aluminium boats 3.5m - 3.7m

[darrenh]

I am trying to decide on which tinny combination is the best for me and I am seeking some advice from those that have tried out a couple.
I have tried a 3.7m quintrex traveller (V nose car topper) and found it to be very rough and banged alot.
I am favouring the seajay 3.7 nomad as they "appear" to be a little sharper at the front.

I am planning to put is on a rack on my Flamingo Junko

Any advise would be great

thanks
Darren

[Gunna Do]

Darren, I have a Stessyl tinnie very similar to the Seajay nomad, and have found it brilliant for rougher water, and that style also seems to have a bit more side height (freeboard) than the v-nosed punts.  The down side is that they are a little less stable than the likes of the Traveller, as well as drawing a bit more water for those trips up shallow creeks and streams.

I've always liked the looks of something like the Seajay Discovery, which I think has the v-shaped nose with a flatter bottom.  I have absolutely no experience with these though.

[darrenh]

Gunna
thanks for the reply. do you know what model stessl you have got. The open dingy or the edgetracker ? I am guessing the edgetracker as it looks similar in the nose to the seajay.

[D4D]

I had a Quintrex Dart 375, whilst it would cut through the chop ok, don't try and stand up as it was all over the place.

[Gunna Do]

It's actually an Alf Stessyl (spin off company) and is fairly old now, but it is very similar to the Open Dingy style of the Stessyl range.  As I said it's been a great tinnie, but when smaller kids are in it they feel a little uneasy about how it rocks around.  Never found this to be a problem with older kids or adults though.

[darrenh]

d4d and gunna
Thats exactly what I am trying to avoid as I have a 7yr old and stability is a key credential. The open style dingy with the sharp entry ride better but little stability. 

I think the seajay maybe for me as i looks like a good comprimise between v nose and punt.

[D4D]

Your other problem will be keeping the weight down in the hull to get it on the roof.

I'd probably get something like this next http://www.quintrex.com.au/Aluminium-Boat-Range/400Hornet

[Gunna Do]

I'd swap mine tomorrow if I could.  Another benefit of the v-nosed punts is that they sit flatter on the roofracks when your carting them also.

[ferret]

Hi Darren, I purchased a Sea Jay Nomad 3.5 a couple of months ago after a bit of a look around and it was a winner for me because it had higher sides than the others (my wife reckons it would be harder for the crocs to climb in)   it had a v nose, was the lightest at 68 kg, and it could take a 15 hp motor which most of the car toppers can't   it has a flattish hull and was very stable even when standing & casting and pulling in crab pots also the hull is 1.6mm where the cartopper types mostly had 1.2mm hulls..
Admittedly they are about $100 - $200 more than some of the competitors but I think well worth the extra money for the above reasons
I have not been in much chop with this boat so I can't comment on that aspect but for me this is not an issue as I primarily fish estuaries
If you want any more info just ask

Cheers  

Frank

[Gunna Do]

Frank are you allowed to tell how much the hull only was worth?  (PM if you prefer)

[ferret]

Yeah Gunna $2100 here in Townsville

[darrenh]

I think I've made my mind up with the seajay nomad now. Thanks for the feedback. Now for a motor. merc, yamaha or tohatsu?


Nice pics with the boat and camper in tow and the sand nice and deep. With over a tonne and a bit hooked on to the back makes you start to sweat a little.

[D4D]

2 or 4 stroke?

[Gunna Do]

I've had my Mercury 15 hp for over 20 years now trouble free.  But it's horses for courses.

[darrenh]

2 stroke.  The 4 strokes would leave me gasping after carrying it an loading into the back of the wagon.

[lightweight]

2 stroke for weight considerations. And Yamaha for reliability and resale.

[darrenh]

I hear that there is a japanese model and an american model mercury. Is one any better or worse ?

[D4D]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those. I had a Force 15hp which was a homebrand Mercury and I couldn't kill it.

[darrenh]

so $2100 for a 3.5m nomad.
I wonder whats a fare price for a 15hp motor?

[ferret]

You'd be looking from $2500 - $3000 for a new 15hp depending on brand but I didn't do a lot of research on motors coz I decided to use my exsisting Johnson

Cheers 

Frank

[bullfrog]

the American model Merc has the throttle, gear shift & shallow drive controls all in the tiller. the Jap model has a separate gear lever on the side. I bought a 9.9hp Merc 2stroke (USA mod) new a couple of years ago for $2200, a 15hp was a little cheaper.

[Bird]

I've had my Mercury 15 hp for over 20 years now trouble free.  But it's horses for courses.

I think from memory all mercs <60hp are now made in China. that is if the factory is finished from when I was working there... should be

[Beachman]

2 or 4 stroke?

I just changed from a 15 two stroke to a 20 four stoke and the four stoke is considerably heaver.

I always had plans on throwing the tinnie on top of the camper when the kids got older, but not sure if I could manage the weight of the outboard myself. 

[darrenh]

i carried a 25hp merc 2 stroke on the weekend. Just plain carrying was ok for 20m but to try and lift it into the 4b is a challenge. The 15hp 2 stroke is the one.