Which Bar Crusher alloy trailer boat should I buy?

Its alloy plate boat range is known mainly for the die-hard, no-compromise fishing boats it has honed over years of production experience, but it has also recently released more family-friendly boats in recognition that some owners also have families.

Underneath the entire range is a safe, seaworthy deep-vee hull that can partially flood to increase at-rest stability or settle the boat while running fast in sloppy conditions. However, the hull remains extremely buoyant – a boat that capsized in Australia was later found washed up and covered in barnacles on a beach 2000km away.

As always, you’ll need to be guided by your budget and your specific boating needs when choosing which Bar Crusher boat to buy.

Here, we’ve compiled a list of the top five Bar Crusher models that potential buyers search for on boatsales.com.au. If other people like them, chances are any one of these boats could be just as right for you.

We’ve gone straight to the top and engaged Bar Crusher managing director Peter Cleland to give us some background on why he believes buyers are attracted to these particular models.

According to Cleland, the Bar Crusher 670HT – the “HT” means the helm is enclosed on three sides – is the perfect boat for those who like the protection of a full-height hardtop when fishing wide in rougher conditions.

Cleland says the hardtop provides great visibility forward through its full height toughened glass windscreen, a good-sized cabin area to keep gear dry, and a range of seating options including under-seat iceboxes.

“With good waterline length, water ballasting and plenty of V, this model has become a favourite for running wide, bottom bashing and all-weather comfort,” he says.

Here’s a boat that Cleland describes as a great Aussie all-rounder. The Bar Crusher 615C is also the same model that made the 2000-kilometre journey that we mentioned earlier.

“Bar Crusher devotees love this model as the aluminium roof not only looks cool but folds into the boat for low garage storage,” Cleland says.

“With side and front clears you have the benefits and style of a hardtop with the flexibility to slide it away under your carport or garage at the end of the day.”

Cleland says the 615C also comes “with all the usual Bar Crusher goodies” including a low-maintenance cockpit, wide sidedecks to sit around, a live bait tank, multiple rod holders, a clever bait board, and a range of seat options.

“This one could be seen as the perfect all-rounder for just about any style of fishing,” he says.

Cleland likes the Bar Crusher 730HT because it has all the attributes of the smaller hardtops in terms of weather protection, but with the addition of a self-draining deck.

He says the Bar Crusher 730HT comes with “bags of deck space, full-length bunks, optional Engel fridge-freezers, a huge dash for electronics, and a nice soft riding hull for those trips out wide”.

It’s a boat that’s as good at chasing tuna and marlin offshore as it is overnighting around bays and harbours fishing for snapper and mulloway.

“This baby has a sleek hull that slices nicely through wind chop,” Cleland says. 

According to Cleland, the Bar Crusher 575C is a more compact model than the 615C but still feels like a much larger boat on the water.

He lists its assets as being durable and low maintenance, and easy to tow, launch and retrieve. 

Similar to its bigger sibling, the Bar Crusher 575C has a pivoting gas strut folding roof for low garaging.

Cleland refers to this boat simply as “the legend”, an apt description for the compact 6.1-metre boat with a full-height windscreen and the protection of a fixed roof.

“The Bar Crusher 615HT has plenty of internal space in a package that doubles as a hardcore fishing rig and a fantastic family boat,” Cleland says.

He says the 615HT is extremely economical when fitted with a 150hp outboard engine that can still provide its owner with “a great blend of power and economy”.