Which Haines Hunter boat should I buy?

Along the way, Haines Hunter has produced dozens of different models, many of which are now regarded as classics worthy of buying to upgrade, repower and restore to their former glory.

But what are the most sought-after Haines Hunter models? Are only the classics in hot demand? Or are the contemporary models also in favour?

Here’s our guide to the top five most popular Haines Hunter models that people are searching for on boatsales.

1. Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed

The most searched-for Haines Hunter model on boatsales right now is not one of the traditional classics.

Forget the V19R, Formula 233, V17L, 565L and 635L; these golden oldies are popular, but the most searched model is a current Haines Hunter called the 675 Enclosed.

The Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed is one of four enclosed models, each equipped with a fibreglass hardtop and full deck-to-hardtop reinforced glass windscreen and side windows.

The three other boats include the 625, 725, and the flagship 760 Enclosed.

There’s also a new Limited Edition 675 Enclosed which comes standard with a foam-filled hull, cockpit foam rubber flooring, a beefed-up transom to handle outboards (single or twin) to a maximum of 300hp, and the option for a custom interior fit-out.

Inside, the 675 Enclosed has a vee-berth front cabin with storage space and a full cabin/helm station bulkhead, along with a rear cockpit large enough to impress the most demanding offshore angler.

As you would expect, the cockpit is also well designed, flanked by full-length side pockets and stretching aft to a full-height transom with central storage compartments and live wells in each of the transom corners.

The 21-degree deep-vee hull beneath the 675 Enclosed is designed to provide a smooth, stable ride with easy handling.

The 675 Enclosed is arguably the pick of the Enclosed models, large enough to fish wide offshore yet compact enough to haul behind a 3000kg-rated SUV.

Find your own Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed right here on boatsales.

Launched in the late 1990s, following the success of similar earlier models such as the 520SF, the Haines Hunter 530 Breeze is essentially an updated version of the classic V17L featuring a sleek, low-profile cuddy cabin topped by a modern curved windshield.

Early Breeze models were quite plain, designed with few standard features to keep the price down for budget boat buyers. That said, there were plenty of options so customers could kit these boats out nicely.

Later models were better equipped. All models, and similar-sized Breeze cuddy cabins over the years (such as the 495, 510, and 520 models), have a vee-berth cabin with not much headroom but decent-sized berths with an optional infill cushion.

Behind a pair of pedestal helm chairs, the Haines Hunter 530 Breeze has a decent-sized cockpit that extends aft to a regular outboard well transom with lift-out corner quarter seats.

The Haines Hunter 530 Breeze is popular due to its modest used boat price and compact size; it rides on a single-axle trailer and can be towed comfortably behind a family car and parked up in the driveway at home.

Similar to the original V17L, the Haines Hunter 530 Breeze has a soft-riding deep-vee hull suitable for coastal fishing and boating applications. This rig is just big enough to fish a dozen or so miles offshore quite safely in good conditions.

The modern, updated version of the 530 Breeze is the Haines Hunter 535 Sportfish, available to buy brand new from Haines Hunter dealers.

Find your own Haines Hunter 530 Breeze right here on boatsales.

3. Haines Hunter 680 Patriot

Another excellent Haines Hunter from the late 1990s and early 2000s is the 680 Patriot walkaround centre cabin.

This superb offshore sports fishing trailer boat was based on the 1996 Haines Hunter 680SF Encore, which itself was based on the renowned 1992 Haines Hunter 680SF.

The latter is regarded as a modern classic by most Haines Hunter fans. It launched with a pioneering centre cabin design coupled with a 22-degree deadrise deep-vee hull that is exceptionally soft-riding.

The original model was also quite heavy, so it needed plenty of power (minimum 200hp) for good performance.

Trim tabs were also recommended to lift the hull out of the water and to allow it to plane at low speeds and punch into a heavy offshore chop.

The original 680SF (with a square transom and no cabin window) is a first-class fishing boat, but the later Haines Hunter 680 Patriot (with sloping Portofino transom) is definitely the better boat, with improved low-speed performance and a re-designed, better-appointed cabin and interior layout.

The Haines Hunter 680SF, 680SF Encore and the 680 Patriot are all sought-after boats on the used boat market. Most will be ready-fitted for offshore fishing, complete with rod racks, live wells, outriggers, deluxe bait boards and berley buckets – the works.

Of interest to family boat buyers, there was also a full cabin cruiser version of the original 680SF called the Haines Hunter 680SC.

Find your own Haines Hunter 680 Patriot right here on boatsales.

4. Haines Hunter 600R

The original Haines Hunter 600R was designed and launched by John Haines in 1978-79. Similar to the smaller 565 series and the larger 635L, the 600R was very popular with offshore anglers.

Similar to the even more successful V19R, the 600R is a classic fibreglass runabout with a low-slung windscreen perched atop a flat deck, coupled with a large rear cockpit with quarter seats in the corners.

The original 600R was physically larger, and at 2.42 metres wider than the V19 and 565 series models making it more stable, yet equally soft riding.

Early 600R models were powered by a single outboard engine to around 200hp, or with a similarly powerful MerCruiser petrol sterndrive.

MerCruiser-powered boats were popular with anglers as the four-stroke inboard engines were far more economical than the two-stroke outboards of the era.

The original Haines Hunter 600R was in production for well over a decade before being upgraded/replaced with the Haines Hunter 600R Breeze.

The 600R remains in production today alongside similar Haines Hunter runabouts, including the 520R, 565R, 650R, 725R, 760R and 760R Hardtop.

The latest Haines Hunter 600R is available in standard and deluxe limited-edition versions, rated for single extra-longshaft outboard engines to 230hp and 250hp respectively.

Find your own Haines Hunter 600R right here on boatsales.

Haines Hunter fibreglass runabouts have been popular since the 1960s and the launch of the V163R and the V17. These two boats, derived from US deep-vee monohulls designed by famed naval architect C. Raymond Hunt, were the predecessor to the V16R, V16C and the later-model V17R, V17L and V17C.

To that end, the V163R and the V16R are two quite different boats. The former has the US-designed ‘Hydrolift’ hull with raised-sheer topsides, flared bows and big reverse chines.

The Hydrolift hull was dropped when John Haines redesigned the V163 to create the V16R, a more modern-looking craft that was easier and faster to build.

This later-model V16R is one of the best-selling Haines Hunters.

Thanks to its race-bred, soft-riding deep-vee hull, the V16R is popular with fishermen, family boaters, and towsports enthusiasts.

The V16 hull is not as stable at rest as some more contemporary designs, but few craft of its era – or even today – can match it for ride comfort, handling and performance.

Early V16Rs were commonly fitted with low-set back-to-back helm chairs to seat four people, along with moulded quarter seats aft alongside a traditional outboard engine well.

The V16R performs well with as little as 90hp, but you’ll find most models on the used boat market fitted with outboards in the 115hp to 140hp range, which can make them a bit stern-heavy.

Find your own Haines Hunter V16R right here on boatsales.