward chines deflect the spray well, so even when side-on we didn’t get much over the bow. It’s a very comfortable ride as I have found centre console boats to be, as most of the weight is in the middle of the hull and you take the bumps standing on your feet.

For the passengers, there are plenty of hand holds, on either side of the bow, on the stern and around the windscreen at the console. These are sturdy and fairly low profile so they won’t get in your way when fishing.

I will make note of the floor here. One thing that this sort of construction does is make the boat feel strong. The plate, being an integral part of the structure of the boat, adds significantly to its rigidity. So when you board the boat and, for that matter while you’re banging into the chop, it feels safe and solid.

As we did recently with the Stacer 649 Ocean Ranger, we checked out the workings of the self-draining system in the Nomad Fisher. The system works like venturi with two scuppers in the stern, with two non-return valves that won’t let water in when you’re at rest or reversing. We decided to try it out and backed the Nomad up for about 50 or 60 metres and found no ingress of water, so we can quite easily say that the system works.

It doesn’t require bungs and simply drains water away with the application of power. Similarly, it will drain water away following a wash down after a day out fishing.

Our boat was fitted with the optional helm pedestal seat which I’d opt for on my Nomad. It provides for comfortable helming whether seated or standing and there’s plenty of handy storage space under the lid.

The Evinrude E-Tec 115 was a good match. It got the boat up and planning in no time. We had full tanks and three aboard but the boat is rated to carry six which, with all the gear for a day’s fishing, might push the 115 a bit, but we couldn’t test that out on the day.

I like the Evinrude E-Tec engines, they’re quiet and powerful. The 115 is a V4 configuration that’s well balanced and very advanced with computer-controlled engine management system that delivers precise mix to the combustion chambers.

When we found some flat water, we gave the boat a chance to show its wares and managed a top speed of just over 36.5 knots at wide open throttle at that we were burning 38 litres per hour. I found a comfortable cruise of 22 knots had the engine revving at 3500 for a fuel burn of 21.7 litres per hour.

Calculating the fuel burn at cruising speed with the 80 litres in the tank, and leaving a 10 per cent safety margin, this gives the Nomad Fisher a range of just under 80 nautical miles.

The E-Tec, even though it’s a two-stroke, is a quiet performer. There’s no need to shout over the engine noise and it’s possible, even on our windy day, to have a conversation while cruising.

The big market for these boats Queensland and the Northern Territory, but with the advent of the plate floor and a few other tweaks, even a bimini with rocket launcher, we think it’ll find some homes further south.

Stacer, which has put together a sensible list of optional extras so you can customise the boat to your liking, says the Nomad Fisher will make you the envy of every angler in town. It might be drawing a bit of a long bow... but it’ll certainly make a few have a look.